Rafael Nadal's Final Practice Session at Indian Wells (2024) [4k 60fps]

[@12kgpTennis]

Raw footage taken was over an hour long, but I trimmed out a lot as Rafa's hitting was rough at times. As always, thanks for watching, and feel free to leave a comment if there's any particular player you'd like video of.

[@LiamApilado]

Good to know as it can create a false idea that the pros are absolutely perfect when only the good is shown. Enjoy IW!

[@leechin6219]

Do you think it was an off night, or he looked rusty?

[@livingtribunal4110]

@@leechin6219 Rusty? He´s not exactly been _active_ in the last 12 months.

[@Jackie-ji2sj]

​@@livingtribunal4110rusty then

[@nguyen925]

Yeah you can sort of see as some of the points entail that Nadals timing is a little off but I can't even begin to fathom how well he'll hit when he's back. I'm hoping he takes a grand slam away or two from Novak. I would love to see carlos and him playing healthy at the French Open ❤🎉

[@Mewborne89]

I was watching this last night right next to him through the gate and the guy is just incredible. Seen him play a couple times before but last night was different. People were mesmerized almost. Really made you appreciate the greatness of him since it could be his last time here.

[@Ciclopea2]

Always nice to see him after a long absence, hope he's doing better healthwise 👍

[@MrDeuceify]

He just retired from Indian Wells

[@Ciclopea2]

@@MrDeuceify I know 💔

[@Peaceful13]

I left Indian wells early yesterday . Didn't know he was practicing. Soo mad I missed this. Thanks for upload ❤

[@12kgpTennis]

He was a very late add to the practice schedule. I was originally planning on being gone by the time the practice session started, but obviously changed plans when I saw him added.

[@Olly_2024_]

@@12kgpTennisdo you know if he was serving? I seen a video, and he was hitting it VERY lightly

[@12kgpTennis]

@Olly_2024_ I left before the practice session ended as I had other plans to attend to. From past practice sessions, I would've expected him to practice serves and returns towards the end of the practice session, but I had to leave before then.

[@stevesworld9680]

Great video of the GOAT. Thank you for sharing for those of us who missed yesterday.

[@1233.-6]

Respect from a Nole fan. All the best!

[@LiamApilado]

Chefs kiss 🤌

[@LiamApilado]

So interesting that you can really see a difference in his forehand take back in just a short amount of time. Whether they are good or bad changes, only time will tell.

[@varun9366]

Higher takeback right ? or is there anything else ?

[@angejo5591]

I don’t see too many changes, what do you see?

[@coquillage8211]

Flexion of the wrist, he tried the same thing in 2009 btw, in 2010 he went back to wrist extension on his takeback @@angejo5591

[@a_goblue2023]

He always hits a bit harder and flatter in practice, he did change his swing a bit after 2021, but I don’t notice much of a difference from normal practice Rafa

[@tircek1233]

@@a_goblue2023 whats the point playing different than practice?

[@anthonylam909]

Intensity is still there. Hopefully he gets far this Indian Wells. Best of luck Rafa! VAMOS!

[@alejandrockalejo]

"intensity" against two literal whos! LMAOOOO

[@roxy0608]

@@alejandrockalejoYou obviously don’t know anything about tennis! Hitting winners in half-court against two players, both of whom have been pros in the past, is amazing! And, his precision at the pace that he’s hitting the ball; and his amazing slice…Go learn to appreciate greatness!!

[@huzcer]

​​@@roxy0608then pulled out when he saw that he was in Djokovic's half 😂

[@willkittwk]

Unfortunately the way he hits with a lot of topspin is geared for long rallies and wearing your opponent down visa vi clay courts. This also wears an older player down as it becomes an arduous task to dish it out. Rafa has done extremely well and stayed in the game longer than anyone with his style of play a baseline counter attacker who hits lots and lots of balls to win points. He'd have to flatten his shots often and attack the net more now to stay in the game. But I don't think he wants to do that. Fed did it but Fed had a great serve and Rafa has more of a set-up stabilizer type serve.

