After winning Wimbledon, most players usually get the press and citizens of their place of origin fawning over them for a while—at least until the US Open. But the Spaniards, they love a winner. The Astronomical Observatory of Mallorca has requested, and was granted, permission to name a five-year-old asteroid after their newly minted tennis champ, Rafael Nadal. Apparently the Spanish national soccer team has to wait until 11 space rocks are hurtling towards Earth to get any props.

According to the website of men’s governing body the ATP, the asteroid was discovered five years ago just before Nadal burst on to the scene. It is four kilometres in diameter and speeds through space at 20km per second. The Astronomical Observatory of Mallorca said it was a tribute to “one of the greatest tennis players of all time”.

Star gazers can find Nadal’s asteroid between Mars and Jupiter and the 22-year-old has himself been invited to the Majorcan observatory to view it himself.

Yeah, maybe, and while he’s in town, he could visit another point of interest in Mallorca. Just saying she’s single and all…

Nadal star power stretches to far reaches of galaxy [Reuters]