Rafael Nadal is back on the court. The tennis star announced his retirement last year, prompting an emotional outpouring of love from the sports industry, which commemorated his legendary career. Now, Nadal is returning to a new sport, sharing some photos on his Instagram.
Nadal revealed he was playing padel with some friends at his sporting academy, the Rafa Nadal Academy Padel, where he was joined by three other players. These include his former coach Carlos Moyá and the former doubles tennis player Tomeu Salva.
"I had so much fun today!," he captioned the post. "Who do you think won the match?"
Nadal has been a longtime fan of padel, getting involved with the sport which has experienced a boom over the past couple of years due to how accessible it is.
Nadal's connection to padel
Over the past couple of years, Nadal has been practicing padel and encouraging others to take up the sport. In 2021, he spoke to Padel Magazine, revealing why he thought the sport was a good investment for him and his businesses.
"Padel is growing and I think it will be fun because it's easier to play." Nadal's padel sporting academy is located in Mallorca, and has 12 courts, encouraging local and foreign athletes to play and practice there.
The sport has attracted all manner of fans, including Eva Longoria, who's been involved in various tournaments and has her own padel team, called Eleven Eleven Padel. In an interview, Longoria hoped she could bring the sport to the U.S. “As an American, I love bringing more attention to this sport that’s not really in the United States," she said to Forbes.
She's also pretty clear about her sporting capabilities. “Look I’m horrible, but in my head, I’m so good. In my head, I’m a pro," she said.