[@AllgoodthingsTv]

He's retiring from Indian Wells 😫 Just saw it on his socials.

[@t81629]

Saw it too

[@huzcer]

was in Djokovic's half 😂

[@jm7804]

@@huzcer Of course the toxic Nole fans have to make every single tennis thread about Novak. No one cares dude. He's far and away the most hated person in tennis.

[@huzcer]

@@jm7804 Raf-al Nad-al bin Saudal the Saudi Ambassador for tennis flew over to take the money for his 200k/ hour training sessions in Las Vegas and the Netflix exhibition match but now has been recalled by his Saudi Regime masters to report for duty. he's "obsessed" with pertrodollars!

[@huzcer]

@@jm7804 Raf-al Nad-al bin Saudal was recalled and had to report for duty in Saudi Arabia. "Obsessed" by pertrodollars.

[@Enjoywatchingyoutube8227]

Rafa feet never stop moving, always preparing to be in right position

[@josephandersen5325]

Great video...thanks so much!

[@Zenon-fg4dw]

Even though he is not hundred percent and also the fact that he is 37 years old, you can kinda tell how and why he came to dominate the sport. His movement and footwork, his good hands and free wheeling ground strokes, the angles he can create to widen the court, and comfort level from all areas of the court. It’s too bad that he cannot leave the sport on his own terms. But I guess not many athletes do.

[@draconis228]

every year, every indian wells, you always deliver!!

[@huzcer]

Then pulled out when he saw that he was in Djokovic's half 😂

[@eincan1313]

@@huzcerHe pulled because of his back, not because of Novak 😂😂. Didn’t matter anyway after Novak’s crap performance against Nardi who was ranked #138.

[@huzcer]

@@eincan1313 But.... Nadal has lost 19 sets in a row on hardcourt against Djokovic hasn't he... hasn't been able to win a match anywhere off clay against Djokovic in over a full decade - 10-0 and in the same time it's 7-5 to Nadal on clay.... Nadal knows that the GOAT race is lost - that's why Nadal lost his mind with jealously after Djokovic won the US Open 2023 and started saying all that rubbish. then became the Saudi Arabia Tennis Ambassador 😂

[@eincan1313]

@@huzcer Not sure what your point is, it is pretty established that Novak is the best ever. I merely stated to the other poster that Rafa did not pull out because of the “fear” of facing Novak. It is a ridiculous statement. I don’t understand the intensity of Novak fans in hating Rafa. Why, what is the purpose? I like them both and have enjoyed watching their careers.

[@huzcer]

@@eincan1313 well when you consider that there are more than double the number of big title events on the ATP Tour on hardcourt compared to clay yet "somehow" Djokovic and Nadal have played more matches on clay than on hardcourt? Nadal when he kicked Djokovic when he was down and screwed over by the Australians in 2022 after being told to come over was pure snivelling behaviour - that's what did it for a lot of Djokovic fans. But as the saying goes "never kick a man when you are down as karma has a way of turning things around".

[@DanielKirillov-iv3ww]

Master at work.

[@ppv1780]

Thanks for the video, perfect angle, could you keep us updated if he practices today or if he plays a practice match ? Would be awesome as a Rafa fan.

[@Vilmir]

Enjoy these footages of Djoko and Rafa training hard while we still can. Amazing movements.

[@peace4myheart]

Welcome back, Rafa. I hope you will play well and stay healthy so you can make a run at the French Open one last time.

[@LiamApilado]

This is maybe the last we will see of Rafa at Indian Wells ever as he’s just pulled out :(

[@pawelfronczyk1579]

Priceless video, Rafa's last time in the desert.

