The Mutua Madrid Open, one of Spain’s premium tennis tournaments, is renaming its stadium after Rafael Nadal. But Nadal, being humble and respectful as always, has asked for a small change in the renaming.

Fernando Martínez Vidal, a member of Madrid City Council, revealed his conversation with Rafa Nadal regarding the renaming of the stadium. Rafa is delighted with the renaming of Caja Magica but he has requested the name change to happen once he has retired from tennis. The Spaniard doesn’t want to make it uncomfortable for his rivals to play in a stadium that holds his name.

“They are delighted with the proposal, but understand that it is not the right time. But he does not want his rivals to feel more uncomfortable playing in a facility that bears his name. He has asked us, and thus we have accepted, that the name change be done once his stage as a professional ends,” Fernando Martínez Vidal said.

The Madrid City Council will give the verdict on the request soon. Everyone is confident that the request will be approved and the naming will be done once Rafa Nadal retires from tennis.

“Nadal already has other recognitions from the Community of Madrid, but we believe that this is to go one step further,” Vidal added.

Rafael Nadal at the Madrid Open

Rafa Nadal has won the Madrid Open five times, which is the most by any player. He is highly admired by the Madrid City Council. Back in 2014, the city council had named Nadal the adopted son of Madrid for his illustrious career. So expect the renaming of Caja Magica to be approved instantly.

The Caja Magica, or in English is translated as Magic Box, is the home of the Madrid Open. It is a group of three courts that have been the venue for the Madrid Open since 2009. It also hosts the Davis Cup as well. The whole complex has three stadiums, all with retractable roofs. The biggest of them is called Manolo Santana and can hold 12,500 spectators.

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