Latest news with #Majorca
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Here we go again! Defiant Majorcans vow this year's summer holiday protests will be bigger than last years as the mass tourism from Brits is making their lives 'unbearable'
Thousands of defiant anti-tourism protesters have vowed to bring the streets of Majorca to a standstill after they called for another major anti-tourist demonstration. The Spanish island's capital of Palma - a holiday hotspot popular among Brits- will be clogged on Sunday, June 15 as representatives of 60 groups today announced the protest. The move comes as Spain finds itself struggling to balance the promotion of tourism and addressing citizens' concerns over a housing crisis that they say has been fuelled by holidaymakers. The demonstration will be led by campaign group 'Menys Turisme, Mes Vida' (Less tourism, more life), which claims that the everyday life of locals has become 'unbearable' thanks to foreign holidaymakers. They have accused both the Balearic Islands' government of ignoring the pleas for drastic changes in their current tourism model. The platform is asking the island's residents to take to the streets to demand a change in the economic model and what they describe as 'touristification.' This will be the third major protest of its kind but the activists say they are getting nowhere despite calls to clampdown on tourists. The demonstration in Palma will be held simultaneously with similar marches in Ibiza, Barcelona, Donosti and other major Spanish cities. 'We stand for the right to a dignified life and to demand an end to touristification', said Jaume Pujol, spokesman for Menys Turisme, Més Vida. The group today also criticised the local government, accusing them of promoting policies that have aggravated the mass tourism crisis. They also warned that, with the start of the tourist season, 'unbearable situations' are already being repeated on the island, including road closures due to tourist events and genera; saturation of public spaces and markets. Menys Turisme, Mes Vida also argued that their island is 'not for sale' and that 'it is urgent to put limits' on a tourism model that they consider increasingly destructive. It comes a month after tens of thousands of furious Spaniards took to the streets across the country to demand a solution to the cost of living crisis they say has been exacerbated by tourism. The demonstrations on April 5 took place across major Spanish towns and cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga and Palma. According to organizers, 30,000 people took to the streets of Malaga - a seaside town in the south of Spain - as they demanded solutions to the housing crisis, with banners reading: 'Houses for the people of Málaga. Hotels for tourists, affordable rents.' But police reported that around 5,000 demonstrators took part in the Malaga march. Residents were photographed holding banners with the slogan: 'Houses for the people of Málaga. Hotels for tourists'. Some also hung posters from their balconies and windows with messages saying: 'Housing is a right, not a business'. Meanwhile in Madrid, around 15,000 people gathered in the capital's neighbourhood of Atocha and marched towards Plaza de Espana shouting slogans like: 'Landlords are thieves' and 'Madrid will be the tomb of rentals'. Angry renters pointed to instances of international hedge funds buying up properties, often with the aim of renting them to foreign tourists. The question has become so politically charged that Barcelona's city government pledged last year to phase out all its 10,000 permits for short-term rentals, many of them advertised on platforms like Airbnb, by 2028. Marchers in Madrid last month chanted 'Get Airbnb out of our neighborhoods' and held up signs against short-term rentals. 'No more leaving our neighborhoods, our homes, or even our cities every five or seven years,' said Valeria Racu, spokesperson for the Madrid tenants' union, in a statement at the start of the demonstration. 'We're calling on the half-million households whose contracts expire in 2025 to stay home and resist,' she added. Incomes in Spain have failed to keep up with rising housing costs, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment Irate activists aired their grievances to the angry mobs filling the streets, taking aim at the 'touristification' of resorts along Spain's coasts. In the southern city of Murcia, 500 people chanted: 'We will not tolerate one more eviction'. Up north in Santander, a city on Spain's Atlantic coast, residents demanded public houses. 