With his feet firmly planted in this clay court that he has been around for more than twenty years, Rafael Nadal kept a cool head for his farewell to the Madrid tournament. This March 30, the Spanish public held their breath in the face of the match led by the Czech, Jiri Lehecka. These round of 16 at the Masters 1000 in Madrid are the last for the Bull of Manacor.
On the front line, in the stands of Court Manolo Santana, Rafael Nadal’s family came to support their champion. Once the match was over, tournament organizers displayed banners celebrating the Spanish player’s five years of victories. If the tennis player contained his emotion, this is not the case for his family, who were very touched.
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The Matador spoke, thanking the Spanish public one last time: “It’s a very special day for me. A few weeks ago, I didn’t know if I was going to be able to be there, if I was going to be able to play an official match again. Honestly, I can only say thank you to everyone, it’s been an incredible journey. I will thank my family and my team the day I retire. »
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A family united around tennis
Regularly present for tournaments, Rafael Nadal’s wife did not hold back her tears. Xisca Perello found refuge in the arms of Maribel Nadal, the player’s younger sister. This time little Rafael Junior was not on his mother’s knees, racket in hand. The latter was nevertheless surrounded by the Nadal clan, all tested by this farewell evening.
Maribel Nadal was also shocked by this intense event which marked a turning point in the athlete’s career. Suffering from health problems, Rafael Nadal’s presence on the court is almost a miracle, making this farewell evening all the more memorable. The young woman, a big supporter of her brother, let her tears flow.
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Very involved in the world of tennis, Maribel Nadal works at the “Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar”, a tennis training center based in Mallorca, the player’s native island. Founded eight years ago by Rafael Nadal, this academy trains future champions with former professional tennis players like Carlos Moya or Nuno Marques. Player Carlos Alcaraz attended this school, as did female hopeful Alina Korneeva.
