Dr. Rafa: Nadal Receives Honorary Doctorate from University of Salamanca
By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, October 3, 2025
Photo credit: Rafael Nadal Instagram/University of Salamanca
The King of Clay is now an Honorary Doctor.
Rafael Nadal received a historic Honorary Doctorate from the University of Salamanca during the graduation ceremony in front of the University’s esteemed faculty today.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion credited his family, his global travels and his dedication as a professional tennis player with the life lessons that helped him rise to world No. 1 and shaped his world-view outlook.
Nadal shared these images from the ceremony as well as his thoughts on becoming the first professional athlete to receive an Honorary Doctorate today.
The 39-year-old Spanish superstar said sport has taught him mutual respect and can “be a bridge and meeting space that promotes coexistence, cordiality and mutual respect.”
“It teaches us to respect the opponent, to compete with intensity and sportsmanship, and to celebrate not only our victories, but also to respect and value the effort of others,” Nadal said.
“In a world that seems to be constantly dividing and polarizing, I firmly believe that sport can be a bridge and a meeting space that promotes coexistence, cordiality, and mutual respect.”
In a powerful and emotional acceptance speech, Nadal quoted former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela in remarks he made to the Laureus Sports Foundation more than 20 years ago.
“Sport can create hope where before there was only despair,” Nadal said, quoting Nelson Mandela in his address.
Afterward, Nadal said his success was sparked by more than big dreams.
It was his daily drive to work toward self-improvement and paying attention to small details that helped him develop into an iconic champion and one of a handful of elite champions who achieved the career Golden Slam.
“Nothing is achieved without daily effort, without commitment and without taking care of the small details, it is of little use to dream big if you do not work with intensity and with clear objectives on a daily basis,” Nadal told Spanish media. “It is the routine and the constant and silent effort where the great successes really begin to be forged.”
Nadal reiterated his belief that his family values created the fundamental foundation that carried him through a distinguished career.
“It was a very valuable learning to understand and internalize that true ambition does not only consist in wanting to achieve a goal,” Nadal said. “But in trying to improve yourself every day without ever losing sight of what really matters, the values that they taught me as a family.”
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