Rafael Nadal is currently finding himself in situations of doubts regarding his performance, and his future in the tennis world. However, the situation was not always the same. The Spaniard had to face a setback due to several injuries throughout his career, while he was the fans’ favorite. However, he has been on his way to the court, which gives fand and admirers newfound hope.

Among the ones who have always been Rafa’s admirers, Ben Shelton‘s name finds his name to the top. As the Spaniard is currently testing his levels before getting back on the court, Shelton earned a chance to play a part.

Rafael Nadal trains with Ben Shelton in Brisbane

Rafael Nadal is getting himself ready to grace the courts at the Brisbane International after a year-long hiatus. While the Spaniard is currently working on his form, several tennis stars have been invited to be a part of his practice sessions, Ben Shelton, one of his biggest fans from the tennis community, recently got a chance to be in.

The 21-year-old player recently got the opportunity to share the court with his idol Rafael Nadal. As the heartwarming practice session between Nadal and Shelton took place before Rafa’s first doubles match at the Brisbane International, the glimpses of the unexpected meetup created a strong buzz on social media.

Shelton, who has always been a great follower of Nadal’s career, found a great moment on the court as the meetup between the two generations came out to be totally unexpected. As a note of his admiration for the Spaniard, young Shelton has opened up about his learning from Nadal several times.

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Shelton’s learnings derived from Rafa’s career

Making his long-built admiration for Rafael Nadal, Ben Shelton expressed his deep admiration as he highlighted the impact that the Spaniard had on his game. Shelton stated, “I think at times on the court, the way that I love to fight, that I don’t give up, could be some traits that I saw or learned from Rafa growing up.”

As Shelton continued to express his thoughts on Nadal, he regarded him as a constant source of inspiration. “He was one of those guys who replicated it every match, every tournament. You could only hope to have a fighting spirit like him,” Shelton added. As Rafa moves ahead to his upcoming competitions in Brisbane, his recent practice session with Shelton was not only a moment for the young star but also a way to test the Spaniard’s potential.

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