“There has been no better ambassador than Manolo for tennis”

Reef Nadal passed this Saturday through the microphones of Sports Carousel from TO BE, where he expressed his regret for the death of tennis legend Manolo Santana, who hours before he had defined on Twitter as “friend, reference and a close person.” Next, Dani Garrido’s full interview with the Balearic tennis player:

I understand that it is a very difficult day for you, because you had a special relationship with Manolo.

Well yes. In the end, I think that the majority of tennis players who have been here for years, it is difficult not to take great affection for Manolo. It is a sad day, hard times, but it comes to all of us and today unfortunately it was Manolo’s turn. There are people who are fireproof, but it is true that it had been a while since he was seen with that joy and energy that he has always transmitted. I trust that you are resting in peace and send my best wishes to the family.

People know that Manolo won in Paris, in the United States, for the first time for a Spaniard at Wimbledon … I especially remember the first time you won in London, the pride with which he talks about you. He had a thing for Wimbledon and when he saw you win it he spoke with tremendous emotion.

It is a phenomenon in every way. He has been a pioneer, a person who has paved the way for all of us. What he achieved is much more complicated than everything we have done since. It was unthinkable for Spanish sport in its day. We already had predecessors who had marked the way for us. It is not only what he achieved, but also the way he has handled it all these years. Being all that he is in our sport, he was always supporting everyone. He was not the typical one who tells battles of everything he has achieved. He carried everything with great humility and naturalness. I don’t think there has been a better ambassador for Spanish tennis.

In that photograph that you have posted on your social networks, you could see admiration for the smile. David Ferrer used to say that above all he was a person who called in a bad way, one of those who are there when you did not have a good mental moment. Surely it happened to you too.

He was always available for a joke, to have a laugh. You knew that when you talked to him you were going to have a good time. There are people in this life who help you to be happy and Manolo was one of them. It made your day. People like this are very necessary in the world and we have lost one of them and, without a doubt, a reference in many ways.