MANILA, Philippines - Spain's Rafael Nadal has landed in Manila.
The world no. 5 tennis star was busy with his phone after landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport late Saturday night, December 5 ahead of the International Premier Tennis League's Manila leg, which goes from December 6-8 at Mall of Asia Arena.
Nadal, whose accolades include being a 9-time French Open champion and earning the recognition by many as the greatest clay court player of all-time, will represent the Micromax Indian Aces.
(READ: IPTL 2015: A guide to big-time tennis in Manila)
The 29-year-old, 14-time Grand Slam title winner is one of 4 of the 5 top-rated players who will be competing in the off-season tournament, as world no. 2 Andy Murray and world no. 4 Stan Wawrinka will see action. World no. 1 Novak Djokovic withdrew from the tournament citing fatigue while no. 3-rated Roger Federer will only compete in the last 3 stops of the 5-stop tournament.
Among other stars who have already arrived are women's no. 1 player Serena Williams, plus Fil-Am doubles specialist Treat Huey.
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Serena Williams is now in the country! Catch Momma Smash at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPTLManila?src=hash">#IPTLManila</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FibrIPTL?src=hash">#FibrIPTL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PLDTSmartIPTL?src=hash">#PLDTSmartIPTL</a> <a href="https://t.co/iCJRLyJaeq">pic.twitter.com/iCJRLyJaeq</a></p>— PLDT HOME (@PLDTHome) <a href="https://twitter.com/PLDTHome/status/673054180353769472">December 5, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Treat Huey is in Manila! Catch him and other Tennis superstars in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPTLManila?src=hash">#IPTLManila</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FibrIPTL?src=hash">#FibrIPTL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PLDTSmartIPTL?src=hash">#PLDTSmartIPTL</a> <a href="https://t.co/Bh2wxcUgdy">pic.twitter.com/Bh2wxcUgdy</a></p>— PLDT HOME (@PLDTHome) <a href="https://twitter.com/PLDTHome/status/673070807057231873">December 5, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Here are more photos from Nadal's arrival in Manila.
– Rappler.com