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Badosa's Tears: Nadal's Legacy Inspires Tennis Stars
31 May
Summary
- Paula Badosa revealed Rafael Nadal's documentary brought her to tears.
- Nadal's career and inspiring journey shaped Badosa's early dreams.
- Iga Swiatek also benefits from Nadal's mentorship and coaching.
WTA player Paula Badosa was deeply moved by Rafael Nadal's documentary, RAFA, which premiered on Netflix on May 29, 2026. She expressed that Nadal represents a significant part of her story, as he was the reason she started playing tennis and instilled in her the belief that dreams are achievable. Badosa highlighted Nadal's profound and lasting impact on the sport, not solely due to his 22 Grand Slam titles but for his inspirational influence on an entire generation.
Badosa's admiration for Nadal is lifelong; she achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 2 in 2022 and developed a close relationship with her idol. She drew strength from Nadal's iconic footprint plaque at Roland Garros during a challenging match against Naomi Osaka in the 2025 French Open, ultimately winning the match after channeling his fighting spirit.
Additionally, Iga Swiatek, another prominent WTA star, shares a strong mentor-mentee bond with Nadal. He serves as a significant source of guidance for the World No. 3 player. Swiatek has even hired Francisco Roig, Nadal's former long-time coach, ahead of the 2026 French Open, indicating Nadal's continued influence on her career and approach to the game.
