Eloise HorsfieldRafa Nadal will be in need of consolation after being knocked out of the ATP World Tour Final in London last night – so it’s a good job girlfriend Xisca is in town.
The 23-year-old Mallorcan, who has just moved to the UK capital to study business management and English, was in the audience to watch her lover lose against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Despite having a month off and pulling out of the Paris Masters earlier this month to be in tiptop shape for the tournament, Nadal had admitted to being tired during Sunday’s match against Mardy Fish.
He was even taken ill at the start of the third set after the salmon and pasta he’d eaten before the match disagreed with him – but he still managed to win.
However, during last night’s match against the sixth-seeded Tsonga, Nadal began to flag as early as the first set – which he lost 7-6.
He won the second 6-4, but was unable to win the third.
“Skills that I’ve always had that put pressure on my rivals, like explosiveness and impetus, are now failing me,” said the tennis ace last night after he lost.
“Probably I had a little bit less passion for the game, probably because I was a little bit more tired than usual.”
Rafa will now come back to Spain ahead of next weekend’s Davis Cup final against Argentina in Sevilla.
