‘Who am I to say no? I’d be delighted’ Rafael Nadal expresses his willingness to rename Mallorca Airport as ‘Rafa Nadal International Airport’
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Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal sat most of his 2021 season on the sidelines and there were retirement rumors floating around him. The former World No.1 was out of action for 6 months after he underwent surgery to treat his chronic foot injury last year. There were even concerns whether he would play tennis again, let alone return in top-form. The Spaniard quashed these claims with a stellar start to his season.
He started the year with a title win at the ATP Melbourne Summer Set 1, but even after this, there was uncertainty about his fitness going into the Australian Open. But Nadal made a complete turnaround from where he was at the end of last season and capped it off with an astonishing run at the Melbourne Major, to win his record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title. Congratulatory messages poured in for the Spaniard and he was bestowed with many honors following his historic Australian Open victory.
Airport to be renamed in honor of Rafael Nadal
To celebrate his extraordinary achievement Nadal’s fans have signed a petition on Change.org to rename the Palma de Mallorca international airport to Rafa Nadal. The Spaniard expressed his excitement on hearing about the proposed change.
“If the people that have to decide that they think it’s appropriate for Palma airport who am I to say no? I’d be delighted,” said the Mallorcan native.
The online petition which has already garnered thousands of signatures reads’ “Rafa Nadal is, without doubt, the best tennis player in history and certainly the best ambassador the island of Majorca has. Nadal represents the values that should be an example for all: humility, honesty, education, sacrifice, tenacity, and effort.”
While the petition has nearly reached the desired amount of signatures, it still needs a seal of approval from the Government of Spain, AENA, and the Balearic Government to officially rename the Mallorca airport as the Rafa Nadal airport. Currently, there are only two airports in the world named after sports players, George Best and Cristiano Ronaldo, both football players. Should the proposed change receive approval Nadal would be the first tennis player who has an airport named after him.
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T Rushitha
(360 Articles Published)