Rafael Nadal: 'I never expected to achieve even half of what I achieved'

Rafael Nadal is ready to restart yet another season as a protagonist and guarantees his presence at the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open. "Rafa will fly to Melbourne to play the tournament," his longtime manager Benito Perez-Barbadillo confirmed to The Age. In short, his fans and all tennis fans can sleep peacefully: again this year Rafa will be there on the fields of Melbourne Park to do battle to the sound of hooking straight and breathtaking recovery. For him it will be the 15th participation in the tournament. The first was in 2004, when he was not even of age. The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam in which Rafa has not granted (at least) an encore. The only affirmation of him dates back to over a decade ago, in 2009, and was obtained thanks to a success in the final in five sets against Roger Federer. The Manacor phenomenon lost four more finals in Melbourne: in 2012 and 2019 against Novak Djokovic, in 2014 against Stan Wawrinka and in 2017 against his own Federer. In total, his record in this Grand Slam is 65 wins and 14 defeats. With Federer looking intending not to show up and Djokovic not looking quite in glittering form in the season finale, Rafa could finally hit his second Australian success. But there will also be attention to the new ones who advance. Starting with Daniil Medvedev and Dominic Thiem, protagonists of a beautiful final at the ATP Finals. Regardless of his result, Rafa will be there, once again, demonstrating his perseverance and desire not to give up. Rafael Nadal says he was never arrogant enough to think he would have the success he has in his career.

Rafael Nadal on the success he has in his career

Rafael Nadal has since gone on to win a record-equalling 20 Grand Slam titles, the second most Masters titles in history, and win over 1000 ATP matches. However, when asked by Celebrity Magazine if he could have envisaged his success, Rafael Nadal replied: “It would be very arrogant of me to say I am achieving what I expected when I was 16. “At that age, I only wanted to be a professional tennis player and to win one tournament someday. My dream was to win Wimbledon, and I managed to do that for the first time in 2008. A lot has happened good, results wise, since that first interview when I was 16, and I have to say I am very thankful to life. I never expected to achieve even half of what I achieved.”

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3nr3B9Y