“He is the greatest inspiration we have,” Jannik Sinner hails Rafael Nadal as the greatest inspiration in sports around the world
Jannik Sinner looks forward to seeing Rafael Nadal compete in his last French Open.
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Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal together in practice (Via Imago)
World No. 2 Jannik Sinner has called 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal an “inspiration” in tennis. Nadal is set to bid farewell to Roland Garros this year, marking his final tournament appearance.
In the pre-tournament press conference at Roland Garros, the new Australian Open champion praised Nadal’s enduring passion for training, even as his career nears its end.
Rafa is the greatest inspiration we have in our sport, perhaps not only in our sport, but in sport in general. I’m lucky to be here, that I can continue to see him in the locker room, in the players’ restaurant or see him training with the passion he has. It’s incredible.
Jannik Sinner said (H/T: Punto de Break)
The tennis world awaited Nadal’s decision to play Roland Garros after his shocking loss to Hubert Hurkacz in Rome. However, the ‘King of Clay’ refused to give any confirmed answers about his participation. Now, he’s back on the red dirt of Paris and hopes for one final hurrah.
On the same day as Nadal’s titanic encounter with Alexander Zverev, Sinner will begin his quest for a second Grand Slam title against unseeded American Christopher Eubanks.
Jannik Sinner’s 2024 so far and his chances at the upcoming French Open
Going into this year’s Roland Garros, there is no doubt that Jannik Sinner has made the most headlines so far in 2024. The Italian won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, beating defending champion Novak Djokovic and former World No.1 Daniil Medvedev in the process.
Sinner also won his second Masters 1000 title in Miami, defeating Grigor Dimitrov in the finals. However, there have been question marks surrounding Sinner’s fitness recently.
The Davis Cup holder hasn’t been seen in action since withdrawing from the quarter-final against Felix Auger-Aliassime in Madrid due to a hip problem. The World No.2 also decided to skip the Rome Masters, his native tournament.
Sinner was asked about his hip in the Roland Garros pre-tournament press conference and said that he’s not worried about it anymore. The Italian hopes to become the third player this century, after Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, to win the Australian Open and French Open back-to-back.
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Nikhil Sonmali
(1112 Articles Published)