'Roger Federer and Nadal have honored this sport, because...', says former player

Rafael Nadal has decided not to travel to the United States to compete in the US Open, where he won the 19th Grand Slam of his career last year. The Spanish phenomenon wants to be 100% found when Roland Garros starts, scheduled in Paris at the end of September. If he were to triumph in the French capital for the 13th time, the Majorcan would equal the Grand Slam record held by eternal rival Roger Federer. The 39-year-old Swiss player will not return to the court before the start of 2021, which many say will be the last year of his unrepeatable career. After undergoing two surgeries on his right knee, the former World number 1 has opted for a long rehabilitation ahead of next season. Roger has targeted Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics, hunting for that gold medal in singles that is still missing from his bulletin board. In a recent interview, former Argentine tennis player Javier Frana said that numbers no longer matter, as Federer and Nadal have already cemented their legendary status.

Frana on the Big 3

"There is a race between them, but I think they feel that they have already done a lot and it seems to me that they are goals that do not generate additional pressure. What they have achieved is crazy, it is really impressive," said Javier Frana. "Over time, I think Rafael Nadal found more acceptance from some Roger Federer fans. Rafa has earned love and appreciation in everything. Both (Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal) have honored this sport, because they achieved things that were very difficult to overcome and they had a relationship of admiration and respect between them," Frana added. Novak Djokovic, who at 17 Grand Slam titles is next in line, may not be the most popular figure on the tour at the moment. "He is a spectacular competitor, a guy who feels that nothing intimidates him, he feels like he can do anything. Perhaps he is not the most accepted by the public, which annoys and motivates him, but I think he always felt very superior," said the Argentine. The Big Three monopolized the top spot in the ATP men's singles rankings from 2 February 2004 to 6 November 2016 and again from 21 August 2017 to the present, for a total of 802 weeks (equivalent to over 15 years) as of 24 August 2020. Federer was ranked number 1 for a record 310 weeks, Djokovic, the current number 1, for 283 weeks, and Nadal for 209 weeks. Each player has occupied the top position at the end of the year five times.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2G9gEvV