ATP: Small but mighty - statue replica handed over to Rafael Nadal
The original adorns the entrance to the Stade Roland Garros, a replica of the Rafal Nadal statue has now been ceremoniously handed over to the 14-time French Open winner in Mallorca.
by Stefan Bergmann
last edit:
Apr 01, 2023, 06:57 am
Tournament Director Amélie Mauresmo and the President of the French Tennis Federation, Gilles Moretton, made their way to Manacor themselves to hand over a replica of the Rafael Nadal statue, which is enthroned at the entrance to the Paris tennis complex, to the still active Spanish tennis legend. The original was created in 2021 by the Spanish artist Jordie Diez Fernandez - the work, which is over three meters high, shows the 22-time Grand Slam winner in a highly dynamic forehand position immediately after the shot.
The significantly smaller replica was handed over to the Rafael Nadal Academy museum after the joint unveiling and can now be admired there by all visitors to the Mallorcan tennis court. Mauresmo and Moretton also did not miss the opportunity to take a close look at the renowned academy and to have lunch together with the French Open record winner in the club restaurant christened "Roland Garros".
Speaking of the record: Nadal has the chance to win the French clay court Grand Slam tournament for the 15th time this season - a more than impressive statistic for the former world number one. However, the "Bull from Manacor" has been struggling with physical problems since the beginning of the season. An injury to the psoas () took the 36-year-old out of the race at the Australian Open. Meanwhile, the Spaniard is preparing for the European clay court season. It is still uncertain whether it will be possible to start at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo.