Rafael Nadal Tennis Star / Rafa also the Poker Star

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 11th December 2013

BNP Paribas 2013 Masters Tennis Tournament

Rafael Nadal Tennis Star / Rafa also the Poker Star

epa03931775 Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning against Jerzy Janowicz of Poland during their round of eight match at the BNP Paribas 2013 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 31 October 2013. EPA/IAN LANGSDON |

Rafael Nadal, taking just a few weeks off from tennis, is today in Prague fulfilling his obligations of being a PokerStars ambassador and will tomorrow contest a a live charity poker tournament in the Czech capital.

The world no.1, who maintains winning the Australian Open title next month for the first time since 2009 is his major aim, has severely curtailed off season by playing in Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Cup and then undertaking an exhibition trip to South America with rival Novak Djokovic.

His time at home in Majorca was minimal and he must leave for Abu Dhabi before Christmas to play the exhibition Mubadela World Tennis Championships before beginning his ATP World Tour schedule proper at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open that starts on December 29.

However in Prague Nadal will play a tournament that forms part of the European Poker Tour Prague Festival, which runs from December 8 thru 18. It will be his first official live tournament since taking up poker in June 2012.

“It’s no secret that I love the competition and that’s what I like about poker,” said Nadal. “It’s a game of skill that requires mental strength and the ability to out-think your opponents and in that way there are similarities to tennis.

“I have been playing poker online for almost 18 months and now I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing my first live tournament.”

Nadal has worked hard to hone his poker skills by playing online at PokerStars and working with his poker coach Alfonso Cardalda to help improve his game. “Rafa takes learning the game of poker very seriously, and understands the importance of practice to ensure he stays at the top of his game,” said Cardalda.

“The Prague charity tournament is a big milestone for Rafa as a poker player and I’m hoping that his success on the tennis court this year will translate into success at the poker table in December.”

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Atp World Tour, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News

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barbaraplebani says:

December 11, 2013 at 9:18 am

RT @10sBalls_com: Rafael Nadal Tennis Star / Rafa also the Poker Star: Rafael Nadal, taking just a few weeks off from te… http://t.co/xKj…