In the midst of the fever for the World Cup in Qatar, at the Arena Parque Roca, this Wednesday only tennis was breathed. Nobody talked about what is happening these days in that distant Middle Eastern country, where Lionel Messi and his company are fighting to win the most coveted trophy in football. Here, the only thing that mattered is the yellow ball. And it was not for less: the multipurpose stadium of Villa Soldati, which was remodeled for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, received one of the best rackets of all time, Rafael Nadal. The Majorcan, the greatest Grand Slam winner in history, was the main actor in an unforgettable day, which started very early and culminated in the duel he played with the Norwegian Casper Ruudnumber three in the world, and the mixed doubles that they later played with the enormous Gabriela Sabatini and Gisela Dulko.
Before 3:00 p.m., people had already begun to arrive at the stadium. The first little groups were, above all, boys from tennis schools or clubs who carried their racket bags and a great hope of participating in the clinic that was scheduled for hours before the game. The Mallorcan was seen with a pure smile and very much enjoyed the relaxed moment with the little ones.
Organized by the Mallorcan Academy and the Argentine Tennis Association -Franco Squillari and the Development Department team were present, as well as teachers and AAT Under 16 and Under 14 players-, in small groups the children had the pleasure of Rally for a while with Rafa and Casper.
Meanwhile, the surroundings of the stadium began to fill with people, who took the opportunity to take some photos with the giant poster with the faces of the Spaniard and the Norwegian, which read “La Revancha” and welcomed the public, meters from the entry.
After 4:30 p.m., when a couple of young Argentine promises played the previous match at the stadium, there was already a long line of people braving the strong afternoon sun and waiting to enter the stadium. Others, less anxious and less lovers of heat, took advantage of the shade of some umbrellas placed on the tables of the food stalls to have a cool drink or eat something.
Finally, admission was released and a wave of people began to enter the stadium and fill the seats to wait for the start of the action. Little by little, very little by little, the stands began to fill up. There were many small groups of boys, with t-shirts from different clubs or tennis schools, some posters with the logo that is a registered trademark of the Spanish -the one that resembles the head of a bull- and several people wearing t-shirts and caps with the same stamped image. on the front. And even some light blue and white flag.
It was already seven minutes after 6:00 p.m., the time set for the start of the show, and there were still many free places. But those who had already found their seats began to get impatient and call, with applause, the main protagonists of the day. The anxiety was great…
They did not have to wait much longer. Around 6:20 p.m., Ruud appeared on the scene and received the first ovation of the afternoon. The Norwegian, dressed in a red T-shirt and blue pants, was greeted with applause and even with a flag of his country waving in the stands. But of course, nothing, compared to what Rafa’s admission was like, in impeccable black pants and shirt and a furious yellow headband. It was enough that the former number one showed his nose in the stadium for the people to explode. “Hello, olé, olé, olé… Rafaaaa… Rafaaaa”, was heard. In a few minutes, the two left their bags on the benches – this time, comfortable gray two-seat chairs -, took their routine photo on the pitch and got ready to rally.
Nadal had promised on Tuesday, in the press conference, that they were going to try to give people an entertaining show, but with the intensity of those who usually star when they play “for points.” From the warm-up it was clear: the idea was to enjoy, but also to play seriously. So it was. For exhibition, the match had only the name.
In his first service turn, the Spaniard, with that serious gesture of the competitor Rafa, carried out his traditional “ritual” prior to service and they began an exchange of intense blows, which immediately turned the audience on. The two played each point without giving away anything, lamented each mistake and celebrated each success with a clenched fist. And each display of talent -such as a running shot, with a jump included, from Nadal, when Ruud served 2-3 in the first set or a hellish forehand from the Norwegian to raise a break point in that same game- was applauded by everyone. the people that is here.
The only thing that managed to break, at times, the Mallorcan’s concentration was a shout that arose in the stands or an exchange with someone located in the seats next to the court. At one point, a “Don’t ever leave, Rafaaaa”. In another, a “Marry me, Rafael”. And each time, he couldn’t help but smile..
Nor could one of the ball boys avoid a smile, from ear to ear, when he received a slap on the back from the Spaniard, after drying a sector of the field that had gotten wet, near the service line.
“An ace for Rafaelito”, asked someone about the closing of the partial. He tucked it in, looked around for the sector the request had come from, and gave a thumbs up with a smile.
The biggest ovation for Ruud came after winning a great point, after returning three killer shots from the Spaniard and dislodging him with the last shot. His reaction was so good that even Rafa himself applauded him and he raised his racket and thanked his rival and the public for his praise.
One of the biggest for Nadal? The one that arose after the pitch with which the Spaniard closed the tie break of the first set.
The great points followed, the balls returned with effort and the shots that revealed the extraordinary talent of the two. Because the Norwegian, as a secondary actor, delighted with that tennis that allowed him, for example, to play the final of the “Masters Tournament” in Turin a few days ago.
At the start of the second set, tired after running a couple of balls, Casper “asked for the change” and sent one of the players onto the court. ball boys. The boy stood up well in front of Nadal and even dared to get him out from below, with total impudence, and throw a Big Willy, at the request of the people, when Rafa wanted to complicate it with a balloon. And he earned a shower of applause.
“Come on Casper, I don’t want it to end!”, someone yelled as the Spaniard went ahead 4-1 in the second set and came close to victory. And many of the fans of Rafa, who had been encouraging him from the beginning, threw themselves to the Norwegian’s side. Everyone wanted more tennis. Ruud seemed to hear them and gave a few tips to the “new” followers of him.
But the good moment of the Scandinavian awakened the more competitive side of Nadal, who after scoring 5-1 raised his arms and “demanded” an ovation, with a big smile. No one dared to deny it.
The tennis party in Parque Roca continued for a few more minutes, which ended with a masterful shot from the enormous Nadal, for the final 6-2.
There was time for an emotional recognition for Ruud. And for a huge ovation for Rafa, who thanked the affection with his arms raised to heaven, at the end of an unforgettable first part of the day, which he continued with emotion with the entrance of Gabriela Sabatini y Gisela Dulko.
It is those who wanted more tennis, they had it. Minutes after Nadal’s celebration, the Spaniard returned to the court to share a special doubles with the enormous Sabatini.
The stadium exploded when the former number three in the world entered, clad in a blue skirt, a headband setting the tone, accompanied by Dulko. The two wore an Argentine shirt with the “10” on the back, which they later gave to the Mallorcan and the Norwegian.
The Tigrense, another benchmark of national tennis, who came to be number one in the world in doubles, stood on the other side of the net, next to Ruud. They played only one set, which was 6-4 for Sabatini and Nadal, but that was enough to make it clear that, for Gaby, years do not pass.
At 52 years old, she ran, hit, threw magic (a Great Willy included), delighted and was applauded as in her best years. Stainless, the partnership of her with Rafa put the finishing touch to a historic day.
