Rafael Nadal - The best Spanish athlete of all time?
After the triumph of the Spaniard in the Davis Cup final tournament in Madrid, the French Open finalist of 1998 and 2001, Alex Corretja, raises Rafael Nadal to a new podium.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Nov 28, 2019, 09:27 am
The question of the best athlete in a country is as idle as it is impossible to answer: how does the inclined sport friend athletes of different eras compare - and then maybe even interdisciplinary. But: who earns his money as a television expert, as Alex Corretja for Eurosport at the moment, he is encouraged to express his opinion. And that of Corretja is clear.
"For me, Rafael Nadal is the best athlete in the history of Spain. And I'm slowly starting to place him as one of the best in the world, "said Corretja, still under the impression of Nadal's performances at the Davis Cup final in Madrid, where the 19-time major winner made a significant contribution with a total of eight wins on the sixth triumph of the Spaniard.
Nadal can catch up with Federer
"All that Rafa represents, what he has achieved and how he manages it, there are not many besides him," said Corretja. "It's not that we sing it out because we're Spaniards - because everyone does that no matter where Rafa goes. He is a machine, he always fights to the end. And I wish he would continue for a long time, because it will be impossible for us to experience someone like him again. "
In fact, next year Rafael Nadal has the chance to catch up with Roger Federer in Grand Slam success with another triumph in Paris (provided the Swiss does not win the Australian Open).
Claims for the title of the best athlete or athlete in the tennis field, however, are not new: A few years ago, the outfitter of Serena Williams had placed a poster prominently with the American, on the Serena as "Best female athlete ever "Was advertised. The "female" was loud and clearly crossed out.