In the world of tennis, where rivalries ignite passions and practice sessions can reveal as much as match play, a fresh wave of intrigue has surfaced surrounding one of the sport’s most iconic figures, Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard, a 22-time Grand Slam champion whose relentless style has defined an era, has long been celebrated for his tenacity and sportsmanship. Yet, a candid revelation from Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios has cast a new light on Nadal’s off-court persona, suggesting that behind the humble exterior lies a practice partner who could be, in a word, “horrible.”
The story traces back to a memorable encounter in Beijing at the 2017 China Open, where Nadal and Kyrgios crossed paths in a practice session that left an indelible mark on the latter. Kyrgios, never one to mince words, recently corroborated a tale told by retired American star John Isner, who had described Nadal as a tough nut to crack on the practice court. “Can confirm, crushed the ball in practice, horrendous,” Kyrgios declared, his words dripping with a mix of admiration and exasperation. This wasn’t just a casual hit-around; it was a calculated move by Nadal, who, as the draw unfolded, saw a potential quarterfinal clash with Kyrgios looming. The Spaniard, it seems, wanted a firsthand look at his rival’s game—his serve, his groundstrokes, his rhythm—before they met in competition.
Picture the scene: the Beijing courts buzzing with anticipation, Nadal’s team orchestrating a practice slot with Kyrgios, who was then climbing the ranks and fresh off a win over a top-10 player. Isner, reflecting on a similar experience, painted a vivid picture of Nadal’s intensity. “Rafa did that to me in Beijing,” he recounted. “My coach said, ‘Rafa wants to practise with you so I set it up,’ and I’m like, ‘Okay…’ Horrible to practise with, he hits the ball so hard and he hits winners and it’s Rafa, so you don’t say anything, right?” For Kyrgios, the session was a baptism by fire. Nadal unleashed a barrage of heavy, spinning shots, ripping every third ball for a winner with a ferocity that left the Australian reeling. “He was hitting the ball so hard,” Isner added, a sentiment Kyrgios echoed with his own succinct verdict: “crushed the ball.”
What makes this tale particularly compelling is the strategic brilliance it reveals. Nadal, ever the chess master, wasn’t just warming up—he was scouting. “I saw the draw and was like, ‘Is that what he’s doing? Is he anticipating we’re going to play in the quarter-finals?’” Isner mused, piecing together Nadal’s intent. Sure enough, days later, Nadal faced both players in the tournament, defeating Isner in the quarters and then dismantling Kyrgios 6-2, 6-1 in the final to claim the title. For Kyrgios, the practice session was a preview of the onslaught to come—a masterclass in preparation from a man who’d go on to retire in November 2024 after a storied 23-year career.
This wasn’t the first time Nadal’s practice habits raised eyebrows. His reputation for turning casual hit-arounds into high-stakes battles precedes him, a trait that speaks to his greatness. “That just talks about his greatness, I think,” Isner acknowledged. “If I wasn’t on the same side of the draw as him, he wasn’t going to ask me to practise.” Kyrgios, too, has felt the sting of Nadal’s competitive edge firsthand, trailing 3-6 in their head-to-head clashes on the ATP Tour. Their rivalry, marked by fiery exchanges—like Kyrgios’s infamous underarm serves in Acapulco 2019 or his attempt to “hit him square in the chest” at Wimbledon that same year—has always carried an electric charge. Yet, beneath the on-court tension, there’s a begrudging respect. Kyrgios, now 29 and eyeing a return from injury at the Brisbane International in late 2025, once admitted Nadal was a “motivation” who brought out his best.
For fans, this peek behind the curtain adds another layer to Nadal’s legacy. The man who dominated clay courts and amassed a fortune in accolades wasn’t just a physical specimen—he was a tactician who left no stone unturned, even in practice. As Kyrgios prepares to step back onto the tour after nearly two years sidelined, and Nadal settles into retirement, their shared history offers a reminder of how the smallest moments—like a “horrible” practice session—can shape the narrative of a sport. Whether it’s crushing balls or crushing opponents, Nadal’s approach was always the same: all in, all the time.
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