"It made me a little tense to be so close to him" - Long-time ATP umpire speaks on the challenges of calling Rafael Nadal's matches

Although Rafael Nadal is known for his integrity and humility on court, it could be rather difficult when officiating his matches, says veteran ATP umpire Jaume Campistol.

The Spanish referee has umpired more than 2,300 professional games, including seven Grand Slam finals and four Olympics, before retiring in 2024. Being an umpire, Campistol had to learn how to navigate player outburst and egos, while keeping track of everything that took place on the court.

Speaking with Mundo Deportivo, the former ATP umpire gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at his mindset when officiating matches featuring his legendary compatriot.

"Being Spanish, I didn't referee him much," admitted Campistol. "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."

Furthermore, Campistol spoke of Nadal's practice of getting to the time limit at the end of a point. This habit 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.

"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," added Campistol.