The world economy may be in a free fall, but Rafael Nadal’s star continues to rise—and he’s reaping the financial rewards.
Last Sunday, the world No. 1 and his uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, were honored at halftime of a Real Mallorca soccer match. At an on-field ceremony, the pair was presented with gold pins bearing the team’s insignia. Event officials commended the Nadals for “the amazing journey they’ve had together in their professional careers, which has taken them to the top of the world rankings and has made Rafa the best Spanish sportsman in history.”
Earlier last week, Rafa attended a press conference in Madrid for one of his new sponsors, a Spanish insurance company called Mapfre, before heading to Mallorca to shoot a commercial for Kia Motors.
A red-and-white-clad Nadal was filmed both playing on a clay court and posing with a red sport Kia hatchback. His girlfriend, Xisca Perello, was on hand for the shoot.
Nadal has also been tapped to take part in a 9 million Euro ($11.5 million) campaign to promote tourism to Spain’s Balearic Islands. The 22-year-old Mallorca native inked the three-year deal in January, and currently stars in an ad featuring green-screen technology and computer-generated animation. The Balearic Islands commercial is running in Germany now, and will debut in the United Kingdom in March.
Another sign that Senor Numero Uno has reached the superstardom stratosphere: his role in Nike’s new “V Is for Victory” campaign. In the ads, a bare-chested and clay-coated Rafa emerges from a cloud of red dust with a “V” on his torso.
The reigning French Open, Wimbledon, and Australian Open champion, who signed on to promote French design house Lanvin last October, will appear in print ads for the company’s L’homme Sport cologne, set for a release this summer.
Nadal is currently at home in Mallorca resting the bum knee the bothered him in his Feb. 15 loss to Andy Murray in the Rotterdam final. Nadal is expected to be back in action next week, when Spain hosts Serbia in Davis Cup.