Good morning on this spectacular Friday.The U.S. Open finals take place this weekend in Queens.
Rafael Nadal of Spain, the No. 1 seed at the Open, is no stranger to New York City. (He faces off against Juan Martín del Potro of Argentina in the men’s semifinal at 5:30 p.m. today.)
When the two-time U.S. Open champion (2010 and 2013) isn’t playing tennis, he tries to get out and take in all that is New York.
We recently sat down with him at the Lotte New York Palace in Midtown and asked him what he liked most about the city.
Here’s what he shared:
The theater. “I relax a little bit by seeing a show and being away from the tournament, and I love the music,” he said. “Phantom of the Opera” is his favorite show; he’s seen it several times. He also enjoyed “Les Misérables” and “Mamma Mia.”
The vibe. “New York is a very energetic city, which I especially enjoy when I’m on the court because I have a very special connection with the crowd,” Mr. Nadal said. When he’s not playing tennis, he likes to take walks around the city, but mostly during the day, because he has to be up early. “I have no time for parties,” he said.
Continue reading the main storyThe food. “You find the best restaurants here,” he said. He likes Greek, Spanish and Asian, particularly Japanese. Mr. Nadal said that he hopes to open an outpost here of Tatel, an upscale Spanish restaurant that has locations in Madrid, Ibiza and Miami. He is one of several partners, along with the singer Enrique Iglesias.
When he travels to New York, he packs light: a computer, phone and his rackets.
“They’re all I need to do my job,” he said. “If there is anything else I need, I can find it here.”