I have heard THIS about Rafael Nadal... he did not want it to happen - pundit
RAFAEL NADAL initially did not want pictures of him helping the Majorcan flood victims to be published, it's been claimed.
Rafael Nadal helps recover Mallorca after flash-flooding
Images were circulated last week of Nadal out with a broom on the streets of Sant Llorenc following the devastating floods that killed 12 people.
Nadal cleared mud and water from the roads - then offered his tennis academy in the nearby town of Manacor to victims left homeless.
Tennis expert David Law understands that, initially, the 17-time Grand Slam champion was keen for his appearance to be kept low key.
However, he appears to have changed his mind after realising that the pictures would help raise the awareness - and thus the locals - in Mallorca.
"It's not a nice situation but it's great to have seen Rafael Nadal help clean the flood waters in the Majorcan town of Sant Llorenc ," Law told the Tennis Podcast.
"Torrential rain has ravaged the area and killed 12 people and he also offered the use of the Rafael Nadal Academy sports centre to all the people affected so they can have somewhere to go.
"That was a really nice thing to have done. It's also noteable that I thought he was reluctant, from what I understand, for it to be publicised on one level.
"But he also realised having pictures of him involved in the clear-up, it would get the attention that would help further.
"I must say I didn't know that much about it until I saw the pictures of him. So that it is great to have seen him do that."
Fellow pundit Catherine Whitaker echoed Law's comments and praised the Spaniard.
"He did look uncomfortable. It's not really his thing," she said. "But it's just a very good thing he did - brilliant."
Nadal tweeted last week: "Sad day in Majorca," Nadal wrote on Twitter. "My most sincere condolences to the families of the passed and those hurt by the severe floods in San Llorenç.
"As we did yesterday [Tuesday], we're again offering the facilities of the Rafa Nadal Academy for all those affected if they need housing."