A few days ago, the pictures of Rafael Nadal‘s extravagant yacht docked in the harbour of Patras went viral. The Spaniard selected the turquoise waves of the Ionian Sea as his holiday destination this year, stopping in Patras, a place he plans to revisit on his way back. Fans were quick to notice the diaper bags and the shopping bags as Nadal dropped them on the spot to take pictures with the fans.
The President of the Travel Agents of Patras, , who was responsible for overseeing the docking procedures, expressed his admiration for the encounter. He ensured that the city presented itself as a hospitable destination and was impressed by its casual demeanour of Nadal. The 14-time French Open champion has been spending time with his family. With the birth of his son, Nadal’s lifestyle appears to be changed evidently as seen on the vacation.
Travelling aboard the lavish yacht “Beethoven,” named after his passion for classical tunes, Nadal and his family embarked on a journey to Corfu, followed by Ithaca and even stopped at Meganisi.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion also made a pit stop in Patras for fueling. He took the opportunity to dine at a famed local seafood restaurant with his family and friends. He then enjoyed the day’s fresh catch, and graciously signed autographs for fans.
Rafael Nadal has not played any match since January. The former world No.1 has been recovering from a hip injury and is expected to return next season after making a full recovery. The chances of him playing at the US Open are slim to none. His uncle and former coach had said that Nadal would begin training later this month but would remain absent on tour.
Nadal has won the US Open four times in his career. The major will hold a special memory for the player. In 2010 he became the youngest man to win the career grand slam at twenty-four. The victory at the US Open gave him the record, but this year, his absence will be felt at the event.