My visit to Rafael Nadal's state-of-the-art Mallorca tennis academy
Before his retirement Rafael Nadal would usually be bounding about on the clay courts of Paris at this time of year in preparation for the French Open. These days, you will find him in Mallorca keeping up his post-career fitness in the corner of a gym alongside some members of the public who are (respectfully) not quite so trim.
Even at the height of his two-decades-long career, it has often been said that Nadal would casually blend in with the rest of the population at home in the small town of Manacor. Within minutes of The Times parking up outside the Rafa Nadal Academy there is proof. Walking towards the entrance, we immediately catch sight of one of tennis's greats, with little fuss, through the
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
34 minutes ago
- The Independent
England jeered after unimpressive win over minnows Andorra
England were booed after limping to a lifeless 1-0 win against Andorra as Thomas Tuchel's first away match in charge ended in forgettable and frustrating fashion. The German coach called for relentlessness and patience against the side 173rd in FIFA's world rankings but got neither as the stuttering Euro 2024 runners-up were jeered at the end of both halves. This was the third time England have failed to score a first-half goal against Andorra in Barcelona, where the minnows kept out Steve McClaren's side in 2007 and Fabio Capello's team the following year. There was a breakthrough shortly after the break in both of those matches, just as there was in Saturday's World Cup qualifier when Harry Kane finally gave the 6,950 travelling fans something to cheer about. England's captain turned in lively Noni Madueke's cross in the 50th minute, yet the goals did not flow from that point and slow play brought further grumbles. Some fans made an early exit and there were more boos at the end of Tuchel's third win in charge. The England boss had named an attack-minded line-up at the RCDE Stadium – where the match was held as Andorra's new ground was not quite ready – and saw his side boss 83 per cent of first-half possession. But the Group K leaders were unable to turn dominance into a first-half opener as well-drilled, defence-minded Andorra held firm on a warm evening in Spain. Jude Bellingham saw a shot saved inside the opening minute and Curtis Jones soon saw an attempt blocked, with Ezri Konsa then denied a penalty despite being wrestled to the ground. Andorra goalkeeper Iker Alvarez looked uncertain at some set-pieces but produced some important stops, with his 14th-minute save from Madueke the most impressive. Kane struck wide from close range and Bellingham saw an attempt through a crowd saved but England's play was lacking incision. Andorra's support whistled for half-time as Bellingham saw a flicked header held in stoppage time, which ended with boos from unimpressed England fans. It was not only the performance that some supporters expressed anger with as Prime Minister Keir Starmer copped some flak at points during the first half. Ricard Fernandez's attempt to score Andorra's first goal against England went well wide early in the second half and the visitors finally broke the deadlock in the 50th minute. Jones slipped a ball through for stretching Kane to prod goalwards, with Madueke reacting quickest to Alvarez's save and sending a low ball back across for the skipper to stab home. Madueke was denied before Tuchel turned to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Eberechi Eze. The latter saw a header tipped over by Alvarez, increasing Andorran anticipation when substitute Guillaume Lopez skipped past Dan Burn to see a shot blocked by Konsa. Play petered out as some England fans made an early exit, understandably preferring to get their Saturday night started in Barcelona rather than see through a dreary conclusion. There was a chance at the death but Andorra escaped, England fans letting their annoyance known but later applauding the players.
The Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Sun
England player ratings: Noni Madueke and Curtis Jones best of a bad bunch with Reece James totally looking lost on left
NONI MADUEKE was determined to get England over the line during their laboured 1-0 win against Andorra in the World Cup qualifiers. Harry Kane notched his 72nd goal for his country and Thomas Tuchel went rogue by starting Curtis Jones in right-back to make room for 34-year-old Jordan Henderson in the middle. 12 12 An uneventful first half saw the Three Lions BOOED off in the near empty RCDE Stadium in Barcelona. Kane, who poked wide in the first 30 minutes, finally found a breakthrough when he smashed in Chelsea winger Madueke 's quick low cross five minutes after the break. But there's reasons for concerns and holiday-mode England struggled to break down the home side's bus-parking tactics - weeks after Albania put three goals away against Andorra. However, Tuchel became the first England manager to win his first three games in charge, without conceding a single goal as his side remains top of Group K. Here SunSport's Charlie Wyett rates and slates the England players from sunny Spain. Jordan Pickford - 5 As expected, a bystander in goal and Tuchel should have given James Trafford a debut. 12 Ezri Konsa - 5 Aston Villa star looks to be England's first-choice central defender and he will not get an easier game than this. Dan Burn - 4 It is now obvious that Tuchel loves the Newcastle defender and he has got a very good chance of going to the World Cup although some of his passing was dreadful. The likes of Harry Maguire and Eric Dier must be peed off. 12 Reece James - 4 Just 24 hours after James said his best position was right-back, Thomas Tuchel played him at left-back. He did not look that comfortable. He also produced a terrible delivery at a free-kick near the end. 12 Curtis Jones - 6 Played as an inverted right-back so had plenty of licence to get forward. Played a part in the opening goal with a clever pass to Kane. 12 Jude Bellingham - 5 Had the first shot of the game after 56 seconds but did not cause too many problems in his offensive midfield role. Jordan Henderson - 5 Cap no 84 for the Ajax midfielder although this was his first start since November 2023. You can see why Tuchel wants a player of his experience but he did not have much influence here 12 Morgan Rogers - 5 Delivered some silky skills which caused Andorra a few problems but lacked an end product. Cole Palmer - 6 Has been on fire in training during the week in Girona but did not really get involved although saw plenty of the ball. 12 Noni Madueke - 7 England's best player although should have scored in injury-time. Was particularly bright in the first half and played a part in the opening goal. Harry Kane - 6 Missed a couple of chances but finally got his goal shortly into the second. It was his 450th career goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Henderson,64) -5 Eberechi Eze (for Palmer,65)- 5 Declan Rice (for Jones, 80)- 5 Anthony Gordon(for Rogers, 80) - 5 Morgan Gibbs-White (for Bellingham, 90+1) - 5 Subs not used: D Henderson, Trafford, Walker, Colwill, Toney, Lewis-Skelly, Chalobah.
Daily Mirror
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Coco Gauff wins French Open as Aryna Sabalenka makes bitter admission
Coco Gauff beat Aryna Sabalenka to win her first French Open singles title, with the American forced to come from behind to be at the world number one at Roland Garros Coco Gauff produced a remarkable comeback win to beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4 in the French Open final and quoted Tyler, the Creator as she celebrated becoming the new queen of clay. The victory saw Gauff claim her second Grand Slam singles title and become the first American woman to lift the trophy since Serena Williams in 2015. The 21-year-old had previously reached the final in 2022, but was thrashed 6-1 6-3 by Iga Swiatek and had to come from behind to triumph over Sabalenka. "I don't know what I've done to deserve such support from the French crowd but I really appreciate it," Gauff said after the game. "I'm gonna quote Tyler, the Creator, who said 'If I ever told you I had a doubt inside me, I think I was lying'. I'll leave that with you guys." Sabalenka, meanwhile, apologised to her team after the match for a "terrible final" and vowed to "come back stronger". The world number one said: "This will hurt so much, especially after such a tough two weeks playing great tennis in terrible conditions. "Thank you my team for the support, I'm sorry for this terrible final. As always I will come back stronger. Anyway, Coco congrats. In these tough conditions, you were a better player than me. "Well done on a great two weeks. Congrats on the second slam. You're a fighter. Hard worker. Congrats to you and your team. "Honestly sometimes it felt like she was hitting the ball from the frame. Somehow magically the ball lands in the court, and you are on the back foot. "It felt like a joke, honestly, like somebody from above was just staying there laughing, like, let's see if you can handle this. "It's another tough final in a Grand Slam against Coco. Another terrible performance from me against Coco in the final. "I have to just kind of, like, step back and look at this from the perspective and try to finally learn the lesson, because I cannot go out there every time against her in the finals of the Grand Slam and play such terrible tennis and give those wins, not easily, but like, emotionally, you know?" The men's final will be contested on Sunday, with Jannik Sinner set to take on Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Friday to book his place in the final, while Alcaraz defeated Lorenzo Musetti after he retired in the fourth set of their match.
