Rafa has been dominating the tour and has raised the bar in the men’s game.
In the column he directed for La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Italian tennis player – now a well-known television commentator – Paolo Bertolucci did not hesitate to express all his admiration for the timeless strength of Rafael Nadal.
The former Italian champion was full of praise for the Mallorcan star, who together with Carlos Alcaraz represents the present and the (bright) future of Spanish tennis. “The saying ‘when all seems lost, think of Nadal’ perfectly describes the man and the player,” wrote Paolo Bertolucci, fully extolling the athletic skills Rafa has consistently displayed since the start of his glorious career.
“Rafa is a superhero who has made athletic prowess a trademark. Furthermore, with his extraordinary tactical intelligence and his exemplary demeanor, he embodies the will to win and selflessness at work like no one else.
For a phenomenon that has inevitably entered the home stretch of an extraordinary career, Spain now offers 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz.” The year 2022 has brought Rafael Nadal great satisfaction. After a 2021 full of setbacks and with a premature end, the Spaniard has put two Slam titles on his record this year.
The former world number 1 won at the Australian Open and at Roland Garros, proving once again that he is a living legend. His comeback against Daniil Medvedev in Melbourne will be etched in the memory of fans for a long time, as will his victory against Novak Djokovic in Paris.
Interviewed by AS recently, Toni Nadal analyzed Rafa’s 2022 and denied that the rise of Carlos Alcaraz may have distracted his nephew. “Rafael Nadal doesn’t think at all about what the other players do. Rafa has always played for himself, he doesn’t ask himself what Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic do,” Toni said.
“My nephew accepts the results of other tennis players and strives to beat them.” However, Toni had good words for Alcaraz: “In just a few months he has achieved what many players dream of winning in an entire career.
His early career will be really hard to beat.”
Rafa Nadal amazed everyone
In an article on TVA Sports, Eugene Lapierre said that Rafael Nadal was “careful with the volunteers and everyone,” even describing it as “impressive.”
“It’s really impressive. He is careful with the volunteers, with everyone. He’s the guy who could walk into a building, see people behind him, then wait to open the door for them and let them through. I found his candor very interesting. He is an ordinary and impressive guy at the same time,” said Lapierre.
