17 hours Ago By Santiago Carneri
Ex-chair umpire reveals just how tough it was to officiate Rafa Nadal: “He was always on the edge – I really felt for him”. Spanish chair umpire Jaume Campistol, who stepped away from professional tennis officiating in 2024, has opened up about the challenges of refereeing Rafael Nadal – and it turns out he didn’t exactly enjoy it. Speaking to Mundo Deportivo , Campistol admitted: “He made me really nervous.
” “Because we’re both Spanish, I didn’t get to umpire him that often. He was always honest and humble, but I didn’t like officiating his matches – I’d get really nervous about the time violations”, said Jaume. Most Read on Euro Weekly News No more individual jams or butters in Spain 5 mistakes expats make buying a home in Spain Is your Spanish bank account at risk? What the Bank of Spain just said Over a 15-year career that saw him officiate a staggering 2,318 matches – including appearances at four Olympic Games and seven Grand Slam finals – Campistol became one of the most respected figures in the game.
This year, he was honoured at the Barcelona Open (Godó) for his contributions to the sport. “He was always pushing it to the limit, and I felt bad for him because sometimes he wouldn’t make it in time and I’d have to penalise him”, he added. Though Nadal has been retired for a few months now, opinions about the legendary Spaniard still pour in – and they likely will for years to come.
After all, with 14 titles at Roland-Garros, Nadal’s legacy is unmatched. Campistol, now 37, became the latest to share his perspective on the man from Manacor. Despite his impressive CV and having achieved the sport’s highest umpiring status – the gold badge – Campistol admitted he found officiating Nadal particularly nerve-wracking.
“That’s the job of the umpire, though – you’ve got to stick to the rules. Still, it made me tense being so strict with someone like him. But we always told him: if the others can stick to the time rules, you’ve got to learn to adapt too”.
Rafael Nadal is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Born in Mallorca, Spain, he turned professional at just 15 and quickly rose through the ranks with his trademark grit, speed, and topspin-heavy forehand. Nadal has won 22 Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 French Open crowns, earning him the nickname “King of Clay.
” Known for his fierce competitiveness and humility on and off the court, he has also secured Olympic gold medals in both singles and doubles, and played a key role in multiple Davis Cup victories for Spain. Injuries frequently challenged his career , but his resilience and fighting spirit made him a global icon in sport..
