Rafael Nadal: Endorsements | Investments | Charity Work

This article contains information about Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal’s brand endorsements, investments and notable charity work.

Also read: Growing up watching Federer

Endorsements

Rafael Nadal’s current sponsors and brand endorsements: Saudi Tennis Federation, Kia Motors, Nike, Richard Mille, Babolat, Cantabria Labs, Banco Santander, Telefónica, Amstel Ultra, Infosys

Saudi Tennis Federation

In January 2024, Rafael Nadal was named a brand ambassador of the Saudi Tennis Federation.

As per the agreement, Nadal is to spend time with the young tennis stars of Saudi Arabia and help grow the sport in the country. He is also to look for plans to expand and possibly set up Rafa Nadal Academy centres in the Arab nation.

Kia Motors

Kia and Rafael Nadal started their journey in 2004. In 2006, the Seoul-headquartered automaker made Nadal its global ambassador.

With Nadal’s contract expiring in 2020, Kia let its fans have a say in offering a contract extension to the Spaniard; a renewal was promptly requested, which would see Nadal remain Kia’s global ambassador till 2025, taking the Kia-Nadal partnership beyond the 20-year mark.

Nike

Nike has sponsored Nadal since he was 13. As their ten-year long partnership was coming to an end in 2018, many believed Rafa would jump ship for a bigger pay, like his rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, but he put all those rumours to bed when he extended his contract with Nike for a further five years. The deal reportedly sees Nadal rake in around US$10 million in guaranteed payment. 

Richard Mille

In 2010, Richard Mille roped in Rafael Nadal as a brand ambassador. To mark the tenth anniversary of its partnership with the Spaniard, Richard Mille released the “RM 27-04” watch ahead of the 2020 French Open. The watch weighs just 30 grams, making it the lightest tourbillon in the world, but costs a whopping US$1.05 million.

Babolat

Babolat is a famous French sports equipment company. It has been sponsoring Nadal since he was a nine-year-old junior player.

Nadal started his junior career with the Pure Drive racquet, which helped Babolat’s R&D department to develop better Pure Aero racquets. Nadal currently uses the Aero Pro Drive racquet, which is top-spin heavy and generates power that suits Nadal’s playing style.

Cantabria Labs

Nadal started endorsing Cantabria Labs in May 2019. The company uses Rafa’s image to promote its skincare products under the tagline “Give Your All for What Matters Never to the Sun”.

Interestingly, the Rafael Nadal Foundation and the Rafa Nadal Academy are also part of the deal, though the financial details of the agreement remain undisclosed.

Banco Santander

Banco Santander is a Spanish company that offers banking and financial services.

The Santander Group signed a long-term deal with Nadal in 2019. The bank also appointed him as a brand ambassador. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed by either party.

Telefónica

Telefónica is a Madrid-based telecommunication company. Nadal was appointed as one of its brand ambassadors when the two signed a sponsorship pact in 2014.

After the deal expired in May 2020, Telefónica offered a five-year extension to Nadal in October 2020. Set up in different regions of the world, one of Telefónica’s many subsidiaries, Movistar, helped Nadal to establish his tennis academy in Manacor and named it “Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar”.

Amstel Ultra

Amstel Ultra, a low-carb, low-calorie light beer, appointed Rafael Nadal as a global ambassador for its growing lifestyle products.

The three-year deal, signed in April 2021, sees Nadal endorse a beer brand for the first time. The agreement sees Nadal feature in a variety of global marketing campaigns for Amstel Ultra, with a vision to create a production line suited to a more balanced and active lifestyle.

Infosys

In August 2023, Nadal was announced as a brand ambassador of Indian digital services and consulting firm Infosys. Serving as the company’s ambassador for Digital Innovation, Nadal partnered with Infosys to develop an AI-powered match analysis tool, which Nadal’s team uses use to get insights.

Also Read – Novak Djokovic – Sponsors | Endorsements | Investments | Charity Work

Other Deals

Special Olympics

Nadal often shares his support for athletes participating in the Special Olympics, which is a non-profit organisation aimed to provide opportunities to athletes with intellectual disabilities. Nadal also promotes the cause and appears in videos to help inspire these athletes.

Louis Vuitton

Nadal teamed up with close friend and tennis legend Roger Federer to take part in the “Core Values” campaign for popular fashion brand Louis Vuitton.

This campaign was initially launched in 2007 and has featured several stars, including Angelina Jolie, Bono, Sean Connery, Steffi Graf, Keith Richards, and Muhammad Ali among others.

Rafa Nadal Academy

The Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar was established by the Spanish tennis icon in 2016 and is located in his hometown of Manacor. The organisation provides various tennis and padel camps to children and adults alike in order to help them better their skills. Nadal often promotes the academy via Instagram.

Tamdeen Group

The Rafael Nadal Academy by Movistar agreed to a deal with Kuwait’s mixed-use property developer Tamdeen Group in November 2019 to launch the biggest international tennis academy in the Middle East. In addition to coaching facilities, the academy also has a fitness centre and a healthy F&B lounge. 

