Rafael Nadal is more driven by his desire to leave a lasting impression than by his prowess as a tennis player.
Eugene Lapierre, the director of the recently canceled Canadian Open competition, attested to that.
how Nadal conducted himself at the event he oversaw for 21 years.
Lapierre claimed that Nadal was “careful with the volunteers and everyone” in a TVA Sports piece, reportedly calling it “impressive.”
Lapierre continued, describing Nadal as the kind of guy who would enter a building and, upon noticing others following him,
would wait to let them through before opening the door.
“It’s really impressive. He is careful with the volunteers, and with everyone. He’s the guy who could walk into a building, see people behind him, then wait to open the door for them and let them through.
I found his candor very interesting. He is an ordinary and impressive guy at the same time,”
Lapierre stated.
In July of last year, a video showed Nadal formally greeting and shaking hands with Wimbledon staff members, and kindly posing for pictures before departing the venue went viral.
Five times, Nadal has received the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award thanks to voting from other ATP tour competitors.
The Spaniard initially won the award in 2010, and from 2018 to 2021, he won it four years in a row.
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