Rafael Nadal admits 'it's horrible' in very honest interview about Roger Federer

Rafael Nadal explained how fashion played a role in his rivalry with Roger Federer (Image: Getty)

Rafael Nadal has opened up on one unusual talking point from his tennis career, his fashion sense. The 22-time Major champion was, first and foremost, known for his passion and his fighting spirit. But he was also known for some bold style choices. Nadal burst onto the scene as a tank-top, capri-pant wearing, clay-court master, winning his first French Open title as a teenager. By the end of his career, he’d switched things up and started wearing brightly-coloured tops, often with short shorts. He continued to clean up at Roland Garros, though, lifting 14 trophies on the Parisian clay.

It’s now been almost two years since Nadal retired, and he can now own up to something. He thinks that pirate look from the 2000s was “horrible”. But Nadal has also admitted that he enjoyed contrasting his style to that of his greatest rival, Roger Federer, who was known for wearing classic silhouettes.

Federer often arrived onto the hallowed courts of Wimbledon’s All England Club wearing knitted cardigans or blazers over his match kit. Nadal, meanwhile, favoured a vest and three-quarter-lengths for a while. The all-white rule was arguably quite limiting for the Spanish star, who preferred vibrant hues.

Nadal was sponsored by Nike throughout his career, and was even involved in the design process. Today, his colourful headbands, shoes and shirts are on display at his academy and museum in his home of Manacor, Mallorca. But he doesn’t love them all.

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Rafael Nadal was known for his signature bandanas, vests and capris in the 2000s (Image: Getty)

Reflecting on his kits, he told GQ: “No, it’s impossible to like everything. We had mistakes. And I’ll tell you one thing: We worked a year and a half in advance on all the outfits. That’s something that I enjoyed. But at the same time, at the beginning of my career, let’s say the first eight to 10 years, we made decisions from pictures on the computer, you know?

“And it was difficult sometimes, because what you see on the computer versus what then arrived in real life could be completely different. When I had a couple of, let’s say, mistakes in making decisions, when the clothing arrived and I was not happy, I said, ‘Okay, to make decisions, I need to see the material and the colour in real life’. So I am prouder of the things we were wearing later in my career.”

Nadal may no longer be a fan of his fashion choices from the beginning of his career, but he still enjoys his efforts to bring his rivalry with Federer to life through style.

He added: “But, you know what? The beginning of my career, with the pirate pants and the sleeveless shirts – you see it today, and for me, it’s horrible. That’s the truth. But in those years, in some way, I created my identity. I was recognised for wearing these wild things, with the long hair, the bandana, you know? It was something different.

“With Roger, everything was, you know, a bit more perfect and more classy. And then I arrived, hair everywhere, and let’s say… a little more wild, you know? Not so… orthodox. I enjoyed that part, even if, 20 years later, I look at it differently.”

Nadal further opened up on the disparity between his and Federer’s sartorial choices with The Athletic. “He was in a little bit more in a classic outfit,” he said. “I was a little bit younger, he was more elegant in terms of style of game.”

And the 40-year-old still enjoys the bright colours. Nadal celebrated 10 years of his Mallorcan academy by staging an exhibition event with Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem, Fabio Fognini, Marat Safin, Carlos Moya, David Ferrer, and Richard Gasquet.

The latter three were on Nadal’s team, and they won a series of 10-point doubles tiebreaks to be crowned champions of the inaugural Rafa Nadal Academy Slam. And he donned a neon shirt with his iconic bull logo for the occasion.