Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal inaugurated his academy in Kuwait very recently. Unfortunately, the academy had to stop all activity shortly after opening due to the coronavirus pandemic. During this trying time, Rafa has sent a special message for the people of Kuwait. Check it out.
Rafael Nadal Sends A Special Message
Rafa sent his message through an Instagram post in which he largely spoke about the coronavirus affecting all of us. He said,
“We were all very excited to open the academy in Kuwait but sadly we are facing some challenging times right now. The main thing right now is the health and safety of everybody involved – the coaches, the staff, and the players at the academy.”
Rafa’s academy has been locked down to prevent the infection from spreading to the people inside. He is hopeful that the situation will ease soon. He said,
“I am hoping that we can win against the pandemic and I hope you all are staying positive at such a time. It is important to smile, to think positively during such a sad time even if it is very difficult to live with all these restrictions. I am sure we will come back stronger from this pandemic.”
Rafael Nadal is absolutely right. We all must stay positive during this time and hope that the situation will improve soon. If the situation does get better, we will see the return of the ATP tour which is something every tennis fan will be hoping for.
Rafa is certainly hoping for that. He wants the opportunity to equal his great rival Roger Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slams and take a step further in becoming the GOAT of tennis. If the situation with the virus gets better, he will have that opportunity and will not let it slip.
Can the Rafael Nadal motto hold out after the Pandemic?
If I am healthy, I am competitive..I have the chance to win tournaments,” Rafael Nadal said after his loss to Novak Djokovic at the 2019 Australian Open. He admitted how he was plagued with injuries and off the court for a time resulted in a deficit in rhythm and performance.
“Five months without competing, having that big challenge in front of me, I needed something else. That something else probably today, I don’t have it yet…” This was last year, a different dimension and today all things have changed.
Every player now is wondering what result will happen to their game after more than five months without competing. Injuries are the main reason for not being on court, but the coronavirus pandemic is quite another. Back then, Nadal just wanted to be healthy and said that “..the only thing that I hope is to have the chance to keep practicing well and to have the chance to keep playing with healthy conditions.”
These days most players are beginning to be tired of practicing when not knowing where or when their next tournament will come. Last year the Spaniard had the consistency during the regular touring schedule and it was easier and smoother to play and perform well.
He would say “..my next step is Acapulco. I have Indian Wells, and that’s my calendar today…” Nadal and other players don’t have a schedule anymore. It’s whenever the virus pandemic is over that’s when things will start to roll and be put on a calendar.
The Rogers Cup was just postponed until next year. This won’t be the year that Nadal defends his Rogers Cup title that he willfully captured in 2019 against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in straight sets. He commented that “..Things chance very quick…even if you are winning…I am never too confident…that’s why I am always putting out my 100 percent…”
The Rogers Cup against the Russian was his 5th and now it’s unsure when he’ll be playing the Canadian tournament again. It’s for sure though that all the players will be at the same spot. Rankings will be frozen but they will all come into the next tournament having no matches on their racket in over five months. This will be their true test of getting into the zone and staying there to have success.
