Even after retiring in November, Rafael Nadal’s legacy remains unforgettable. With 92 titles and 22 Grand Slams, including a record 14 French Open titles, he has rightfully earned the right to be called a legend of the game. His remarkable career spanned 23 glorious years, as he showcased his prowess on the court. Although injuries took their toll and he eventually announced his retirement, it seems Nadal is not quite finished with tennis yet.

The Spanish maestro announced his retirement on October 10 through social media, citing the injuries he sustained over the past few years. However, he made a spirited appearance at the Davis Cup. Despite Spain’s heartbreaking loss in the first round against the Netherlands, his passion for the sport never wavered. Now, he’s focusing on giving seminars at sports institutions and promoting the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy, hinting at a new chapter in his tennis journey.

While the season may be over for now, top players are gearing up for their comebacks in the 2025 season. The Next Gen ATP Finals will take place from December 18-22, featuring promising young talents like Arthur Fils, Alex Michelsen, and Jakub Mensik. Adding to the excitement, Saudi Tennis posted a teaser on Instagram featuring Nadal with the words, “Rafael Nadal has a surprise waiting…” This raises speculation about the Spaniard’s potential involvement in the tournament!

The caption, “This one is for you, stay tuned 👀🎾!” adds to the intrigue surrounding his appearance. Rafa has been busy with promotional content since his farewell. Recently, he released a collaboration clip with Playtomic that highlights his enduring legacy and showcases who challenges him most.

Rafa reveals his ideal competitor in a promo ad

On December 9, Rafael Nadal launched his first post-retirement collaboration clip featuring Playtomic, a sports app that connects users with local tennis and padel players. The app’s standout feature is its ability to match players of similar skill levels. However, the humorous advertisement takes a playful jab at this concept. It opens with Nadal stating, “I use Playtomic and it works great for me.” But in a fun twist, Nadal quickly adds, “Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend this app. You’re supposed to find players at your same level…but I can’t find anyone.”

As the ad unfolds, Nadal scrolls through profiles of highly skilled players, humorously lamenting his struggles to find a match. The clip culminates with him searching for his longtime rival Novak Djokovic on the app. “I’ve looked to see if there was anyone from the circuit, but it seems not,” he quips while typing in ‘Nova.’ The ad wraps up with the tagline: “Playtomic, the perfect app…if you’re not Rafa Nadal.”

Beyond this lighthearted promotion, Nadal has been busy giving talks at the UAX Chamberí campus and promoting his academy. Although he may not be playing professionally anymore, he’s clearly committed to staying involved in the sport in meaningful ways. His transition into this new role showcases his passion for tennis and his desire to inspire the next generation of players.