E1 Series

Rafael Nadal joined the UIM E1 World Championship, the world’s first all-electric raceboat championship, in January 2023. He participated with his own team in the championship while also supporting E1’s “Blue Action” programme, which is created to ensure a positive impact on local communities and the restoration of the marine ecosystem through clean mobility.

Subway

Rafael Nadal teamed with NBA star Steph Curry to promote popular sandwich company Sunway’s “Grand Slam Ham” in July 2023. The two superstars featured in an ad campaign for the brand and even promoted it on their respective social media handles.

Zel Hotels

In December 2022, Nadal ventured into the realm of the hotel business, opening his new brand “Zel” in Madrid.

Zel is a group of urban hotels and resorts that will slowly spread across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and America. The company has been tasked by Nadal with opening over 20 hotels by 2027.

Past deals

Mapfre

Mapfre is a Spanish insurance company that offers life and property insurance services.

After signing a long-term deal with Nadal, Mapfre started offering scholarships to junior tennis players and also organised the Rafael Nadal Junior tennis circuit tournament in 2014 to raise funds for Nadal’s charity organisation.

Mapfre offered a contract extension to Nadal in 2017, and the two celebrated the tenth anniversary of their partnership in May 2020, which has since ended.

Fanjolt

A few weeks before his record 21st Grand Slam title win at the 2022 Australian Open, Nadal announced his partnership with Fanjolt, an app through which users can interact with any celebrity anywhere, anytime in the world. 

The release of the app remained on hold until a video starring Nadal dropped. Although he didn’t announce the date for his broadcasting with the app, Nadal did provide a method for the fans to get more involved, while also announcing some special prizes and giveaways via social media. 

Tommy Hilfiger

The famous American clothing, footwear and accessories brand appointed the Spaniard as its global ambassador in 2014. The deal was reportedly worth between US$2–3 million for a duration of two years.

Nadal helped launch the brand’s then-latest line of underwear and tailored collections worldwide.

Mueller Sports Medicine

As the name suggests, Mueller Sports sell sports medicine for athletes. The brand signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Nadal in 2014. While under contract, Nadal endorsed Mueller’s abrasion control products. The contract expired in 2017.

Banco Sabadell

The Spanish banking and financial services company appointed Rafael Nadal as a brand ambassador in 2014. The contract expired in 2019 and was not renewed as Nadal signed up with Sabadell’s rival bank, Santander.

Also read: Naomi Osaka: From a shy youngster to a global voice

Investments

• In 2016, Nadal opened the Rafa Nadal Academy in his hometown of Manacor, Spain. According to reports, it costs kids US$62,000 to enrol at the academy, which makes it a lucrative venture for Nadal. For that price, students are provided with lodging and food apart from training and education. The academy also has a fitness centre, as well as a wellness spa.
• Nadal, along with singer Enrique Iglesias and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, has invested in a Spanish restaurant chain called “TATEL”. The first TATEL restaurant was opened in Madrid, followed by two others in Ibiza and Miami. Another one was recently opened in Beverly Hills.
• In 2018, Nadal put his Italian-built MCY 76 luxury yacht, Beethoven, up for sale for US$3 million. Later in 2020, Nadal bought a Sunreef catamaran for an undisclosed price.
• Rafa owns multiple homes, including his home in Majorca, which is worth around US$1.5 million, while he also owns a luxury villa in the Dominican Republic, which he purchased for US$2 million.
• Nadal opened the first Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre in 2018, located at the Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa in Mexico. The centre is available to local residents, with training facilities provided for adults and children, including workshops and private classes.
• In 2019, Rafa opened his second tennis centre in the Sani Resort in Greece. With eight clay courts, the site offers an exclusive deal — to be trained by Nadal’s uncle and former coach, Toni Nadal.
• In Janaury 2023, Nadal became a team owner in E1’s electric racing league. He supports E1’s Blue Action Progamme, designed to protect and restore marine environments near cities that will be involved in the championship.
• Through his holding company Aspemir, Nadal controls 20 companies.

Charity work

• The creation of the Fundación Rafa Nadal took place in November 2007. The organisation’s work focuses on social work and development aid particularly for children and youth.
• In October 2010, struck hard by the poverty in India, Nadal made his first visit to his tennis academy for underprivileged children at Anantapur Sports Village, Andhra Pradesh. His foundation has also worked in the Anantapur Educational Center Project with the Vicente Ferrer Foundation.
• Nadal opened his tennis academy centre to the flood victims of Majorca in 2018. One day after the floods, Nadal was seen working with some of his friends to help the victims. He later donated €1 million for rebuilding Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, the town most affected by floods. He also organised other charitable activities, such as the Olazábal & Nadal charity golf tournament.
• Nadal also supports or has supported other charities like City Harvest, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, and Small Steps Project.