t*t for tat: Federer and Nadal praise each other to the skies
As much of an on-court rivalry Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal share, the professionals are known to mutually respect and appreciate each other in general. Roger and Rafa have formed alliances a number of times. In the near future, the sportsmen will be coming together to play an exhibition match for charity by the name of ‘Match for Africa.’
Upon being asked whether Federer thinks Nadal has a chance to eventually become the greatest player in history, Roger answered: “Yeah, I mean, clearly has a chance because he’s young enough. He has already so many, let’s say, French Open titles to his name just alone at his age is an amazing accomplishment. Plus he’s had some incredible clay court records that are going to be very hard to beat. Then again, obviously I guess he would need to win the US Open, put himself there. He’s won the Olympics, done some amazing things. So he’ll have a shot at it, I’m sure.”
Prior to which, Nadal stated that he believed Federer was the greatest player in the history of the game. On being asked about what came to mind with regard to his quest to win a career grand slam after seeing how hard it was for Roger to complete his, Rafa said, “You are focus on this. Maybe for Roger was a big goal because he is the best of the history and he needed Roland Garros. He deserved Roland Garros because he did three finals, other semifinals. Seriously, for me, complete the Grand Slam at this moment is not a goal.”
Furthermore, he exclaimed that for him, the goal is to try to improve his level, to play well in the next match. “If I have the chance to be there, gonna be a chance for me to complete. But if not, remains a lot to be there. If not, I gonna come back home, try to keep improving to come back a lot of years here to try. For me is not an obsession and is not a real goal,” said Rafa.
Taking Nadal’s age into consideration, he’s definitely keeping up with Federer’s pace as far as his tally of grand slam titles is concerned. At the age of 24, Federer collectively had 8 titles to his name. Today, at 24, Rafa has bagged the exact same amount.
Additionally, after being asked what he thought his chances of being the greatest player in history were, considering the way he described Roger, Nadal answered saying, “For me? I never thought about that. I think I am not ready to be the best of the history. I think is not the right moment to talk about that, seriously. Because I am 24 and a half, a little bit less 24 and a few month’s years old so talk about the history when one player is playing is difficult, no? I am very happy, eight Grand Slams, Olympics, 18 Masters 1000. I am probably in one part of the history of tennis, no, so I am very happy with that. Now everything is to win. I don’t know if I gonna have the chance to keep winning Grand Slams. I’m gonna try for sure. But be the best of the history is almost impossible.”
Even though Nadal lacks slight self-confidence, the professional seems to be content nonetheless. On the contrary, Federer doesn’t want to seem to settle for less than 20 grand slam titles. In any case, both sportsmen have extreme potential and only time will tell which of the two will outdo themselves further.
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