Rennae Stubbs explains how Rafael Nadal ‘is more similar’ to Steffi Graf than Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic
Rennae Stubbs believes that Rafael Nadal, like WTA great Steffi Graf, didn't want a grand farewell ceremony.
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Rennae Stubbs compared Rafael Nadal to Steffi Graf (Images via X, CNN, Britannica)
Serena Williams‘ former coach Rennae Stubbs compared Rafael Nadal to Steffi Graf as both retired while battling fitness problems. Stubbs also compared how Nadal retired quietly without much ‘pomp and ceremony’ just like Graf.
While there was controversy around the farewell ceremony, Stubbs thinks Nadal probably wanted it that way, unlike what his two rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer would have preferred. As for Graf, Stubbs feels that her body was hurting and she had also started dating Andre Agassi, and thus the German deemed it best to ‘drop the mic’ and walk away.
Her body was hurting, her knee was hurting, her foot was hurting, and her back was hurting. She was in love. She’d just met Andre, and they were dating, but she was different so she just stopped. She just walked away, but she’s very different from these personalities. She didn’t love the spotlight, she just loved playing. I think Rafa is more similar to Steffi than Roger, Novak or Andy.
Rennae Stubbs said on The Rennae Stubbs Podcast
Nadal hung up his racket at the Davis Cup following Spain’s defeat to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals in Malaga. Tennis fans and pundits had criticized the farewell ceremony, with the former World No. 1’s uncle Toni Nadal also unhappy with it.
Rennae Stubbs claims Rafael Nadal wanted a low-key farewell
Rennae Stubbs recalled her conversation with Steffi Graf when the German told her about her retirement. Stubbs was shocked to learn that Graf chose to retire immediately instead of waiting for the US Open, which took place about three weeks later.
Stubbs retired in 1999 just months after clinching the French Open, her 22nd major trophy. She was World No. 3 back then and was just 30 years old. The Australian, while comparing Graf to Rafael Nadal, said that the latter was satisfied with the farewell ceremony he was given.
Even the way he retired, just the whole circumstances around it, it was more about playing at home, being with his family, there was no other players there. There was just his teammates and it was kind of low-key and it was kind of like for Rafa that was enough.
Rennae Stubbs said on the Rennae Stubbs Podcast
Tennis fans were shocked not to see Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer during the farewell ceremony but later learned the reason behind their absence. Nadal is the second member of the Big 3 to retire after Federer, who retired at the 2022 Laver Cup.
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Gouri Das
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