The story of Rafa Nadal and his Richard Mille watches How the Swiss brand entered the tennis world and launched a new trend

Rafa Nadal kicks off his 2021 by playing his 15th Australian Open and, although his back continues to haunt him, he is doing it with the usual style: Nike suit, NikeCourt Dri-FIT Rafa on the feet, double cuff, classic rituals and the usual lucky charm. The talisman with which the "King of Clay" plays is a Richard Mille 27-04 Tourbillon from his collection, made to measure and with cutting-edge technology. It's rare to see tennis players playing with a watch on their wrist, but since the Spaniard has led the way, it is a trend that many are following.

The genesis of this stylistic ritual - which is on a par with the most imitable one during shifts - dates back to 2008, when Nadal, former testimonial of the Swiss brand, met Julien Boillat, technical director of the special sections. In an interview released by Nice to Haute Time Magazine, one of the best sportsmen ever revealed anecdotes about his first encounters with the brand. Rafa had never worn racing watches until then and to Boillat's proposal he replies with a peremptory no: "Impossible to play with a watch, it would always swing on my wrist and I worry". After two years of back and forth, Richard Mille lands in Mallorca with his private jet. In the briefcase he has with him there is the prototype for Rafa and the Spaniard makes his debut immediately with a "mostrame me el reloj". But Mille shows him a very heavy platinum specimen. "Richard, c'mon, I can't wear this, it's too heavy" Nadal replies. "You're losing muscle, boy. You're weak!" Mille answers in a tone, laughing. Shortly thereafter, the first Tourbillon RM O27 Rafael Nadal is on Rafa's wrist. The Spaniard is convinced and in 2010, with what may seem more a footprint than a useful accessory, he wins Roland Garros, Wimbledon and then the US Open. From then on, only in very rare cases did the Majorcan phenomenon not take to the field with an RM on his right wrist, he who is the symbol of sporting "left-handedness".

Rafa Nadal and Richard Mille met for business reasons, but they became great friends. Both have changed their sectors of belonging: Rafa has become a tennis legend and from the top of his 60 titles won on clay he has earned the nickname of King of Clay; Mille, on the other hand, has revolutionized the world of Swiss Fine Watchmaking, which has just been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.