Although he is no longer the player of a few years ago, Rafael Nadal still manages to shock the whole world. The former world number 1 – who suffered several injuries in the recent period, is not going to give up without a fight.
The Spanish veteran defeated Argentine Navone in the quarterfinals of Bastad and qualified for the semi-finals. The 22-time Grand Slam champion showed all that grit that allowed him to become an icon of modern sport and one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Rafa knows that his career is near the end and has confessed that his post-Olympic schedule is still unclear. Although his name appears on the US Open entry list – the last Slam of the season at Flushing Meadows in late August – his participation is uncertain.
Nadal will be one of the great protagonists of the Paris Olympics, which will begin in about a week on the red clay of the French Open. Rafa will play in singles and doubles with his young compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, who has just won the French Open and Wimbledon becoming the youngest ever to achieve this feat in the same year.
Rafa doesn’t give up
The Spaniard was hoping to play one last great French Open, but the draw was not favorable for him. The 14-time champion of the French tournament expressed good tennis against Sascha Zverev on the Philippe Chatrier but had to surrender with honor. Rafa Nadal is doing his best to be ready for the Paris Olympics, with the risk of suffering new injuries. Renowned journalist Carole Bouchard was impressed by Rafa’s 4-hour battle against Navone in Bastad. “Rafa battling for 4h in Bastad… That was nuts. Gosh I hope he will not pay this later. What a freaking competitor” – she wrote on X.
Nadal has made tennis history alongside his eternal rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. The 3 have broken every record of the men’s tour and have had very long careers. In a long interview with Tennis Magazin, former ATP star Marc Rosset reflected on the GOAT debate: “It all depends on what it means to be the best. If we look at the Grand Slam numbers won, then Nadal and Djokovic are better. If we look at the player who has the most influence in this sport, it’s Roger for me. Much of what constitutes this sport today, such as attention or cash prizes, we owe to him. Basketball was a before and after with Michael Jordan. People who love Federer say he’s the GOAT, but the ones who go crazy for Novak will tell you that Nole is the best. Then there are the supporters of Rafa: they say directly that he won everything.”
Talking about the new generation, one of the athletes seen with particular attention by the 53-year-old from Geneva is Alexander Zverev: “When Sascha plays aggressively, for me he is the most dominant tennis player. If he plays like he did against Nadal at Roland Garros, he can beat any player. He defeated Roger and Novak in major tournaments, hits missiles, can move along the bottom line and accelerate the ball at any time. He also covers the field like Djokovic and if he plays aggressively the game is in his hands. I love this guy, he moves incredibly despite his size”.
Nadal is a legend
Thanks to the semi-final in Bastad, Nadal made his return to the ATP Top 200 on the eve of the Paris Olympics. “A lot of changing dynamics in every single set, for moments he was in control and for moments I was in control,” the Spanish legend said after the match against Navone. “But in the end, no one was in control. I was able to hold physically and that’s so important for me, let’s see how I am tomorrow. Today, I am alive and I am in the semi-finals. I know I’m experiencing too many disconnects, but I consider it normal coming from where I come from. It is not easy for me to accept because throughout my career, I have been able to play very focused. However, little by little, I am regaining that. Playing matches and winning these types of duels will help me change that” – the former World No.1 added.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion will not be underestimated at the Paris Olympics, which are played on his favorite surface. Rafa has a crazy record on the red clay of the French Open and will give his best to try to win a medal before retiring. The Spaniard missed the last Olympics in Tokyo.
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