'No houses without people, no people without houses,' 'everyone under a roof, housing is a right', those in attendance chanted. A generation of young people say they have to stay with their parents or spend big just to share an apartment, with little chance of saving enough to one day purchase a home. High housing costs mean even those with traditionally well-paying jobs are struggling to make ends meet. According to Spain's central bank, almost 40% of Spanish families who rent spend nearly half of their income on housing. In April last year the government said it would scrap its so-called 'golden visa' programme granting residency rights to foreigners who make large investments in real estate in the country, which the Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said would help make access to affordable housing 'a right instead of a speculative business'. The average rent in Spain has almost doubled in the last 10 years. The price per square meter rose from 7.2 euros in 2014 to 13 euros last year, according to real estate website Idealista. The increase is bigger in Madrid and Barcelona. Incomes have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Spain does not have the public housing that other European nations have invested in to cushion struggling renters from a market that is pricing them out. Spain was rocked by mass demonstrations last summer, as tens of thousands of fed up locals filled the streets to protest mass tourism. Anti-tourism campaigners have long been contesting the current tourism model, claiming that many locals have been priced out by holidaymakers, expats and foreign buyers. Last year, Spain saw a record-breaking number of tourists, with over 15 million visitors flocking to the island of Mallorca alone. In response, protestors took to the streets across Spain, leaving countless visitors fuming after paying hundreds of pounds to enjoy their holidays abroad. Actions included marches on the street with protesters chanting 'tourists go home', as well as demonstrations on beaches which saw locals boo and jeer at sun-soaked tourists. In one particular instance, up to 50,000 locals descended onto the streets of the Mallorca capital Palma. Meanwhile in Barcelona, some 2,800 people marched along a waterfront district of Barcelona to demand a new economic model that would reduce the millions of tourists that visit every year. Protesters carried signs reading 'Barcelona is not for sale,' and, 'Tourists go home,' before some used water guns on tourists eating outdoors at restaurants in popular tourist hotspots. Chants of 'Tourists out of our neighbourhood' rang out as some stopped in front of the entrances to hotels.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Irina Shayk, 39, looks sensational as she shows off her washboard abs in cream bikini
SUPERMODEL Irina Shayk hits the right tone in a new swimwear campaign. The Russian, 39, showed off her tum in a cream bikini for a shoot in Majorca for El Corte Ingles' new summer collection. 3 3 It comes as she has rekindled her romance with gridiron legend Tom Brady, 47, who she dated in 2023. They last dated four years after her split from actor Bradley Cooper, 50, with whom she shares a daughter, Lea, seven. She is a model and television personality best known for being one of the faces of Victoria's Secret and, more recently, Rihanna's buzzing lingerie brand, Savage X Fenty. However, the model has grown globally and walked the runway for fashion brands including Fendi, Chanel, Tory Burch, Vivienne Westwood, and more. She also never fails to grace the covers of magazines like Vogue, Bazaar, and Allure. Due to her high success in the fashion world, Shayk has accumulated quite a fortune. Her net worth is believed to be around $25million, as per Celebrity Net Worth. Irina recently displayed her washboard abs in a mirror selfie taken during her time away in the sunny European country. Model Irina Shayk wows as she shows off amazing figure in black bikini on Italian holiday 3
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Love Island sign up stunning beauty salon owner just days before new series launch
LOVE Island has signed up a stunning beauty salon owner days before the new series launch. The 24-year-old from Devon is being lined up for the Majorca villa when the hit ITV2 show returns next week. 6 6 6 Entrepreneur Rose Selway has beauty and brains, running 12 aesthetics clinics with a famous clientele that includes former Love Islanders Lucinda Strafford and Jessy Potts. She's also been open about her own plastic surgery including a nose job and botox. She says about her company: "Aesthetics isn't just my job, it's my whole world. "I absolutely love it and adore every single one of you I meet day in and day out. "The confidence I bring you all makes me burst with joy." Rose is ready to enter the show after passing the Love Island audtion process - but bosses are yet to make their final decision on the staring line-up. A source told MailOnline: "Rose is friends with many former stars of the show so has a good idea what it's like being in the villa and now she finally has the chance to experience it herself." It comes as The Sun revealed 22-year-old model Shakira Khan from Manchester has also made the cut. Shakira's Instagram page is filled with gorgeous travel snaps from Haiti, Dubai and New York. She's also not afraid of a bikini showcase too. Love Island host Maya Jama looks stunning in backless dress as she parties with pals The action will kick off at 9pm on ITV2 and see host Maya welcome a brand new set of sexy singletons into the famous villa. The new Islanders will then