Rafael Nadal is a true legend on and off the court. The Spaniard is the most successful player in men’s singles in terms of Grand Slam titles. Earlier this year, he lifted the Australian Open title, overtaking Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on the list of the number of major titles.

Further, high on confidence after lifting his 21st Grand Slam title, Nadal won the ATP 500 title in Acapulco, to complete a hat-trick of titles this season.

In 2016, Nadal started his academy in his hometown in Spain. The Spanish legend passed through a phase early in his career where he realized how difficult it was for his parents to help him achieve his dream. This motivated him to launch his academy to help young players realize their dream. Earlier this week, the academy released a statement amidst the rising tension in Eastern Europe.

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Tennis academy of Rafael Nadal pens a heartfelt note

The Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar took to Twitter to sympathize with the people of the affected regions of Eastern Europe. The statement read, “Our thoughts go out to all the families in Ukraine who are still struggling. Especially those of our coaches and players.”

Further, it has been a difficult year for the Ukrainian players. The rising tensions back home have compelled them to be away from their loved ones. Recently, Ukrainian tennis star, Dayana Yastremska, revealed how difficult it was for her to play under these circumstances.

During an interview at the Billie Jean King Cup, she said, “I don’t know when I’m going to be back home, I really want to go there, I really want to see my family. I don’t have any plans, any ideas, because you don’t know how it’s going to be.”

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Meanwhile, Nadal has been out of action since his Indian Wells final defeat against Taylor Fritz. The 35-year-old is suffering from a rib injury and has already missed the Miami Open, the Monte Carlo Masters, and the Barcelona Open. However, if he gets fit in time, he’ll likely return next month at the Madrid Open.