Nadal receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Salamanca, becoming the first athlete to earn this distinction at the institution.

On October 3, 2025, Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal attended the University of Salamanca’s ceremony to be awarded an honorary doctorate, becoming the first athlete ever to be honored in this way by the university, with his family also attending to share in the occasion.

As a 22-time Grand Slam champion, Nadal has established himself as a benchmark in sports through over 20 years on the ATP Tour, demonstrating outstanding athletic ability and exemplary conduct both on and off the court. At the ceremony, he donned a blue academic cap, took an oath before the university council, and received a medal, officially joining the university’s official doctoral association.

In his speech, Nadal openly expressed that receiving this honor from Spain’s oldest and globally renowned University of Salamanca fills him with pride and reflects society’s respect for the spirit of sports. He shared that his “education” began on the court, where competing across five continents taught him the importance of discipline—“without daily hard work, firm dedication, and attention to detail, nothing can be achieved”—and made him realize that “no one can win forever, so never be arrogant.”

Additionally, Nadal recalled a life lesson from when he was 15: to balance his exams, he gave up participating in the French Open junior tournament at his parents’ insistence. This decision not only allowed him to complete his compulsory education smoothly but also taught him that “no goal should ever outweigh values and education.”

It is reported that this honor represents another significant recognition in Nadal’s career. Previously, he has received numerous awards such as the Prince of Asturias Sports Award and the Royal Order of Sports Merit of Spain, consistently using the power of sports to spread positive influence.

[Look at me][Look at me][Give myself a flower][Give myself a flower]

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