Rafael Nadal Plays Online Poker, Wins A Hand A Minute For 60 Minutes?

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 4th February 2014

Rafael Nadal Plays Online Poker, Wins A Hand A Minute For 60 Minutes?

epa04042395 Rafael Nadal of Spain speaks to the crowd after losing his match against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in the men's final at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 26 January 2014. EPA/MARK DADSWELL AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

As he waits to see if his back injury from the Australian Open final will allow him to travel to South American later in the week to resume on the ATP, Rafael Nadal has taken a time at home in Mallorca to play some charity hands for sponsor PokerStars.

The world No. 1 took on Spain’s online poker community for 3,000 euros ($4,100) per hand in the Zoom poker contest on the website, Under the rules, he played for one hour against all comers. For every hand he won, he would earn a point and the 3,000 euros would go to charity; if the opponent won, the point went to Spain, giving those online the chance to split each pot won.

In addition to trying to concentrate on his virtual cards, Nadal’s task was made the more complicated as he engaged in online chats on Twitter and Facebook during the proceedings as well. The event was also webcast, with opponents getting a look at the tennis player’s expressions and body language, another big advantage to the anonymous punters.

But despite all the obstacles, Nadal came up a winner, playing 75 hands in 60 minutes and winning two-thirds of them. When time was called, Nadal had taken on and defeated Spain – and all for a good cause – the Good Hand Project charity, which aids young people in the search for employment in the crisis-hit country.

Topics: 10sballs, Online Poker, PokerStars, Rafael Nadal, Tennis