All eyes were on Rafael Nadal during the 2006 US Open as the Spaniard charged into the quarterfinals.
But a photo of the now 22-time Grand Slam champion from his Flushing Meadows run has been thrust back into the spotlight and it has nothing to do with him.
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The photo, showing Nadal training in his once famous long shorts, has sent the tennis world abuzz because of the fan sitting in the front row hanging over the ledge.
The eight-year-old fan is none other than four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
An eagle-eyed fan made the remarkable discovery in the snap of the 20-year-old Nadal and it quickly went viral with the tennis world losing it.
Osaka clearly took some massive tips from watching the Spaniard go to work on Arthur Ashe Stadium as 12-years later she was hoisting the US Open trophy above her head on the court.
Social media users couldn’t believe the discovery and were quick to share the image across the internet.
“Who you spend your time watching (understudying) matters. Who you spend your time listening listen to matters. This rare picture of a 8y/o Naomi Osaka watching Rafael Nadal training during 2006 USO speaks volume. She understudied one of the best from a very young age,” one user wrote.
“OMG this is the best photo ever,” another added.
Osaka pulled the pin on Wimbledon following the extraordinary decision from the ATP Tour and WTA Tour to cancel all ranking points at the tournament.
The ATP and WTA tours removed ranking points from Wimbledon after the All England Club banned Russian and Belarusian players in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
But the former world number one is ramping up towards another US Open charge as she returns from an Achilles injury.
“Naomi Osaka confirmed in San José. Good too see her planning a full schedule for the US Hardcourt summer: San José, Toronto, Cincinnati and then the US Open,” tennis journalist Jose Morgado tweeted.
Originally published as Hidden detail in Rafael Nadal photo from 2006 US Open sends tennis world into a spin
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