“What the f*ck,” 16-year-old Darwin Blanch left dumbfounded after realising he faces Rafael Nadal during first round in Madrid

King of Clay Rafael Nadal is making his much-awaited comeback on his favorite court after two years.

“What the f*ck,” 16-year-old Darwin Blanch left dumbfounded after realising he faces Rafael Nadal during first round in Madrid

Darwin Blanch and Rafael Nadal (Image via X/Imago)

The draws for the prestigious Madrid Open tournament were published today as the best in the world gear up to claim the coveted title for themselves. Among these players is a new face, sixteen-year-old Darwin Blanch of the United States.

As Rafael Nadal continues his clay court run after an almost two-year break from the surface, he may have to face a challenge that is very unfamiliar to him. 

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The tennis legend is all set to face the young Blanch in the first round, with a 21-year age gap between the two. Blanch took to social media to post a hilarious image of himself looking shocked. 

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Guys I play Nadal wtf.
Darwin Blanch captioned the picture soon after the draws were officially announced

In what is his second-ever tour-level match, World No. 1034 has to take on someone who has played over 1200 matches. The difference in experience cannot be understated, as Nadal turned pro six years before Blanch was even born. 

Notably, the American newcomer is no stranger to playing on Spanish clay against Spanish players, as he trains at the Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy in Spain. 

With that being said, there is no denying that it is an amazing opportunity for Blanch to gain immense experience and knowledge by playing against someone he would have looked up to growing up, and he will undoubtedly be looking forward to the encounter.

Darwin Blanch’s standout junior career so far

Darwin Blanch may be a new name for those who don’t follow junior tennis, but he has been making waves in the juniors’ circuit since he was 14, when he won the US national under-16 tournament, the USTA U-16, beating players almost two years older than him.

He soon transitioned into the ITF Junior Circuit, which is the primary international circuit for players aged eighteen and under. He achieved a career-high ranking of number four in the world in this category earlier this year. This boost in the rankings was provided by his phenomenal results in the junior grand slams last year, having reached the semifinals of both the French Open and Wimbledon.

He is currently at number ten in the world on the ITF Junior rankings, a number that will no doubt be pushed higher than before as he starts his professional career. However, even at just sixteen, he has bigger goals to look forward to, like solidifying his place on the men’s professional tour.

Blanch could not have asked for a better opportunity to do this than the one he has gotten—to play the King of Clay, Nadal, on his favorite, in his home country. Fans wait eagerly to see what the young kid has in store as he plays his second-ever tour-level match on Wednesday.

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