Well, for those of you who—like us—believed that Rafael Nadal, that engine of zen calm and focus, had never EVER smashed a racquet before, we now have proof that he has (sort of).
Challenge Complete- A Rafa Racquet smash (not a big one but it has never been seen before or since)- this was taken in 2009 during serve practice #Rafatude #RafaelNadal #RacquetSmash #RacquetAbuse #violation
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Reportedly the video was taken in 2009 in practice in Miami (thanks to HappySlamTennis for posting, and for waiting over five years to do so? Huh?). Sightings such as this are nearly as rare as seeing albino tigers at shopping malls in the suburbs of America. Could there be more rogue footage of Nadal misbehaving to come? Or is a one in a million video capture destined to live forever in infamy?