[@Jackie-ji2sj]

I ALWAYS BACK RAFAEL AGAINST ANYBODY IN ANY TOURNAMENT IF HE IS ABLE TO MOVE WITHOUT HINDERANCE. VAMOS RAFAEL ❤

[@Lucas51192]

Hasn't won a single set versus the GOAT Novak Djokovic on hardcourts since 2013 tho

[@sandeepshahrao1985]

Thank you for Such Great Views. Need More View like this to Train both my Kids for their Future in Tennis😘

[@sandeepshahrao1985]

Need More view Like This Going Forward for Better Practice

[@cormorant_on_arock7934]

still wearing the best tennis shoe of all time! the Zoom Cage 3

[@baldassarealessi1007]

Thank you 12Kgp- Tennis Training Practice of Rafael Nadal brilliant.

[@TLDel]

I've trained with former ATP Tour pros, such as Vince Spadea and Ronald Agenor. But this...this is a whole other ball game. I want to feel the weight of his shots.

[@mgxzazfbyjuchrisclarkvpz236]

You know a guy named Levar Harper Griffith? Former pro who trained with Spadea too

[@arethaball2737]

Excellent tennis player take time and let your body heal you will be back and win some slams .

[@danielefaroni2580]

FANTASTICO IL RE DEL CAMPO

[@benlewis8047]

Best forehand in tennis history right there

[@TheseHoesAreLoyal]

Yeah, not by a long shot.

[@miguelrc3234]

Vamos Rafa ! Es el comienzo looks strong

[@shadowyshutterbug]

I'm the guy in the orange shirt in the upper left stands. Electrifying hitting. Couldn't believe he withdrew the next day.

[@willkittwk]

Looked like practice to me. But looked "electrifying" to you. Alrighty then 👍🎾

[@shadowyshutterbug]

@@willkittwk were you there live?

[@willkittwk]

@@shadowyshutterbug yeah they're just hitting the tennis ball back and forth. Now watching batting practice at a MLB game now that's dope seeing balls fly into the stands.👑😎

[@willkittwk]

You just got outta jail and went to the courts still wearing that orange jumpsuit. 😂

[@shadowyshutterbug]

@@willkittwk ok goofball

[@salatatoe6812]

Finally some real coirt level footage

[@aca8638]

Nadal looking supreme good!

[@dyermaker6296]

although he has won 22 slams, he keeps trying to improve his forehand with variations of the gesture, he is always seeking perfection in his tennis, if he had not been so heavily injured he would have him the slam record

[@AsherSchonfeld]

I would love to see Lorenzo Musetti!! That would be much appreciated. I love your vids and I love the angle you provide on tennis

[@huzcer]

The only 1hbh player under 25 in the Top 100. It's really dead

[@12kgpTennis]

Thanks for watching. I do have some Musetti footage from 3 different practice sessions that I frankly wasn't planning on uploading and shot more for my personal collection as I like his 1 handed backhand. It's not a ton of footage, but I'll have to go back and look thru the videos to see if I get edit/weave them into something workable and upload it for you. He and Khachanov were striking the ball nicely during their practice session this past Wednesday.

[@just.for.the.downshifts]

Fed fan here.. Really hate your guts... But its nice to see you back on court tbh.. All the best Rafa 👊

[@bedfordotey8979]

anyone know what was he saying from 2:05 - 2:16? Curious...

[@bedfordotey8979]

and again from 3:05 - 3:22?

[@joaquin_andresc]

Coach: Try to get in and out, in and out. Don't miss either, you see? RAFA: Of course, I wasn't thinking about that now. Now I'm doing it, I had forgotten man. Coach: don't give more importance to one or the other, the same.

[@NilofarCOD]

11:14 This shot hurt to watch :( Younger Rafa would have destroyed that inside out forehand. But we can tell that he is slower now 😢

[@poisenopinionator]

Def slower, but I think the ball rose much higher than he was anticipating. So to some degree your sadness I think should be alleviated by the fact that he's still getting used to the conditions/court. Vamos rafa

[@kakashihatake1029]

​@poisenopinionator I think he knew the ball was going to rise up as he was moving. Looked to me like he was preparing to just push it back into play knowing that

[@tbiliseligringoebi]

No, he wouldn’t have, that ball was way too far. That’s a nostalgia bias and illusion. He hasn’t lost speed at all. Tennis isn’t sprinting, it’s about lateral movements and Nadal is still very quick on his feet when not injured.

