Rafael Nadal has a strong connection with football. He has been a die-hard supporter of Spanish giants Real Madrid and is also a 10 percent shareholder of RCD Mallorca, his local club by birth.
So it was understandable, that he would be asked about Real Madrid’s sacking of Rafael Benitez on Monday and the appointment of French legend Zinedine Zidane at Los Blancos.
Nadal, while being a friend of Zidane, wished him best and said ‘Zidane is part of Real Madrid’s history’, he also felt sorry for Benitez, who was sacked after just 25 games in charge into the La Liga season.
“Well, Zidane is history of the sport, of football, and he’s part of the history of Real Madrid. It’s obvious that he’s good,” said the 14-time Grand Slam champion as he backed the Frenchman to deliver.
“I think for the players he’s good. And also for one of the most important clubs of the world, Real Madrid, to have somebody like him on the bench managing the club. I am happy for him. I know him. He’s a good person and humble person, and I think he deserve to be where he is today. I wish him the best of luck,” he added.
Then Nadal turned to his namesake Rafael, and said he felt bad for him. “I’m sorry for Benitez that he was not having the success that he expected probably. And it’s tough to start a new project and after a few months you are out, so I feel very sorry for him,” he said.
 
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One more on Nadal! Unlike Novak Djokovic, Nadal is known to have an intense personality. He doesn’t impersonate anyone on the court nor does he do a ‘Gangnam Style’ jig post-match. The Spaniard, as he admits, is always high on intensity, even while practicing.
Yesterday, a journalist asked him in a press conference, quite cheekily, if he ever lets his hair down and has some fun. While taken aback at the query, Nadal was quick to point out that he has another side to his on-court persona.
“Serious? I am not serious (laughs). No, I am serious on court, but outside of the court I am not much serious,” the World No.5 said.
“I like to enjoy life in general, and I think I’m a hard worker. But at the same time I know how to enjoy my life. I always say the same. The tennis is a very important part of my life, for sure, but it is not everything” he added.
Ironically, though, he finished with a ‘serious’ answer. “For sure the way that I understand the sport is to work and try to do the right things to improve my game. I think that is one of the keys to my success during all my career, no? And having the right people around me. I received, what I think, the right education when I was a kid, the right values. You can be a great athlete or without great values or great education,” he concluded.

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Uncharacteristically, now it’s been three times at the Qatar Open that Novak Djokovic has been late to address the press. In fact, it was Nadal, who played after Djokovic yesterday, who made it to the media centre earlier than World No. 1 Serb.
So Djokovic was asked: Usually you come a bit quicker than that. Everything okay with you?
Djokovic was quick to apologise: “Yeah, I’m sorry. Three times I had to move the time. No, I just did some work and met some people that I haven’t seen for a while. Sorry about that.”