The Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, which as of this Monday is located in fifth place in the world ranking of the ATP after being displaced by the German Alexander Zverev, finished this weekend in sixth place in the Balearic Mid-Amateur Golf Championship, a sport of which he is also a fan
Nadal, who announced that due to a foot injury he will not compete on the men’s circuit again until 2022, participated in the Arabella Golf Course in Palma de Mallorca.
The Mallorcan completed a first round of 79 strokes and then rounded off a second with 74 that allowed him to share sixth place with Carlos Gomila, eight impacts from the winner of the contest, Juan Pedro Manjón.
Nadal had communicated last week through his social networks that he was ending his season because he had been “suffering much more than he should” with one of his feet.
“After having discussed it with the team and family, this decision has been made and I believe that it is the way forward to try to recover and recover well,” said the current number four in the ATP ranking.
And he added: “It is a year that I have missed things that matter a lot to me, such as WimbledonHow are the Olympics, how is the United States Open going to be now, like many other events that are also important to me. And in view of the fact that during this last year I have not had the ability to train, prepare and compete in the way that I really like to do it, I come to the conclusion that what I need is time to recover. “
Passion for another ball
It is not the first time that Nadal has shown himself in an amateur tournament. Last year he finished fourth in the Absolute Championship of the Balearic Islands, in Mallorca. He even became the momentary leader of the tournament and finished five strokes behind the winner.
In 2019, meanwhile, Rafa had come second in this same tournament and during the stoppage of the circuit of tennis Due to the pandemic, he brought his handicap to the brink of being considered a professional.
As right-handed. Rafa is only left-handed to play tennis. Photo: AFP
Nadal’s closeness to him golf It even led him to sponsor an annual benefit tournament in the town of Son Servera, also in Mallorca, together with his compatriot José María Olazábal, twice winner of the Augusta Masters: the Olazábal & Nadal Invitational. It has also been crossed several times with Tiger Woods, Whom he defines as “an inspiration”.
Golf is not just a hobby for the 13-time champion of Roland Garros. In fact, it is clear to him that once he hangs up the racket he will be dedicated to both golf and fishing. “I’m good, roughly; I have nothing incredible, but nothing very weak either. I have more or less a good short game and I am solid with the driver,” he said some time ago.
He never took classes. He just liked it and likes to kick-start his swing in gatherings with friends or family.
As for all other activities that require hands, in golf Rafa is right-handed. Only to play tennis he is left-handed. It came naturally when he had to choose, because until he was about ten years old he played hitting with both hands.
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