[@pdcdesign9632]

This is practice dude. Rafa need to save his body for real matches.

[@superx1457]

​@@tbiliseligringoebihe has lost so much speed 😂. Vulnerable to every decent drop shot.

[@tennisjourney]

Just saw that he withdrew from IW. Feel Better Champ🐐

[@teomanturkan8228]

By far the best forehand in tennis history.

[@logicrule]

did he change his forehand? Looks a bit more hitchy now

[@dvr3ddy]

Hi! Great footage. What camera and mount are you using? Looking to video some myself as well.

[@chobeculebro]

Este juego fue su última participación en IW, lo siento por los que compraron boleto esperando verlo jugar vs Raonic

[@angelatanurdzic7508]

Nice practice..

[@romahreeoh5253]

Get well soon Rafa!

[@laika25]

Was it easy to get this (WONDERFUL) footage? Cellphone on a tripod? Thanks.

[@12kgpTennis]

Thanks for watching. It's just an old iPhone. You need something with a small lens b/c it's a small gap/hole you'll be shooting through. No tripod. Shooting the video itself isn't that bad. It's more being able to find a decent spot b/c the crowd can be really big for the popular players.

[@laika25]

@@12kgpTennis Great video!

[@knine1652]

Didn't help that he had to hit with those two charity cases. Did they win a "hit with Rafa" contest?

[@bottledwaterss]

He retired from the event... just annouced in the past few hours :(

[@levelsetgo5331]

Has he always had such a high grip on his volleys?

[@ernesto8920]

Yes

[@ernesto8920]

At least for the last 5 years, he covers less distance but has more control

[@justusbeweel1109]

Yup, also on the slice. His racket is not very nice to slice/Volley with imo. Great for topspin, terrible for backspin .

[@CasualSome1]

He did not seem to struggle in this training session... why did he withdraw from competing in this tournament?!?!

[@Jannick999]

Come on... Nadal is spending more time in hospitals than George Cloneey when he was doing 😮 E.R.

[@laika25]

Who was his "sparring " do you know?

[@Pauleberger07]

why he is holding his racket in middle at the volleys?

[@かなりえずきスラム常盤平団地]

ナグル選手！すげえわ！

[@zaitjz]

El viejo Rafa se bajo de Indian Wells 😢 esperamos verlo pronto por última vez

[@Joejoe-uo1qo]

Can anyone translate what he is saying?

[@lg20a1]

0:58 trainer:these are good tennis balls. Nadal: are you sure? Trainer: yes yes, very different than the others. 2:03 trainer: get in and get out, get in and get out, don't miss any of the two. Nadal: yes I'm doing it again a little bit, these last ones I forgot about it man, when I started I wasn't thinking about it. Trainer: nah, but I'm just saying don't give more importance to one than the other. 3:02 trainer: maybe, maybe you are going too fast if you slow down it will give you time to get in. Nadal:yes, the only thing is that sometimes like when I force myself to... Until I don't hit the ball very good I prefer... keeping distance even though a lot of times I can get in.

[@Joejoe-uo1qo]

@@lg20a1 i wish i spoke spanish, just to understand what Nadal is saying haha

[@lg20a1]

​​@@Joejoe-uo1qohah😂 I speak Spanish because I'm a native Spanish speaker, I think Spanish is not that hard but if you ever wanna learn it it'll take a lot of work and you probably get embarrassed if you make grammar mistakes when talking to people , or at least that what I felt when I was learning English, I've learnt English online talking with a lot of people and using Google translator, oh and school classes once a week when I was in high school

[@SorrySonny]

This is the world’s best left handed player, one of the greatest player to ever play the game, on par with Federer the most graceful, former World No.1 he holds the second best title of all time. A champion, a fighter and a true Goat!!

[@willkittwk]

When you say on a par with Fed most graceful I gotta good laugh 😂. Rafa's no doubt a great player but he looks like a Bull in the China closet in terms of graceful against Fed who is tennis poetry in motion.

