Nadal snaps quokka selfie ahead of ATP Cup debut

  • Rafael Nadal and teammates take quokka selfie at Rottnest
  • ATP Cup runs from Friday, January 3 to Wednesday, January 8 at RAC Arena 
  • World number one ranked men’s tennis player Rafael Nadal and his Spanish teammates have kicked off 2020 in unique Western Australian style – taking quokka selfies at Rottnest Island.

    Team Spain are in Perth to compete in the inaugural international men’s team’s event, the ATP Cup, which begins this Friday at RAC Arena.

    Nadal and teammates Roberto Bautista Agut, Pablo Carreno Busta and Feliciano Lopez, along with team captain Francisco Roig, were officially welcomed to the holiday island and the State by Tourism Minister Paul Papalia.

    After posing with Rottnest’s famous wildlife, the Spanish team rode e-bikes to Little Parakeet Bay to enjoy a beach barbecue showcasing WA’s delicious fresh caught local seafood.

    Rottnest’s blue waters and wildlife are expected to be viewed by people around the world as a result of Nadal and Team Spain sharing vision of their Rottnest outing on social media.

    Nadal’s combined Facebook and Instagram following alone exceeds 22 million.

    Nadal and his teammates follow in the footsteps of tennis superstar Roger Federer, whose quokka selfie in 2017 put Rottnest and Western Australia on the map as a holiday hotspot.

    Teams from the United States of America, Japan, Russia, Italy, Georgia, Norway and Uruguay will also have a taste of what Western Australia can offer holiday-makers. They will visit Perth’s beautiful beaches, learn about local Aboriginal culture, taste local produce and interact with Australian animals.

    Perth will host eight international teams for its group stage of the ATP Cup, which is sponsored by the State Government through Tourism Western Australia.

    As stated by Tourism Minister Paul Papalia:

    “Rafa’s quokka selfie, together with Team Spain is a winning start to 2020 for our State.

    “It’s become a quintessentially Western Australian experience to pose with these friendly locals and enjoy the island’s beautiful beaches and laid-back charm.

    “The star power of Nadal has the potential to further supercharge the attraction of Western Australia’s slice of paradise globally.

    “We’re delighted to host Team Spain and all competing countries in Perth for the ATP Cup.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.