Rafael Nadal and Real Madrid are two of the most prominent names in the story of Spanish sport in their roles as tennis icon and the most successful football club in European competition.
At the 2022 French Open, Nadal is taking part in a tournament little more than a Karim Benzema volley away from the setting for the 2021-22 Champions League final, which features the Liga champions.
The 35-year-old is personally involved in Liga football and has first-hand, recent experience of the pressure of taking part in a major final, having beaten Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final in January.
That gave Nadal a total of 21 Grand Slam titles — eight more than the number of Champions League trophies Real Madrid have won. How closely will he be following their fortunes at the Stade de France when Los Blancos take on Liverpool?
Is Rafael Nadal a Real Madrid fan?
Nadal is known to be a supporter of the dominant team in the European Cup and modern Champions League — so much so that he asked for one of his matches to be moved so that it did not clash with a crucial Los Blancos match in this year's European competition.
The home favourite had been due to play at the Madrid Masters while Carlo Ancelotti's team were hosting Premier League champions Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.
The world number four made the special request to tournament boss Feliciano Lopez, who scheduled the match for the afternoon as a result.
As it turned out, the game was unmissable — particularly for Madrid fans. Two goals after the 90th minute snatched victory from City, then Karim Benzema converted an extra-time penalty with astonishing composure to send Madrid to the final. Nadal would have been overjoyed.
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What has Rafael Nadal said about supporting Real Madrid?
Nadal's uncle, Miguel Angel, made more than 200 appearances for Barcelona, winning five La Liga titles as well as the European Cup in 1992, when City manager Pep Guardiola was among his team-mates.
Charming pictures have emerged of Nadal on the pitch in a Barcelona shirt with his uncle, but an even closer relative's sway meant he was destined to follow Madrid.
“As everybody knows, Real and Barca are the two most bitter rivals in world football," explained Nadal. “Why am I a Real fan?
"Simple. Because my father is — which gives you the measure of how great his influence has been on me as a person.”
What else has Rafael Nadal done to show his support for Real Madrid?
In his autobiography, Nadal revealed that he will wake up at any hour, wherever he is in the world, to watch Real Madrid games — regardless of his tennis schedule for the day.
“And I’ll build my day’s training program, if need be, around the timing of the games," he added. "I’m a fanatic.”
As a child, Nadal dreamed of being a footballer, admitting that he felt more nervous before Madrid games than tennis matches.
One of the world's highest earning athletes, Nadal invested in Liga club Mallorca in 2010 in an attempt to ease their debts.
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What did Rafael Nadal do after Spain won the World Cup?
The sporting great was among the few non-footballers allowed into La Roja's inner sanctum after they edged out the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final.
😄 Were you this ecstatic when you won the greatest match in tennis history & your 1st @Wimbledon title, @RafaelNadal!? 🎾⚽️
🔙 #OnThisDay | #WorldCup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YCEEgxhL1H — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 11, 2020
Nadal was pictured wearing a thrilled grin in the dressing room after the all-conquering Spain team of the time added the greatest prize in football to their Euro 2008 trophy.
That was part of a wonderful year for Nadal, who won the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Will Rafael Nadal be at the 2022 Champions League final?
It looks likely that Nadal will be able to attend the most high-profile club football match in Europe despite any duties at the French Open.
The schedule appears to have fallen kindly for Nadal, who confessed: “I’m here to play Roland Garros… but I have my tickets ready."
