A serious Rafael Nadal during a press conference
There have been no major rule changes to tennis in several decades and Rafael Nadal fears the sport could face some obstacles if those in charge continue to keep the status quo.
Other sports like football and golf have evolved over the years with rule markers happy to change things up as in 1992 the back-pass rule was introduced in football with goalkeepers no longer able to handle the ball after it has been deliberately passed back by a team-mate.
That tweak has certainly resulted in an improvement in the spectacle while other changes like substitutions and physical yellow and red cards have also aided the sport.
Meanwhile, golf changed the five-minute rule to search for a ball to three minutes in 2019 while the double-hit rule was also scrapped in the same year.
Tennis, though, has largely kept the major regulations in place and Nadal warns there could be dire consequences as he warns that the serve has become too decisive and it could lead to one player dominating.
“Tennis has not changed anything in terms of rules throughout its history,” the all-time great said during a Eurosport event in collaboration with Diario AS.
“People are getting taller and moving better. The serve has a decisive impact. If that power isn’t limited, someone over two metres tall with good mobility will come along, and you won’t be able to compete against them, you won’t be able to get a break.
“That day, for the moment, has not arrived yet.”
There have been big servers in tennis in recent history, but none of them have managed to dominate the sport with the likes of Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer holding their own thanks to their all-round games.
The Spaniard added: ” Djokovic reached a final two days ago; I was competing a year and a half ago… it leads me to think that the change has not yet been so abrupt because we have continued to have a chance of success.”
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The former world No 1 retired in November 2024 after nearly two full decades at the top.
He stepped away from the sport having won 22 Grand Slams – including a record 14 titles at Roland Garros – while he completed a Career Golden Slam (winning all four Grand Slams and singles gold at the Olympics) – and finished with 92 titles in total.
When all was said and done, Nadal was happy with his achievements.
“I’ve never had a big ego. I’ve never thought about numbers,” he said. “I feel satisfied to have finished knowing that I’ve given everything I could.
“Coming home from a tournament with the feeling of not having done everything I could was beyond me. I’ve always returned with that peace of mind.”
