“That day he became an adult,” John McEnroe picks Rafael Nadal’s best version in all of his career

McEnroe said that Nadal is the most improved player for him.

“That day he became an adult,” John McEnroe picks Rafael Nadal’s best version in all of his career

Rafael Nadal, John McEnroe (Images via Imago)

American tennis icon John McEnroe has picked the best version of Rafael Nadal from all of the Spaniard’s career. While McEnore admitted that Nadal’s career was filled with many great moments, the American believes that his performance in the 2008 Wimbledon final changed things for him. McEnroe says “That day, by winning on grass, he became an adult”.

Notably, Nadal beat Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (5), 7 (10)-6 (8), 9-7 in the 2008 Wimbledon final. It was the first win in a Wimbledon final for Nadal against Federer as the Swiss had outclassed the Spaniard when they had met in the big final in 2006 and 2007.

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Recently even Federer admitted that Nadal played better that day and was hungrier for the win. McEnroe, meanwhile, highlighted that it was a turning point in Nadal’s career and thus, the Spaniard’s 2008 version remains his favorite.

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It is difficult to choose the best Rafa Nadal, but I think of the best match I have ever seen, the 2008 Wimbledon final. That day, by winning on the grass, he became an adult. Then he won the US Open four times. Then he had a ten-year period, I would say in his late 20s and early 30s, where he became one of the best volleyball players, if not the best.
John McEnroe said about Rafael Nadal

Had it not been for injuries, Nadal could have reached even better celestial heights.

John McEnroe says Rafael Nadal was one of the most improved players

John McEnroe also gave his reasons as to why he thinks Rafael Nadal‘s 2008 version is the best one for him. The American tennis icon said that Nadal improved upon his serves and although it took him almost a decade to perfect the art of playing well on all surfaces, it is one of the best stories for him.

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (Via IMAGO)

McEnroe says that, for him, Nadal is the player who has improved the most on all surfaces. Thus, the American considers Nadal’s 2008 version as his peak. 

I remember seeing him at the beginning of his career and he was serving very weakly, then he improved a lot. Of all the players I have seen, Nadal is the one who has improved the most on all surfaces. This process took him 10 or 12 years and for me it is the peak of his career.
John McEnroe said about Rafael Nadal. (H/T: Relevo)

Notably, the 2008 season was Nadal’s third-best in his career where he won eight titles. It became his best in the early stages because the Spaniard clinched two Grand Slam titles as well as a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.

Even in the two years- 2005 and 2013- when the Spaniard won 11 and 10 titles respectively, he could not outperform his 2008 achievement. Although he won two Grand Slam titles in 2013, the Olympic gold medal in 2008 made his season stand apart.

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