Rafael Nadal was spotted in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open men's final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. The 22-time Grand Slam champion expressed his thoughts and predicted Sunday's thrilling clash.
Carlos Alcaraz's impactful performance
Alcaraz secured his place in the final after playing a five-set game against Alexander Zverev. On the other hand, Djokovic displayed his resilience to defeat Jannik Sinner in four hours and nine minutes, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
A two-time Australian Open champion himself, Nadal predicted his pick for the trophy this year. He also appreciated Djokovic for fighting against the best players at this stage of his playing career.
“If Novak wins, I will be happy for him because in some ways, it is spectacular what he’s doing at this stage of his career. So I will be happy, it will not be a drama for me. But if I have to support someone, I feel I have to support Carlos,” Rafael Nadal said.
Big record on the cards for Novak Djokovic
Djokovic will look to win the historic 25th Grand Slam title on Sunday. On the other hand, Alcaraz is targeting his seventh major and his maiden Australian open title.
Nadal appreciated Djokovic, praising his discipline and iconic tennis career. He also noted the Serb's longevity and commitment towards the game.
“I think it’s a positive example of commitment, of resilience … I mean, Novak, for obvious reasons, he’s not at his prime, but he is still very, very competitive at an age that is difficult to be very competitive. So, full respect,” Rafael Nadal said
The former World No. 1 also believed Alcaraz would have a better recovery after the semifinals. Both players have spent over four hours on court in their previous games on Friday.
“I think Carlos has more possibilities of recovering almost better than Novak. I’m sure he will recover, even if it has been a long battle, the other semi-final wasn’t a short battle either,” Rafael Nadal added
Rafael Nadal reflects on his generation setting a new standard
Rafael Nadal retired from professional tennis at the 2024 Davis Cup. The 14-time French Open winner opened up on longevity and how the perception of a long tennis career has evolved over time.
“When I arrived on the circuit, the idea of the professional player was that when you were 28, 29, 30 already, well, you were a super veteran and practically, you had to retire. I think this generation has given it one more step, a turn of the screw to what it is to be able to lengthen the professional career, and it hasn’t been one player, but it has been many," Rafael Nadal said
The 39-year-old thinks his generation helped to set a new standard for aspiring players. He made his ATP main-tour debut in 2002 and competed at the biggest level for 23 years.
“I think this is a bit of a legacy for the next generations, we have shown that by doing things well, being professional, having the excitement, the motivation, and the passion for what you do and a good team behind you, well, you can go further,” Nadal added
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will face each other on Sunday, with Djokovic leading their head-to-head 5-4. However, the Serb faced defeat in their most recent clash in the US Open semifinal last year.