Rafael Nadal may not have stepped on the tennis court in months, but he has been keeping busy off the sporting arena. Between his recovery from the latest bout with injury, preparations for a return, and building a new home, the Spaniard has had a busy few months.
While his comeback to the sport is still uncertain, there have been some updates about his living situation. As per reports in the Spanish media, Nadal is expected to move into his new home at Manacor, the sleepy town on the island of Majorca where he was born and spent his early years.
Located at the highest part of Porto Cristo, the house is said to have been completed after three years of work. The family of Nadal, as per Diario de Mallorca, is expected to move into the luxury location at the beginning of summer.
The move would make a lot of sense as the couple, who welcomed their first child in October, look to settle down.
Architect Tomeu Esteva, who founded the Palma-based firm Esteva i Esteva, had been commissioned to design the house. It is built on a 7,000-square-meter land that includes four volumes, two two-story buildings and a basement, plus a bonus couple of one-story buildings each.
With each floor featuring large windows and terraces, the luxury house built atop the seaside cliffs makes for the perfect setting to bear witness to the open waters. The main buildings at the house are interconnected and have a garden and a pool.
The entire plot is bordered by an exposed stone wall that still needs some work. As for the house, only certain interior decoration details need fixing.
Nadal is said to have bought the land in 2013 for €4 million. The Spaniard's busy schedule, however, meant that he would spend most of his time away on the tour or practising at his academy — which is also located a stone's throw from the house.
Rafael Nadal pulls out from this year's French Open
Rafael Nadal is the biggest name missing from the entry list for this year's French Open. Having been sidelined for four months, since the second round of the Australian Open, the 22-time Grand Slam winner continues his slow return from a hip injury.
This injury was initially expected to sideline him for six to eight weeks. Things, however, did not go to plan and Nadal was forced to skip the entire claycourt swing to ensure a proper recovery.
The exact date for his return to the tour remains unclear at this point.
What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here