Rafael Nadal Pays Tribute To Spanish Golf Star At Madrid Open

By Michael Lopez

In case you were wondering, that black ribbon Rafael Nadal wore at this weekend’s Madrid Open was not a fashion statement. The Spanish tennis great actually tacked it on as a tribute for Spain’s legendary golf master, Seve Ballesteros, who died of cancer early Saturday morning.

Looking at the final scores of the Open’s Saturday semifinals, Ballesteros had a lot to be proud of. Spain’s racket-swinging golden boy dominated his arch rival Roger Federer on the clay. Unfortunately Rafael couldn’t quite keep up the streak on Sunday, losing a tight match to Novak Djokovic.

But regardless of the weekend's tennis outcome, it was Seve who captured the majority of Spain's attention. A sports legend in his home country, Ballesteros’ video tribute at the Madrid Open brought tears to the audience (and to Rafael). As a celebrated winner of tournaments like The Masters, the Ryder Cup, and the British Open, Seve’s unique style has influenced everyone from Lorena Ochoa to Tiger Woods.

Tiger called him,

"One of the most talented and exciting golfers to ever play the game."

And though Rafael comes from an entirely different sport, he made sure to acknowledge Ballesteros' contributions as well.

"It's a sad day for Spain and the world of sport in general,"  Nadal said at the Madrid Open. "He was one of the best golfers of all time and one of the best athletes this country has produced. He was a pioneer."

Did you watch the Madrid Open over the weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Golf, Madrid Open, Rafael Nadal, Seve Ballesteros, Sports, Tennis, Tiger Woods