Daniil Medvedev 'scared' to play Rafael Nadal on clay and facing Novak Djokovic in Australia is 'tough'

11.03.2023 - 15:25 eurosport.com

World No. 6 Daniil Medvedev admits that he is scared to play Rafael Nadal on clay. The 2021 US Open winner and 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal have played each other six times — with the Spaniard winning five of their meetings.

Ad However, the Russian has never faced 14-time French Open champion Nadal on clay. Nadal has won 63 of his 92 career titles on clay and is the most successful tennis player in history on the surface.

ATP Indian WellsTsitsipas stunned by Thompson, Medvedev beats Nakashima to go 15 unbeaten4 HOURS AGO When Medvedev was asked after his straight sets win over Brandon Nakashima at Indian Wells on Friday who has a tougher baseline game — Nadal on clay or Novak on hard court — he spoke of his fear of facing the world No.

9 on the red dirt. He said: «I didn’t play Rafa on clay. Rafa on clay is probably the worst and best challenge in tennis. »When I say ‘worst’, it’s because he lost, what, I don’t know, 10 matches?

tennis Sporting rowing Monte Carlo on Rafael Nadal Brandon Nakashima Ad However Russia France Usa Australia India Melbourne Rome

Rafael Nadal said he hopes to battle back from injury in time to compete for yet another title at Roland-Garros after he was presented a replica statue by the French Tennis Federation (FFT). The 36-year-old is currently on the road to recovery after suffering an injury at the Australian Open in January, where he was eliminated in the second round by Mackenzie McDonald.

‘I don’t know when I’ll play again’ – Rafael Nadal douses hopes of Monte Carlo comeback

Rafael Nadal has denied that he will return from injury at the Monte Carlo Masters in April, insisting that he can't put a time frame on a comeback. The 22-time Grand Slam winner hasn’t featured since a second round Australian Open exit at the hands of Mackenzie McDonald, after which medical tests flagged up a muscular injury in his left leg. Ad Nadal withdrew from Indian Wells and the Miami Open as he focused on returning to full fitness, but hopes were raised of an imminent comeback after the Monte Carlo Masters tweeted that Nadal was ‘definitely able to win his 12th trophy in Monte Carlo despite of his last injury’.

Novak Djokovic’s ‘longevity’ comments suggest he’s ‘playing a percentage game’ says Mats Wilander

Eurosport expert Mats Wilander believes Novak Djokovic is “playing a percentage game” after the Serbian revealed his “objective is longevity” in the final part of his tennis career. Djokovic turns 36 years old in May, ahead of the French Open, where he will hope to win his 23rd Grand Slam to move ahead of Rafael Nadal in the so-called ‘GOAT race’. Ad One of Djokovic’s biggest rivals, Roger Federer, retired in September at the Laver Cup at the age of 41.

When does the clay-court tennis season begin? Which events are Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Emma Raducanu playing?

The clay-court season is nearly upon us, with the elite of men's and women's tennis preparing to head to Europe for just over two months on the dirt. It could become one of the most significant periods in tennis history, with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic — tied on 22 Grand Slams — both set to make a return to action, having both missed the 'Sunshine Swing' in America.

Novak Djokovic To Miss Miami Open Over Lack Of Covid Vaccination

Novak Djokovic will not play at the Miami Open after failing to receive a waiver to enter the United States despite not being vaccinated for Covid-19. Tournament director James Blake told The Tennis Channel on Saturday that the world number one, a six-time Miami champion, was denied entry despite the best effort of tournament officials. "We did all we could. We tried to talk to the government but it's out of our hands," Blake said ahead of the start of the tournament next week.