Rafael Nadal has decided to participate in the Wimbledon tournament, continuing to cherish a dream called ‘Calendar Grand Slam’ The former world number 1 won the first two majors of the season, despite the pain in his foot continuing to haunt him and question his future.
The 36-year-old Spaniard has undergone a new treatment after winning Roland Garros and will do everything he can to arrive in good shape in London. The 22-time Grand Slam champion won twice on the lawns of Church Road, more precisely in 2008 and 2010, while last year he was forced to forfeit due to injury.
The Majorcan will not start with the underdogs, but he will be a threat to everyone if he reaches the second week. We remember in fact that Nadal hit the semifinal both in 2018 and in 2019, losing only against Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Speaking to Eurosport, Roberto Bautista Agut analyzed the chances of his compatriot on the London grass.
Bautista Agut on Rafa Nadal
“Rafael Nadal is always a candidate in any tournament he plays,” he said. “Rafa, the truth is that he is a player who has spent many games and has worked on his body.
It is normal for him to suffer a lot of pain and discomfort,” he said. Bautista Agut asserted that his compatriot is a player who has “exceeded the normal limits” and has the ability to get through tough times.
“He is a player who has exceeded the normal limits. Perhaps he is the one with the greatest ability to sacrifice to get through difficult times,” he said. Replicating his 2021 grass-court season, Berrettini has already started showing his dominance on the grass court in 2022.
Winning the Stuttgart Open, the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up is back in the finals of Queen’s Club to defend his title. Heading towards Wimbledon, Berrettini recently opened up about playing and beating Djokovic and Nadal in majors.
He said, “Beating Djokovic in a Slam is probably one of the toughest things you can ever do. I’m not saying that beating Rafa is easy, but winning against Novak is harder.” Rafael Nadal, the 22 times Grand Slam champion, and one of the big three, is one of the most famous tennis entities.
And hence, holds a lot of value in the eyes of brands when it comes to sponsorships. Nadal has been the face of several high-end brands and his recent clay-court endeavors have made his presence more prominent.
