'I Didn't Like Refereeing Him'- ATP Chair Umpire Says Rafael Nadal Made Him Nervous And Tense

“It made me a little tense to be so close to him, but that's what we always told him: if the others can do it, you have to know how to adapt too," Campistol said of Nadal's practice of getting to the time limit at the end of a point. 

This practice continued to put umpires in a difficult spot, as they needed to apply the rule without interrupting the rhythm of the match or seeming too strict.​

Campistol highlighted the need for impartiality, saying, "That's the referee's job; you have to decide according to the rules."

He admitted that it was challenging to balance enforcing time violations with the necessity of keeping the rhythm of the match, particularly when dealing with big-name players such as Nadal.

Notably, Campistol's experiences reflect the wider issues faced by umpires in professional tennis. The necessity of enforcing the rules while accommodating the personalities and habits of elite players such as Daniil Medvedev and Nick Kyrgios, demands a fine balance between firmness and empathy.

In spite of the stress, Campistol's professional career was characterized by professionalism and commitment. He umpired more than 2,300 professional games, including seven Grand Slam finals and four Olympics, before he retired in 2024. His comments are a rich source of information regarding the intricacies of tennis officiating and the peculiar relationship between players and umpires at the elite level of the sport.