The last title raised by Rafael Nadal continues to give something to talk about, both for his great achievement (Grand Slams record) and for everything that happened before, during and after its course. The Australian Open was not just another title, it was a blow to the table for the Spaniard, who won in “Djokovic territory” and opts to finish as the most successful player of all time. The last figure to offer praise has been the Russian tennis player Daria Kasatkina, a confessed follower of the Spanish tennis player.
Kasatkina confessed to Eurosport Russia that the Australian Open final was very exciting and that at some point he doubted Nadal, he also assures that Medvedev will win more Grand Slam titles. “I was overwhelmed by the emotion of seeing Rafa win. Seeing a 35-year-old man, with almost 20 years in tennis and who has gone through everything that has happened and has come to this, it is impossible to react in another way. I love him as a person and he inspires me. I thought that in the third set Rafa would not escape from Daniil’s web but we saw what happened and it was a historic match. Who was he going with? How difficult! I always want Nadal to be the one to win more Grand Slam but I didn’t support anyone. I was very happy when Rafa won but I think Medvedev will win more than one Grand Slam.”
Russian tennis took the opportunity to give her point of view on Nadal’s confrontations with Federer and Djokovic. While the Russian highlights the respect she has for Federer, she feels some discomfort with Djokovic when he plays against the Spaniard. “Roger accepted a long time ago that Djokovic and Nadal will be better. He is an incredible talent, I have never been angry with him. With Djokovic it is different. When Rafa plays against him the emotions run high, especially when Rafa could not do anything against him or even on clay. Who would have thought that the 21st Grand Slam would come in Australia, where he only won once? It’s very symbolic, because he won at Djokovic’s favorite Grand Slam.”
Daria also stated that she already knew that Nadal would be the tennis player with the most Grand Slams in history. “I think that Nadal will be the best of all time, I thought so even when he had 14 Grand Slams, I always said that he would win more. Also, now his chances of winning at Roland Garros have increased if his health allows it. It is happening not a second , but a third youth”
Kasatkina emphasized the differences between Djokovic and Nadal. “There is a tennis player, Djokovic, whom we all see how he wants people to love him and how he tries to do everything for it but does not succeed. In the end you feel that something is not right. Meanwhile Rafa is real. He does not hit rackets because he hasn’t done it since he was little and he wastes emotions in another way. His ‘Come on’ is adored by many. Few people like it when people try to appear what they are not “.
The 24-year-old athlete regrets the doping suspicions that some have leaked against Nadal and assures that tennis is one of the cleanest sports. “I don’t believe Nadal’s doping suspicions. We don’t have to say it ourselves, there is already an organization that controls us every week. In terms of doping, tennis is one of the cleanest sports. I remember that in 2018 they made me 32 checks and I’m not Rafa, I’m sure he’ll be checked more often.”
