Caroline Garcia is enjoying her training at the Rafael Nadal Academy, even if she had to stay there a little longer than expected.
The Frenchwoman had plans to leave town for Alicante, Spain on the night before lockdown began in Mallorca in March, but the former World No.4 elected to rent a flat near the Academy instead.
Three months later, Garcia's still there.
In recent weeks, as restrictions have lifted, Garcia has started to practice more regularly. She says she enjoys the Spanish mentality and, of course, training in proximity to 19-time Grand Slam champion surely doesn’t hurt.
“Rafael Nadal’s soul is everywhere here, and his uncle Toni is often on the courts and can give you some pieces of advice here and there,” Garcia told Carole Bouchard in an interview posted on Tennis Majors. “Also, everything you need is on site, it’s very practical.”
The World No.46 thinks the Spanish mentality can help her in the long run.
“When Rafa is around, he’s training here very often so everybody can see him,” the Lyon, France native says. “It’s also the Spanish way: lots of work, lots of hitting, and movements during the practice sessions. It’s interesting and it makes me get out of my old routines. I like the Spanish mentality and I think it can help me.”