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'Dying': Tennis fans erupt over awkward Rafael Nadal moment

riley morgan
Sports Reporter
·3-min read
Rafa Nadal (pictured left) awkwardly posing for a photo and smiling with a student (pictured right) striking a pose.
Fans have gone crazy over this video in which Rafa Nadal (pictured left) looked awkward posing for a photo with a student (pictured right) at the Rafa Nadal Academy. (Image: Twitter)

The tennis world has come to love the shy demeanour of Rafa Nadal towards fans, but not all interactions go according to plan.

And one recent video with a student at his academy has proven exactly that.

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Nadal has opted not to travel to the US Open and has not played a match since the coronavirus break.

Taking the time away from the tour, the World No.2 has opted to remain in his home town in Mallorca to train and help around the Rafa Nadal Academy.

During this time he has been helping out and meeting the students training.

But one interaction with an enthusiastic young fan had the modest Spaniard looking extremely sheepish.

A young lady was obviously keen to take a photo with her childhood hero and struck two confident poses next to Nadal.

But the 19-time Grand Slam champ was clearly not in the loop and stood their nearly frozen, looking shy.

Knowing Nadal’s modest demeanour, fans on social media lost it over his awkward expression.

The video has nearly 2,000 likes and has been viewed more than 50,000 times.

The person shooting the video instructs ‘smile and nod’, but it appears both Nadal and thee student opted for their own moves.

Nadal withdraws from US Open

Nadal appears to be warming up for Roland Garros after opting not to travel to New York.

The Spaniard said in June that he had reservations about travelling to the US amid the pandemic and he joins women's world No.1 Australian Ash Barty in skipping the tournament due to COVID-19 concerns.

"After many thoughts I have decided not to play this year's U.S. Open," Nadal said on Twitter.

"The situation is very complicated worldwide, the COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don't have control of it.

"We know that the reduced tennis calendar is barbaric this year after 4 months stopped with no play, I understand and thank (everyone) for the efforts they are putting in to make it happen. We have just seen the announcement of Madrid not being played this year.

"This is a decision I never wanted to take but I have decided to follow my heart this time and for the time being I rather not travel."

With AAP