Rafa Nadal’s Sister Explores Pickleball: Rafael Nadal’s sister, Maria Isabel, has constantly supported the Spanish tennis legend throughout his career. While she may not always be present during his matches, she frequently shows her support on social media. Maribel, two years younger than her famous brother, is a key figure in his life, both personally and professionally.
Background and Career
Maribel, who is 35 years old, has always been involved in sports. She studied Motor and Sports Science at the Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya in Barcelona.
Later, she earned a Master’s degree in Sports Management. Maribel works at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, where she is responsible for Marketing & Sales.
https://twitter.com/rnadalacademy/status/1728048086948147536
A Passion for Pickleball
Maribel has also shown an interest in racquet sports beyond tennis. Two years ago, a video posted by the Rafa Nadal Academy showed her playing pickleball for the first time. She paired up with pickleball pro Carlos Perez in a friendly match against RNA head coach Tomeu Salva and Taiwanese pro Pei-Kao.
In the video, Maribel expressed how much fun she had playing the sport. “It actually is super fun and I had a very, very good time,” she said. “If you’ve played tennis, you’ll recognize some things but the rules are different, the technique is also different. I had so much fun.”
Maribel’s Future in Pickleball
Though Maribel may not be a full-time pickleball player, her natural talent for racquet sports has sparked curiosity among fans.
It seems likely that she could continue exploring pickleball as a hobby or even at a competitive level in the future. For now, her primary role remains supporting her brother and promoting his academy’s initiatives.
News in Brief: Rafa Nadal’s Sister Explores Pickleball
Rafael Nadal’s sister, Maria Isabel, is a key supporter of his career and works at the Rafa Nadal Academy. A sports enthusiast, Maribel has shown interest in pickleball, having played with professionals. Though not a full-time player, she may explore pickleball further while continuing her role at the academy.
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