Watch it – and listen to it, above all – Rafael Nadal speaking from his injured academy. Because beyond the foreseeable absence from Roland Garros, one of the greatest tennis players of all time has anticipated his final farewell.
Without Nadal, the circuit will not only lose its greatest exponent in history on slow courts. Because it can be argued if Djokovic is better than Nadal, if Nadal is better than Federer, if Federer is better than Djokovic. But no one will be able to doubt that the Majorcan took the testimony of Bjorn Borg and it is impossible to imagine anyone taking his place in the brick dust.
What made Nadal so great? Many virtues. The two main ones are physical and mental. And from there, an infinite number of variations open up that have made it unique. He was an example for everyone. From the physique to that enormous power and stamina to hit the ball with great spin from the start to the finish of a match. And from a mental point of view, never give up on a point and be smart to always find a winning tactic and not get out of it by causing the opponent to make a logical error.
Another key aspect of his game was its extraordinary competitive ability. More than a tennis player Nadal was a born competitor. Someone who would be successful in the sport he played. With something extra: he likes to win and he’s not afraid to do it. And it is more logical to fear victory than defeat. That’s why Nadal was also brilliant on all surfaces. Who would have guessed in his early days that he would ever win Wimbledon? However, he went All England and won it not once but twice.
Another of his great virtues was reinventing himself. The Nadal who won his 14th Roland Garros title almost a year ago has nothing to do with the one who defeated Mariano Puerta in 2005 to lift the Musketeers Cup for the first time. The 2022 Nadal -and the latest Nadal- plays closer to the lines, attacks much more and has improved his backhand (mainly with the slice) and volley although, as always, dominates with his drive .
With his intensity he has always scared his rivals, the same ones who now – like the rest of the tennis world – have begun to miss him.
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.