Rafael Nadal Puts Practice Aside to Unwind With Friends on a ‘Saturday Afternoon’ as a New Game Takes Center Stage

Rafael Nadal, the tennis legend, is not just about his intense game on the court. Besides his one true love for tennis as a sport, the Spaniard always keeps taking breaks to explore other arenas as well. From being a proud supporter of Real Madrid and never missing a chance to catch their matches to partaking in Golf and Cycling for leisure, the tennis legend keeps revealing his different shades. Now, something else has caught his fancy.

As fans eagerly wait for him to be back on tours after such a long hiatus from professional courts, the legend surprised his social corner with a new hobby that he appears to have discovered lately. While there’s still no confirmation on the chatter of him being back at the Australian Open, this heartwarming Instagram post acted as a stress buster for his fans.

Rafael Nadal introduces fans to his new weekend hobby

Soon after the ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal took a break from his professional career, fans started to miss their favorite player slamming every other opponent with his tough form. With the break having been extended to almost a year now, the Spaniard informed his fans about his slow recovery from the injury as he started training again. As fans eagerly await his return, Rafa decided to kick back and relax on a Saturday afternoon.

In his most recent Instagram post, the tennis legend gave the social world a sneak peek into his leisurely day spent with friends. Instead of his usual tennis practice with his uncle or coaching team, he took some time off for a different game – Shuffleboard. The photo he shared shows a wooden table with a shiny surface and labeling on it. Along with the picture, he also added a caption that said, “Saturday afternoon… enjoying my time somewhere playing with friends… Can you guess what this game is? 😉 I ❤️ it!”

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While his 2024 Australian Open return is not yet confirmed, Rafa’s fans can take comfort in knowing that he’s making the most of his time off and enjoying the company of his friends. While fans can’t wait to see him back on the court, a recent update by his uncle Tony helped fans with a satisfying hint.

Uncle Tony Nadal shares the latest Rafa Nadal comeback update

Toni Nadal, who guided Rafael Nadal’s career to greatness, shared an update on his nephew’s comeback journey a while ago. The veteran coach gave his agreement on Rafa being cautious about his comeback, though also optimistic.

Rafa’s uncle and longtime coach said, “My nephew intends to be cautious, which is the right approach. But I believe that for the Australian Open, my nephew should be in good condition to compete, all going well, because I have seen him train.” The 37-year-old tennis legend had to withdraw from the Australian Open earlier this year due to an injury, but there’s hope on the horizon for its next edition.

Toni Nadal, who is also the director of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, expressed these words of optimism during an interview with the Onda Cero Spanish radio station. While there might be challenges ahead, the tennis world eagerly awaits the return of the beloved Rafa, and Toni Nadal’s confidence adds to the expectations of seeing the Mallorcan maestro back in action on the courts.

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