'Roger Federer is on my bucket list', says ATP star

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will once again start with the underdogs at the Australian Open 2021, which will kick off on February 8 at Melbourne Park. The top two players in the world had the chance to spend the quarantine in Adelaide, where they will play a show before the start of the ATP Cup. The number 1 of the ATP ranking will try to seize his ninth title in the Happy Slam, while Rafa - in addition to wanting to repeat his only triumph dated 2009 - could also detach his eternal rival Roger Federer at 21 Slam titles. In a recent interview granted to the GWH blog, Taro Daniel talked about his challenges against Serbian and Spanish. The Japanese took away the satisfaction of beating Nole at Indian Wells 2018, in one of the most complicated periods of the entire career of the 17-time Grand Slam champion. The match with Nadal instead took place in the second round of the US Open 2017, with the Japanese defeated in four sets after having sold out dearly.

Taro Daniel on facing the Big 3

"I hit so many winners that night it was a strange feeling for me. I never swung so freely in a match before. I also felt that in order to beat Rafael Nadal, you have to play perfect for 3-4 hours straight," Taro Daniel said in a recent interview. Reflecting on that win over the 17-time Major champion Novak Djokovic, Daniel claimed the victory was special even though he was aware that the Serb was not at his best on the day. "It was a great moment where I know I did something special for my career," Daniel said. "I remember being happy but also, I knew that he was not nearly at his best. I was able to take advantage of that. They (Novak Djokovic & Rafael Nadal) have a special quality to their ball," Daniel said. "They also have a presence that not many other players have. I really enjoyed feeling the speed and the quality of their ball. Especially Djokovic's backhand down the line really stretches like crazy." One member of the Big 3 that Daniel has not played against yet is Roger Federer. The 27-year-old revealed that playing Federer at least once before the Swiss retires is something that he desperately wants to tick off. "Yes, Roger Federer is on my bucket list," Daniel responded when asked about playing the 39-year-old.

 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3clnqN4