Rafael Nadal admits wife Maria ‘suffers’ because of his love for golf, drops important update on when he’ll start playing tournaments

Rafael Nadal recently spoke at length about his passion for golf. The Spanish tennis legend joked that his wife Maria ‘suffers’ from his love for the game and dropped an important update about when he will start competing in golf tournaments.

Nadal is largely considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time. The 39-year-old’s time on court saw him win 22 Grand Slam titles, making him the second most successful men’s singles player in the Open Era. Throughout his tennis career, the Spaniard also nursed a love for golf and he has recently been engaging with the sport to a greater extent.

In an interview with Punto de Break, Rafael Nadal opened up about his passion for golf, saying

“I watch golf every week, and my wife suffers from it. I saw Jon Rahm play this week in Riyadh, who achieved a spectacular final in the second round and almost won. I was sometimes tempted to play, because several times they wanted to give me an invitation. But so far, circumstances have not arisen. In the future, you never know, but I should feel like I’m playing without making a fool of myself and with the illusion of being able to at least compete, even if it’s only with myself.”

While Nadal hasn’t yet stepped out onto the golf course as a professional, he has made appearances at several small tournaments and in 2024 he won the scratch category title at the Robinson Classic, an amateur event that featured 74 other golfers.

Rafael Nadal launches charity golf initiative

Rafael Nadal recently launched Spin & Swing by Cantabria Labs, a charity golf series. The series will typically feature 15 corporate teams of six players. The money raised from the event will be used by the Rafa Nadal Foundation, a non-profit organization.

Speaking about the series, Nadal emphasised that the initiative was close to his heart due to his love for golf, saying,

“This initiative is personal because of my love for golf. It’s a way to generate ongoing support for the Rafa Nadal Foundation and continue helping children and teenagers in vulnerable situations. Golf is unique because you can enjoy it with people of all levels. The series will be a shared experience, giving time to connect with other companies and build networks. We want it to be fun, enjoyable and something that lasts for years.”

The Rafa Nadal Foundation supports children from underprivileged and vulnerable backgrounds, providing them with education and sporting programmes. The organisation was launched by Rafael Nadal and his mother Ana Maria in 2010.