RAFAEL NADAL KING OF TENNIS

2021 Madrid Open QF Rafael Nadal vs. Alexander Zverev  4-6 4-6 

Rafa: “I had the match under control at the beginning, playing well for six games, probably playing better than him. In the 4-2, serving for 5-2, I had a disaster. Another bad game with my game from 30/0. Of course, playing against one of the best players of the world, under these circumstances, with this speed of the court, it is very difficult to still confident. I tried, is true that the serve was difficult to control today. Well done to him.”

•  After his match today Rafa met with 95-year-old Manuela, one of his biggest fans

Manuela is passionate about tennis at the age of 95. Her idol is Rafa Nadal, and this Friday she is fulfilling her dream of seeing the Balearic tennis player play at the Mutua Madrid Open. Manuela insists that she has seen all of Rafa's matches and always watches him play. She also wanted to be able to take a picture with Rafa. Manuela's story was told by her grandson Carlos Carrizosa. His grandmother, from the very beginning of Alzheimer's disease, dreamed of seeing Nadal play before she forgot what tennis was.

Photos: MMO; Getty Images; AP; AFP; EFE

• Press conference