Rafael Nadal , one of the biggest names in tennis and an icon of grit and grace on the court, recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a heartfelt message. He thanked fans and organizers for creating a special space in the museum at the Rafa Nadal Academy, celebrating his legendary journey at Roland Garros.
“As you all know, @rolandgarros is the most special tournament of my career,” Nadal wrote. “Thanks to everyone who created this special place in the museum located in the @rnadalacademy with such great memories . I hope you like it as much as I do. See you in Paris on Sunday!”
While fans were quick to respond with love and admiration, some couldn’t help but notice something else—Nadal’s noticeably thinning hair. Clad in a navy-blue blazer and matching trousers, the 6-foot-1 legend looked every bit the charming icon he’s always been. But this time, his hair told a different story. The signs of balding were far more visible than ever before, with a thinned-out scalp clearly showing through his crown and hairline.
For years, fans have speculated whether Nadal’s ever-present headband was the culprit—after all, he’s worn it religiously throughout his career. Others have chalked it up to stress from the game or perhaps overexertion from years of competition at the highest level. But the truth is: none of those things are likely responsible for Nadal’s hair loss .
The real reason? Genetics and hormones. Nadal appears to suffer from androgenetic alopecia , more commonly known as male pattern baldness .
What is androgenetic alopecia, or pattern baldness?
This form of hair loss is the most common among men—and even affects a significant number of women. It’s estimated that more than 80% of men will experience it at some point in their lives.
Pattern baldness typically starts with a receding hairline and thinning at the crown and becomes more pronounced over time. Though it's more prevalent with age, it can begin as early as the late teens or early twenties for some men. In Nadal’s case, the signs became more obvious in his late 20s, and now at age 38, the balding has become hard to ignore.
In his latest photos, Nadal’s hair looks notably sparse, particularly around the top, front, and crown. While he still has enough hair for a light comb-over, there’s no hiding the thinning. His scalp is visibly peeking through.
But it wasn’t always this way
There was a time when Nadal had one of the most enviable heads of hair in sports. His long, sweaty locks were as iconic as his explosive forehand. On the court, a headband would keep the strands in check. Off the court, fans would admire how effortlessly it framed his face.
That changed as he neared 27. Fans began to notice his hair thinning, especially around the temples and crown. Then in 2016, reports surfaced—most notably from Sunday People—suggesting that Nadal had undergone a hair transplant .
And the photos seemed to support it.
What was the method of hair transplant?
He was seen with the back of his scalp—known as the “donor area”—closely shaved, a telltale sign of a FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) procedure. This method involves extracting individual hair follicles from thicker areas of the scalp and implanting them in areas experiencing hair loss. It’s a more labor-intensive and costly option than the older FUT method, but is known for producing more natural-looking results. For someone constantly in the public eye like Nadal, this choice made sense.
The transplant worked—at least for a while.
Months after the rumored surgery, Nadal’s hair looked noticeably denser. The comeback was strong enough to spark praise and renewed envy. But the gains didn’t last. In the years that followed, his hair gradually began to thin again, and now, the balding process appears to be advancing steadily.
Rafael Nadal’s hair loss is neither unusual, nor it is something to be mocked about. It’s a natural part of life for many men and women, and even someone as athletic, successful, and admired as Nadal is not immune to genetics. His willingness to step into the public eye, scalp and all, speaks volumes about his confidence and comfort in his own skin.
“As you all know, @rolandgarros is the most special tournament of my career,” Nadal wrote. “Thanks to everyone who created this special place in the museum located in the @rnadalacademy with such great memories . I hope you like it as much as I do. See you in Paris on Sunday!”
While fans were quick to respond with love and admiration, some couldn’t help but notice something else—Nadal’s noticeably thinning hair. Clad in a navy-blue blazer and matching trousers, the 6-foot-1 legend looked every bit the charming icon he’s always been. But this time, his hair told a different story. The signs of balding were far more visible than ever before, with a thinned-out scalp clearly showing through his crown and hairline.
As you all know, @rolandgarros is the most special tournament of my career.
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) May 19, 2025
Thanks to everyone who created this special place in the museum located in the @rnadalacademy with such great memories ☺️. I hope you like it as much as I do.
See you in Paris 🇫🇷 on Sunday! 👋🏼 pic.twitter.com/TAJ1FghgI6
For years, fans have speculated whether Nadal’s ever-present headband was the culprit—after all, he’s worn it religiously throughout his career. Others have chalked it up to stress from the game or perhaps overexertion from years of competition at the highest level. But the truth is: none of those things are likely responsible for Nadal’s hair loss .
The real reason? Genetics and hormones. Nadal appears to suffer from androgenetic alopecia , more commonly known as male pattern baldness .
What is androgenetic alopecia, or pattern baldness?
This form of hair loss is the most common among men—and even affects a significant number of women. It’s estimated that more than 80% of men will experience it at some point in their lives.
Pattern baldness typically starts with a receding hairline and thinning at the crown and becomes more pronounced over time. Though it's more prevalent with age, it can begin as early as the late teens or early twenties for some men. In Nadal’s case, the signs became more obvious in his late 20s, and now at age 38, the balding has become hard to ignore.
Rafa loses but he still looked better than in any moment yesterday, I stand with what I've said even if I can't explain it. Probably the best mood I've ever felt during a Rafa loss🥹 Also he does not look sad. I refuse to be sentimental about this one. pic.twitter.com/7lxML5KJbp
— 𝓝𝓪𝓭𝓪➁➁𝓲𝓬𝓪¹⁴ 🇺🇦 (@Nadallica86) April 30, 2024
In his latest photos, Nadal’s hair looks notably sparse, particularly around the top, front, and crown. While he still has enough hair for a light comb-over, there’s no hiding the thinning. His scalp is visibly peeking through.
But it wasn’t always this way
There was a time when Nadal had one of the most enviable heads of hair in sports. His long, sweaty locks were as iconic as his explosive forehand. On the court, a headband would keep the strands in check. Off the court, fans would admire how effortlessly it framed his face.
Rafael Nadal was the youngest person to complete the career grand slam.
— Guinness World Records (@GWR) October 10, 2024
He had won the French Open, Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open by the time he was 24 years and 101 days old.
🐐 pic.twitter.com/MpSXhlrd1n
That changed as he neared 27. Fans began to notice his hair thinning, especially around the temples and crown. Then in 2016, reports surfaced—most notably from Sunday People—suggesting that Nadal had undergone a hair transplant .
And the photos seemed to support it.
What was the method of hair transplant?
He was seen with the back of his scalp—known as the “donor area”—closely shaved, a telltale sign of a FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) procedure. This method involves extracting individual hair follicles from thicker areas of the scalp and implanting them in areas experiencing hair loss. It’s a more labor-intensive and costly option than the older FUT method, but is known for producing more natural-looking results. For someone constantly in the public eye like Nadal, this choice made sense.
The transplant worked—at least for a while.
Day 181 without Rafael Nadal in Tennis 🎾 #RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/zxYsyZ1DAy
— Abhinav 👻 Akula (@abhinavshakes1) May 19, 2025
Months after the rumored surgery, Nadal’s hair looked noticeably denser. The comeback was strong enough to spark praise and renewed envy. But the gains didn’t last. In the years that followed, his hair gradually began to thin again, and now, the balding process appears to be advancing steadily.
Rafael Nadal’s hair loss is neither unusual, nor it is something to be mocked about. It’s a natural part of life for many men and women, and even someone as athletic, successful, and admired as Nadal is not immune to genetics. His willingness to step into the public eye, scalp and all, speaks volumes about his confidence and comfort in his own skin.
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