With 11 Grand Slam titles to his name, a record eight of them at the French Open, Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest ever players on a clay court. There is absolutely no doubt that the Spaniard has left a huge impact on the game. But what if he had not become a tennis player and had decided to play some other gameIJ Just suppose, for the heck of it, that the Spaniard had been enamored by sports other than tennis. While most of his rivals, including a certain Roger Federer would be more than happy with such a scenario, how would have Nadal fared in other sportsIJ Would he be as successfulIJ Ajeyo Basu tries to find out...
Football
What if the ‘King of Clay’ had been attracted to football rather than tennisIJ A not impossible scenario since the beautiful game is the most popular sport in Spain.
The 27-year-old from Mallorca does have some impressive football pedigree in his family. His Miguel Angel Nadal was a defender with European giants Barcelona and under the legendary Johan Cruyff, won five Spanish leagues, two Copa Del Rey titles and the European Cup in 1992.
Rafael has the potential to follow in his uncle’s footsteps. He certainly does not lack the physical attributes to become a top footballer.
With a height of 6’1” and a bodyweight of 85 kilos — most of it pure muscle — that, teamed up with his impressive physical power (he has the heaviest forehand in contemporary tennis) Nadal would have proved a handful for most opponents on the football ground in a one on one situation.
Given his phenomenal fitness and seemingly endless stamina, he would have made an extremely fine footballer indeed. for a man who can grind through five grueling hours of high quality tennis, ninety minutes of running up and down a football pitch could seem like child’s play.
If he had indeed decided to play football, he could have made a really fine winger or full back, given the fact that players in these positions need to have lighting pace along with an endless reservoir of stamina.
Even as a central defender, he could have done well. With his height and power, he could have been difficult to beat in the air. However, his suspect left knee, which has needed rehabilitation several times in the past, would have proved to be his Achilles heel in that department.
Rugby
Rugby is another game that requires explosive sprinting power, loads of stamina and the ability to take some hard knocks and keep going.
However, as a rugby player, Nadal would have to add some more bulk to his muscles as most players of similar height have bodyweights of 100 kilos or more. At his current bodyweight, Nadal would be at a distinct disadvantage during the tackles.
But with his speed and stamina, he has the potential to be a useful player on the wings.
Hockey
Hockey is another game which is perfect for Nadal. The Spaniard, who reportedly has the most powerful forehand in the world, could have also been an effective penalty corner specialist.
The forehand smash requires strong forearms, powerful shoulders and perfect placement and all these qualities are essential for a successful penalty corner specialist as well.
Athletics
Nadal’s blend of raw physical power, endurance and height is a perfect recipe for a successful 400m runner. While it is difficult to say whether he would have been a match for the athletes from Jamaica, being a top performer in the European circuit perhaps could have been an achievable target.