Rafael Nadal: 'Winning French Open in different and complicated circumstances...'

The great champions recognize each other. Often in the history of number one tennis they have invited young talents to train - the training session between a young Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl, who was the undisputed number one, immediately jumps to mind. Now it will be the turn of the Italian Jannik Sinner, the rising star of world tennis who closed 2020 by winning the Sofia tournament, the first of his career, will have the opportunity to train with Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest ever, who in this moment is number two in the world rankings. The 2021 tennis season will start abnormally than usual due to Covid. The calendar in the first three months was revolutionized. The Australian Open will not start in mid-January, but on February 8th. Because the government of the state of Victoria has imposed a two-week quarantine after arriving in Australia for all players, who will, however, have the opportunity to train for five hours a day. Therefore very stringent rules and no discounts are given to anyone. Nadal has chosen to train with two players he knows well, and who are friends with him, Stan Wawrinka (who won the Australian Open) and Diego Schwartzman, who won the last match with the Spaniard (in the quarterfinals of the tournament in Rome ) and especially with Jannik Sinner who had already been praised in the past by Nadal. During a recent interview with Mallorca Caprice, Rafael Nadal spoke at length about his mental framework during matches. The Mallorcan pointed out how a tennis contest is not over until match point has been won, a fact that he uses to his advantage.

Nadal on the 2020 season

The Spaniard drew some positives from his triumphs in Paris (French Open) and Acapulco (Mexican Open), pointing out that in the larger scheme of things it was a successful year for him. "Of course it is an atypical season, where more than half the year we have been without competing," Rafael Nadal said. "But as I say, after all, fortunate compared to other sectors and even sports. Looking at the results, taking everything into account, I think it was a season where I managed to win Roland Garros in very different and complicated circumstances and where I was able to reach the 20 Grand Slams victories. Also very happy for the triumph in Acapulco at the beginning of the season and that it was the last tournament and last point played before the pandemic."

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