"It reveals something else about Rafael Nadal" - French Open photographer reveals unknown details about picture she took of Spaniard

A photographer who clicked tennis legend Rafael Nadal at his favourite hunting ground, the Parisian clay of Roland Garros, has opined that one of her pictures depicts a rarer side of Spain's Raging Bull.

The picture in question was recently shared by Roland Garros on its official handles and features a shot of Nadal wiping sweat with a towel, presumably between points. Emilie Hautier, the taker of the portrait, has mused that it depicts the tennis great's vulnerability, which is a departure from the "heroic, force of nature" that he usually is.

“I like this photo because it reveals something else about Nadal. It’s not just the heroic, force-of-nature Rafa we all know. I can almost see sensitivity and fragility in it. The shot also conveys a sense of proximity with the player, which is always impressive,” Hautier said of her click.

Nadal, beset with injuries since the beginning of the 2023 season, bid adieu to the sport this year. At his final Roland Garros, he faced the No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev. The 14-time champion fell short, losing 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in straight sets. Notably, Nadal had overcome Zverev during his last French Open title run in 2022, when the German was forced to retire in the second set of their semifinal.

What has Rafael Nadal been up to since his retirement?

Rafael Nadal bid an emotional farewell to the sport this year - Source: Getty

Rafael Nadal announced that he would be retiring at the end of his 2024 season. His career ended when the Spanish Davis Cup team was defeated by the Dutch team. Despite the end of his playing career, however, Nadal has remained closely associated with the sport.

Earlier this week, Rafael Nadal turned up at the King Abdullah Sports City in Saudi Arabia as a special visitor for the Next Gen ATP Finals. Notably, the Spaniard has been appointed the ambassador of Saudi Arabia tennis.

Meanwhile, American streaming giant Netflix is set to debut a documentary featuring the Spanish legend, focussing on his last year on the tour.

"Everyone will be able to see how my life has been during my tennis career and particularly in this very last year I had," Nadal has said of the yet-to-be-titled documentary. "It will also show how my life and my tennis career developed through the years."

Netflix has previously released "Break Point," a documentary series giving a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of top ATP and WTA stars at big tournaments.