attempt to "couple up" in order for them not to be "dumped from the Island". As per Love Island tradition, the show usually starts the week after the last May Bank Holiday. However, this year the show is kicking off a week after this at the slightly later date of June 9. Host Maya teased the return of Love Island, in the show's latest trailer. In the short clip, she talked about the new series bringing 'more twists and turns'. Looking sensational, Maya said: "This year Love Island needs something bigger, something bolder, I want ideas." The TV host insisted: "This year I want more drama, more bombshells, more break-ups, more makeups. "I want more twists, I want more twists than ever." 6 Love Island winners - where they are now EVERY year Love Island opens its doors to more sexy Islanders who are hoping for a holiday romance that could turn into more. Here we take you through all of the Love Island winners so far and what their relationship statuses are now: 2025 - The second series of All Stars saw Gabby Allen and Case O'Gorman scoop the crown. STATUS: Still together. 2024 - The summer Love Island saw Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan were crowned the winners. STATUS: Broken up. 2024 - The first ever All stars spin off show was won by Molly Smith and Tom Clare. STATUS: Still together. 2023 - Jess Harding and Sammy Root took home the 50k, and won the summer 2023 Love Island. STATUS: Broken up. 2023 - The first series of 2023 saw Sanam Harrinanan and Kai Fagan crowned Love Island winners in South Africa. STATUS: Still together. 2022 - Davide Sanclimenti and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu's time in the villa was anything but a smooth ride, but they managed to win the public's hearts - and the ITV2 reality show. STATUS: Broken up. 2021 - Liam Reardon and Millie Court were announced winners of Love Island 2021. STATUS: Still together. 2020 - The first ever winter Love Island saw Paige Turley and Finn Tapp crowned winners after falling in love on the show. STATUS: Broken up. 2019 - Series 5 saw Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague runners up to winners Greg O'Shea and Amber Gill, who met in the last few days of the series. STATUS: Broken up. 2018 - It wasn't surprising fan favourites Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer won the show, as they were strong throughout. But sadly things didn't last. STATUS: Broken up. 2017 - Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies had lots of ups and downs in the villa but went on to win. STATUS: Broken up. 2016 - Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde were together from the start of the series, and since they won the show they've had two kids and are married. STATUS: Still together. 2015 - Despite poor Jess Hayes being Max Morley's second choice on the show, they did win - but they didn't last as a couple. STATUS: Broken up.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
These are the 20 cheapest all- inclusive hotels for families this summer
THE Sun travel team has compared prices across all short-haul destinations - and found the 20 cheapest all-inclusive hotels for your family this school summer holidays. From as little as £437pp in resorts across Turkey, Spain, Greece and Tunisia - all of the hotels have availability in late July or August this year. 13 The below deals are all for seven nights with prices based on an all-inclusive stay for two adults and two children. Flights are not included. SPAIN Hotel Palia Don Pedro, Tenerife, £478pp This hotel is in a great location for the price, on Tenerife's south coast. The peaceful location has its own stretch of coastline and is around 20 minutes to the lively Playa de las Americas beach area by car. Rooms have a kitchenette and there is a restaurant, bar and cafe on site, with local food and drink included with your package. As well as a large pool and a kids splash area, there is a program of entertainment for both adults and children, as well as a kids club. Best deal with: Holiday Hypermarket Ilusion Calma Hotel and Spa, Majorca, £496.50pp 13 C'an Pastilla resort in Majorca has one of the best beaches on the island, with golden sand and beautiful bays, glistening with crystal clear water. This simple hotel has modern rooms and daily entertainment, as well as a hassle-free buffet restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Daily entertainment incudes bingo, in-house entertainment shows, karaoke, live DJ, live music, mini-disco, professional shows and quizzes. Best deal with: Love Holidays One of Spain's oldest beach bars that was loved by A-List stars forced to close — as fans say goodbye to €4 beers and sea views BLUESEA Costa Verde, El Arenal, C'an Pastilla, £488.75pp The 3-star BLUESEA Costa Verde hotel is located in a quiet area of the popular resort of El Arenal, on the south coast of Mallorca. The marina and beach are about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. It's a great location for couples and families looking for a nice location and value for money. In the evening, El Arenal has a vibrant nightlife, with