After a while I got very thirsty and wanted to get out of the place cos it was too crowded. Then we went over to Rockefeller Center and later the St. Patrick’s cathedral and did the regular tourist stuff (you know…clicking pics and all that). Most of the people were already tired and they were sitting on the cathedral stairs outside. One of my friends suddenly said, “Hey, Rafael Nadal just walked along the street).
“What?”. I did not want to believe that, but I just found myself saying “Lets go” and I started running across the street. I heard my friend say that he was wearing a yellow tshirt. My mind was a whirl. It could easily have been a mistake. But NYC is currently hosting the US Open and I did not want to miss a glimpse of the world’s top seeded tennis player. I spotted the man in question from across the street but the crossing was difficult due to the traffic. I had to wait for the walk signal to come on, an then I ran again. He looked slightly taller than what I expected and the hair looked shorter and straigher from behind. Nevertheless I kept running and went ahead past him. I heard that unmistakable voice speaking fluent Spanish. I forgot to mention, he was walking with a couple of other guys (and they were all walking very fast, as if they were in a hurry).
I turned around and looked at him. I was still not sure and I just stood there while he walked past. I saw someone else approach him and shake his hand while he continued to race along the road. I was reluctant to approach him since he seemed in such a hurry and I told my friends that he wont stop for us. But two of my friends were insistent and they went and they stopped him and requested for a picture. I did not see much, but I just happened to notice Nadal turn around and pose for the photograph. I ran ahead to bask in the moment.
I was meeting my favourite tennis star of the time. Ironically the guy who clicked the photograph was the one who was most crazy about Nadal. (Thanks for clicking the picture Sanatan). After the picture was clicked, we yelled a “Thanks Rafa” chorus and we knew that our day was made.
