Mats Wilander dubs Rafael Nadal as the ‘most important player in tennis history’ over Novak Djokovic despite inferior records

Former Swedish player Mats Wilander lauds Rafael Nadal for his contribution and calls him the most important player in the history of sport.

Mats Wilander dubs Rafael Nadal as the ‘most important player in tennis history’ over Novak Djokovic despite inferior records

Rafael Nadal and Mats Wilander (image via: Imago)

Rafael Nadal is one of the most decorated and greatest players to have embraced the sport of tennis. The passion with which he plays the game is amazing. 

His rivalry with Novak Djokovic has drawn the battle lines between the two on multiple occasions. Though both players share the utmost respect for each other, the respective fanbases are always at war.

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The Swedish former tennis player Mats Wilander has taken his side, as he called Nadal the most important player in the history of the sport even after having inferior records to Djokovic. 

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Nadal played brilliantly and with a lot of passion. I saw Nadal sweating as he misses a match point against Thompson in Brisbane. That is something I will remember, not the news that he is withdrawing from the Australian Open due to injury. Simply, he is one of the greatest players in history, and perhaps the most important player, professional in the history of tennis.
In an interview with Kurir Sport, Wilander said

There is no doubt that both Rafa and Nole have raised the bar of the sport together. They have created so many records across their rivalry.

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What will be Rafael Nadal’s expectations upon return?

The Spaniard is currently out with a muscle tear and will miss the Australian Open. He returned after almost a year during the Brisbane International.

However, the injury is not very serious, and it is reported that he will be resuming training in a couple of weeks.

Former Swedish player Mats Wilander lauds Rafael Nadal for his contribution, calls him the most important player in the history of sport.
Rafael Nadal (image via: Tennishead)

Rafa will hope that he can come back to match fitness by the end of the clay season, starting in April. Even his uncle and longtime coach, Toni Nadal, has expressed his high hopes for Rafa at the French Open this season. 

It would be nice to see him healthy at Roland Garros. Maybe he should play at least one more time, and maybe win a few matches.
Wilander said in the interview

The injuries haven’t been kind to Nadal throughout his career, and they have again scarred him in his last professional tennis season.

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