Rafael Nadal makes worrying tennis statement and brings up Novak Djokovic

has insisted tennis chiefs need to change the sport's rules to ensure big servers with a height advantage can't blow their rivals off the court in the future. The Spaniard is one of the greatest players in the history of tennis and won 22 Grand Slam titles before retiring last year.

Nadal wasn't known as one of the sport's biggest servers and instead forged his career on his relentless intensity and physical resilience. Those strengths saw him lift all four Grand Slam trophies, with his most successful streak coming at the , where he won 14 titles. But he has acknowledged that current stars may struggle to compete with a tall player who possesses a giant serve and excellent mobility around the court in the years to come.

During a Eurosport event, which was hosted in collaboration with Spanish sports newspaper Diario AS, Nadal explained: "Tennis has not changed anything in terms of rules throughout its history.

"People are getting taller and moving better - the serve has a decisive impact.

"If that power isn't limited, someone over two metres tall with good mobility will come along and you won't be able to compete against them, you won't be able to get a break."

Despite the worrying statement, the 38-year-old insisted that scenario hasn't arrived yet. And he pointed towards Novak Djokovic's continued success at the age of 37 as an indication that the shift is yet to come.

Nadal explained: "That day, for the moment, has not arrived yet. Djokovic [at the Miami Open]. I was competing a year-and-a-half ago.

"It leads me to think that the change has not yet been so abrupt because we have continued to have a chance of success."

Nadal featured in 30 Grand Slam finals during his illustrious career. On top of his success at the French Open, he won four US Open titles, two Wimbledon titles and two Australian Open titles. His final years on the court were hampered by injury problems, with his last appearance at a Major coming at Roland Garros in 2024 just before he retired.

And looking back on his career, he added: "I've never had a big ego. I've never thought about numbers. I feel satisfied to have finished knowing that I've given everything I could.

"Coming home from a tournament with the feeling of not having done everything I could was beyond me. I've always returned with that peace of mind."