Badosa in Tears: Crying Over the Nadal Series

Paula Badosa said she cried while watching "Rafa", the Netflix docuseries about Rafael Nadal released on May 29. The Spaniard shared the message on her social media, describing how the four episodes took her back in time, to when she was a little girl dreaming of making a living from tennis.

"Watching Rafa's documentary made me cry. Not only for everything he went through, but because it represents a very important part of my own story," wrote the 28-year-old, former world No. 2. She added that it's thanks to Nadal that as a child she learned to "dream big", and that his legacy will endure forever, not just for what he won, but for how he inspired an entire generation.

The docuseries, directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Zach Heinzerling and produced by Skydance Sports, traces the Mallorcan's career across four episodes, from his early days through to his retirement, covering injuries and the toughest moments along the way. One of the revelations concerns the anxiety attacks around 2015, which Nadal discusses in such detail for the first time.

What stands out is the tone with which Badosa, now WTA No. 119 after a difficult season, speaks about her compatriot: not as a colleague or rival, but as a fan. It's one of the most heartfelt reactions to come from the women's tour so far, and it captures, better than many reviews, what Nadal means to those who grew up watching him play.