“Nothing to discuss”: For Nadal, Djokovic is the best of all time

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Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal (37) is still struggling with a hip flexor injury. Due to this persistent injury, the Spaniard missed most tournaments this year. This also applies to the US Open this late summer – and with it the Grand Slam that his eternal rival Novak Djokovic (36) managed to win to expand his own title collection.

Djokovic now has 24 Grand Slam victories to his name. That’s two more than Nadal – and it’s a lonely record. The numbers don’t lie. Nadal thinks so too, while commenting on the eternal debate about the best tennis player of all time on the TV channel ‘Movistar’. And at the same time represents an amazingly thoughtful point of view.

“I don’t have to make up a reality that isn’t true.”

“There’s no denying that he has better numbers than me,” Nadal said. But seeing that doesn’t cause him any problems. “I don’t have to try to imagine a reality that isn’t true.”

From this he concludes that the Serbian should be at the top of the all-time best rankings based on his title advantage alone. «I think Djokovic is the best in history when it comes to titles and there is nothing to discuss about that. I congratulate him on everything he has achieved. That doesn’t frustrate me.”

Which tennis player you personally prefer is of course up to each observer. “Ultimately it is a matter of taste.”

The Olympic Games are the goal

What will happen next for Nadal is still completely open. In the spring he announced that he wanted to end his career in 2024. That’s actually still the plan. “If I had to guess, I would say this is my last year.”

His physical condition is decisive for the continuation of his career. This leaves a back door open for the Mallorcan if he makes major progress in the recovery process. “If my body suddenly recovers, I feel competitive and continue to enjoy what I do, why would I limit myself?”

Nadal is currently still training at a very reduced rate. “I can’t move with the usual intensity, I always have to hold back.” But the goal is clear: to return to the field to participate in the Summer Olympics for the last time in 2024. He hopes to have clarity about his future and the condition of his body by mid-November at the latest. (sbe)

Source : Blick