The King Of Clay
Rafael Nadal Holds The All-Time Record At The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters With 11 Titles
AS WITH MOST ATP GAMES he played, Rafael Nadal perfectly remembers his first win at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on April 17, 2005. “That was an amazing match, special for many reasons,” says the tennis legend. “Guillermo Coria was the player in the best form and the man to beat on clay. It really meant a lot to me and I still remember that match, together with the one we played later in Rome.”
For Nadal, “Monte Carlo is arguably the club with the most beautiful view of the whole tennis tour.” He should know. He holds the all-time record at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters with 11 wins, including a record of eight consecutive titles from 2005 to 2012 and three consecutive titles from 2016 to 2018. “Even with eleven titles, this was never another day on the job. Monte Carlo has always been a special place for me, and for many reasons. For one, it’s held at a tennis club, which you can feel, and I love it. Another obvious reason is the location, with the Mediterranean Sea just in front. I am from an island and I have always lived near the sea. To be able to play tennis and be looking at that spectacular sea is something special.
“On top of this, it’s played at a place with more than 100 years of history and a great tennis tradition. I find it amazing and I have always been treated amazingly by the organizers.
“Trust me, there are much noisier places than the Monte Carlo Tennis Club, so this was never a problem for me. People are enjoying themselves and that’s also what tennis is about. It’s social, it’s enjoying yourself in beautiful places, enjoying the tennis played as well as other things, such as the terrace at the MCCC and a great meal. And to be honest, I suppose I’ll be there, not this year but in the future, enjoying that terrace in the future watching new generations play.”
Nadal says he feel’s privileged to have made a living doing something that he has loved since he was a kid. “As players we also have the chance to meet and socialize with amazing people, like Prince Albert and his family, whom I have known for many years. It is defi nitely not another day at work; it’s an honor.”
For many years, schedule permitting at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Nadal supported the Indigo Foundation, a children’s cancer association. “All the credit goes to Anthony and Karin Torriani, their team, and my publicist, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, who is a Monaco resident and has that link and connection with them. And, I was very happy to help.”
Looking back, Nadal has a different perspective of his younger self. “When you are 19 you want to play, you want to enjoy the moment. You have almost no pressure, you really enjoy your time. The more you win, the more pressure you have and probably more difficulties arise.
“Clearly injuries don’t make anything easy. Once the body gets older, we all know it makes things more complicated in terms of recovering. Injuries are something I never liked to talk much about but, unfortunately, I suffered from them throughout my career. It’s part of the game, that’s how it is. I have always been a hard worker and always wanted to come back because of my love and passion for the game.”
Nadal admits he never really had idols but “looked up” to players. “The one that stands out is my fellow countryman, and friend, Carlos Moya, who was always close to me. And let’s not forget my Uncle Miguel Angel who played for Spain, Mallorca and was known as part of the dream team in Barcelona.”
As for his son picking up a racket, Nadal says, “I’ll let him decide whatever he wants to do. I hope he makes the right choices with the help of my wife and myself and lives a happy life doing whatever he thinks is best for him.”
The Academy
The two-time Olympic champion brought an end to his professional tennis career in November 2024 with 92 career singles titles and 22 Grand Slams. At a tribute to his career in Málaga, southern Spain, Nadal said, “The titles, the numbers are there, so people probably know that, but the way that I would like to be remembered more is like a good person, from a small village in Mallorca.”
It is in Mallorca where he founded the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar in 2016. “I know how difficult it was for my parents to help me achieve my dream of playing tennis. On one side there was school, on the other training and tournaments, so it was complicated and took up huge amounts of their time. I always knew we needed a full package at the Academy so that children could have things close by when they needed them—a medical center, fitness training, tennis facilities...
“And, of course, one of the most important things is an academic education, an international school where children don’t miss out on anything is vital for their future. Another of the main goals is that the children leave with important and positive values, and that the learning and experience they may have had at the Academy will help them to develop on a human level and prepare them to have the basic necessities to dedicate themselves to whatever they decide to do in their future.”
Nadal is confident that he’s created a very important project “with a spectacular climate and first-class facilities”—and counting nearly 500 employees. “We have a training methodology that is working very well, and our players are already achieving very good results. Also, many adults come weekly to the Academy to enjoy our tennis programs with the same methodology. We are exporting this same model internationally. We have already opened tennis centers in Greece, Mexico, and Hong Kong and an academy in Kuwait, and have an expansion project so hopefully there will be more Rafa Nadal Academies around the world.”
Having played tennis since he was four years old, Nadal knows how important it is to have the best possible facilities for young or adult players who want to dedicate themselves to professional tennis. “On the other hand, I have always been aware of the great responsibility we have at the Academy, since parents trust us to take care of their most precious beings: their children. In this sense, I believe that for me and my family it has always been vital to have a great human and professional team. We have coaches with huge experience, but especially within the professional circuit. At first with Toni, but later with Marcos Gorriz, Joan Bosch, Joel Figueras, Pedro Clar, Tomeu Salvá and now Gustavo Marcaccio. We also have good teachers from the school and great professionals from different areas that give me the guarantee that things are being done very well.”
The Business
The decision to be an Ambassador for Saudi Arabia’s state Tennis Federation was one that Rafael and his team “did not explain well at the beginning” and that created some negative comments, mainly in Spain. “I knew it was a controversial decision, but I am convinced it was the right one and I am bringing values to Saudi Arabia, my values, the ones of my Academy and I believe it will be seen as a positive thing in years to come. If that’s not the case, I will be the first one to say that it was not the right decision, but we have to give opportunities to kids in countries like Saudi Arabia and this is my step towards that goal. Regarding the financial side, I have said it’s not about money. Although, obviously, there is money involved, but not as much as some might think since it’s a service provided and a potential growth of my network of academies around the world.”
He adds, “I am very happy with my involvement with Abel Matutes in some endeavors and with Meliá Hotels, with whom we created and are developing the brand ZEL to take out into the world. A month ago, [March 2025] we opened our third hotel, this time in Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic with two previous ones in Spain. This is something that I give a lot of importance to, and we have very high expectations since it is a very nice Mediterranean concept hotel that I believe is quite innovative as well.
“There are many things you learn across your career but at the same time, in my case, it is the people you meet who are important. It is key to be surrounded by good people and a good team. I have had the same team since the beginning and I liked that continuity. These people grow with you and the business can be developed in the right way. I also had huge help and support from my father and my family.”
Nadal, who turns 39 on June 3, reflects. “I have always been happy. Since childhood, I have had great memories and those have developed throughout my career and my life. No complaints, even with all the ups and downs like anyone else.”
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