Rafael Nadal urges chiefs to change rules and save | Sports News

Rafael Nadal has voiced a concern that tennis may grow to be too skewed in favor of towering large servers and known as for a change within the sport’s rules to degree the taking part in area.

The legendary Nadal, with 22 Grand Slam titles beneath his belt earlier than retiring final 12 months, was by no means among the many sport’s heaviest hitters; as a substitute, it was his unyielding depth and endurance that topped him champion at every of the 4 Grand Slams, notably at Roland-Garros the place he claimed victory 14 instances.

Acknowledging the altering panorama at a Eurosport occasion held with Diario AS, Nadal asserted: “Tennis has not changed anything in terms of rules throughout its history.

“People are getting taller and shifting higher – the serve has a decisive impression. If that energy is not restricted, somebody over two metres tall with good mobility will come alongside and you will not give you the option to compete towards them, you will not give you the option to get a break.”

However, Nadal also pointed out that the situation is not critical yet, citing Novak Djokovic’s ongoing excellence at 37 as evidence that all-around skill can still trump sheer serving power. Nadal explained: “That day, for the second, has not arrived but. Djokovic reached a last two days in the past (on the Miami Open). I used to be competing a year-and-a-half in the past.

Nadal mirrored: “That day, for the moment, has not arrived yet. Djokovic reached a final two days ago [at the Miami Open]. I was competing a year-and-a-half ago.

“It leads me to suppose that the change has not but been so abrupt as a result of we’ve got continued to have a likelihood of success.”

Throughout his remarkable career, Nadal graced 30 Grand Slam finals. Beyond his legendary status at the French Open, he clinched four U.S. Open crowns, triumphed twice at Wimbledon, and secured two Australian Open victories.

Injuries plagued his final years in the sport, with his last Grand Slam showing at Roland Garros in 2024 preceding his retirement. And looking back on his career, he added: “I’ve by no means had a large ego.

“I’ve never thought about numbers. I feel satisfied to have finished knowing that I’ve given everything I could. Coming home from a tournament with the feeling of not having done everything I could was beyond me. I’ve always returned with that peace of mind.”