[@mgxzazfbyjuchrisclarkvpz236]

Atp slowed down hard courts around 2010 which sadly led to the sorry situation of Nadal and Djokovic winning more slams and the younger generation of fans now thinking Dkoko is "goat". Total BS but nobody can now argue it accept for people who were around to see Fed play in his prime on the faster courts that suited his all court game. The slow hardcourts instead suited the aggressive baseline style of Nadal and Djokovich. The Usta did a huge disservice to the sport which was so much more varried and interesting in the it's and early 2000s. They literally killed off serve and volley as NO players today would even think of trying to play and have success. Fed got screwed of course but today's fans don't know any better. These are the fans that don't even know how good Pete Samprass and Agassi was. A player like Patrick Rafter would be lucky to have one or two slams now. Pete would be lucky to win more than 8 slams. You can't attack the net consistently against a great moving baseline on a slow court. All court game has always been the hardest style to excel at. Tennis used to have 3 court speeds but now it's slow and slower with just a few grass court tournaments. Fed should've ended his career with 25 slams and the other two guys at 15/16/17.

[@AlejandroHernandez-lq9jt]

Who are the Sparrings?

[@FrankieMg]

What shoes is he practicing with? unreleased?

[@12kgpTennis]

The old Cage 3. Rafa's worn them for a long time even after Nike discontinued them.

[@r3tr0n17]

what are those shoes ?

[@12kgpTennis]

Cage 3 which Rafa has continued to use even after they were discontinued

[@robinsoncruise2228]

is it gilles simon?

[@laika25]

Anybody can go to these training sessions??

[@12kgpTennis]

Yes, the practice courts are available to the public as long as you get access into the venue. On this particular day (2nd day of qualies before main draw started), the ground pass was $10 including free parking at the venue.

[@FloydBoudreaux]

I wish Rafa All success and hope he stays w/the baseball cap ,for the 1st time in history! LOL

[@ryestef13]

Who is he hitting with? Jules Marie? Marc Lopez? Hard to tell.

[@ppv1780]

Marc López and Gustavo I think.

[@sergiofilocamo1938]

Marc as always

[@Walkman0007]

that awkward moment you realise there is more ppl watching Nadal' training rather then a woman's finals match

[@SK-qu4wo]

And people want to cancel Djokovic because he once said that mens tennis players should earn more because the ATP brings in more spectators and money than the WTA. I haven't watched a womens final in 10 years. Who tf wants to watch that boring shit?

[@MarkSansait]

finally some 4.5 ntrp tennis

[@AustinConlon]

Over here in Iowa this is 4.0.

[@clayclifton3895]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@enesben4525]

what is the racket model guys

[@yuritoworks]

Pure Aero Rafa Origin

[@Xi_03]

What is the date of this practice ?

[@12kgpTennis]

It was Tuesday night - March 5. He was scheduled starting at 6 but showed up a little late.

[@marcofimiani8568]

Nadal che si ritira è un brutto segno per lui, ma quello che gli sta capitando capiterà prima o poi a Djokovic vista l'età, si fermerà di schianto prima o poi non si può pretendere di continuare a giocare a 37 38 anni

[@lostduckkk]

This aged well

[@omaristephens2143]

You should re-upload this with a Nagal practice video 😂

[@babylon317]

Le pega muy duro apoyandose en la pierna de atrás para generar mas parábola, su punto débil en mi opinión ya q jugadores como Djokovic o los jovenss no le daran tiempo oara ese armado.

[@vd4538]

2:05, can someone who speaks Spanish translate pls

[@ppv1780]

It’s hard to tell what exactly are they talking about but they said this: Nadal: Now I’m doing it again, these last balls. I’d forgotten about it. At the beginning I wasn’t thinking about it. Coach: Don’t give too much important to one or the other, balance it out. Then a few minutes later. Nadal: I’m hitting the ball well, I’d rather not crash and go back in. I think he’s talking about going out and in rather than going in and crashing with the ball.

