Rafael Nadal is back on the court a year after retiring from professional tennis – not to compete, but for something more meaningful. In a heartfelt post on social media to mark the anniversary of his retirement, the 22-time Grand Slam champion shared a video of himself training with rising star Alexandra Eala, a former student at his RafaNadal academy.
Nadal retired in October 2024 and played his final match in the Davis Cup final later in November aged 38. In his post, he wrote: “A year later it was great to be back on the tennis court! Next time I will be stronger.” During practice with Eala, he looked relaxed and joyful, even laughing when she hit a powerful forehand past him.
For Eala, now 20, the session had a special meaning. She trained at the Nadal Academy in Mallorca from the age of 13 and graduated in 2023. Since then, she has made remarkable progress on the WTA Tour. In 2025, she stunned the former major champions at the Miami Open, defeating Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys before a career-high 6–2, 7–5 win over IgaSwiatek to reach the semifinals.
Nadal’s relationship with Eala goes beyond practice. After her success at the Miami Open, he praised her on social media: “We are extremely proud of you Alex. What an incredible tournament! Let’s keep dreaming!” Their bond grew further when she won her first WTA125 title in 2025, prompting Nadal to warmly congratulate her.
Eala made rapid progress in her career and became the first Filipina in the Open Era win a Grand Slam main event. The then 19-year-old stunned 14th seed Clara Tauson with a thrilling 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 comeback victory at the US Open earlier this year. She also recently reached her career-best WTA ranking of No.50.
Rafael Nadal remains one of the greatest athletes of all time. He has won 92 ATP Tour singles titles, including 22 major titles, with a record 14 French Open crowns, alongside 36 Masters titles and two Olympic gold medals.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
November 19, 2025
