Red carpet ready for King of Clay

MANILA, Philippines - Rafael Nadal will be treated like a king once he sets foot on Philippine soil.

The 29-year-old Spanish superstar, winner of 14 Grand Slam titles, including nine French Open crowns, was scheduled to fly in last night for the Manila leg of the ITPL.

Organizers refused to divulge any details on Nadal’s arrival like there was a threat to his life. The only thing that was said was that the “King of Clay” was arriving in the evening.

It’s his first visit to the Philippines.

Nadal is known as a low-profile superstar. Once, he refused an offer by the state for him to be flown by private jet from Madrid to a Davis Cup competition.

At that time, he felt it was not proper for the state “to pay for my trip.”

But the superstar with career earnings of over $75 million may find no need to resist the warm reception from organizers of the Manila leg.

Like the rest of the players seeing action at the MOA Arena starting today, including American superstar Serena Williams, he will stay at the City of Dreams.

An insider said Nadal was booked at the Crown Towers, where elegant suites can easily cost a couple thousand dollars or more.

Williams and the rest of the Philippine Mavericks as well as those from the other teams arrived from Japan yesterday on a chartered flight.

Mahesh Bhupati, the former Grand Slam doubles champion from India and IPTL founder, said it’s a must  to treat these tennis superstars well.

Last year, security was tight around the players, including Maria Sharapova.

“They were treated like rock stars,” said Bhupati.

The City of Dreams is just a block away from the MOA Arena, and yet organizers made sure the players will be in for a smooth ride.

Acting as official vehicles for the players and top officials are Jaguar and Land Rover.

“Too bad it’s just a short ride from the hotel to the playing venue,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, co-owner of the Philippine Mavericks, in jest.

Last year, the players were billeted in a five-star hotel along Edsa, and to make sure nobody gets caught in traffic, they made a deal with the City of Dreams.

There’s no word yet whether any of the players can have an audience with the President.

Tickets to the matches are priced like gold, the cheapest at P2,600 and the most expensive at P49,000.

But Lhuillier reminded everyone that tickets are actually three-day passes that are transferable. Family members can pass it on from one day to another.

“It’s six hours of tennis each day for three days. It’s not like a concert which you get to watch for only two or three hours,” said the pawnshop magnate.

Bhupati said it’s worth every cent.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a lot of people to see Rafa or Serena in the flesh. This normally happens if you go to the French Open or the Wimbledon,” he said.

The matches will be aired live on TV5. Bhupati said airing the games live should have very little effect on the live gate receipts.

“I don’t think so. That’s the nature of live sports. Wimbledon is live in London but it’s always sold out,” he said.

Organizers are hoping to see a full stadium.

With Nadal around, of course.