Rafael Nadal had a Thursday full of activity in Madrid, both outside and inside a track with which he was reunited. The Balearic tennis player trained this afternoon for the first time at the Caja Mágica, where in a few days he will compete again after six weeks away due to a rib injury suffered in Indian Wells.
Before, in the morning, he presented the UAX Rafa Nadal Sports University in Villanueva de la Cañada, the educational project that he has launched together with the Alfonso X El Sabio University. Y He also attended the inauguration of a new Foundation center that bears his name.
After the events, Rafa disembarked at the Caja Mágica, where he was awaited with expectation. His first training in these previous days was scheduled today at 18:00 on court 7, which was already overflowing half an hour before the arrival of the man from Manacor. Faced with this packed to the brim, the organization of the tournament surprised by announcing that the session moved to the Manolo Santana Stadium, where the day was about to end. Anyone with a ticket could access Nadal’s preparation, who was received once again in Madrid with great affection.
Rafa finally made his debut on the clay of Madrid on the center court and before more than 2,000 people who were able to see the local idol up close, many of them school children who took advantage of Thursday to go on excursions. The winner of 21 Grand Slams practiced together with the Argentine Federico Delbonis, also left-handed, and with whom, after rallying, he ended up playing a game in which Nadal showed that he was back. Rafa left, to the delight of those present, several signature blows and, although he did not force the machinery, he continued with his mission to recover sensations before the serious thing began. Tomorrow, double training session for the Balearic: at 11:00 he will practice with Pablo Andújar, and at 4:00 he will return to track 7, this time alone.