Just Another Nike Blog

Rafael Nadal’s play is best illustrated by his 2019 victory at Flushing Meadows. Won in dramatic fashion — a close match contested over 4 hours and 49 minutes and concluded in a fifth set — Nadal exhibited all of his intensely athletic game. Time and time again, he’d shoot his frame across the baseline before sprinting back to center court as if drawn by an invisible force. The way he moves appears innate, but in truth, Nadal is always focused on the nuances of his footwork. Specifically, he wants to ensure he isn't losing time transitioning back to the center of the court, whether to return a serve or to rally. Doing so requires him to efficiently pop back to the forefoot. The NikeCourt Zoom Vapor Cage 4 focuses on a specific design proposition: How can a performance tennis shoe return more energy and allow for a faster transition to the next hit? The all-court pace of contemporary tennis leaves no margin for error in getting back to position. Even if players are forced into a...

“Mallorca is home. I plan to be here for the rest of my life.” -Rafa On the eastern coast of the Spanish island of Mallorca is the small town of Manacor. It’s a community known for fishing, furniture, and a bustling street market. But above all else, it’s a town known for tennis. Tennis legend Rafael Nadal’s career began here, on the red-clay courts sprinkled throughout his hometown of Manacor. And he still calls this place home, training and leading the next generation at the Rafa Nadal Academy. This is his Birthplace of Dreams. #justdoit