Professional athletes have been linked to the wagering industry in some way or another over the years. Some athletes were involved in this profession by taking sponsorships from casino corporations, while others occasionally enjoyed a round of slots or card games.
Almost every sports discipline has a professional athlete who is a passionate casino fan. These athletes visit land-based and virtual casinos, such as Australian mobile casinos, to enjoy their favorite games. This post looks at top tennis players that enjoy wagering in their spare time.
Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal is one of the top three tennis players in the world, and his name has become synonymous with modern tennis. This remarkable athlete, often known as the “King of the Clay”, has won:
- Wimbledon
- The US Open
- The French Open
- The Australian Open
And these are only a few examples. Nadal, 36, already has 92 trophies, including 22 Grand Slams and 36 Masters. When he isn’t contending for the next title, Nadal enjoys unwinding with a poker game. He is so passionate about this card game that he once competed against Vanessa Selbst at the Monte Carlo Casino.
And, despite being the clear favorite on the clay, he was no match for Vanessa’s experience. Furthermore, Nadal was named a PokerStars ambassador in 2012 and even won an event, albeit a philanthropic one. He won $100,000 in that challenge, which he later donated to charity.
Boris Becker
Boris Becker remains one of tennis’ greatest names. The German tennis legend accomplished something that only a few tennis players achieved: he became the ATP‘s number one. Aside from winning six titles, this professional athlete is also a PokerStars ambassador. He won this title in 2007, and he has since continued to compete in big European poker tournaments.
He frequently refers to himself as a poker player, armed with patience and a keen ability to read his opponents. He’s won over 70,000 dollars in poker events thus far. It is still not comparable to the 25 million dollars he earned playing tennis, but given that poker is merely his passion, we can conclude that he is pretty good at it.
Jimmy Connors
Jimmy Connors was a professional tennis player who competed from the early 1970s to the early 1990s. He emerged victorious in eight Grand Slam singles titles and was second in another six. Connors also advanced to the semifinals in 14 of his 21 major tournament appearances. Many observers consider him one of the top ten male tennis players of all time.
In terms of wagering, Connors was a die-hard enthusiast of the games of chance. Connors talks about wagering as well in his memoirs called The Outsider. Connors played roulette games, placing large casino wagers and hoping for a big win that never materialized.
Conclusion
Millions of fans throughout the world appreciate professional athletes. They can be adored to the point of being called superhumans. On the other hand, casino games are an excellent method to demonstrate that elite athletes like relaxing and unwinding with a game of poker or blackjack. And who knows, maybe your favourite tennis player will be there the next time you visit an online casino, playing their favourite game while they wait for the next match to begin.
