Nadal conferred with highest civilian honour by Spanish PM for grand career success

14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal received a gold medal from the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy at a ceremony held in Madrid in honour of the clay-court king's grand career success.

The Spaniard was very much overwhelmed to receive the award. He said that it was a great honour for him to receive such a prestigious award and he had never imagined about it.

Nadal said that one of the keys to his career's success was that he tries to give all he has in everything he does, Sport24 reported.

On his present slump in form, he said that it has been a difficult time for him and he hopes that all the hard work that he is doing pays off, adding that he can return on his path to victory.

Prime Minister Rajoy, meanwhile, said that Nadal deserved the award because of his hard work, balance and enthusiasm. According to him Nadal is very modest and in spite of all the success he is very down to earth.

The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place in November last year but it was called off after Nadal had to undergo surgery to remove his appendix.