BARCELONA, Jan. 16 (SportsFinding) –
The Swedish extenista Mats Wilander has assured that the Spaniard Rafa Nadal will become this 2020, in which he predicts that he will win at least one more tournament of the 'Grand Slam', in the “best in history” beating Roger Federer, while who believes that the Australian Open is a thing of the so-called 'Big 3', with Serbian Novak Djokovic as “the big favorite”, and was somewhat critical of the new Davis Cup.
In an interview with Europa Press, Wilander believes that Rafa Nadal will match or even exceed the 20 Grand Slam titles that Roger Federer owns, for the 19 that Manacorí now has. “This year Nadal will become the best tennis player of all time,” he said.
“I don't think he fights for the ranking, not start. I think he plays to win a 'Grand Slam' and if it works then yes, he will want to be number one. But I think he wants to add another 'Grand Slam', or two, to his record and he will succeed, for sure. He will become the best in history this season, “he said.
Wilander, winner of seven Grand Slam tournaments – three Australian Open, three Roland Garros and one United States Open – and now within the Eurosport sport's expert group, did not want to compare Federer and Nadal, but he did He was convinced that the Spaniard will win at least one 'big' this year to match the Swiss, holder of 20 in his career.
“Nadal is going to win a 'Grand Slam' this year, yes. I can't imagine Nadal playing if he can't win a 'Grand Slam', although of course for that you must also have some fortune, not have injuries or have a good “Rafa is very smart and is too good to play a tournament without believing he can win it,” he said, giving him options for Australia.
On the other hand, he is not “sure” if the Spanish can retain the number 1 of the ATP ranking at the end of the season. “I think that with how long the last season was for him, with the Davis Cup and the ATP Cup now, he will need a break during this season, and that does not help in the ranking,” he added.
That 'Grand Slam' that Wilander predicts that Nadal will win this year could be the Australian Open, which starts this January 20 and can be seen exclusively in Eurosport, although the Swedish bet is different. “I think Djokovic is the big favorite, he has won it seven times, but Nadal is the second favorite, for how he has played in the ATP Cup,” he predicted.
Despite seeing also in the arena of candidates for Federer or the young Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, even the Russian Daniil Medvedev, he believes that they are all behind the Serbian and the Balearic in terms of options to succeed in Australia on this occasion.
Anyway, he clarified that if Rafa Nadal has any problem with the 'Grand Slam' tournaments, it is precisely the one held in Melbourne Park, which he has won only once (2009) and has lost four other times (2012 , 2014, 2017 and 2019), compared to the two Wimbledon, four US Open and twelve Roland Garros that he has in his medal winners.
“I think, really, that the Australian Open has become a small problem for Rafa, and the main reason is for the speed of the track. I would say it is the fastest track on the circuit, all year. Yes Novak is in good shape, I think it will be even more favorite because he already knows how to win in Australia, “he argued.
CRITICISM WITH THE DAVIS DE PIQUÉ CUP
Asked about the new Davis Cup organized by the company Kosmos of FC Barcelona player Gerard Piqué, he regretted that the new format – which resembles a World Cup in soccer or basketball – moves away from the true hobby of tennis in the tournament. That is why, now, he prefers the ATP Cup that has been played in Australia.
“I think the International Federation, the 'Grand Slam', the ATP and the WTA should be unified, but they should not join the ATP Cup and the Davis Cup, no,” said the Swedish extenist, who no longer enjoys the Cup Davis as “before, when playing in qualifiers at each other's house.” “We may enjoy it again, but now and so, no. I think the ATP Cup is more successful, and it is really for tennis fans. I think the Davis Cup should reflect on what kind of tournament it should be,” he said.
Mats Wilander is part of the Eurosport team of experts, a chain that will broadcast live and exclusively the Australian Open 2020 from next Monday until February 2 and with more than 300 hours of live broadcast, along with other recognized figures like Àlex Corretja, Conchita Martínez, Patrick Mouratoglou, Jordi Arrese or John McEnroe.