The king of clay draws deep sporting inspiration from Tiger Woods.
Avid golfer Rafael Nadal said watching his sporting hero, golfer Tiger Woods, win the Masters championship for his fifth green jacket and 15th major crown was an inspiring and emotional experience.
"It is amazing. He is probably my favorite sportsman in the world since a long time ago," Nadal told the media in Monte Carlo. "I know a little bit (on) how hard he has worked to be back. I was very emotional yesterday."
At the Australian Open in January, Nadal said watching Woods will keep him up all night.
"Is not new that Tiger is one of the sportsmen that I admire the most," Nadal told the media in Melbourne. "I stay until 2 in the evening if he's playing always at home. I follow him every tournament that he plays. I love his attitude on the course.
"In some way, yes, he's an inspiration. After all the things that happened to him, he's able to fight back, he's able to win again, is able to put him in a position that he can win majors again. That's fantastic I think for the sport. That's a great history."
Like Woods, Nadal has battled injuries that side-tracked his career. Nadal battled knee, hip and abdominal issues that limited him to nine tournaments in 2018.
The 11-time Monte-Carlo champion said watching Woods is sporting pleasure.
"Like a sportsman, he's one of the best that I ever seen in my life, and in a sport that I like a lot," Nadal said. "So I just feel very lucky that I am having the chance to keep see him competing that well." Photo credit: Fan Pop