Nike has rolled out a campaign 'Greatness. It Only Takes Everything' featuring tennis player Rafael Nadal, to pay homage to his career in the sport as he played his last tournament on 20 November 2024.

Nadal has been a Nike athlete since he was 13 years old, and his signature Raging Bull symbol has become synonymous with excellence in tennis. Throughout his career, he has collaborated closely with Nike's product teams to develop custom footwear and iconic apparel that showcase the evolution of his game and personal style.

Nike also updated its profile picture on its social media platforms to feature Nadal’s iconic bull logo.

The campaign features a black-and-white ad film narrated by Nike’s co-founder and chairman, Phil Knight, celebrating Rafael Nadal as one of tennis’s all-time greats. The film shows Nadal meticulously preparing a clay court—an homage to his record 14 French Open titles on the surface—interwoven with iconic moments from his illustrious career. In a powerful voiceover, Knight reflects: “When the dust settles, you’ll know you’ve given more than anyone. Chased down every game, shot, point, and put it all on the line for one more win. Not once, but every second, minute, hour, day of your life.”

What do we think about it: It captures the essence of Rafael Nadal’s relentless spirit, resonating deeply with tennis fans through its heartfelt tribute and Phil Knight’s compelling narration. Since joining the Nike family at the age of 13, the ad pays tribute to Nadal and the sportswear brand's long-standing partnership with authenticity and emotional depth, striking a winning chord.

Knight said, “The thing I remember most about Rafa is the expression on his face when he’d get down — he’d twist his mouth and his eyes would narrow, and you would say to yourself, ‘Oh, look out, he’s put his game face on. You could always see that tenacity. When he hit a forehand, the ball changed shape, he’d hit it so hard. And no one was going to outlast him in a five-set match. He was always fun to watch, and he was never out of a match."

The campaign was rolled out on Instagram and YouTube on 19 November.