Former tennis champion gives astonishing verdict on Rafael Nadal’s clay court dominance
Rafael Nadal's clay court dominance from 2005 till 2022 is considered the most unbreakable feat in the history of tennis.
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Rafael Nadal (Image via Imago)
Argentine former tennis champion Guillermo Coria has offered an interesting perspective on Rafael Nadal‘s clay court dominance. Nadal, a former World No. 1, has excelled on clay in the ATP tour for nearly two decades, winning 63 titles and reaching 72 finals.
Coria believes the primary reason behind Nadal’s success on clay is the lack of clay court specialists. The retired Argentine player argues that the confidence Nadal gained from his performances on clay allowed him to compete with top players like Roger Federer on other surfaces.
Until Alcaraz, Sinner and Medvedev came along, many titles were shared. Then it became more difficult because of the age, power and speed of the young players. Today’s players are taller and move like I could at 1.75 meters. I think Rafa took advantage of the fact that there were not many players who were clay court specialists and he became strong on it.
Guillermo Coria said in an interview with MARCA
Nadal’s dominance on clay has led to 14 Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros. This achievement is remarkable, especially considering that the 14 Grand Slam record was held by Pete Sampras until 2009.
This gave him the confidence to play well on other surfaces. You have to give credit to the doctors, physios and nutrition. Rafa, Roger and “Nole” knew how to adapt to their times. Carlitos Alcaraz, for example, says that he does not need to spend so many hours on the court, while Ferrero and our generation needed to train for many hours to feel good.
Guillermo Coria added
Among Nadal’s many notable accomplishments on clay is an incredible 81-match winning streak, which was broken by Federer at the 2007 Hamburg Open. The Spaniard has also won over 10 titles at multiple clay court events outside of Roland Garros, including Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome.
Rafael Nadal set to enter new industry after retirement
Rafael Nadal is stepping into the nutrition industry as he prepares to retire from his successful tennis career. The Spanish legend plans to end his professional journey after representing Spain in the upcoming Davis Cup Finals.
With retirement on the horizon, Nadal has already mapped out his next move in business. He has launched a new venture in partnership with Cantabria Labs called NDL Health, a food supplement brand.
The supplement line targets men and women aged 35 and above who are active in sports and exercise. NDL Health’s main goal is to support people in living an active, healthy lifestyle by offering quality nutrition. Nadal introduced this new project through a video on Instagram, emphasizing its importance.
The former World No.1 is already experienced in business and hopes his new brand will be a success. He has several other ventures, including a clothing line with Tommy Hilfiger, a hotel in Mallorca, and an investment company. Nadal is also an investor in the UIM E1 World Championship, the world’s first all-electric powerboat series. He joins other well-known backers like Tom Brady, Will Smith, Didier Drogba, and Virat Kohli.
Charity work has always been close to Nadal’s heart. His main charitable focus is the Rafael Nadal Foundation, which he founded in 2008. The foundation works to support underprivileged children by promoting education and sports.
The foundation has an educational program that provides school supplies, tutoring, and resources to children in need. It also encourages physical activity and healthy lifestyles through its tennis program. Additionally, Nadal runs the Rafa Nadal Academy, which helps young players develop their tennis skills with the goal of reaching the professional level.
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Fahad Hamid
(624 Articles Published)