via Imago

In a delightful Instagram post, Billie Jean King captured a touching moment at Roland Garros. While every athlete is getting ready to compete for the trophy, Rafael Nadal’s father, Sebastian Nadal, is busy admiring his son! And why not? With 14 titles in Paris, Nadal’s achievement at Roland Garros is indeed worth appreciating. So, on one hand, as the world anticipates the Spaniard’s upcoming performance, Sebastian, a proud father, is already celebrating his son’s success!

Billie Jean King, the former tennis pro, took to her official Instagram account to share a heartwarming story, captioned with a teary-eyed emoji, “Rafa’s father stopping to admire the statue of his son.” As pointed out by King, we see Sebastian Nadal adoring the statue built in honor of his son in the Roland Garros. As the video proceeded, another glimpse of Sebastian clicking pictures of the statue further melted all our hearts. It is surely a moment of pride for Nadal’s father and for King as well!

A fan of Rafael Nadal, herself, King also never shies away from appreciating Nadal’s huge success in tennis. She once confessed, “I adore Nadal. So I love watching him play. What I like the most about him is how much he respects tennis and how he gets angry when other players don’t respect him.”

via Reuters

After his achievement and commitment to the sport, celebrating him for his contribution to tennis is only natural. And we all saw a glimpse of it when Rafael Nadal made his place in an entire chapter in the history of tennis on May 27, 2021. It was the day when his statue was built in Roland Garros. As the magnificent statue unveiled of the then 13-time Roland Garros Champion, we saw the iconic player’s renowned left-handed move frozen in time.

The 3-meter-long statue of steel further symbolized the strength and resilience with which Nadal has performed in the Roland Garros. It is a place where he holds a 97.4% win rate after all! And along with us, Rafa’s father, who has planted the seed of tennis in him early on, is also proud of his achievement.

Sebastian, who coached his son during his childhood, has always been a rock of support for him. Be it witnessing him clinch his first Roland Garros title in 2005 or watching him win consecutive titles in Paris over the years, Sebastian was always there in the stands, appreciating his son. This time, it’s no exception as well. However, when it comes to protecting his son during his tough times on-court, Sebastian Nadal’s heart fills with fear.

The time when Rafael Nadal’s father saw him “destroyed,” after his Wimbledon loss

Remember the time when Nadal encountered his long-time rival Federer in 2007 Wimbledon? After a gripping match that went on for more than 3 hours, Nadal faced a disappointing loss. It broke him internally and seeing his son devastated in the shower, crying after the loss, made his father concerned as well.

Recalling those moments, he once said, “I had that picture of him destroyed, utterly sunk, after the 2007 final, nailed inside my head, and I did not want to have to see it again. And I thought, if he loses, what can I do? what can I possibly do to make it less traumatic for him? That was the game of Rafael’s life. That was the biggest day.” 

But the “terrible time” ultimately came to an end in 2008. It was in this year that the Spaniard won his maiden title at Wimbledon, defeating Roger Federer. Years later, as Sebastian Nadal gazes at his son’s statue his emotions are a mix of pride, nostalgia, and love. And it is a testament to the enduring bond between father and son.