Shocking! The 'God of Clay' who commanded the court, now gaunt after retirement — fans express concern: "Is he sick? Where did his muscles go..."

*This content was translated by AI.

Shocking recent updates on 'God of Clay' Rafah Nadal (40, Spain), who once dominated the court, have surprised tennis fans worldwide. Though he once ruled the court with a muscular physique that seemed ready to burst during his prime, his appearance has become unrecognizably gaunt just 1 year and 6 months after retirement, sparking widespread concern among fans.

According to a report by the UK's Daily Mail on the 29th (Korean time), Nadal recently posted a photo on his social media showing a chance encounter with his eternal rival and fellow player, Roger Federer (45, Switzerland), in Madrid, Spain. However, immediately after the photo was released, fans' attention focused more on Nadal's physical transformation than on the meeting of the two legends.

During his playing career, Nadal was famous for his tireless stamina, explosive muscular build, and aggressive playing style that dominated the court. The driving force behind his 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 French Open championships, was precisely this overwhelming physical presence.

However, in the photo, Nadal appeared unrecognizably gaunt, lacking the solid muscular physique he had during his playing days. In fact, he looked even more diminutive than Federer, who stood beside him.

Fans reacted with what can only be described as "shock." One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "Look how much weight Nadal has lost in just a few months. He has become completely thin," while another netizen expressed concern, saying, "Federer still looks well-maintained, but Nadal, despite being in his 30s, looks too gaunt and aged. I worry that his long playing career may have caused long-term health issues." On Instagram and other platforms, comments such as "We miss the muscular Nadal, please come back" lined up.

On the other hand, some voices argue that fans' excessive concern is overblown. Since Nadal officially announced his retirement in November 2024, there is no longer a need to maintain the high-intensity bulk-up training required of a professional tennis player, critics point out.

Dan Wolken, senior tennis reporter for Yahoo Sports in the United States, also weighed in on his social media, stating, "The comments under Nadal's photo are utterly absurd. It is natural for a professional athlete's body to change after retirement, as they no longer dedicate themselves to intense training. There is no need to overcomplicate this."

As Nadal, who has pushed his body to the limit for over two decades to maintain his position at the pinnacle of the world, has now naturally experienced a change in physique following retirement, fans worldwide are simultaneously directing their attention and concern toward him.

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*This content was translated by AI.