Tennis fans melt over Rafa Nadal's adorable moment with ball-girl
Rafael Nadal and a young ball-girl have melted the hearts of tennis fans around the world after sharing a beautiful moment as they walked out on to the main court at the Rogers Cup.
The Spaniard was making his way to the court to take on Guido Pella, after the announcement Roger Federer and Nadal would return to the ATP Players Council, to book a place in the Montreal last eight.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion walked through a sea of fans with his usual trademark look of steely concentration when a young ball-girl accompanied the Spaniard.
Nadal couldn’t help notice the ball-girl cracking a huge smile as she led him down the tunnel towards the court.
The pair then shared a beautiful moment as Nadal put his arm around the youngster and shared a laugh with the beaming ball-girl.
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“What a day for that young lady as well,” the commentator said.
“She is enjoying every moment.”
The pair shared a short conversation as Nadal cracked a huge smile.
Fans on social media couldn’t help but share in the adorable moment.
Look at her looking up at him!! That little girl is all of us!
— Nina2017 (@Nina201710) August 8, 2019
Happiest little girl!! Look at her face!! xoxo💞🥰
— Jeanne(Jeannie)Young (@nrthcountrygrl) August 8, 2019
Omgsh she's too cute ☺️
— Monique (@MoniqueIeuqinoM) August 8, 2019
Adorable. 🤗😍
— sharon k roberts (@teachjourno) August 8, 2019
Nadal into Canadian Open quarters
Top-seeded defending champion Nadal advanced to the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open, beating Argentina's Pella 6-3, 6-4.
The 33-year-old Spanish star, a four-time winner of the tournament, will face seventh-seeded Fabio Fognini of Italy.
Fognini beat France's Adrian Mannarino 6-2 7-5.
Nadal won the event last year in Toronto. He has 82 career singles victories, winning the French Open in June for his second title of the year.
Austrian second-seed Dominic Thiem also progressed to the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 victory over Marin Cilic.
Thiem fired 11 aces and saved all nine break points against Cilic, while breaking the Croatian 2014 US Open champion once in four opportunities during the one hour and 54-minute contest.
The world No.4 has won three titles so far in 2019, including a victory on clay at home in the Generali Open, where he defeated Spaniard Albert Ramos Vinolas in straight sets.
Thiem will next face eight-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia, who beat Cristian Garin of Chile 6-3 6-3.