- Rafael Nadal met with other Olympic stars in Paris
- Nadal, 38, competes in tennis for Spain
- He has had injury problems for some time.
Rafael Nadal proved that he is still a man of the people after fully embracing life in the Olympic Village.
Nadal, 38, is competing at this year’s Games in Paris after an arduous 18 months that have seen him limited to just six events because of a hip problem, and will partner young superstar Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s doubles.
The Spaniard skipped Wimbledon to make his way to the sporting bonanza and was warmly welcomed by his fellow athletes upon arriving in Paris.
Badminton stars, table tennis players and other tennis competitors approached Nadal for selfies, and the tireless winner of 22 Grand Slams was more than happy to oblige.
Nadal spent most of his time with his fellow Spaniards and said he was grateful to be able to make it to Paris after emerging unscathed from the Swedish Open final on Sunday.
He lost 6-3, 6-2 to Portugal’s Nuno Borges and gave an honest assessment of where his fitness stands.
“The level has been very far from what it should be. Probably the energy as well. It’s been a long week with long matches,” Nadal told reporters.
Rafael Nadal has been warmly welcomed by his fellow athletes at the Olympic Games
She posed for photographs with athletes, including Australian Ellen Perez, in Paris.
Badminton stars and table tennis players were photographed with the Spaniard
The 38-year-old will compete at the Olympics this summer after several injury problems.
‘Even though I’m not physically injured, that’s important, but mentally and physically I’m not used to playing four days in a row and playing long matches.
“I have to analyse it carefully and find the reason why I played like that, even if the energy was not right… Things like that can happen, that’s the way it is. I don’t have to lie or hide anything.”
The former world number one, who hopes to retire later this year, won an Olympic singles gold medal in 2008 and doubles gold in 2016.
She will team up with French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in the doubles event in Paris, where the Olympic tennis tournament runs from July 27 to August 4.