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Rafael Nadal took to social media to share a message for the late Manolo Santana and his family. The Spaniard expressed disappointment at his inability to pay his final respects to Santana in person.
He shared the message all the way from Abu Dhabi, where he is currently set to play in the 2021 Mubadala World Tennis Championship.
Spanish tennis legend Manolo Santana passed away on Saturday at the age of 83, and his funeral took place in Madrid on Monday evening. Rafael Nadal, who could not attend the funeral, posted a heartfelt message on Twitter, saying he was extremely disappointed not to be present.
"Unfortunately, I can't be with you and you have no idea how sad I'm for being in Kuwait and have no chance to be with you on such a sad day," Nadal said.
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The World No. 6 reflected on his relationship with Santana. He proclaimed the day of his funeral a very difficult day for the people who knew Santana and the world of Spanish sports as a whole.
"Today's a very, very tough day for the Spanish sport and for all the people who got to know him," Nadal said.
The former World No.1 further stated that Manolo Santana's legacy would remain forever. He extended his support to Santana's family, and thanked Manolo for everything he has done. He said:
"Manolo was an example in many things and, above all, he leaves a legacy forever. For all this and many more things, I can only say 'Thanks Manolo' and send a message of support to his family."
Manolo Santana's final resting ground is in Madrid
Manolo Sanatana's funeral chapel was chosen to be the centre-court of La Caja Mágica in Madrid, a court named after the legend. The stadium is also the home of the Madrid Open, where Santana served as the organizer until 2019. He effectively made it one of the premier tennis tournaments in the world.
Born in Madrid, Santana was one of Spain's foremost tennis stars. He won an Olympic gold for his country in addition to Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open titles.
He also led Spain to the Davis Cup title in 1965, which cemented him as a national superstar. His passing drew tributes from the complete tennis community and major figures in Spain, including the Spanish Prime Minister and the King of Spain.
His close affiliation with the city of Madrid also made him a passionate and vocal fan of football club Real Madrid. His funeral was attended by Real Madrid's President Florentino Perez, who came to bid farewell to the legend.
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