It’s five in the afternoon. A sun that burns and a shadow that freezes. And Rafael Nadal arrives to train on the second day of the Mutua Madrid Open. This acclaimed Spanish tennis player has entered the court to shouts, applause and cheers from all his admirers. He has played against Use Lehecka from the Czech Republic on clay court 13, the mayor’s favorite.
Hundreds of people gathered in the stands to try to see the former world number one. Even behind the stadium fences you could see fans trying to catch the athlete while he played. Every time a person left an empty chair, someone quickly arrived to occupy it. Likewise, all the admirers were with their cell phones or their own cameras, no person wanted to leave without the memory of him.
The young people around explained that «Rafael Nadal is the best Spanish tennis player. “I am very happy to have been able to see his games as a child.” In addition, there were also people who lamented his upcoming retirement: “I feel sorry that these could be his last games, he is the best of all. My father raised me watching Nadal».
Between plays, Lehecka would throw the balls so high that they ended up in the courts next to his. In a fast and non-stop workout, both professional athletes slid across the land making their movements simple. Half an hour into the start, Nadal stopped to greet Carlos Alcarazchampion of the 2023 Mutua Madrid Open already Ilia TopuriaUFC Featherweight World Champion.
Among Nadal’s great achievements is winning 22 Grand Slams, the last in 2022. In addition, in 2016 he opened the Rafa Nadal Academy, where high-level tennis is combined with education and residence. Tennis players like Alcaraz have come out of this academy.
A standing ovation
Nadal continues with his little manias like cleaning the lines of the court of dirt. Halfway through the training, although the tumult began to fade, all the chairs were always full. Nobody wanted to miss the best in the world training. For every good play by Nadal, the spectators broke into applause and cheers: Come on Rafa! We are with you legend!
The training ended after two hours, with all attendees standing and applauding the tennis player. While Lehecka and his team asked Nadal for a photo, all the attendees ran out to try to get an autograph from the athlete who left the court carrying his bags while he smiled and greeted the public.
2024-04-23 19:34:33
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