“That Rafa Nadal recognizes that Djokovic will win more Grand Slam relieves him”

Álex Corretja, Eurosport tennis commentator, wanted to join the debate on who is the best in history tennis as a result of the statements made by Rafa Nadal in Noticias #Vamos on December 2, when the Balearic said that Djokovic is “the best positioned to be the player with the most Grand Slam.”

Speaking to Eurosport, Corretja believes that Nadal made those claims about Djokovic knowing that the Serbian has more options than he to triumph on other surfaces. “I think Rafa is very intelligent and aware of reality, and has always had his feet on the ground. He knew that Roger at that time was the best in history. When he equaled him, he felt that he deserved that recognition. Rafa is not silly, he sees that Djokovic is behind him, that he is younger than him and that he has more options to win on other surfaces, and that makes him more dangerous and makes him the only one with the opportunity to be the best in history. “

The former tennis player also believes that Nadal is right not to compare himself to anyone and that the fact of competing against themselves is what has allowed Djokovic, Federer and Nadal to be the best in history. “It seems to me that, on Rafa’s part, this is an exercise in humility, accepting that there will be another player who will improve his numbers, and at the same time he must accept that he should not compete with Novak or Roger, but with himself. That is what has made the three of them the best in history: wanting to be the best version of themselves, the three best tennis players of all time competing against each other. I believe that if you are aware of what you can give of yourself, you do not have to compare yourself with others. In general, what they envy others is because they have the problem themselves, not with their rivals. “

Finally Corretja is confident that Nadal manages his recovery well to win a Grand Slam title again and that, whatever happens, both he and Federer are already tennis legends. “Rafa is smart enough to know what he has to do to recover in the best possible condition to win another Grand Slam, one or two more. Rafa is 35 years old, he knows that his career is coming to an end. You cannot waste time or energy on others. For him, to say openly that Djokovic will be the best, relieves him, he has already reached the top. We don’t have to judge Rafa or Roger if they have one more Grand Slam or not. Rafa Nadal is a legend and that is what he is going to leave in tennis “.