Rafael Nadal retired from professional tennis at the Davis Cup Finals in November. Two decades after debuting for Spain, the veteran played his last match in the national jersey. He ended his incredible career in front of the home fans in Malaga and returned to his paradise island of Mallorca.
While not competing anymore, Rafa still enjoys the tennis vibes at his Rafa Nadal Academy. The incredible tennis complex hosted the M15 Manacor Futures last week, and the local star Naoya Honda claimed his first Futures title at 18!
Honda is the Rafa Nadal Academy standout, and the 22-time Major winner did not miss a chance to watch and support the young gun. Naoya defeated five rivals en route to his first professional success two years after making a pro debut on the same courts.
Rafa witnessed yesterday the first @ITFTennis 🏆 of Naoya Honda 🇯🇵 at the academy! pic.twitter.com/24UsHDEWAB
— Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar (@rnadalacademy) January 27, 2025
The 16-year-old qualified for the main draw in Mallorca in January 2023 and reached the quarter-final, making a name for himself. Two years later, Honda is the champion, achieving his first title in front of one of the greatest players of all time.
The young gun scored only one pro win in 2024. He raised his level at the beginning of the new season and kicked it off with the title. A teenager started the campaign against the Dane Philip Hjorth and moved through when his rival retired after losing the opener 7-5.
Naoya Honda© Stream screenshot
The Japanese battled against Lorenzo Giustino in the second round. He scored a 6-4, 7-6 win and moved into his first quarter-final in two years! Naoya claimed a double break in the opener and led 5-3 in the second set. Giustino pulled the break back in the tenth game and extended the battle.
Honda took the tie break and sealed the deal in straight sets. A teenager met the 20-year-old Sergio Callejon Hernando and scored a rock-solid 6-1, 6-1 victory for a place in the last four. The Japanese claimed five straight breaks and controlled the scoreboard.
Naoya reached his first professional final after beating Michiel De Krom 6-4, 6-3. A teenager trailed 3-1 in the opening set before bouncing back and taking the opener 6-4. The young gun secured an early break in the second set and served well for a place in the final.
Naoya Honda© Stream screenshot
Italy’s Fausto Tabacco stood between the young gun and the title. Honda outplayed the better-ranked rival 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 16 minutes and lifted a trophy. The Japanese denied all four break points and provided three return games from four chances to control the scoreboard.
The young gun served well at the beginning of the duel and moved in front with a break in game three. Naoya saved four break points in the eighth game and claimed the opener with another return game on his tally at 5-3.
The 18-year-old served well in the second game and stole the rival’s serve in the fourth game. Honda served for the title at 5-3 and sealed the deal in style, celebrating his first professional title.
Tennis World USA