clubs, discos and beach bars along the coast. Best deal with: Love Holidays Villa Mandi, Tenerife £519pp 13 This pretty resort backs on to a golf course and there are two outside pools and two baby splash pads. You will also be just a 10-minute drive to Los Cristianos resort area, Vistasur beach and the Siam Park waterpark. The buffet restaurant has a great variety of food options, but the most lively spot for food is the beach bar, which has a great atmosphere. Best deal with: Holiday Hypermarket BlueSea Don Jaime, Cala Millor, Majorca, £556.20pp The 3-star BLUESEA Don Jaime hotel is situated in the picturesque Cala Millor resort, Majorca. This budget-friendly resort has a decent-sized pool, small games area and bright, recently updated rooms. The beautiful sandy beach is just a five-minute walk from the hotel, which is a top spot with white sand and activities like bike rental and watersports. Best deal with: Travel Supermarket Magic Cristal Park, Benidorm, £562.60pp For a brilliant, budget option, this hotel feels more upmarket than others in its price range. There is an indoor and outdoor pool, large sun deck and a roof terrace with seating and games. It's very family friendly, with plenty to keep kids entertained and give you a relaxing break from childcare. There's a fully equipped outdoor playground, a games room with table football and games consoles, as well as an action-packed kids' club. Best deal with: Travel Supermarket BLUESEA Gran Playa, Sa Coma, Majorca, £567.34 pp 13 This modern hotel has an impressive pool, kids club and playground, with live music and themed nights in the evening. Just a short walk from Sa Coma, known for its beautiful beach and lively promenade, there is plenty to keep the whole family entertained. The buffet restaurant has a good range of options at breakfast, lunch and dinner, with indoor and outdoor seating. Rooms are bright and spacious, many have balconies. Best deal with: Travel Supermarket Marina Elite Resort, Los Caideros, Gran Canaria, £591.71 pp 13 This hotel is right on the coast, overlooking Balito Beach, just outside Puerto Rico. A five-minute cab ride into the town will get you to one of Gran Canaria's top-rated beaches, as well as a choice of great restaurants. However, the all-inclusive buffet at the hotel is good, with a choice of two restaurants in summer season, a pool bar and snack bar. Best deal with: Travel Supermarket Hotel Avenida, Benidorm £620pp This lively hotel has a lot going on with a full entertainment programme and a show cooking kitchen, where you can learn to make local cuisine. The onsite bar has a great atmosphere, often with live music playing. On select nights, you can even take line dancing classes. By day, the pool and roof terrace offer ample places to relax and kids can take part in daily activities and games. Best deal with: Holiday Hypermarket TUNISIA El Mouradi Club Selima, Port el Kantaoui, £444.25pp This resort is in a stunning location, right on the beach. The all-inclusive buffet has tables that stretch onto the golden sand and excellent quality food for the bargain price. There are two beautiful outdoor pools as well as an indoor exercise pool. The fun kids' club is included for children aged 4-12 years and there is a daily activity programme and a playground. Families can also play table tennis, mini golf and beach volleyball, and watersports include kayaking, jet skis and canoeing. There is an evening show and live music in the lounge, plus a nightclub for after-dark entertainment. Best deal with: Love Holidays Neptunia Beach, Skanes, £462.25pp This resort offers a lot for its three-star rating and the price, and is set along a private sandy beach in Skanes. There is a large pool and water slides, as well as a kids club and beach activities such as football, volleyball and pedalos. The area is quiet, but just 15 minutes along the coast is a lively strip with shopping, restaurants and bars, if you want to venture out. Best deal with: Love Holidays Eden Club, Skanes, £464.75 This sunny little spot is a great choice for families who want to relax, multi-generational families and groups. The location is ideal and the resort has an upbeat, holiday atmosphere. There is a private beach and well-maintened gardens which make it feel like a far more luxurious resort. Children can enjoy the kids club and large pool and you can also use the pool and slides at the hotel's sister resort down the road. Best deal with: Love Holidays TURKEY KRISS Hotel Ortakent, Aegean Coast, £437.50pp 13 Just a five minute walk from the beach and the harbour, this friendly resort has a local feel about it, with plenty on offer for families. The accommodation is surrounded by beautiful gardens and the restaurants have seating areas lined with plants and flowers or on a large sun terrace. There is no kids club, but plenty for families to do together, including two pools. Best deal with: Love Holidays Mc Beach Resort Hotel, Konaklı, Antalya, £505.72 13 This beachfront hotel has spacious rooms, many with sea views. You are just steps away from a sunny golden sand beach, yet walking distances