Rafael Nadal is using his profile and making savvy business decisions to top up his earnings as he nears the end of his glittering tennis career
Despite being on the cusp of hanging up his racket, tennis legend Rafael Nadal has seen a significant boost in his earnings this year.
The 38-year-old ace decided not to compete at the current US Open while his upcoming participation in the upcoming Laver Cup could mark the end of his glittering career, although he has hinted at making a swansong appearance at next year’s French Open, which he has won 14 times. However, while his career is winding down, his earnings are ramping up.
A combination of age, injury and the rise of new talents like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner mean Nadal isn’t the force of old. But he’s still competing away from the court thanks to some savvy and investments and commercial tie-ups.
The Spaniad has invested in Playtomic, an app that organises padel and tennis matches as well as becoming an ambassador for Saudi Arabia’s tennis federation, which has netted him a seven-figure sum. A tennis academy bearing his name could also be launched in the Middle Eastern country, reports Legal Sport.
On top of these ventures, Nadal has partnerships with high-end brands such as Louis Vuitton, along with long-standing ties with Nike and car giant Kia. As a result, his earnings have actually gone up this year compared to 2023.
Forbes, the American business magazine, has reported that Nadal raked in €23.3million (just shy of £20m) in the year since the last US Open. Despite this being a dip from his earnings in 2020, 2021 and 2022, it is a hefty 50% increase from the €14m (£11.8m) he made in the run-up to the 2023 US Open.
Rafael Nadal is raking it in off the court (
(Image: Getty))
Nadal now sits at number six among the world’s top-earning tennis players, with Alcaraz leading the pack after banking a cool €40m (£34m), surpassing Novak Djokovic. Whether he retires this year or next, Nadal’s financial clout shows no signs of waning.
