The announcement of the temporary goodbye of Rafa Nadal has been a tornado that has shaken the world of tennis, but also of sport in general. Athletes, politicians, estates…. many have wanted to convey a few words of encouragement to the best Spanish tennis player in history in these difficult times.
The number one in the world, the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, made public a heartfelt message of encouragement and support: “Much encouragement Rafa!. Very painful and sad for everyone that you can't be at Roland Garros or play more this year but wishing that 2024 will be a great season for you and you can say goodbye like the great champion you are,” he said on social media.
His friend and former basketball player, Pau Gasol, also wanted to show a message of support on social networks. “Dear @RafaelNadal, today is a hard day, but we are by your side more than ever.. Proud of you now and forever,” he wrote.
The president of the Balearic Islands, Francina Armengol, has sent a “big hug” to the Majorcan tennis player and has stated on her Twitter account: “Now more than ever, let's go Rafa”. Armengol asks Nadal to “recover well” and to “take care of himself even more” and assures him that he is and will be “our champion”.
“We will return, and we will win again”, the regional president has written about the most outstanding athlete from the Balearic Islands of all time.
The Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) and the Higher Sports Council (CSD) sent separate messages of encouragement to the tennis player: “Come on Rafa!. Your absence at Roland Garros will only be a pause in success. We are all with you, we are waiting for you on the slopes”, wrote the COE on social networks while the CSD assured that their “daily effort has given us moments of enormous happiness. More than we ever could have imagined.”
The Spanish Tennis Federation also wanted to “wish Nadal the best” in this temporary withdrawal.
Nadal, 36, confirmed this Thursday that he has not yet recovered from the iliopsoas injury in his left leg that he suffered on January 19 at the Australian Open and has not played a tournament again.
“The evolution of the injury I suffered in Australia has not gone as I would have liked. I’ve lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible. Right now, I’m not going to be able to be at Roland Garros. With what that tournament is for me, you can imagine how difficult it is. I have no intention of continuing to play for the next few months,” Nadal, who won the Paris tournament for the 14th time last year, said today.