"You come back and play because you love the game": Rafael Nadal Netflix Slam appearance not down to money says Jimmy Connors
Tennis News
Rafael Nadal's Netflix Slam appearance was not down to money, that is the view of legendary tennis star Jimmy Connors after his match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas courted controversy on multiple fronts.
First was charging $150,000 for private sessions which was widely slammed as well as then playing the match and promptly withdrawing from Indian Wells as his body wasn't ready seemingly for the rigours of a return to the main tour before clay.
This got a lot of tennis fans wondering why he could play in one but not the other. Connors though takes a different view to money though and said it is down to the love of the game that he played the Netflix Slam as opposed to the financial incentive which in Connors view, he already has enough of anyway.
"Things have changed because the amount of money they are playing for now and surely the amount of money that he's made, he's not playing for the money," said Connors on Advantage Connors.
"You come back and you play because you love the game, you love the competition and you love everything that goes with trying to win everytime you walk out there, and his competitiveness has always been at the very top."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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