Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, is one of the most dedicated players in the current era. One can tell this just by looking at the extent he goes to be at the winning end. The most recent example of his extreme willpower is the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. Where he continued the game, regardless of an abdominal muscle tear, and came out victorious.
However, Nadal, like every other normal person, slacks at a few things. While he handles his tennis equipment with the utmost care, he pays no heed to his surrounding. Here’s the Spaniard’s confession about the same.
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What weakness does Rafael Nadal have?
The former world no.1, while speaking about coping with the pressure and uneasiness before a high-profile match, opened up about a bad habit of his. Nadal, after explaining how cleaning and polishing his boots and arranging his equipment help him calm his nerves, admitted, “My mother and sister, chuckle when they remember this. Because they say that when it comes to sport, I am disciplined and orderly person. But in everything else, I am distracted and chaotic.”
“They are right. My room at home is always a mess. My hotel room when I am travelling too and I often forget things,” he added. Nadal now, after taking weeks of much-deserved rest, is all set for the upcoming hard-court season.
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He has already signed up for the Canadian Masters. According to the director of the event, the Spanish star has arranged his stay and will soon step on the courts of Montreal for practice. Nadal in this season will compete for his sixth Canadian Open trophy with the last coming in the year 2019.
Nadal’s biggest obstacle
The 14-time French Open champion’s caliber came was tested when facing the other members of the famed ‘Big Three’, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Apart from them, nothing but his own body can hinder his run in tournaments. Last year, the 36-year-old had to cut his season short and this year, he faced an early exit in Rome because of the same issue.
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Watch this story: Rafael Nadal’s biggest fan, Serena Williams, cheers for his success at Wimbledon Championships 2022
Nadal suffers from a rare degenerative disorder called the Mueller-Weiss Syndrome. The syndrome affects the bone in the mid-foot region and leads to unbearable pain. He recently underwent a procedure which has helped him considerably. Now, with a renewed belief in his body, the legendary Spaniard will be looking to further bolster his Grand Slam tally to 23 at Flushing Meadows later next month.