back to the hotel bar and cafe for all-inclusive snacks during the day. The pool area is impressive, with a waterpark for both adults and kids. Food is great quality with the buffet restaurant set alongside the pool, offering a more elegant ambiance than the usual all-inclusive set up. Best deal with: Travel Supermarket MOROCCO Caribbean Village Agador, Agadir, Morocco, £472.50 pp 13 This large hotel complex is a top choice for families wanting a budget beach break, with almost guarenteed sun. The resort is alongside a private, sandy beach, with sun beds and parasols for guests to use. There is a choice of outdoor pools, including a fun kids pool and a spa. The all-inclusive is spread over five specialty restaurants and includes refreshing cocktails in a choice of bars. Best deal with: Love Holidays GREECE Mitsis Belvedere, Corfu, £562.18pp Perched on a hillside with stunning views of the Ionian Sea, this hotel manages to incorporate family fun with a charming Greek getaway. The pool and sun terrace is a highlight. The hotel's buffet restaurant has a great mix of local, Greek favourites and international options. There are also two bars to grab an inclusive drink during the day or evening. The beach in front of the hotel is hidden in a secluded cove with crystal clear, calm waters that are ideal for kids to play in. Best deal with: Travel Supermarket Filerimos Village Hotel, Rhodes, £683.32pp This 4-star resort is a beautiful resort, with lagoons and pools weaving around the resort and surrounded by lush gardens. Rhodes Town, with its historic Old Town and Acropolis, is a 15-minute drive away. Nature lovers can explore Butterfly Valley, while the fascinating Filerimos Mountain is also very close by. At the hotel, there is a good buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner and a pool cafe and bar. Best deal with: Travel Supermarket Rodos White Boutique Hotel, Rhodes Town, £482.50pp This is a simple, yet sleek hotel, which can be found right in the middle of town, so ideal for families that want a mix of city break and beach. This hotel is also well suited to child-free guests, with its design-led style. There is a cool pool and an all-inclusive buffet that is small, but good quality. There is also a poolside bar and live music in the evenings Best deal with: Love Holidays Amira Hotel Rhodes, £496.50pp Just ten minutes from Rhodes Town, this simple hotel comes at a great deal with a games room, kids club and full entertainment programme. All rooms come with a balcony or terrace offering garden or pool views and family rooms are available for bigger groups. The hotel and sun terrace looks over a pretty cove, with beds and parasols on the beach. Best deal with: Love Holidays Georgia Apartments, Rhodes, £502pp 13 This small resort is charming with lots of character and has a very local feel to it. This is a quieter option for families who want a more authentic experience and a home away from home. The food is excellent and there's a weekly Greek night, with folk music and dancing. The area is lovely and just a 15-minute walk from the pretty village of Afandou, which has a long and uncrowded sandy beach.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Warrior by Christopher Clarey: The nice guy you wouldn't want to face across the net…
The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and his kingdom of clay by Christopher Clarey (John Murray £22, 360pp) What a privilege it's been for tennis fans – no, for sports fans everywhere, for anyone who admires excellence – to have lived through the game's Golden Age, the era of the 'Big Three'. There's Roger Federer in his stylish branded whites, effortlessly firing off exquisite winners while occasionally flicking away a bead of sweat with his little finger. There's the Serbian Novak Djokovic, like some supranatural Transylvanian being who wouldn't give up even if you buried him outside the court and put a stake through his heart – he would still find a way to leap out and defend the next point. And finally here's Rafael Nadal, Rafa the inexhaustible fighter, the force of nature, never ever knowing he was beaten. Never-say-die Rafa, with his obsessive on-court rituals, lining up his water bottles and touching his nose before each serve. Rafa the great, perhaps the most likeable of them all. With his muscles bulging out of his sleeveless shirt, his ferocious hitting and his intense focus, he could look scary and remote, but when he pulled off his bandana and shook out his sweat-soaked hair, a sweet boyish smile would spread across his face. Humble and surprisingly shy, Nadal was born into a prosperous middle-class family, in Majorca, but he had no airs and graces. I saw him once on a budget airline flight, in the early stages of his career, stuffing his tennis rackets into the overhead compartment. He would always stay behind to talk to tournament staff, everyone from referees to media room typists, thank them personally and sign autographs. Guy Forget, the former French No 1 and tournament director, put it like this: 'He was always very polite, he showed respect for everybody. Some