Nadal left the ATP rankings after more than 20 years, he quickly appeared on the padel court, a new journey after tennis.
Nadal Disappears From ATP Rankings: A Page Closes
This week, tennis officially recorded a historic moment when Rafael Nadal was absent from the ATP rankings for the first time in more than 20 years. The final points of the “King of Clay” were deducted, causing Nadal’s name to completely disappear from the professional tennis ranking system.
This was inevitable when Nadal announced his retirement from the sport in 2024, but for fans, not seeing his name on the rankings is still a big shock.
Nadal is a tennis player, and like a living legend, an immortal monument of tennis. And now, the ATP rankings no longer remember him, a truth that is hard to accept for those who used to be fascinated by the Spanish tennis player’s fiery topspin.
But Nadal did not disappear. Just one day after officially being no longer present on the ATP, people saw him holding a racket again. But this time not on the tennis court, but on the padel court.
Nadal returns, but not with tennis
Nadal’s image appeared on social networks with completely new images, holding a padel racket, competing enthusiastically at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor.
Not on clay, not at Roland Garros, but on padel, a sport similar to tennis but more entertaining and team-oriented. Nadal is joined by close friends, such as Carlos Moya, Tomeu Salva and Guillem Vives.
Even though he is not on the professional court, he still excites fans. Nadal may have said goodbye to top-level tennis, but his passion for the sport has never died.
Nadal’s attempt at padel is not too surprising. He has long been a multi-talented athlete. When he was still competing at the top, Nadal participated in golf matches, played football, and even won many amateur golf tournaments in Spain.
He himself has never affirmed that he will completely leave tennis. Previously, Nadal hinted at the possibility of participating in a few exhibition matches, or participating in special ATP events. But perhaps, after many years of dedication with a body full of injuries, he understands that professional tennis is no longer the path for him.
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