via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Men’s Singles Final – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 31, 2022 Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning the men’s singles final with trophy REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY/Reuters
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Men’s Singles Final – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 31, 2022 Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning the men’s singles final with trophy REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY/Reuters
Rafael Nadal is famous for his calm and focused nature. Therefore, whenever the 22 times Grand Slam champion cracks a joke or lightens the mood, it straight away goes into the box of most cherished moments of tennis.
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One such moment of the Spaniard came in the year 2016. Nadal, after making a decent run till the round of 16 of the US Open signed up for an exhibition match with a fellow big three player, Novak Djokovic in Milan. And while in the match, he gave a witty and funny response to a not-so-tennis-related query.
Spontaneous Rafael Nadal
Nadal, while in a fun and friendly match with the 21 times Grand Slam champion, stumbled upon a very interesting question. When Rosario Fiorello, an Italian comic, asked “Rafa you have to go don’t you? He is busy guys, he is busy! Today is Fertility Day for him too. He has to hit some top spin shots somewhere tonight.”
Mery's pregnancy reminded me of one of my favourite gems by Rafa. During a funny exchange with a showman at the 2016 exhibition in Milan, Rafa reacted brilliantly to a joke and even came up with a new Rafaism in Italian 😂 pic.twitter.com/tFDSpxx4MV
— Ilaria 2️⃣2️⃣✨️ (@IlariaSinHache) July 21, 2022
To which he replied, “No, I don’t think so. I’ll get Majorca(Mallorca) too late for the fertilazione (non-existent word).” Thus, making the entire crowd burst into laughter.
Further, in the match held for a good cause, with the proceeds going to the Novak Djokovic Foundation to help underprivileged children in Serbia, the two champions had a little fun blending. They added football to tennis.
Read more: In Photos: Rafael Nadal Jumps Into Another Sport During His Break From Tennis
Speaking of that, now six years later, the Spanish legend and his wife, Mery Perello, are expecting their first child. Nadal after claiming his 14th French Open title, broke the happy news to tennis fans.
A missed opportunity
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Nadal after walking out of the circuit and missing the last Grand Slam of the year, Nadal started his journey in his peak form this season. He at first stormed the hard courts of Australia and took down the US Open reigning champion Daniil Medvedev in the finals.
via Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – May 29, 2022 Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his fourth round match against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime REUTERS/Yves Herman
Thus claiming his 21st Grand Slam trophy, and the first major of the Calendar year. Then the former World no.1 proved true to the title ‘King of clay’ by claiming the trophy in the red dirt of France.
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Watch this story: Richest tennis player in the world revealed and it’s not Serena Williams, Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal
Thereafter, because of an unfortunate abdominal injury, the 36-year-old failed to clinch his third Grand Slam trophy of this year. He had to walk out of the Wimbledon championships just two matches away from the title. If Nadal succeeded in marking Wimbledon under his name, he would have had a golden opportunity of becoming the only active player to bank a Calendar Grand Slam.
