“Diabolical” – Tennis Fans Surprised to See Rafael Nadal’s Peculiar Hat at the Graduation Ceremony at Madrid University

Rafael Nadal was awarded an honorary doctorate at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

“Diabolical” – Tennis Fans Surprised to See Rafael Nadal’s Peculiar Hat at the Graduation Ceremony at Madrid University

Rafael Nadal (via X/Rafael Nadal)

In Short
  • Rafael Nadal received an honorary doctorate from the Polytechnic University of Madrid.
  • Fans reacted to Nadal's unusual graduation cap, describing it as "diabolical."
  • Nadal continues to influence young players, including Alexandra Eala, a graduate of his academy.

Rafael Nadal earned another accolade outside of tennis as he continues to build on his storied legacy off the court. The 22-time Grand Slam champion was awarded an honorary doctorate at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (PMU). The institution cited Nadal’s extraordinary example alongside his enduring legacy as the reason for awarding him the accolade.

Nadal, who retired from tennis in 2024, has not featured in any exhibition tournament since then. The last time he was seen attending an event was at the 2026 Australian Open, which his fellow compatriot Carlos Alcaraz won after beating his rival Novak Djokovic in four sets at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

The Spanish legend legacy still lives on. Known for his remarkable humanity, respect, and competitiveness on the court. This is not the first time that he has been honored with such a distinction. He was first awarded an honorary doctorate by the European University in 2015 and later by the University of Salamanca in 2025, highlighting the relationship between sport and science.

At the Polytechnic University of Madrid honorary ceremony, he wore the traditional, formal academic gown with a cap that looked odd. Nadal posted on X about the award ceremony, thanking the institute for the recognition and how it meant something special to him. But fans on social media were shocked by the shape of the cap on his head. Here are some of their reactions:

However, when Nadal received the award while making his speech, he admitted that his elite performance on the court during his professional days was a process of constant research on ways to improve, one built on continuous refinement, rigor, discipline, commitment, and teamwork.

Since Nadal stepped away from professional tennis, his influence has remained ever-present. The young generation of players is looking up to him and even takes advice on the way he worked hard on the court. Nadal was honored last year during the French Open at Roland Garros, the place where he won 14 Grand Slams.

He has joined the Spanish National Olympic Committee (NOC) Assembly as an athlete while appearing at the Australian Open in January. He has also been a big supporter of Alcaraz on and off the court. After receiving the doctorate award, he rubbished worries that Alcaraz was struggling following his disappointing run at the Miami Open.

Alexandra Eala opens up about meeting Rafael Nadal for the first time

Alexandra Eala is one of the famous youngsters in the women’s circuit. The Filipino star is a graduate of the Rafael Nadal Academy and has admitted that she has trained with Rafael Nadal at the complex. She reached the back-to-back WTA 1000 round of 16 at the Dubai Tennis Championships and the Indian Wells Open.

Alexandra Eala, Rafael Nadal
Alexandra Eala, Rafael Nadal (Image via X/Alex Eala News)

This season, she has experienced massive support from fans, particularly from her country. On Andy Roddick’s Served Podcast, she explained how she and her parents had to trail Nadal in Spain to just have a chat with the Spanish legend:

So, the first interaction with Rafa, like in the academy space, around that time, was not actually in the academy. Before, we did a trial, we’d go there like: ‘One week, we’ll see how it goes. So my parents and my brother, and I, we flew over. In the Madrid airport, we just happen to pass by Rafa on the way to his Academy. We all chased him down. (It was like) ‘We’re going to your academy, can we take a pic?’ And yeah, he took a pic with us, so that was the first interaction I remember in Spain. A good way to start, I would say.

Eala was meant to defend her semi-finals run at the Miami Open last year, but she managed to reach the fourth round of the tournament before losing to Karolina Muchova 0-6, 2-6. Following her run in Miami, she’s expected to drop out of the top 30 in the WTA rankings, but she has a chance to climb back by having a good run during the clay season.

Also Read: Carlos Alcaraz’s Brother Takes Down Comparisons With the World No. 1 After Impressing at Challenger Event