Nadal Will Play In Poker Tournament

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 27th August 2013

Nadal Will Play In Poker Tournament

epa03836190 Spanish Tennis player Rafael Nadal gestures at a media interview at the US Open Tennis Arthur Ashe Kids' Day in Flushing Meadows, New York, New York, USA, 24 August 2013. The first round of the Open begins on 26 August and runs through 09 September 2013. EPA/PETER FOLEY |

Rafael Nadal will be hoping to polish his poker when he downs racquets temporarily to play in his first pro poker tournament as part of his sponsorship with the PokerStars website.

The Spanish tennis powerhouse is set to playing an event in the Czech capital of Prague, according to local media.

Nadal took up studying the game seriously during 2012 when he was sidelined for seven months with knee problems,m but has roared back on the ATP since returning in February to now threaten for the year-end world No. 1 ranking.

He’s unlikely to be enjoying that kind of success at the poker table in what is being billed as his rookie outing. He is set to play in the European Poker Tour stop December 8-18.

There are several possibilities for Nadal to participate, either in the official competition or a separate fringe. To honor the tennis ace, a documentary on Nadal’s tennis career will be screened at the poker tournament. He even has a poker coach, Alfonso Cardalda, who praised his pupil: “When he started playing poker, he only had the very basics of the game. But his competitive nature meant he quickly improved.”

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp, nadal, Sports, Tennis