Rafael Nadal Hits the Links with His Lady

Enjoying a little time away from his on court duties, Rafael Nadal and his girlfriend were spotted playing golf in Mallorca, Spain on Wednesday (May 19).
Looking quite relaxed, the studly Spaniard and his lady hopped onto a cart and cruised around the links while joined by a few friends.
The leisurely outing comes shortly after Rafa reclaimed his clay court dominant status by beating Roger Federer in teh finals of the Madrid Masters.
Improving to 15-0 on clay this season, Nadal now has his sights set on winning back the French Open title after having his record setting streak broken last year.


Also an article from Marca.com

A quite week


The spaniard Rafa Nadal, 4 times Champion of Roland Garros, who last year lost early in the last 16 of the tournament, has assured that the Gran Slam of Paris, started for him some time ago, not this week.

After some days in Mallorca, where he has practiced some and has taken out time to play golf, although he did not fish, another of his hobbies, has arrived to Paris today, where he will quicken his preparartion and where tomorrow will be known the draw that awaits form him until the final of June 6th.

In a great shape, after winning Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid, the Masters 1000 of clay, a sufface where he has not lost a match, Nadal arrives also with an extra dosis of confidence after beating number one player in the world last Sunday Roger Federer.


The recipe to beat the best player in the history is easy :

"Play at your best level and hope that Roger does not have a good day".

In Madrid he beat the Swiss in front of his crowd, a support he does not usually find in Paris, although Nadal does not feel unloved by the french fans.


I think I am popular in France, I always feel good here, each one is free to support who they want, it's not a problem..


About his knees : I dont like to talk about them, that way if I am in bad shape, my rivals dont know it, he joked. He assures he is not tired this year, it is impossible to feel tired before Roland Garros.


With better or worse sensations, the truth is that the player who has 15 straight wins in Paris feels like in home.

translations provided by Ana Sanz