“One of a kind” – Social media lauds ‘gentleman’ Rafael Nadal for signing autograph for fans after a 3.5 hour loss and awful hip pain

Rafael Nadal is speculated to perform at the 2024 Australian Open next.

“One of a kind” – Social media lauds ‘gentleman’ Rafael Nadal for signing autograph for fans after a 3.5 hour loss and awful hip pain

Rafael Nadal (Credits: X/Twitter)

Rafael Nadal was recently ridiculed for yet another injury scare during his quarterfinal appearance against Jordan Thompson at the 2024 Brisbane International.

However, the Spaniard received a commendable reaction from online tennis fans after he signed autographs for the fans in the crowd despite enduring an unfortunate quarterfinal loss and hip discomfort.

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Former World No. 1 Nadal made headlines after he made a dominant statement in the opening round of the tournament. The Spaniard overpowered Dominic Thiem in the event’s opener and later hardly broke a sweat to conclude Jason Kubler’s run in the ATP 250 event. 

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Subsequently, his in-form performance was speculated to help him fortify his stance once again on the tour. However, Rafael Nadal’s dream run at the Brisbane event was thwarted by Jordan Thompson, who recovered from three set points down to oust the former in the quarterfinals, helping the Aussie secure a spot in the last four of the Australian Open warm-up tournament. 

During the match, Nadal suffered awful hip pain, which ultimately called for a total medical timeout. After the match, Rafa was also seen signing autographs for fans, which earned him a heartfelt token of appreciation from online tennis fans.

It is worth noting that the former World No. 1’s injury scare comes as a result of his previous encounter with a hip injury the Spaniard sustained during his time at the Australian Open last season. 

Moreover, the 22-time Grand Slam singles champion was speculated to stay injury-free owing to the corrective surgery he opted for last year and, with it, an extensive rehabilitation period to recover from the same.

Online tennis fans show appreciation for Rafael Nadal’s humble attitude despite enduring hip discomfort

Following his recent loss at the Brisbane International, the 22-time major champion is scheduled to commence his Australian Open campaign next, the season’s first hardcourt slam that blows the whistle on January 14.

Furthermore, the Spaniard is also speculated to cross paths with two of the most formidable players on the tour, namely the event’s defending champion Novak Djokovic and compatriot Carlos Alcaraz.

Rafael Nadal (Credits: ABC)
Rafael Nadal (Credits: ABC)

Sharing a wide spectrum of reactions online, here are some reactions from online tennis fans on X/Twitter:

Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal was showered with appreciation from tennis fans after he signed autographs for fans present in the Brisbane stadium despite showing signs of a potential hip injury and suffering a humiliating quarterfinal loss at the hands of Jordan Thompson.

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