Technology has transformed tennis and how fans experience it. But progress isn’t always perfect. Electronic line-calling still sparks debates about accuracy, and the digital world beyond the court comes with its own challenges. Rafael Nadal, away from competition since last year’s Davis Cup, often remains in the spotlight, and not always in ways he’d prefer.
The 39-year-old legend has mostly kept things quiet since retiring. The last time he made headlines was at this year’s French Open with an emotional farewell. On Court Philippe-Chatrier, he received a plaque of his footprint, a permanent tribute joining Federer, Djokovic, and Andy Murray. All three were there to honor Nadal’s spectacular career. But since then? Nadal has been out of the limelight.
Then came a twist on September 23. Rafael Nadal went straight to social media, raising alarm with unusual urgency. “Hello everyone. I’m sharing this alert, which is unusual for me on social media, but I believe it’s necessary. My team and I have identified fake videos circulating on certain platforms, created with artificial intelligence, where someone appears to look and sound like me. These videos promote investment tips or offers that do not come from me,” he wrote in English and Spanish!
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Then he explains that the clips use a copy of his image and voice to mislead viewers with false investment advice. Nadal didn’t hold back. He stressed the danger of what he called “misleading advertising scheme” and drew a sharp line. “I have not made or endorsed any such content. Thanks for your support!” Even legends now have to watch out for digital trickery.
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And Rafael Nadal isn’t alone. Stars across entertainment, politics, and sports have been targeted. Taylor Swift, Rosalía, Pedro Sánchez, and Lamine Yamal have all faced deepfake fraud. These scams clone voices and images to push fake products or false messages. They fool fans. They even blur reality. For today’s celebrities, it’s a surreal new battle.
