After his eleventh victory at the French Open, Rafael Nadal is preparing for the upcoming Wimbledon tournament (starting July 2) in his native Majorca. Not only his uncle Toni Nadal is of the opinion that “Rafa” is one of the top favourites on the holy lawn on Church Road this year.
On his first training day at the Santa Ponsa facility in the southwest of the sunny island, Rafael Nadal recently offered a special treat. The sand court king surprised the young visitors on “Kids Day” of the WTA tournament on Mallorca and did not choose the back entrance when walking into the remote Court 5.
“Rafa” casually walked past the children and teenagers. Well aware that they were expecting everything – but not that the new Roland Garros Champion would show up on the grounds of the old country club that day to take his first seasonal steps on grass on the fringes of the women’s tournament.
The hysteria then began clearly visible, but above all audibly with a time delay – and the 32-year-old smiled at the sharp “Rafa” shouts. Nadal also presented himself on his home island as a superstar to touch. After each of the daily sessions last week he wrote autographs and fulfilled all selfie wishes. A high-flyer “down to earth”.
Nadal’s conclusion after the training week: “I am ready for Wimbledon.” And if his uncle Toni is followed, Wimbledon title number three in the world rankings is within reach after the successes of 2008 and 2010. “Rafael can win there because he’s fit and healthy. If he has problems with his knees, it is impossible for him to play well on grass,” Toni Nadal said in the tennisnet interview.
Last year, the left-hander lost in the round of 16 against the service giant Gilles Muller (Luxembourg). However, anyone who believes that “Rafa” Nadal has fulfilled his personal duty for the next few weeks with his eleventh Paris triumph is mistaken. “The pressure is always the same for Rafael, it has nothing to do with the French Open. He also wants to win Wimbledon – and he will do everything for that,” announced Toni Nadal.
When it came to the favourite in the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, however, Rafael Nadal committed himself to his Swiss permanent rival Roger Federer: “There is no doubt that this is the case,” the Spaniard emphasised.
Nadal had cancelled his participation in the traditional event in Queens last week to save his body after the French Open victory. “I’m sorry for the tournament organizers and the fans who wanted to see me play there,” said Nadal in Mallorca: “But I had to listen to my body’s signals on the advice of my doctors.
During the training he had a protégé from the Nadal Academy in Manacor, Jaume Munar (21), along with his coach Carlos Moya. “I experienced Rafa very fit,” said Munar, who has already played his way up to 87th place in the world rankings. In the more than two-hour training sessions in the mornings, Nadal went to his physical limits. And anyone who knows the fighter knows that he expected the same from his training partners.
When asked about the future football world champion, Real Madrid fan Rafael Nadal replied: “I don’t know, maybe there’s a surprise. Of course I hope Spain wins.” Last Friday, former Arsenal player and current assistant to start coach Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Mikel Arteta, visited the Nadal practice session.
He also drew a positive conclusion regarding the women’s event at the paradisiacal facility in Santa Ponsa. “The organizers are doing a fantastic job. The WTA tournament develops year after year, more and more spectators come and the ladies play a very attractive and worth seeing tennis. I am happy that there is the Mallorca Open,” said Nadal, whose uncle Toni was tournament director alongside tournament organiser Edwin Weindorfer.
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