Rafael Nadal has mesmerized tennis lovers around the world with his never-say-die attitude on the court, which makes him come up with magical moments and unique shots in any situation. This is largely due to the fact that Nadal’s work ethic is unparalleled, so much so that he treats each training session as if it is a match he is playing, with incredible intensity.
The Spaniard is being missed by many at the Wimbledon Championships currently, but there was a time when the former World No.1 himself missed out on meeting a special person. Back in 2010, Nadal created headlines at the SW19 for an issue beyond the court, something never seen by any player ever since.
Did Rafael Nadal Snub Meeting Queen Elizabeth II?
Rafael Nadal was reportedly invited to meet the now expired Queen Elizabeth II at the All England Club itself, alongside Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams. While the other three superstars jumped at the opportunity, Nadal dared to refuse the invite and explained himself in a Wimbledon press conference at the time
“I knew it was going to be a very difficult match. I had to practice around then, so it was impossible for me [to meet the Queen]. I have my routines. Before the match, it is very difficult when you don’t know when you’re going to play. For me it was disappointing. I was excited to meet her but it was a very important match for me too.
“I thought the Queen was going to be at my match and I would love to have the chance to meet her after the match. But it wasn’t possible because I think the Queen left before.”
The match he was referring to was his Round of 64 clash against the Netherlands’ Robin Haase. Prior to receiving the invite, Rafael Nadal had already scheduled a practice session for the match. Known for notoriously following certain rituals and routines, the Spaniard feared that he might not be prepared in any sense for the clash. There were 2 major factors riding against Nadal – 1) No knowledge of when the match would be held due to other pending results. 2) His prowess on grass not being as good as clay.
As Rafael Nadal thought, playing Haase was extremely tough as he took 5 grueling sets to prevail. The 22-time Grand Slam champion went on to win the men’s singles title for the second time in his career, which is also his last so far at Wimbledon. Eventually, he could not meet the Queen that day since she had left after watching Andy Murray’s Round of 64 match on Centre Court, perhaps in retaliation to her invite being declined, while Nadal’s practice session finished afterwards. Yet Nadal’s dedication to the sport was evident again, which has stood the test of time.
Rafael Nadal retirement, ranking and current activities
Whenever the Rafael Nadal retirement question pops up, one can never say when would be his last appearance in professional tennis thanks to the Mueller-Weiss syndrome, which in effect cripples the feet. However, this time his comeback might be tougher not just because of age, but his ranking having also slipped to a lowly No.136.
However, this has given Nadal the time to relax and retrospect while also focus more on his personal life and business commitments. The Spaniard has many investments in his name, while he is now more involved in the functioning of the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, which is managed by his wife, Maria Xisca Perello.
