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Rafael Nadal gave a ball girl a bandana and a kiss to apologize for hitting her on the head with a tennis ball.
Nadal, 33, was playing Federico Delbonis in the second round of the Australian Open when he stretched for a forehand to return the Argentinian's serve and sent the ball crashing into the head of a ball girl stationed by the net.
*𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉* ballkid moment, narrated by @RafaelNadal 📚 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ #AO2020 | #AusOpen https://t.co/tElLurAnQ1— #AusOpen (@#AusOpen) 1579782921.0
The Spaniard grimaced as he saw his miscued shot strike the youngster and quickly jogged to her side to check that she was okay.
Most of Twitter agreed the interview was a bit cringeworthy.
@AustralianOpen @RafaelNadal Why will his wife have a problem??? Atleast in this case??? She is a kid!!!— Suketa Shetty (@Suketa Shetty) 1579812707.0
@AustralianOpen @RafaelNadal Interviewer made it cringey. It's a little girl. He didn't have to go there.— The Omnipresence🇿🇦🇿🇼 (@The Omnipresence🇿🇦🇿🇼) 1579783245.0
He gave her a kiss on the cheek by way of an apology, then continued on his way to a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 victory.
@AustralianOpen @RafaelNadal 🎖Lovely public gesture of Nadal to the ball girl!! This guy is a gentleman and an extr… https://t.co/mNon5QUkk6— Alberto Lopez Reyes (@Alberto Lopez Reyes) 1579794992.0
@AustralianOpen @RafaelNadal Win the match. Win the hearts. That’s so Rafa. BTW, the girl is really brave. The hit… https://t.co/hY2LfFrdkV— Iron Ice (@Iron Ice) 1579788241.0
“I was so scared for her," he said after the game. “The ball was quick and straight on her, so she's a super brave girl."
“It has been one of the more scary moments I've had on a tennis court because the ball was straight on the head."
Addressing the ball girl, he added:
"I'm very happy that you are good. You're very brave."
Nadal also gave the girl a bandana as a souvenir of her eventful day.
The number one seed will go on to face fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in the third round.