Nadal Salutes Graduating Class of Rafa Nadal Academy

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, June 13, 2024
Picture credit: Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar

The king of clay delivered inspiring handle on a really big day.

Graduates of the Rafa Nadal Academy Class of 2024 have been handled to a double dose of world No. 1 recommendation. 

Watch: Federer’s Dartmouth Commencement Speech Goes Viral 

The 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal spoke to the graduates, their households and academics in a stimulating speech advocating the worth of laborious work, humility and perseverance pursuing objectives.

In an emotional ceremony, a complete of 52 younger college students graduated from the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar, concluding their educational and tennis schooling on the campus in Manacor.

As is now custom, Rafa Nadal presided the ceremony and spoke to the households, the academics and the younger college students with an inspiring message:

“A number of months in the past I had the possibility to go to the Italian Dolomites within the firm of mu pal and rival Roger Federer and there, within the mountains, we had a really fascinating dialog a couple of phrase that I feel is essential: Legacy.

“Each Roger and I agree on one thing we consider is of the utmost significance. How would we wish to be remembered in a number of years. How do we would like the long run generations to think about us?

“We’re each very certain of our solutions. It’s nice that our achievements, our titles and our information are acknowledged, however that’s educational as a result of because the years go by it’s possible that somebody will arrive and do one thing higher.

“What’s essential, then, is that which can all the time be remembered. Due to this fact, each Roger and I agree that we wish to be remembered pretty much as good individuals.

“We reside in a society that highlights the WHAT and the NOW above all else. However I wish to spotlight the significance of the HOW.

“When you’re at college or on a tennis court docket, say to yourselves often ‘how would I like my classmates to recollect me?’ And my academics? My buddies?

“For the reason that phrase may be very trendy proper now, I may let you know to try to be INFLUENCERS in your environment, however I want the time period LEADERS. The individuals round it is best to see you as somebody who ought to be copied due to their values.”

Former world No. 1, 1998 French Open champion and long-time Nadal coach Carlos Moyà was the visitor speaker at an occasion that may be very particular for the younger tennis gamers, following within the footsteps of Pau Gasol, David Ferrer, Ona Carbonell, Ricky Rubio and Iga Swiatek who’ve all joined Rafa at commencement ceremonies in recent times (Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova did so remotely in 2020).

Moyà highlighted Rafa Nadal’s persona and his values as keys to his sustained success in his speech to college students:

“After I began working with Rafa, certainly one of my considerations was what our relationship can be like.

“I’ve recognized him since he was 11 and I’ve watched him develop ever since, in several conditions. We’ve been by way of numerous conditions collectively each on and off the court docket.

“He’s been a companion in apply classes and at events (we now have and we had the fitting to take pleasure in ourselves), a pal, Davis Cup winners collectively for most likely my most wonderful reminiscence on a tennis court docket, opponents, doubles teammates… all of that and extra.

“However in my work with him, at occasions being demanding with him, listening to him at others, sharing, travelling collectively, successful, dropping, having a tough time throughout accidents… I’ve to say that by no means in my life have I felt an absence of respect in the direction of me or in the direction of any member of the group, and that’s virtually inconceivable to search out these days. Should you watch matches on TV you will note what I’m saying.”

For the 52 college students, the ceremony marked the tip of their time on the Rafa Nadal College, a blended Anglo-American worldwide schooling college for kids aged 3 to 18 situated inside the Rafa Nadal Academy.

Though the unique idea of the varsity was designed for tennis gamers on the Academy to mix their tennis coaching with educational schooling, Rafa Nadal all the time needed to open the doorways to all younger individuals in Mallorca, tennis gamers or in any other case, in order that they’ll all profit from the services and the educational program.

This strategy permits the tennis gamers on the academy to share school rooms with the opposite college students, fostering rewarding exchanges and academic and cultural experiences.

The Rafa Nadal Academy says the Rafa Nadal College “boasts trendy, snug and technological sports activities services that present a super atmosphere for studying. One of many foremost objectives of the academy is to supply college students with the chance to entry universities within the USA or anyplace else on the planet, with a tennis and/or educational scholarship. To this point, 100% of the tennis college students who’ve graduated and deliberate to go to the USA to review, have been accepted and acquired scholarships with American universities.”

Picture credit: Rafa Nadal Academy