"The moment, has not arrived yet": Rafael Nadal concerned about future of tennis

Former world number one Rafael Nadal believes that tennis as a sport is going in the wrong direction by not evolving with time. The 38-year-old is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men’s tennis in the singles category, having won as many as 22 Grand Slam titles.

Nadal, who is also known as the ‘King of Clay’ after winning as many as 14 French Open titles, retired from the sport last year after participating in the Davis Cup. The 22-time Grand Slam winner was quoted in a report by Tennis 365, where he spoke about the future of the sport.

Nadal was of the opinion that tennis must try and evolve with time or it will be left behind. The former world number one highlighted how the rules of the sport stayed the same throughout history, which can become a big problem in the near future. Nadal stated that service has a decisive impact in the current rules, something that has to change considering that players are getting ‘taller’ and are ‘moving better’. He also stated that the time is not far when a player who will be impossible to break against will come.

“Tennis has not changed anything in terms of rules throughout its history,” he said. "People are getting taller and moving better. The serve has a decisive impact. If that power isn’t limited, someone over two metres tall with good mobility will come along, and you won’t be able to compete against them, you won’t be able to get a break. That day, for the moment, has not arrived yet. Djokovic reached a final two days ago; I was competing a year and a half ago… it leads me to think that the change has not yet been so abrupt because we have continued to have a chance of success.”