We have been here for many years, but I am convinced that those who arrive will stay and take over – Rafael Nadal on next-gen players

 

Tennis veteran Rafael Nadal is convinced that the next-gen players will soon take over the baton of dominance from the Big 3. Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic have dominated the sport in the last 15 years as they have been sensational in their performances.

In fact, at least one member of the Big 3 has made it to the 71 Grand Slam semifinals in the last 72 semifinals, which goes to show their dominance.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer won his last Major back in 2018 but since then he has been troubled by knee injuries. However, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are still at the top of their games. The duo has collectively won six out of the previous seven Major titles.

There is no doubt the next-gen players are coming up the ranks and have done well. In fact, it has been noticed that these players have the skills to beat Djokovic and Nadal in three-set contests but they still lack the temperament when it comes to beating them in five-set Grand slam matches.

“In tennis, there has always been a generational change. We have had great stars that have been replaced by others, it is normal. Perhaps in our case what has happened is that we have been many years, but I am convinced that those who arrive will stay and take over,” Nadal said in an interview with Talento a Bordo.

Meanwhile, it is well known that mental strength plays a key part in the success of a particular player in sport like tennis. It is imperative for the player to stay in the moment and focus on the next point.

Nadal has always been tough mentally, which has helped him savor great success at the top level.

“Mental strength is one of the important elements for competition. Everything can be trained and that mental strength is something I also worked with my uncle Toni since I was a child. Then, with the evolution of my career that work continued and the competition itself made it intensify and continue to evolve,” Nadal said.

A singles tennis player is on his own on the court and one has to make decisions in seconds, which can impact the result of the match. Thus, the 36-year-old Spaniard reckons the fight is against oneself as much as it is against the opponent.

“All elite sports are complicated and tennis especially being a one-on-one sport. The match is against an opponent who is sometimes better than you, or who is in better shape that day even if it is worse in theory. But the fight is also against oneself and that is a section that sometimes costs a lot. We have seen it in many cases. It is there, though not only, that mental work is especially important,” he said.