Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal is expected to compete in the US Open next month. This news comes as the injured Nadal’s recovery time will be completed in a couple of weeks, rather than the previous prediction of a couple of months. However, the notion of the ‘Big Three’ trio emerging was put into doubt, owing in part to his drop in the rankings.
Nadal previously suffered an injury while competing in the Wimbledon quarterfinals against Taylor Fritz. Since then, Nadal has been known to take time off for recovery.
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The 36-year-old tennis player is known as part of “the Big 3,” a group that includes the three most successful men’s tennis players in the world alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Despite being labeled as the three best players for nearly two decades, the mantle appears to be fading as no “Big Three” player has emerged as the top-ranked player as of this year.
Djokovic is ranked third in this year’s rankings, while Nadal is fourth and Federer is ranked 68th. Meanwhile, the title of the best player in the world is held by Daniil Medvedev, a Russian player.
In response, Nadal told the media in an interview with Talento a Bordo that it is about time for newer players to take the title.
“In tennis there has always been generational change. We have had great stars that have been replaced by others, it is normal,” Nadal told the interviewer.
“Perhaps in our case what has happened is that we have been many years, but I am convinced that those who arrive will stay and take over,” he added.
Nadal discusses mental strength
Moreover, Rafael Nadal commented on “mental strength” and how it can help players improve their toughness when playing.
“Mental strength is one of the important elements for competition. Everything can be trained and that mental strength is something I also worked with my uncle Toni since I was a child,” he remarked.
Nadal also asserted that being a player entails more than just competing against others. Being a player, according to him, also entails having the courage and ability to compete against oneself.
“All elite sports are complicated and tennis especially being a one-on-one sport,” Nadal explained in the same interview. “The match is against an opponent who is sometimes better than you, or who is in better shape that day even if it is worse in theory.”
“But the fight is also against oneself and that is a section that sometimes costs a lot. We have seen it in many cases. It is there, though not only, that mental work is especially important,” he continued.
Rafael Nadal also discussed his future plans if he ever decides to retire. This includes him being more active in working on his Rafa Nadal Academy, a personal project of his that he has been working on since 2016.
Speaking about his project, Rafa Nadal Academy has transformed Nadal’s personal training place into a renowned tennis center that focuses on the development of children and young talents in Nadal’s hometown in Mallorca, Spain.