There is less and less left until one of the most emotional moments in tennis takes place. Just as on September 15, 2022, more than one fan shed tears after Roger Federer‘s withdrawal, on November 19, 2024, the same thing will happen when Rafael Nadal decides to hang up his racket in the series between Spain and the Netherlands for the Davis Cup. Beyond the fact that an emotional week is approaching, a former world number 3 launched a very harsh criticism of the Spaniard’s style of play.
Nikolay Davydenko burst onto the ATP circuit at the age of 20, with a fighting style that quickly allowed him to grow in the ranking, although unfortunately he had to live in the era of the Big Three: Rafael NadalRoger Federer and a young Novak Djokovic. His best years were between 2005 and 2009, when he remained firmly among the best 10 tennis players in the world and even reached the Top 3 for a few weeks, where he knew how to give the Spanish tennis player severe headaches.
What’s more, in Spain, they knew how to nickname the Russian as Rafa’s Black Beast, since he retired with the record in his favor with six victories in the 11 matches they had over the years, which caused them to be encouraged to put him spicy to duels. “Without a physique you can’t do anything. He has neither serve nor volley. His resource is to stay at the back of the court and run and pass balls until you get tired and miss it.”the 43-year-old former tennis player attacked, in dialogue with “Punto de Break” in 2022.
Davydenko even referred to the matches he played against the Manacorí, where he knew how to dominate him on hard courts, but not on clay, where La Fiera is considered the best player of all time. “For me, playing against Rafael Nadal It was like playing against any other opponent. I beat him in all of our hard court matches and he beat me in all of our clay court matches. My game coincided well with his on hard courts, that’s why I didn’t have so many problems with him,” he concluded.
The revelation of Carlos Alcaraz
There are only less than ten days left until Rafael Nadal say goodbye forever to tennis. For this reason, his compatriot, doubles partner in the Olympic Games and partner in the Davis Cup, Carlos Alcaraz, revealed details about the conversation he had with the Manacorí the day he announced his retirement on social networks.
“I know that the decision has more than been made. I asked him if it was a hard day announcing the withdrawal. He told me yes, but it is a decision that is considered because these decisions are not made lightly. If someone had told me that I had a chance of convincing him to continue, I would have done it and I would have tried because I don’t want to see him off the court yet,” said Carlitos in conversation with “Marca” before facing the ATP Finals.
