It is a clash on social media between Andy Murray and Fernando Verdasco on the wild cards of the Madrid Masters 1000. Months ago, the British tennis player announced that he would miss the earth season, because he defined it as harmful to his body.
A statement that, however, was retracted when the winner of three Grand Slam events accepted the invitation to the Madrid tournament. An invitation that was not shared by Fernando Verdasco. The former world number seven posted a note on his Twitter profile in which he complains that only one of the wild cards went to a Spanish player, 20-year-old Carlos Gimeno.
The others, however, went to players of different nationalities, including Andy Murray. “Faced with today’s announcement of the Mutua Madrid Open regarding the invitations they will offer for this year’s tournament, many Spanish players cannot help but express our opinion.
We find it surprising, as well as very frustrating, that the largest tennis event in Spain show so little (or no) support for Spanish tennis players with the invitations granted, especially to the main draw.” Rafael Nadal continues to lead the 2022 ATP Race to Turin, despite having missed out on the last two Masters 1000 tournaments.
The Spaniard has accumulated 3,350 ranking points from four tournaments so far.
Nadal is a true legend on and off the court
Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas have combined to win five of the last six Monte-Carlo Masters titles.
Speaking at his press conference after losing the 2022 final against Tsitsipas in straight sets, Davidovich Fokina was all praise for his vanquisher. “It’s very different. It’s different because, in the end, Rafael Nadal is a lefty and, you know, when we play against him we always play the backhand.
[That’s why] it is tough to play against Rafa,” he said. “Stefanos has a one-handed backhand. But it is not easier to play [against Tsitsipas] than Rafa either. It’s a different ball. Physically, Rafa, he’s a beast.
Oh, for sure I will play Barcelona. We have only two or three tournaments in Spain. So I have to play, because, you know, [it’s] in front of my friends, in front of all my people,” he said. “It’s like I will go with more confidence and with a lot more emotions than here.”
Rafael Nadal is a true legend on and off the court. The Spaniard is the most successful player in men’s singles in terms of Grand Slam titles. Earlier this year, he lifted the Australian Open title, overtaking Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on the list of the number of major titles.
Strength and conditioning coach Eric Hernandez believes that Daniil Medvedev is the best mover on tour and adds that it’s impressive how Rafael Nadal moves at 35 years old. Medvedev, ranked No. 2 in the world, has been working with Hernández since 2014 and the Russian has since become one of the best physically prepared players on tour.
Nadal, who will turn 36 in June, has always prepared exceptionally well, as his style of play requires extraordinary preparation. “I am very focused on the legs and the movement of the legs, because it is the most important thing for me.
It is not easy to hit someone [other than Daniil Medvedev] because, for me, he is perhaps the best when it comes to movement. on the court,” Hernandez said on Sportskeeda’s The Functional Tennis Podcast. “Someone like [Rafael] Nadal [is great too].
He is a legend of the sport and he can move unbelievably even though he is older.” Last January, Nadal bested Medvedev in a historic Australian Open final to win a record 21st Grand Slam title.
Nadal has been out of action since Indian Wells
Arnaud Clement has spoken of how he finds it “extraordinary” that Rafael Nadal has always been “extremely polite.” “What I find extraordinary about Rafa is that he has always been a player, with his entourage, [who is] extremely polite,” Clement said.
“He always comes to say hello, he comes to shake hands as he wins Grand Slams, tournaments every week, Masters 1000 all the time. I don’t remember where it was, the day after one of his big victories, we were in the hotel lobby and then he sees me, our eyes meet, I make him a small gesture to greet him and then he crosses the whole hall to shake my hand.”
The Frenchman also admitted that he would find it difficult to act like the Mallorcan if he were in his position. “I’ve always found that extraordinary,” Clement added. “I said to myself ‘You, Arnaud, I think that you are a rather healthy person, but if you were ever going through the same thing as what he is going through, would you have crossed the hall or been that you would have simply made a small gesture of the hand or the head?’ I think I know the answer.
Rafael Nadal is extraordinary, he is exceptionally simple.” Meanwhile, Nadal has been out of action since his Indian Wells final defeat against Taylor Fritz. The 35-year-old is suffering from a rib injury and has already missed the Miami Open, the Monte Carlo Masters, and the Barcelona Open.
