Rafael Nadal fears tennis could become boring as players get taller and stronger, suggesting rule changes might eventually be needed to keep the game competitive.
The Spanish legend, along with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, dominated tennis for years with their perfect blend of power, athleticism, and variety. Their epic rallies became the stuff of legend.
Tennis is still in great shape right now. Rising stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on the men’s side and Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, and Mirra Andreeva in the women’s game are keeping fans excited.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Nadal | 38 | 215 | 7 - 5 |
But Nadal’s worried about what’s coming next.
Speaking at the University of Autonia, the 22-time Grand Slam champion shared his concerns about the future of the sport.
“Tennis hasn’t changed practically anything in terms of rules throughout its history. People are getting taller and moving better. The serve has a decisive impact. If there aren’t any rule changes that can limit that power, someone over two meters tall and with good mobility will come along and you won’t be able to compete against him, you won’t be able to get a break.”
Don’t panic just yet, though. Nadal doesn’t think we need immediate changes.
He pointed to Djokovic’s recent run to the Miami Open final as proof that the old guard can still compete. “That day hasn’t arrived yet. Djokovic was in the Miami final two days ago, I was competing a year and a half ago… which leads me to think that the change hasn’t yet been that radical because we’ve still had a chance of success.”
So what might these rule changes look like? Nadal didn’t get specific.
The most obvious solution would be allowing just one serve instead of two. This would force big servers to dial back their power to avoid double faults.
But such a change would be hugely controversial. Many players—especially in the men’s game—rely heavily on their serving prowess.
Guys like Reilly Opelka and Christopher Eubanks would need to completely reinvent their games. Their powerful serves currently mask weaknesses in other areas of their play.
Tennis seems to be in a good place right now, so any major rule changes are likely years away. And who knows? Maybe the sport will evolve in ways Nadal hasn’t anticipated, making such changes unnecessary.
This clay court season feels different without Nadal, who retired at last November’s Davis Cup Finals. It’s strange not seeing the greatest clay court player in history competing on his favorite surface.
His legacy on clay will never be forgotten. The 14-time French Open champion never lost a final at Roland Garros, with his last title coming in 2022.
