Un emocionado Rafa Nadal homenajea a Kobe Bryant después de ganar su partido en Australia
El tenista balear valoró de forma sincera la figura del escolta de los Lakers.
El fallecimiento de la leyenda de Los Ángeles Lakers Kobe Bryant, su hija Gianna de 13 años y otras siete personas por un accidente de helicóptero en Calabasas (California) ha conmocionado al mundo en general y al del deporte en particular.
Las reacciones y los homenajes a la figura del cinco veces campeón de la NBA han llegado desde todos los rincones del planeta. Rafa Nadal ha sido uno de los que ha querido dedicar unas palabras a Bryant.
Primero el tenista balear compartió un tuit en el que reconocía que estaba en shock y daba las condolencias a la familia, pero fue tras ganar a Kyrgios en el partido de octavos de final del Abierto de Australia cuando volvió a hablar delante de todos sobre el mítico número 8 y 24 de la franquicia californiana.
“Me he despertado esta mañana con esta terrible noticia y estoy muy muy triste. Ha sido uno de los grandes deportistas en la historia del deporte y se merece este gran aplauso”, afirmó Nadal, mientras el público continuó a sus palabras con una cerrada ovación.
El español, que contó que tenían en Pau Gasol un amigo común, definió así a Bryant: “Tiene un espíritu de superación, de trabajar duro para incrementar su nivel y fue una inspiración para todos”.
“Es uno de esos días que tú quieres olvidar. Kobe Bryant va a estar en nuestro corazón siempre”, remató. Además, para completar el homenaje decidió llevar una gorra de los Lakers para la entrevista.
Su rival, el australiano Nick Kyrgios, también honró la figura del escolta de Philadelphia entrando en la pista y jugando la primera parte del partido con la camiseta de Bryant con el número 8. Además, se le vio visiblemente afectado cuando recibió una ovación y no pudo contener las lágrimas.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 06: Kobe Bryant attends the LA Community Screening Of Warner Bros Pictures' "Just Mercy" at Cinemark Baldwin Hills on January 06, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
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Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Kobe Bryant at the 1999 Source Hip Hop Awards at the Pantages Theater August 18, 1999. Lopes was killed in a car crash in the Honduras April 25, 2002. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)
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12/17/99, Timberwolves vs. L.A. Lakers. -- The Lakers Kobe Bryant drives around the Wolves Anthony Peeler in second-half action. Bryant scored 28 points to lead the Laker scoring.(Photo By MARLIN LEVISON/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant drives past Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett in the first quarter 17 December 1999 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Lakers won 97-88. AFP PHOTO/CRAIG LASSIG (Photo by CRAIG LASSIG / AFP) (P...
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Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates victory with his daughter following Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena on June 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The Lakers won the National Basketball Association champ...
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Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates victory following Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena on June 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The Lakers won the National Basketball Association championships defeating...
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Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates victory with his family following Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena on June 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The Lakers won the National Basketball Association champio...
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Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates victory in the closing moments of Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena on June 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The Lakers won the National Basketball Association champio...
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Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates victory in the closing moments of Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena on June 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The Lakers won the National Basketball Association champio...
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Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates victory following Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena on June 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The Lakers won the National Basketball Association championships defeating...
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Kobe Bryant (L) and Derek Fisher celebrate after defeating the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of the NBA finals at Amway Arena on June 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The Lakers won the National Basketball Association championships defeating Orlando 99-8...
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The Lakers' Kobe Bryant drives his way to the basket around 76ers' Andre Iguodala in the second quarter Sunday night, December 31, 2006 at Staples Center. (Photo by Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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(HR) ABOVE: Carmelo Anthony, right, bites down on his medal with teammates Dwyane Wade, middle and Lebron James, left. The U.S. men's basketball team won the gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games with a 118-107 victory over Spain Sunday a...
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Los Angels Lakers' Kobe Bryant drives to the basket against the Charlotte Bobcats at the Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina, Friday, December 29, 2006. The Bobcats defeated the Lakers 133-124. (Photo by Jason E. Miczek/Charlotte Observe...
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(HR) ABOVE: Kobe Bryant gets a pass around Spain's Felipe Reyes #9 and Rudy Fernandez, #5. The U.S. men's basketball team won the gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games with a 118-107 victory over Spain Sunday afternoon at the Olympic Bask...
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(HR) ABOVE: Kobe Bryant scrambles for the ball against Spain's Juan Carios Mavarro in the second half of the game. The U.S. men's basketball team won the gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games with a 118-107 victory over Spain Sunday after...
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Dec 29, 2006; Charlotte, NC, USA; Los Angeles Lakers KOBE BRYANT against the Charlotte Bobcats on Dec. 29, 2006, at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, NC. The Bobcats won in triple overtime 133-124. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Sporting News v...
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LA Lakers guard Kobe Bryant talks to the referee before the Boston Celtics went on to win 103-94 in game two of the NBA finals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on June 6, 2010. The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers are not only seeking ...
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PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 21: Kobe Bryant and Ronny Turiaf, his French team-mate for three seasons (2005-2008) in Los Angeles gives a "Mamba talk" as they reflect on their NBA memories at "Le Quartier" renovated gymnasium dedicated to basketball g...
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Lakers' Kobe Bryant drives past 76ers' defender Andre Iguodala in the fourth quarter of play during the Lakers' 10494 win Sunday, December 31, 2006 at Staples Center. (Photo by Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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LA Lakers guard Kobe Bryant dribbles the ball before the Boston Celtics went on to win 103-94 in game two of the NBA finals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on June 6, 2010. The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers are not only seeking the...
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LA Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (R) returns to the bench after a foul before the Boston Celtics went on to win 103-94 in game two of the NBA finals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on June 6, 2010. The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers are ...
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LA Lakers guard Kobe Bryant gestures before the Boston Celtics went on to win 103-94 in game two of the NBA finals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on June 6, 2010. The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers are not only seeking their 16th N...
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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers gestures against the New York Knicks at Staples Center on December 29, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downl...
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LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 29: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks at Staples Center on December 29, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees t...
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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks and Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the first half at Staples Center on December 29, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly ac...
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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles from the bench against the New York Knicks at Staples Center on December 29, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees t...
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LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 29: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers is introduced before the game against the New York Knicks at Staples Center on December 29, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agr...
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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 28: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers jokes with Dwight Howard #12 during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on December 28, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 104-87. ...
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Lakers Kobe Bryant squeezes by Nuggets Al Harrington and Pau Gasol while dribbling at the Staples Center Saturday. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Lakers Kobe Bryant reacts after almost stealing the ball against the Trail Blazers at the Staples Center Friday. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers drives against the Portland Trail Blazers during their NBA game on December 28, 2012 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP PHOTO / Joe KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP via G...
MOSTRAR BIOGRAFíA
Alfredo Pascual es redactor de Virales en El HuffPost en Madrid. Escribe sobre noticias de televisión, política, redes sociales, deporte, etc. Estudió periodismo en la Universidad Complutense de Madrid y un máster en Periodismo de investigación, datos y visualización en la UNIR. Antes de entrar en El HuffPost estuvo en la Cadena Ser y en el Heraldo de Aragón. Puedes contactar con él en alfredo.pascual@huffpost.es