The Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, owner of the Grand Slam title record with 22 trophies and considered the best in history on clay with his collection of 14 crowns at Roland Garros, admitted on Tuesday that “You always take a very special energy from Argentina”, in the preview of the exhibition that will animate this Wednesday with the Norwegian “top ten” Casper Ruud.
“I feel very happy to be back in Buenos Aires after several years. I am looking forward to sharing a great day with such a passionate public of whom I have unforgettable memories. I always take a very special energy from each visit to Argentina”, Nadal stressed.
The super champion born in Mallorca 35 years ago arrived in the country early and offered a press conference together with the Norwegian Ruud on the third floor of the Alto Palermo Shopping, in which he was in a very good mood and reviewed various moments of his career, especially those linked to his visits to Argentina.
Nadal, former number one in the world and currently second in the ATP world ranking, behind his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, will play an exhibition match this Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. against the Norwegian Ruud, 23 years old and third on the planet, at the stadium Mary Terán de Weiss, in Roca Park, in Villa Soldati.
“When I came to Argentina for the first time, I was barely 18 years old and I didn’t imagine the career I would have later. He wasn’t super dreamy or super egocentric to think about all the titles he could win in the future.” confessed Nadal, who arrived in Buenos Aires this Tuesday morning and immediately moved with Ruud to Puerto Iguazú for a photographic production, to return after noon.
Nadal’s visit is the fifth to the country, after the first in 2005 when he was 18 years old and number 48 in the world. On that occasion he played the Argentina Open and fell in the quarterfinals against Gastón Gaudio, later champion of the tournament.
That year “Rafa” began his remarkable harvest of titles since he won the Roland Garros Open for the first time, something he later repeated 13 times, the last one this year and after winning the final against Ruud by a categorical 6-3, 6-3 and 6-0.
Nadal’s second visit to Argentina was in November 2013 on the occasion of his friend David Nalbandian’s farewell to tennis, to play an exhibition with Unquillo from Cordoba, the Serbian Novak Djokovic and Juan “Pico” Mónaco at the La Rural, in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Palermo, and then another in the Orfeo de Córdoba.
Then “Rafa” came two more times, both in February and at the Argentina Open, in 2015 when he was crowned champion after winning the final over Monaco from Tandil, and then in 2016 when he fell in the semifinals against the Austrian Dominic Thiem, who raised the trophy of that edition.
“I have always built my career on a day-to-day basis, with great enthusiasm to improve and passion to train, giving maximum intensity as I hope to continue doing as long as I can to be competitive”recalled Nadal.
A doubles with Sabatini and Dulko
The exhibition this Wednesday in Buenos Aires will also have a special attraction since prior to his match against Ruud, whom he beat the two times they met, the one mentioned at Roland Garros and last week at the Turin Masters, in the phase of groups by 7-5 and 7-5, there will be a mixed double that will take Gabriela Sabatini, the best Argentine tennis player in history, and also Gisela Dulko from Tigre.
Nadal will form a pair with Sabatini and Dulko will join Ruud to animate a double that will allow tennis fans to meet “Gaby” again after 13 yearsafter the exhibition that he played in 2009 with the Czech nationalized American Martina Navratilova.
“Being able to play with Gabriela makes me very excited. She is an icon of Argentine tennis and also worldwide, it will be something very special,” said Nadal.
retirement on the horizon
The Mallorcan, winner of 92 titles on the circuit and also Davis Cup champion with Spain, referred to his not-too-distant retirement from tennis, after another legend such as the Swiss Roger Federer, with whom he was a member, had taken place this year. the so-called “Big Three” together with the Serbian Novak Djokovic.
“I am very clear that the biological clock is ticking, but also that there is no one more important than the sport itself. Before me, Roger or Djokovic there were Borg, Vilas, McEnroe, Sampras, Agassi and many others, and when none of us is on the circuit anymore, the new stars will emerge who are already on their way to continue winning titles and making history.“analyzed Nadal.
The so-called “King of brick dust” married his longtime girlfriend, Mery Perelló, better known as “Xisca” in 2019, and 45 days ago they had their first child whom they named Rafael.
“I am very realistic, I am prepared for my next life outside of tennis, I also have other things that make me very happy like being a father, which is something totally new. I cannot predict the future but my desire to move forward is intact and when stop competing I will start another stage that will also give me happiness”Nadal concluded.
