"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2018-09-09T08:43:43Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2018/09/09/serena-williams-us-open-defeat-sexism-brennan-sot-vpx.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="serena williams us open defeat sexism brennan sot vpx"
data-first-publish-slug="serena williams us open defeat sexism brennan sot vpx"
data-video-tags="discrimination,referees and umpires,serena williams,sex and gender issues,sex discrimination,societal issues,society,sports and recreation,sports figures"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2018-09-08T22:13:59Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2018/09/08/naomi-osaka-defeats-serena-williams-us-open-final-vpx.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="naomi osaka defeats serena williams us open final vpx"
data-first-publish-slug="naomi osaka defeats serena williams us open final vpx"
data-video-tags="andy scholes,asia,continents and regions,east asia,japan,misc people,osaka,serena williams,sports figures"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2018-05-29T13:49:47Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2018/05/29/rafael-nadal-by-the-numbers-intl-spt.cnn"
data-branding-key="tennis"
data-video-slug="rafael nadal by the numbers intl spt"
data-first-publish-slug="rafael nadal by the numbers intl spt"
data-video-tags="french open,grand slam tournaments,professional tennis,rafael nadal,sports and recreation,sports events,sports figures,tennis,tennis events"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2018-07-16T23:43:29Z"
data-video-section="tv"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2018/07/16/looking-back-on-the-scottish-open-and-wimbledon.cnn"
data-branding-key="rolex-minute"
data-video-slug="Looking Back on the Scottish Open, and Wimbledon"
data-first-publish-slug="Looking Back on the Scottish Open, and Wimbledon"
data-video-tags="angelique kerber,grand slam tournaments,novak djokovic,professional tennis,sports and recreation,sports events,sports figures,tennis,tennis events,wimbledon championships"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2017-05-31T12:46:05Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2017/05/31/roland-garros-french-open-pat-cash-unique-grand-slam-red-clay-open-court-spc.cnn"
data-branding-key="tennis"
data-video-slug="roland garros french open pat cash unique grand slam red clay open court spc"
data-first-publish-slug="roland garros french open pat cash unique grand slam red clay open court spc"
data-video-tags="french open,grand slam tournaments,pat cash,professional tennis,sports and recreation,sports events,sports figures,tennis,tennis events"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2017-09-11T03:00:19Z"
data-video-section="tv"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2017/09/11/rafael-nadal-1-on-1.cnn"
data-branding-key="tennis"
data-video-slug="Rafael Nadal 1 on 1"
data-first-publish-slug="Rafael Nadal 1 on 1"
data-video-tags="grand slam tournaments,new york (state),new york city,north america,northeastern united states,rafael nadal,sports and recreation,sports events,sports figures,tennis,tennis events,united states,us open (tennis)"
data-details="">
Nadal seeking a record-extending 11th French Open title
Top-ranked Spaniard tells CNN of his love of the sea
Grew up on the Spanish island of Mallorca
ParisCNN
—
Triumph, defeat or injury, there is one place Rafael Nadal keeps going back to.
The sea.
Born and raised in Mallorca, the largest island in the Spanish Balearics, Nadal has had a special connection with the ocean from the day he was born.
“It’s difficult to understand the life without having the sea next to me,” the 10-time French Open winner told CNN in an interview after his first-round win at Roland Garros.
“Difficult to imagine for myself living in a place without the sea.
“I am always very connected with the sea, I am always very close to it and I have spent hours and hours on the sea in my life.”
Rafael Nadal at the helm of a classic yacht during the 2014 Monte Carlo Masters.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
‘Always had boats’
Although the men’s tennis ATP World Tour has a relentless, 11-month schedule, the longest in professional sports, Nadal tries to get away on his motor boat to fish and explore Mallorca’s rocky coastline, sapphire sea and sheltered coves whenever he can.
His yacht is named “Beethoven” after his grandfather, who was a director in an orchestra and who was nicknamed after the German composer.
“Of course, great news that I have the possibility to have a boat since already years ago, and come back home and have the possibility to go out and spend some time with family, friends, girlfriend, going out, sleeping on the boat,” said Nadal.
“I always had boats, my father always had boats since I was a kid.”
Having turned pro when he was in his mid-teens, Nadal has been competing on the men’s Tour for 16 years. During that time, he has reached great heights, becoming world No. 1 and winning 16 grand slam titles, including an unprecedented 10 Roland Garros championships.
