22-Time Grand Slam Champion Rafael Nadal Turned Nintendo’s Fortunes Around With a Unique Tennis Match

As the 2022 US Open is gradually coming to an end, fans were disheartened to learn that 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal had to face an unfortunate defeat against 24-year-old American Frances Tiafoe. But amongst all this, fans should not forget the time when Nadal had a match against Nintendo’s favorite, Mario himself.

As part of the promotion for Nintendo’s latest Mario Tennis Aces series game in 2018, Rafael Nadal had an interesting bout with Mario on the tennis court. The tennis rally between the two stars came inches closer in the end in favor of the 22-time Grand Slam winner. The promotional video then went on to save Nintendo’s tennis series from a big flop like its predecessors.

Rafael Nadal saved Nintendo’s Tennis series from a big flop

Mario’s loss against Rafael Nadal went on to become a success. Nintendo saw the sales of its Mario Tennis Aces shoot up to record highs, making it the most successful Tennis game developed by the console juggernaut ever. Mario’s miss not only led to Nadal winning the rally but turned Nintendo’s fortune for good. The console giants to date have released seven Tennis games featuring Mario in them.

READ MORE: ‘I Played Better in Australia Than Here’ – Rafael Nadal Makes a Statement Heading Into the Second Week of the US Open

Nintendo released Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash on Wii U in the year 2015. However, they reportedly recorded 0.54 million units in sales from it. Which is one of the least in their tennis series to date. Yet in 2018, after Nadal featured in the promotional video of the newest edition of the tennis game, Mario Tennis Aces saw its sales shoot up to 3.66 million units.

An unfortunate turn of events at the US Opens

In a recent match against American tennis player Frances Tiatoe, Rafael Nadal lost in the fourth round of the US Open with a 6-4,4-6,6-4,6-3 scoreline. As fans couldn’t expect something like this to happen with the legendary player, in a conference after the match, Nadal explained his situation.

He said, “I was not able to hold a high level of tennis for a long time. I was not enough quick on my movements. He was able to take the ball too many times very early, so I was not able to push him back.”

Notably, Nadal left the court after losing the first set for an extended period of time, making fans speculate that it was actually an injury that played its part in the defeat. But Nadal gave a statement that showed his respect for the game where he said it would be wrong to find excuses. He said, “We can’t find excuses. We need to be enough critic with myself. That’s the only way to improve or that’s the only way that I understand you are able to find solutions.”

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What do you think about the match though? Also, have you played Mario Tennis Aces? Let us know your experience.