06/06/2026
Rafael Nadal's legend continues to grow, even though nearly two years have passed since his retirement. His name belongs among the greatest figures in sports history, not only because of his 22 Grand Slam titlesāone of the finest achievements everābut also because he represents perseverance, sportsmanship, and strong personal values. Resilience defined his career, which was filled with moments of glory as well as pain, a reality portrayed more vividly than ever in RAFA, the Netflix documentary that has just been presented in New York, where Nadal took part in a highly talked-about discussion event.
Just one week after its release, RAFA has climbed into Netflix's list of most-watched titles. Across four episodes, the documentary traces an extraordinary sporting career, featuring never-before-seen moments and testimonials from the people who know him best: his wife, his parents, his physiotherapist, and others. As Nadal told ”HOLA!, the series showcases not only his evolution as an athlete but also the lesser-known side of his legacy. This deeply personal project has now arrived in the United States, accompanied by a special screening and discussion attended by numerous well-known figures who are, above all, admirers of the tennis icon from Mallorca.
Among the guests was Anna Wintour, one of the most influential women in fashion and the inspiration behind Meryl Streepās character in The Devil Wears Prada films. The Met Gala director, who spent nearly four decades as editor-in-chief of the American edition of Vogue, is a passionate tennis fan. She is frequently seen at tournaments such as Roland Garros and has supported Nadal throughout many of his matches, making her presence at the event unsurprising. Their photograph together became an unexpected crossover that captured everyone's attention.
Other attendees included comedian Alex Moffat, actor John Leguizamo, actor Liev Schreiber and his partner Taylor Neisen, television host Seth Meyers, and documentary director Zach Heinzerling. Nadal and Heinzerling participated in a discussion that delighted the audience. Reflecting on the project, Heinzerling said: āIn Rafaās story, victory is expected; what surprised me was his willingness to reveal the uncertainty and vulnerability behind that greatness.ā
Other Plans in the City That Never Sleeps
During his stay in New York City, the Marquess of Llevant also appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Meyers had attended the documentary's premiere in Madrid, as he is the brother-in-law of director Zach Heinzerling, who has won an Emmy and received an Oscar nomination.
On the NBC show, Nadal admitted that he initially had reservations about making the documentary.
āTo be honest, yes. I turned it down many times before,ā he said. āI was concerned about disturbing my people, my family, and my team. More than for myself, I worried about them and their private space.ā
After rejecting several similar proposals, he eventually agreed to participate because of a conversation with producer David Ellison.
āI had a great conversation with David Ellison a few years ago, and somehow he convinced me. He told me he had spoken with Zach, whom he greatly admired as a director, and that we were going to create something special. In the end, I agreed.ā
Nadal is pleased with both the final result and the overall experience, although he acknowledges that it was a significant challenge.
āEspecially at the beginning, because you're not used to having cameras in your home or at work. Opening your home and your professional life to others is complicated at first, and it was a major challenge.ā
A Week of Celebrations
It has been an intense and emotional week for Rafael Nadal, who recently celebrated his 40th birthday surrounded by the most important people in his life at his home in Porto Cristo, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
His parents, SebastiĆ”n Nadal and Ana MarĆa Parera, his sister Maribel, and other close family members surprised him with an intimate celebration complete with balloons, a birthday cake, and a rendition of āHappy Birthday.ā While such scenes may be ordinary for many people, they hold special meaning for Nadal. Throughout most of his life, his birthdays on June 3 were usually defined by training sessions, competitions, and the demands of professional tennis.