guys walk in like they own the place. Rafa was always connecting with people, from the guy who does the court to the referees, to anybody he sees. That's why people like him so much, because he hasn't changed for all these years, with all that fame and success.' This year the French Open, currently under way at Roland Garros in Paris, is for the first time in three decades not playing host to Nadal, its greatest ever champion. Finally, the body gave out, the pace was too much, and it was time for Rafa to stop. Even that gladiatorial fighter had to retire last year, aged 38, amid much tearfulness from all and sundry. Fittingly, French tennis laid on a spectacular and hugely emotional tribute to their great champion on the first afternoon of this year's tournament. With at least 90-odd members of Rafa's family and stars past and present on centre court, as well as the band being brought back together when Federer, Djokovic and Andy Murray came on for a special appearance, this was always going to be a tear-stained afternoon. Rafa himself was weeping and there wasn't a dry eye in the house, certainly not from me. But this masterful and exhaustive portrait from one of the world's leading tennis writers should be some compensation. Christopher Clarey, the long-time sports correspondent for the New York Times, has interviewed Nadal and his associates countless times since he made his debut as a pro in 2001, and The Warrior is an affectionate biography of one of the world's greatest athletes. But it is much more, too. Between them, the Big Three won a scarcely believable 66 Grand Slam titles. Federer won 20, Djokovic, who is still ploughing on at the age of 37, has won 24, and Nadal 22, of which an unsurpassable 14 came on the clay of Roland Garros. I say unsurpassable, and of course it could be bettered, that's what records are for, but it's hard to imagine. Before Nadal came along, the man who had won most French Open titles was Bjorn Borg. He won six, a triumph that prompted Ilie Nastase to say it would never be beaten. But he hadn't met Nadal. It was always likely that Nadal would be a sportsman of some kind. One uncle played football for Barcelona and Spain; another, the irrepressible Uncle Toni, was a former tennis player who saw his nephew's talent from an early age. But it wasn't easy. A natural right-hander, under Uncle Toni, Nadal turned himself into a ferocious left-hander, sustained by the belief that suffering and pain were to be embraced. He grew up playing on the clay courts at Manacor, his hometown and base of his tennis academy which now occupies most of his energies. He was clearly a teenage prodigy. At 12 he had signed with Nike. At 14 he beat former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash, and at 19 he won his first French Open. He was blessed with unique hand speed and power, and hit with blistering topspin. Murray has ruefully described how tiring it was, when playing Nadal, to keep hitting the ball from shoulder level, such was the power of his topspin. And to play well on clay, you had to know how to slide to return a shot, and Nadal could slide equally effectively to his left and right. Richard Gasquet, a hugely talented one-time French No 1, and a teenage rival of Nadal, said after one defeat: 'When I came off court I told my father, 'It's over, that's the new champion of Roland Garros. There's no doubt.' I saw very quickly that he was an extra-terrestrial.' Among the rich commentary from other star players, Jim Courier talks most illuminatingly about Nadal's extraordinary competitiveness. 'It's the attitude, the way he handles defeat, the way he handles success. He's the Kipling quote [on triumph and disaster, from the poem If] come to life. As famous as that guy is, he's never seemed famous. He's the guy who cleans up the practice court when he's done. He's not entitled in the least . . .' Then Courier chokes up. 'It's hard not to break a racket. The guy's never broken a racket.' Nadal's uncle Toni taught him that breaking a racket would be showing a lack of respect to those who either have to buy their rackets, or cannot afford them. What moved Courier, says Clarey, was Nadal's dualities: the blend of self-control with competitive passion; of modesty with ambition; and relentless destructive force with ingrained common decency. Clarey, as you would expect, writes about some of Nadal's greatest victories away from Roland Garros, the breathtaking 2008 Wimbledon final when Nadal finally overcame Federer in gathering darkness after hours of thrilling, rain-interrupted battle – the best tennis match I have ever seen. 'This is sports,' Nadal said. 'It's a competition so of course my goal is to finish with the most. But for me it truly never has been an obsession. I was never looking over to see if someone had more than me, if their house was bigger or their phone was better. Whatever happens, Roger, Novak and I have all made our dreams come true.' You can't argue with that. And if you have ever held a racket or seen a champion play, you will find this splendid book a rich source of pleasure and inspiration.
