via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 28, 2022. Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his semi final match against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 28, 2022. Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his semi final match against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
Rafael Nadal has often been spotted showing his football skills with tennis balls. His affinity for the sport isn’t just a one-off either. The Spaniard is a huge football fan and a vivid follower of Real Madrid Football Club.
Nadal is often asked about his love for Real Madrid as his uncle Miguel Ángel Nadal was a Barcelona legend. However, in his autobiography ‘Rafa: My story’, he gave a straightforward answer to this question, saying he’s a Real Madrid fan because his father was one.
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In the recently released “The White Legend”, a docu-series on Real Madrid, Nadal spoke about his love for the team. He also talked about the time he first watched Real Madrid live.
Nadal’s first Real Madrid match
Featuring in “The White Legend”, Rafael Nadal opened up about his love for Real Madrid, even calling the club a part of his life.
He said, “I’m a huge football fan and Real Madrid is my favorite club. It’s the club I support and love, it’s truly part of my life.”
Rafa Nadal: “I’m a huge football fan and Real Madrid is my favorite club. It’s the club I support and love, it’s truly part of my life.” [la leyenda blanca] pic.twitter.com/VlA9tcoIXS
— SB (@Realmadridplace) February 11, 2022
He further went on to explain the first time he saw Real Madrid playing live. He told that he first time saw the club live in his Mallorca. He said that he had to go out on the ground wearing a Real Madrid jersey, hand in hand with Míchel (José Miguel González). However, being extremely shy, he didn’t come out in the end.
Cuenta Rafa Nadal en “La leyenda blanca” que la primera vez que vio al Real Madrid, en directo, fue en Mallorca y que iba a salir al campo vestido del Madrid de la mano de Míchel. Le dio vergüenza y al final no salió.
Cómo ha cambiado el cuento!
— Arancha Rodríguez (@AranchaMOBILE) February 11, 2022
In his autobiography released in 2011, Rafael Nadal also told about the time when he was photographed in a Barcelona T-shirt when he visited his uncle Miguel at the Nou Camp.
Rafael Nadal on the 2022 tour
Nadal started his 2022 season by winning the ATP 250 Melbourne Summer Set without dropping a single set.
Also read- Rafael Nadal Congratulates Star Senegal Forward on Winning Maiden AFCON Crown
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Starting the 2002 season on a positive note, the World No. 5 entered the Australian Open as the 6th seed. Showing a glimpse of the vintage Nadal, Rafa went cruising into the finals of the Australian Open 2022.
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
In the finals, he faced 2nd seed, Daniil Medvedev. Even though Nadal lost the first two sets and was behind in the third as well, he held his nerve and showed his never-give-up attitude to take back the finals in his favor.
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He went on to win the match in 5 sets, winning his 2nd Australian Open title. With it, he became the first man to win 21 Grand Slam titles in the history of men’s tennis.
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