On Friday, the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) approved the proposal to honor Rafael Nadal’s achievements in a unique way. Starting next year, Rafael Nadal’s birthday will be celebrated as ‘National Tennis Day’ in his home country.
Celebrating National Tennis Day on Rafa’s birthday, the RFET aims to create a national tennis movement across the entire spectrum of the sport.
“It is about all the clubs (more than 1,500 in Spain), the Territorial Federations and the fans from all over Spain celebrate tennis with different activities: social tournaments (mixed, male, female, children, veterans, etc.), Master classes, wheel chair tennis, beach tennis, exhibitions, etc. The idea came up in a broadcast on Eurosport (a chain that offers several RFET Challengers and ITF Women Tour tournaments) during the Roland Garros match between Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet, held on June 3, the birthday of the Manacor tennis player,” the RFET said in a statement.
I’ll never tire of the power of his serve, the energy in his back hand, the grit of his smile with his teeth on the prize but Rafa is the best athlete so emblematic of the character of Spain because of his humility and generosity, regardless of whether he loses or wins. Rafa Nadal, Campeón!
Rafa deserves every honor that he receives. It is wonderful how appreciated he is within his own country. We all know Rafa could have moved to a tax haven, but he puts family and friends above money. Rafa always took great pride playing for Spain.
Rafa has inspired so many and he keeps on inspiring. Here’s to hoping he is bursting with pride knowing that Spain will be celebrating a countrywide celebration of the sport he loves on his birthday. An extra birthday present every year.
What a tremendous honor and so richly deserved… So very happy and proud of you Rafa! ❤️
It’s the day before mine so wont forget
Well deserved Vamos Rafa
So Well deserved🎾🎾🎾Rafa One of the Best 💕💕
Rafa we want too see you play more tournament you still very young too not play you can do it again vamosssssss champ we love you your fans ol over the world 🌎 💪👍❤️🎾🇺🇸🌎
Lovely 😃😃😃 Always In Majorca My Second Home 🏡 Mate
Lovely idea! I’m sure Rafa will be very pleased. Long after birthdays at RG are a thing of the past this will continue to honor the greatest athlete Spain has ever produced!
Yes,yes,yes to the day of tennis in Rafa’s honor. Every honor he gets is absolutely right on!!! He is a grand human being, right along with being a tennis player of renoun and honor. Vamos to tennis.
Well deserve Rafa. I have always and will continue to be your NO 1 fan. Oils not happen to a nicer guy, on and off the courts.
A very fitting honour for Rafa and so richly deserved. Unique too I think. Many congratulations to Rafa.
An honour Rafa deserves….felicitations
Congratulations to jas_uk for breaking such a huge story here. It is HUGE.
Contrary to reports, and according to RFET’s president, the idea actually came from the seed planted by Jorge Mir Mayor, who is director of Técnico Escuelas de Tenis Real Club Jolaseta.
Mayor tweeted on May 29 “….each one of us has to show a picture of Rafael Nadal on June 3, claiming the day as “FIESTA DEL TENIS EN ESPAÑA.
In a June 3rd commentary Alex Corretja mentioned Mayor’s idea during Rafa’s match. RFET’s president, Miguel Díaz Román, said he “started working on the proposal as soon as he heard it on Eurosport.”
Rafa has been unlucky throughout his career but he has also been very lucky. He lives in a country that can celebrate his formidable career where he is truly loved. And I am not forgetting the statue that was commissioned for his earth shattering 13 Roland-Garros titles. I couldn’t be happier for him. Hopefully this banner year of celebrating him will lift his spirits.
What a honor for our champ👏❤️
your are a person who will never not be put in the history books vamos Rafa
Extraordinary! I wish I could teach yoga at his Academy!
He is the finest and the best. Great good luck Rafa🍀
Kudos to RFET for honouring Rafael Nadal with National Tennis Day, June 3. A well-deserved recognition👏👍🎾❤️for his on and off court achievements.
What a meaningful way to honor an extraordinary athlete! Congratulations Rafa, well deserved!👏🥳
This is such great news! Yayyy, for the King of Clay!
Very much agree Mimi. All of Spain will celebrate each year.
It’s also interesting to read the Rafa roundup above from 2015 where he said the 2016 Olympics may be his last. How prophetic that was as it is unlikely, though not impossible, that he will play Paris in 2024 at age 38. In fact in his withdrawal statement the other day he spoke of the Olympics in the past tense. It is their loss.
Pauline,
It seems like it might be his last…but our Champ has won 🥇 in singles and also doubles with Marc Lopez!👏😊