No matter how many times you repeat to yourself ‘Rafael Nadal is missing the French Open’, it still seems almost impossible.
The Spaniard who is synonymous with Roland Garros, the red clay and the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy that he has lifted a record 14 times will not be there when this year’s edition starts on 28 May because he is not fit enough following a hip injury.
Even the fact it is a physical issue that is keeping him out is almost inconceivable when you consider he won the title last year with a completely left numb foot because of multiple pain-killing injections.
Rafael Nadal and deserved happiness | El Pais
Since 2003, when he began to make his mark among the ATP elite, Nadal has missed 13 Grand Slam tournaments due to physical ailments and has been sidelined for a total of around four years, adding together the duration of all his injuries. Despite this, he was able to surpass the record set by Federer at major tournaments and to keep pace with the other member of the Big Three, Novak Djokovic, who turns 36 next Monday, without ever throwing in the towel. He is still holding off on doing so now, but wisdom and what comes tomorrow have prevailed. For some time, he has spoken with his heart on his sleeve about his physical issues, confessing that the end in sight during the farewell tournament for his Swiss comrade, with both players in tears in a photograph that went around the world.
Sporting press react to Rafa Nadal’s withdrawal from Roland Garros with iconic front pages | express.co.uk
The French press reacted to the loss of their ‘King of Clay’ with an emotional front cover on L’Equipe, showing Nadal sprawled out on Court Philippe Chatrier. “Une terre sans son roi,” it read, translating to “a land without its King”.
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An enlarged photo of Nadal’s face covered Marca, with the caption “Que hadas qui nos tienes para siempre”, translating literally to “What do you do here, you have us forever.” Meanwhile, AS quoted the Spaniard directly from his presser, writing: “I don’t deserve to end like this.”
Newspapers like ABC also led with the news of Nadal’s withdrawal and eventual retirement, writing: “Nadal, goodbye in his own way.” With all of the Spanish newspapers using photos of Nadal from his press conference, El Pais wrote: “Nadal will stop for a few months and prepare his retirement in 2024.”
Rafael Nadal plans to move into new home with wife, family this summer | sportskeeda.com
Located at the highest part of Porto Cristo, the house is said to have been completed after three years of work. The family of Nadal, as per Diario de Mallorca, is expected to move into the luxury location at the beginning of summer. The move would make a lot of sense as the couple, who welcomed their first child in October, look to settle down.
Architect Tomeu Esteva, who founded the Palma-based firm Esteva i Esteva, had been commissioned to design the house. It is built on a 7,000-square-meter land that includes four volumes, two two-story buildings, and a basement plus a bonus couple of one-story buildings each.
With each floor featuring large windows and terraces, the luxury house built atop the seaside cliffs makes for the perfect setting to bear witness to the open waters. The main buildings at the house are interconnected and have a garden and a pool.