A video of Rafael Nadal playing padel at his Mallorcan academy was recently circulated on social media. The sister of the 22-time Major champion has now responded to photos of him playing padel. As a racket sports enthusiast, she openly challenged the Spaniard to play against her and third-ranked padel player Gemma Triay Pons.
After a protracted struggle with sickness, Rafael Nadal hung up his racket at the Davis Cup Finals last year. There was considerable uncertainty about whether the 38-year-old would soon be spotted working out after retiring. Fans may relax, though, since the former World No. 1 was seen playing padel at his Mallorcan academy earlier this week.
One of Rafael Nadal’s admirers shared the video on social media, showcasing his amazing athleticism. Later on Wednesday, March 5, the 22-time Major champion shared a few stills from his padel adventure on Instagram. When Gemma Triay Pons, third in the women’s rankings of the International Padel Federation, saw the item, he immediately begged his younger sister Maribel to accompany her in taking on the Spanish squad.
Maribel immediately responded to her brother’s bold challenge. She also requested her longtime friend Marc Lopez, the 2016 French Open doubles champion, to team with the 38-year-old. Lopez readily accepted the challenge.
“@gemmatriay finished We can defeat @marclopeztarres and @rafaelnadal. Maribel Nadal responded to her brother’s Instagram post by writing, “Let’s see if they dare.”
If her 2023 pickleball video is any indication, Maribel, 36, is probably a really skilled padel player.
