(Video) Rafael Nadal Seen Hitting With Alexandra Eala on Tennis Court Return for the First Time Since Retirement

Rafael Nadal played his last professional tennis match exactly 12 months ago today.

(Video) Rafael Nadal Seen Hitting With Alexandra Eala on Tennis Court Return for the First Time Since Retirement

Rafael Nadal was spotted hitting with Alexandra Eala (via Rafael Nadal/X)

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Rafael Nadal has stepped back onto the tennis court exactly one year after announcing his emotional retirement at the Davis Cup Finals. Marking the anniversary, he posted a video on social media that quickly drew attention. In the clip, he shares a light-hearted practice session with rising WTA player Alexandra Eala.

Eala, now 20, graduated from the Rafa Nadal Academy and has enjoyed a remarkable surge this season. She began the year ranked well outside the top 140 but has climbed to a career-best position of world No. 50. Her return to the Mallorcan academy for a training hit with Nadal made the moment even more meaningful.

During their practice, the two exchanged steady baseline rallies. At one point, Eala won a point and sprinted forward with her arms raised in playful celebration. Nadal couldn’t help but laugh, clearly enjoying the spirited session.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner has spent very little time on court since concluding his career in Malaga. Because of that, the sight of him hitting again generated plenty of excitement among fans. The practice with Eala served as a rare glimpse of Nadal reconnecting with the sport he dominated for so many years.

Carlos Alcaraz denies Big 3 comparisons

Carlos Alcaraz recently dismissed comparisons suggesting he might match the long careers of the Big Three—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. He made it clear that he does not expect to still be competing at age 38, unlike the legends before him. The young Spaniard emphasized that every player’s path is different and longevity should not be assumed. Alcaraz said on MARCA:

No, at the moment I don’t see myself. I prefer to go year by year to see how far my body can go. And, above all, if I have the motivation and the desire. I don’t think about whether I’m going to make it to 33 or 38. I’m going to take care of myself so that my career is as long as possible

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

Djokovic, now 38, continues to perform at an elite level and remains inside the ATP’s top four. Federer also maintained a top-three ranking through the end of the 2019 season when he was the same age. Nadal, on the other hand, experienced a more gradual decline and eventually stepped away from the sport at 38 after playing the Davis Cup.

Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, aged 22 and 24 respectively, are considered the leading stars of the new generation. Both players have already achieved impressive results and continue to raise expectations. Even so, their long-term durability and career trajectories remain uncertain.

What is certain for now is their dominance at the top of the game. Alcaraz and Sinner currently hold the world’s top two spots in the ATP Rankings. Together, they have captured the last eight Grand Slam titles and claimed back-to-back ATP Finals trophies, signaling a powerful shift in men’s tennis.

Alexandra Eala nominated for a WTA award

Rising talent took center stage on the WTA Tour this season, leading to a competitive lineup for the Newcomer of the Year Award. Six players earned nominations after delivering breakthrough performances and dramatic climbs in the rankings. Their achievements reflect one of the strongest waves of young contenders the tour has seen in years.

Alexandra Eala (4)
Alexandra Eala (Image via X/Jimmie48 Photography)

Victoria Mboko and Loïs Boisson were two of the biggest surprises of 2025. Mboko vaulted from outside the top 350 into the top 20, highlighted by winning the Canadian Open and later adding a second title in Hong Kong. Boisson, meanwhile, shocked the tennis world with a semifinal run at Roland Garros as a little-known world No. 361 before securing her first title in Hamburg.

Alex Eala and Maya Joint also put together seasons that firmly established them as rising forces. Eala made history for the Philippines by earning her country’s first Grand Slam singles win in the Open Era and reached new milestones at multiple major events. Joint captured two titles, including a dramatic win over Eala in Eastbourne, and ended the year as Australia’s No. 1 player.

The final nominees, Iva Jovic and Eva Lys, rounded out the group with steady progress and breakthrough victories. Jovic claimed her first WTA trophy in Guadalajara and soared up the rankings in her first full year on tour. Lys impressed with deep runs at major tournaments, including a standout fourth-round showing in Melbourne and a WTA 1000 quarterfinal appearance in Beijing.

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