A photo from Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal's Instagram account shows Nadal taking a break after training at home during lockdown in Spain on March 29, 2020.
"Happy birthday!" Chinese fans say to Rafael Nadal on social media.
BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese fans sent birthday wishes to Spain's Rafael Nadal on social media Weibo, wishing the 34-year-old tennis star all of the very best for the future.
Nadal, who has won 12 French Open titles, would have celebrated his birthday at Roland Garros on Wednesday as the clay court Grand Slam would have entered its second week under the original schedule.
Because of the coronavirus outbreak, the French Open was pushed back by four months, and the birthday boy celebrated his 34th birthday at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain.
With 2.2 million followers on Weibo, Nadal got many birthday wishes from his Chinese fans.
Rafael Nadal hits a return during the men's singles final match against Taylor Fritz of the United States at the 2020 ATP Mexican Open in Acapulco, Mexico, Feb. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)
"You couldn't celebrate your birthday in Roland Garros, I couldn't go to Paris to enjoy your performance, so let's look forward to the future. You have been my idol for 13 years, I become braver and dare to pursue more. Happy Birthday, Rafa," wrote a Chinese netizen nicknamed "Big Benben" on Weibo.
"Happy Birthday, my idol Rafa Nadal. Although the year 2020 didn't have a good beginning, I still look forward to your 20th grand slam victory," wrote netizen "little sleepy dog".
Famous sports blogger Zhang Manlian wrote, "Nadal gained his first grand slam championship when he was 19 years old. Now he has 19 grand slams, but more importantly Rafa won the hearts of countless fans. As time goes by, you are still the same young man. Happy birthday, and I hope you keep the original heart and climb to the peak."
Nadal thanked Chinese fans and even answered some questions from three lucky fans, "Thank you for all the birthday wishes, I appreciate all my Chinese fans taking time to make my day special." ■
