Tennis icon Rafael Nadal may have retired from professional tennis last year, but his passion for the game and his impressive skills remain strong. Recently, he was spotted playing padel with his former coach, Carlos Moya, and other colleagues at his tennis academy in Manacor, Spain.

In the video Nadal can be seen proving that his reflexes and game sense are as sharp as ever, demonstrating his ability to hit quick returns with immense power, just like he would on the tennis court.

In a 2021 conversation with Padel Magazine, Nadal’s interest in various sports was evident, as he expressed fondness for golf and hinted at padel, saying, “Padel is growing, and I think it will be fun because it’s easier to play.” Padel tennis in Spain has witnessed an extraordinary rise in popularity. It now ranks as the country’s second most popular sport, trailing just behind football and even surpassing tennis as well. 

Rafael Nadal plans expansion of tennis academy

Despite stepping away from tennis, the legendary Spaniard continues to enjoy his retirement, spending time training young players and participating in various social activities. The former world no 1 is dedicated to giving back to the sport through his tennis academy. Last week, he announced plans to expand the academy in Marbella. Reports indicate he has sold half of his stake in his original academy in Mallorca, established in 2016, and intends to utilize the profits for further development.

According to Essentialy Sports report, a source revealed that Nadal has formalized plans for this expansion, stating on social media, "I am very happy that we are officially announcing the birth of a new Rafa Nadal Tennis Center in Marbella. It consolidates the expansion project of our methodology also within Spain."

Nadal's academy currently has locations in countries such as Mexico, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Egypt, and Greece, with aspirations to extend further, ensuring that aspiring young tennis players worldwide have access to top-notch training facilities.