(Sports news, tennis news) Nadal left the ATP rankings after more than 20 years, quickly appearing on the padel court, a new path after tennis.
Nadal disappears from the ATP rankings: a page in history closes
This week, the tennis world officially recorded a historic moment when Rafael Nadal was absent from the ATP rankings for the first time in over 20 years. The “king of clay” had his final points deducted, causing Nadal’s name to disappear completely from the professional tennis ranking system.
This was inevitable when Nadal announced his retirement starting in 2024, but for fans, not seeing that name in the rankings is still a huge shock.
Nadal is a tennis player and, as a living legend, an immortal monument of tennis. And now, the ATP rankings no longer remember him, a difficult truth to accept for those who used to be fascinated by the Spanish player’s fiery topspin shots.
But Nadal didn’t disappear. Just one day after officially being removed from the ATP, he was seen picking up a racket again. But this time not on a tennis court, but on a padel court.
Nadal is back, but not with tennis
Nadal’s image appeared on social media in completely new images, holding a padel racket, competing enthusiastically at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor.
Not on clay, not at Roland Garros, but in padel, a sport similar to tennis but more entertaining and a team sport. Besides Nadal, there are also close friends, such as Carlos Moyà, Tomeu Salva, and Guillem Vives.
Although he’s no longer playing professionally, he still excites fans. Nadal may have retired from high-level tennis, but his passion for the sport has never died.
Nadal’s attempt at padel tennis isn’t too surprising. He has long been a multi-talented athlete. When he was still in his prime, Nadal participated in golf matches, played soccer, and even won numerous amateur golf tournaments in Spain.
He himself has never stated that he will permanently abandon tennis. Previously, Nadal hinted at the possibility of participating in some exhibition matches or participating in special ATP events. But perhaps, after many years of dedication with a body riddled with injuries, he realized that professional tennis was no longer the path for him.