[@JoseManuel-rc8sh]

coach reminding him 2 things to do (don't know exactly what) giving same importance to both. Then nadal saying he wasn't focus on that but he was starting to do it more and more

[@maux3273]

His coach reminds him to "get in and out" every time he hits. Rafa admits not being focused on that. Later in the video Rafa says that until he starts hitting well in training he doesn't start to activate his legs to go back and forth on the court to hit.

[@applesforakbar]

No Moya?

[@12kgpTennis]

Marc and Gustavo. Carlos wasn't there.

[@a_goblue2023]

Well rip Rafa at IW, sad cause I thought he looked solid

[@Flstudiog-d]

So beautiful. A shame he’s most probably gonna pull out 🤦🏼

[@Flootyy]

vamos

[@ANtr431]

He will be a tidbit for the top 10 players in the week(s) ahead.

[@poisenopinionator]

oh?

[@CHARLIE77153]

Rafa has withdrawn from Indian Wells. He is just delaying the inevitable which is retirement 😢

[@rioverde1597]

I saw him losing to Federer on a windy day. He can retire now

[@Ushgulubululum]

Im excited For the Match against Raonic . Not easy i think . But when He wins then i hope the next Match IS against Baby Mama Cry Boy Rune and Rafa crush him

[@darek85]

How the hell Nadal has Nike shoes I am trying to buy since 4 years and all the magasines are empty because they are not producung them any more? :D

[@amn6303]

Alcaraz beats sinner in the sf and nadal beats djokovic in the other sf. Alcaraz in 3 sets in the final

[@AAAATENNIS]

This comment aged like milk. 😭

[@amn6303]

@@AAAATENNIS lol he looked fine in netflix slam and warm-ups.

[@ToiletTennis]

Sad he had to drop out :(

[@ANtr431]

How many days you think he will last before retiring due to injury? I'll bet two days.

[@ANtr431]

God, not even two days...

[@RobRossiFan]

so many practicing only to withdraw before even first match

[@charlenemariecoraninmemory5130]

why he didn't even play whatta goofball

[@Jannick999]

Come on... Nadal is spending more time in hospitals than George Cloneey when he was doing 😮 E.R.

[@Stu49583]

Hitting a bit too many outs

[@moratatata]

i was like is this ppl payed to applaud his out or what 🤣🤣 he hits out and ppl are like WOOOOOOOW

[@Stu49583]

@@moratatata yes, I thought the same, this must almost be insulting to Rafa, people cheering when he hits a semi decent shot (that goes even out)

[@sdmit2000]

I can easily win vs this guy now as can all my comrades here in the comments

[@fredrit323]

The guy has become a joke , he plays 2 and half matches after a whole year off because of injuries and retires, he gets back after two months , plays an exhibition match ( for money) and retires from Indian Wells without playing a single match, citing unspecified physical problems What's going on? And don't get me started with the Saudi deal...

[@Tee3Wins]

He withdrew...

[@cormorant_on_arock7934]

F'ing A, dude! go back to the "pirate pants"!

[@SK-qu4wo]

Yeah this shit is shorter and tighter than what Agassi wore late in his career. Somebody in Nadal's camp should tell him what an embarassment those shorts are.

[@miljkoni3404]

Yeah totally right, is he man or women Longer shorts best suit him.

[@tbwatch88]

love him, but wow is he rusty. and the hitting partners? weak as. gotta be his amigos.

[@pyrofeaks]

sorry but how rafa is holding the racket at the volleys is absolute cancer.

[@koondoog4282]

all this practice just to withdraw man...

[@ValentinG23]

lol , all that practice, for nothing , at this point he’s taking the piss 😂😂

[@Anticommunism99]

He is finished

[@JH-bb8in]

he looks off

[@wavebend1474]

hes too injured...

[@interestingvideos2963]

He looks slow, stiff and off balance. He will be gone within 2 rounds.

[@Anglaide]

Gone already!

[@charlenemariecoraninmemory5130]

LOL nadal be smoked on any tennis courts now old man retire on ur yacht

[@santomandra4142]

Nadal sei vecchio è rotto ritirati lascia spazio ai giovani