Video: Rafael Nadal Plays Poker vs. Pros at Indian Wells

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Video: Rafael Nadal Plays Poker vs. Pros at Indian Wells

Rafael Nadal put on his poker face dealing with a double draws at Indian Wells this week.

Video: Monaco's Tweener Lob

Nadal, who is a PokerStars ambassador, took time out from his run to the BNP Paribas Open round of 16 to take on poker pros Vanessa Selbst and Melanie Weisner and L.A. Times columnist Bill Dwyre.

"I enjoy playing [poker] online," Nadal told the group, adding he started playing poker with friends and family in Mallorca.

Pointing out both poker and tennis demand concentration and mental discipline, Rafa said he believes it's a time of transition for tennis.

"Things are changing a lot in tennis," Nadal said. "Because before the game was a little bit different. Now, it's so quick. For a young kid probably the first two shots [serve and return] are most important. Serve and return and first one who plays aggressive, especially on a hard court, has much better chances than the other. And that's what's gonna be in the future, I think."

Currently second on the ATP Tour in return games won (36 percent), Nadal continues to defend his own second serve with vigor. He is fourth on the ATP in second-serve points won (58 percent) this season, but downplays his own serve.

"I don't have a good serve, no," Nadal said. "But the thing is today, if you don't have a great serve today, you play under a lot of pressure all the time."

Is Rafa bluffing? Or does he really question his serve strength. What do you think?

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