Former Spanish star reveals the first player who identified ‘flaws’ within Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic won seven consecutive matches on tour against Rafael Nadal since the start of the 2011 season.
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Rafael Nadal (Image via X)
Former Spanish player Emilio Sanchez credited 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic as the first player to identify key flaws in Rafael Nadal‘s game. Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, bid farewell to the tennis world after playing his last match at the Davis Cup.
Sanchez said Nadal’s mentality made him an unstoppable force. The Spaniard seemed certain to dominate the tennis world after overcoming the mental challenge posed by Roger Federer. However, Djokovic completely shifted the tennis landscape.
Another guest appeared in the battle, Novak Djokovic. At first, Rafa and his mentality broke him in adversity, but the Serb was classifying his flaws and weaknesses and became very dangerous, finally finding the gap where to hurt Rafa. He started to attack his forehand, something that no one had dared to do before, and it worked perfectly, so much so that Federer, Murray and Wawrinka started to do the same.
Emilio Sanchez said on Marca
In 2010, Nadal had his best season in terms of Grand Slam titles. He won three of them in a single season for the first and only time in his career, and many believed he would carry this dominance into 2011.
However, Djokovic rewrote the narrative. The Serb won seven consecutive matches against Nadal from 2011 until the 2012 Australian Open. This streak included three straight Grand Slam final victories over Nadal, which disrupted Nadal’s confidence and made other players believe they could challenge him.
Rafael Nadal urges Carlos Alcaraz to continue Spanish dominance in tennis
During Rafael Nadal’s farewell ceremony, his heartfelt message was directed toward the next generation of tennis players. Among them, Carlos Alcaraz stands out as the one likely to carry forward Nadal’s legacy. The 22-time Grand Slam champion’s words were especially meaningful for Alcaraz, who has already achieved remarkable milestones at just 21 years old.
We’ve achieved so many amazing things together, now it’s up to you to continue doing them.
Rafael Nadal in his post-match interview at the Davis Cup
Alcaraz has matched several records set by his childhood hero. He has been world No. 1, won four Grand Slam titles, and earned an Olympic silver medal. While the younger Spaniard avoids comparisons with Nadal, fans and media often draw parallels between the two. Their shared moments on and off the court highlight their connection.
Alcaraz first practiced with Nadal at the 2021 Australian Open. Later that year, they faced each other for the first time on the Alcaraz’s 18th birthday at the Madrid Open. Their matches, all in ATP Masters 1000 events, include encounters in Madrid and Indian Wells.
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Fahad Hamid
(624 Articles Published)