- Rafael Nadal says he offered his friend Andy Murray the use of his boat to help him relax as the Scot continues his road back from hip surgery.
- Murray is playing in the Rafa Nadal Open in Mallorca, Spain, whilst Nadal is competing at the US Open.
- “I’m very happy to have Andy Murray playing there,” Nadal said, according to USA Today, adding, “I wish him all the very best.”
- Nadal and Murray have been friends since they were teenagers and still play “FIFA” together online, Murray’s mother, Judy Murray, has said.
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Rafael Nadal says he offered Andy Murray the use of his yacht to relax while the Scot continues his road back from injury.
Murray is competing in the Rafa Nadal Open in Mallorca, Spain, his third singles tournament of the year since undergoing major hip surgery in January.
On Tuesday, he beat the No. 3 seed, Norbert Gombos, 6-3, 6-4, his first win against a top-150 player this year, to set up a third-round match with Matteo Viola.
Murray had Wednesday afternoon to relax, however, and Nadal, who eased passed the Australian John Millman in the first round of the US Open that day, says he texted his friend to see if he wanted to use his boat.
"I just texted him when I knew that he was going to play at the academy," Nadal told reporters after beating Millman, according to Sky Sports.
Nadal, a yacht super-fan, recently bought a custom 80-foot luxury yacht that boasts a spa pool and a wet bar. Though that's not set to be delivered until 2020, he's known to climb aboard his other million-dollar vessels, go on vacation, and live on the sea. And now he's offered that lifestyle to Murray.
"I just texted him a couple days ago saying, 'If you need anything, just let me know. If you want to go out with the boat or anything, I can help you, just let me know,'" Nadal said.
Nadal also revealed his delight at seeing Murray back on the court, especially at his own challenger tournament in his hometown of Manacor in Mallorca.
"I'm very happy to have Andy Murray playing there," he said, according to USA Today. "That's great news for us, of course, but for him and the world of sport, to have him back on the tennis court is great news. I wish him all the very best."
Nadal and Murray's close relationship goes back a long way. Murray's mother, Judy Murray, told the Tennis Channel in 2017 that they had been friends since they were 15.
"The two of them are great friends," she said. "They play this thing called 'FIFA Championship Manager' across continents with each other.
"It's one of those things when you come in, and Andy's on the sofa, and you think he's talking to himself, and you go, 'Who are you talking to?' and he'll go, 'Rafa.'"
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On Thursday, Nadal takes on Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round of the US Open, while Murray faces Matteo Viola in Mallorca.