Weeks after returning to the spotlight at the Australian Open, where he caught up with countryman Carlos Alcaraz following the final, Rafael Nadal traded the Rod Laver Arena for snow-covered peaks.
The former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings revealed on Saturday that he has gone skiing for the first time in 26 years, sharing the moment with fans on Instagram. Posting photos from the slopes, Nadal wrote: “After 26 years… what an incredible feeling to ski again!”
The Spaniard spent more than two decades carefully managing his body due to the demands of the Tour, meaning skiing was firmly off limits. Now in retirement, the Spaniard is enjoying the freedom to explore new experiences.
The 22-time major champion’s latest outing offers a contrast to his career. In February 2014, Nadal captured ATP Tour titles in Doha and Rio de Janeiro, thriving in the heat and intensity of competition. This time, the setting was cooler and the objective purely recreational.
Among those to respond to Nadal’s post was Olympic gold medallist Lindsey Vonn, who commented: “We have to ski together when I’m healthy!”
The American skier Vonn has regularly engaged with the sport and its stars, praising Jannik Sinner in recent years and even drawing comparisons between the Italian’s composure and that of Roger Federer.
Nadal is the latest star to have hit the slopes, after Andy Murray went on a ski trip with his family in 2025 before he coached Novak Djokovic at the 2025 Australian Open.
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