Kia Honors Nadal With Sculpture Made From His Championship Clay Courts
Automaker blends tennis history with EV design in unique tribute at Manacor academy
The clay that defined Rafael Nadal’s career has taken on a new form. Kia unveiled a full-scale sculpture of its EV4 GT at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, molded from a blend of automotive modeling clay and material harvested directly from the courts where the Spaniard claimed 63 singles titles.
White design tape traces tennis court lines across the sculpture’s orange-red surface. Specific markings record his 50 consecutive sets won on clay between April 2017 and May 2018, along with the five seasons he finished as world number one. His signature completes the piece.
The partnership began in 2004 when Kia’s Spanish division backed a teenage Nadal. He became a global ambassador two years later, after his first French Open title. The relationship continued past his 2024 retirement.
The EV4 GT represents Kia’s expanding performance electric lineup, which includes the EV3 GT and EV5 GT. Revealed as a concept sedan in October 2023, the production version now comes in both sedan and hatchback body styles.
For a player whose dominance was measured in the red dust of Roland Garros and countless other clay courts, the tribute connects the material of his craft to the material of automotive design — both shaped by hand, both built to withstand pressure.
