LIFE AFTER TENNIS: HOW RAFAEL NADAL REPLACED GRAND SLAMS WITH A QUEST FOR PARS.
Rafael Nadal is obsessed with golf: Analyse his new "Spin and Swing" circuit, his wife's reaction, and his wins on the green.
Rafael Nadal admits, half-joking, half-serious, that his love for golf drives his wife a little crazy. After racking up 22 Grand Slam singles titles (second-most in the Open Era) and wrapping up his 23-year tennis career in November 2024, Nadal needed something to fill the gap. Golf quickly took over.
He’s always loved the game, even back in his tennis days, but now that he’s off the tour, he’s spending more and more time on the course. These days, if he’s not playing, he’s glued to the TV, following tournaments. His wife, Maria Francisca Perello, apparently isn’t thrilled about this new obsession.
At a charity tournament in Madrid earlier this month, Nadal laughed about it: “I follow golf every week, and my wife suffers because of it. I watched Jon Rahm in Riyadh this week; he finished strong and almost won. I just really enjoy it.”
He’s not just watching, either. Last week in Mallorca, Nadal launched his own charity golf circuit, Spin and Swing. He mentioned he’s turned down wildcard offers to play in pro events before, since tennis always came first. All the money from his new event goes to his own foundation. For Nadal, this project just comes from a genuine love for the sport.
“I’ve had invites a few times,” he said, “but it’s never worked out. Maybe one day, but only if I feel like I won’t embarrass myself out there. I’d want to at least be able to compete, even if it’s just with myself.”
He’s already tested himself in smaller tournaments and not just for fun. He actually won the Balearic Mid-Amateur Championship by seven shots in February 2024, beating out 73 other players. He won’t brag about his game, but he’s clearly got talent.
Last July, he even got in a few rounds with Roger Federer at Pula Golf Resort in Mallorca. And who knows, maybe someday we’ll see a full Big Four showdown on the fairways. Andy Murray plays too, after all.
Talking to The Telegraph last year, Nadal teased, "Yeah, it could happen, but they need to practice! On the tennis cour,t we were pretty even, but this time, I’m way ahead.”
So, don’t be surprised if you see more of Nadal on the golf course from here on out. He’s traded one obsession for another, and honestly, it sounds like his wife will just have to put up with it a while longer.
HISTORY ON LINE: NOVAK DJOKOVIC BEGINS INDIAN WELLS RUN TO SNATCH FEDERER’S TITLE RECORD
Is Djokovic the GOAT? Discover how Novak plans to break Roger Federer’s Indian Wells title record in the 2026 California desert.
Novak Djokovic is gearing up for his 17th run at Indian Wells, chasing a sixth Masters title in California. The draw hasn’t done him any favours, but plenty of experts still see him as a real threat to win it all.
He’s coming in hot, too. Djokovic kicked off the season by making it to the Australian Open final, only falling to Carlos Alcaraz at the very end.
There’s even more at stake this year. If Djokovic lifts the trophy at Indian Wells, he breaks a tournament record that Roger Federer currently shares with him.
Now, Federer’s name is all over the Indian Wells record books. Even after retiring in 2022, he still holds eight records there. You see his name next to most finals played, most matches played and won, and the most editions entered.
Right now, Federer and Djokovic are tied for most titles at Indian Wells, each with five. They also share a couple of other records, but this year, Djokovic has a shot at pulling ahead. If he wins, he grabs that title record outright, which would leave Federer with seven Indian Wells records to himself.
When it comes to head-to-head battles at Indian Wells, Djokovic has always had Federer’s number. They’ve faced off three times on those courts, and Djokovic came out on top every single time.
Here’s how some of the big records at Indian Wells stack up:
Most titles: Djokovic 5, Federer 5
Most finals: Federer 9
Most consecutive titles: Federer (2004–2006) and Djokovic (2014–2016), both with 3.
Most consecutive finals: Federer (two separate runs of 3), Djokovic (2014–2016)
Most matches played: Federer 79
Most matches won: Federer 66
Most consecutive matches won: Djokovic: 19
Most editions played: Federer 18.
Oldest champion: Federer (35 years, 7 months, 11 days in 2017)
So, while Federer still dominates the record books, Djokovic has a real chance to add another chapter to the rivalry and maybe take home another record for himself.
THE 3.3.26 DATE: UNEARTHING THE ROMANTIC DETAILS BEHIND ARYNA SABALENKA’S PROPOSAL IN CALIFORNIA
Aryna Sabalenka is engaged: Read about the 3.3.26 proposal to Georgios Frangulis and the reactions from Gauff, Alcaraz, and Djokovic.
Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz are just a couple of the tennis stars who rushed to celebrate Aryna Sabalenka’s big news: she’s engaged to Georgios Frangulis.
Sabalenka dropped the announcement on social media right before kicking off her run at Indian Wells. As the world number one, she’ll jump straight into the second round, waiting to face either Alycia Parks or Himeno Sakatsume. But honestly, her focus seems split lately, and who can blame her? Off the court, she’s soaking up all the love and congratulations pouring in from fellow players.
She posted a video of the proposal on Instagram, adding a simple, sweet caption: “You & me, forever, 3.3.26.” Coco Gauff chimed in with a quick "Congratulations", and Alcaraz went all out with a stretched-out “Congratulatiooooons!” Ben Shelton and Amanda Anisimova also sent their best, and even Novak Djokovic shared some love. Sabalenka’s close friend Paula Badosa joined in, and skiing legend Lindsey Vonn couldn’t resist commenting either.
Now, with all the excitement swirling around her engagement, you have to wonder, can Sabalenka keep her head in the game at Indian Wells? Wedding plans are probably swirling in her mind, but if history tells us anything, it’s that Sabalenka knows how to lock in when it matters. Her serve is as deadly as ever, and she’s already put together an 11-1 win-loss record this season, with two finals under her belt.
She kicked things off with a title in Brisbane, then hit a snag in the Australian Open final against Elena Rybakina. No doubt, she’s itching to get back to her winning ways in California. The hard courts there play right into her strengths, and all four of her Grand Slam titles have come on this surface. Plus, she’s been a finalist at Indian Wells twice, so she’s got plenty of motivation to finally go all the way.
The field is stacked, so it won’t be easy. But honestly, if anyone’s primed for a breakthrough at Indian Wells, it’s Sabalenka.
