In an open interview with Mundo Deportivo, long-time Spanish chair umpire Jaume Campistol looked back on his time calling Rafael Nadal’s matches. Though of the same country and with immense respect for Nadal’s integrity and humility, Campistol acknowledged that it was especially difficult to call Nadal’s matches because of the player’s perfectionistic routines and clock management during matches.
“Being Spanish, I didn’t referee him much. He was an honest and humble player, but I didn’t like refereeing him,” said Campistol. “I got very nervous about the time issue because he was always on the edge and I suffered, because he wouldn’t make it and you’d have to book him- that’s the role of the referee; you have to make the decision based on the rules.”
Rafael Nadal (ESP) plays against Novak Djokovic (SRB) in the men’s tennis singles first round during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games
Amber Searls-Imagn Images
“It made me a little tense to be so close to him, but that’s what we always told him: if the others can do it, you have to know how to adapt too,” Campistol said of Nadal’s practice of getting to the time limit at the end of a point.
This practice continued to put umpires in a difficult spot, as they needed to apply the rule without interrupting the rhythm of the match or seeming too strict.
Campistol highlighted the need for impartiality, saying, “That’s the referee’s job; you have to decide according to the rules.”
He admitted that it was challenging to balance enforcing time violations with the necessity of keeping the rhythm of the match, particularly when dealing with big-name players such as Nadal.
Notably, Campistol’s experiences reflect the wider issues faced by umpires in professional tennis. The necessity of enforcing the rules while accommodating the personalities and habits of elite players such as Daniil Medvedev and Nick Kyrgios, demands a fine balance between firmness and empathy.
In spite of the stress, Campistol’s professional career was characterized by professionalism and commitment. He umpired more than 2,300 professional games, including seven Grand Slam finals and four Olympics, before he retired in 2024. His comments are a rich source of information regarding the intricacies of tennis officiating and the peculiar relationship between players and umpires at the elite level of the sport.
