Rafael Nadal backs Lionel Messi to win Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award over him

21.02.2023 - 13:25 eurosport.com

Rafael Nadal has given his backing to Lionel Messi to win the 2023 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award – despite being nominated for the prize himself.

Nadal and Messi were among six male athletes announced as nominees, along with Kylian Mbappe, Max Verstappen, Armand Duplantis and Steph Curry.

Ad Nadal’s 2022 season saw him win the Australian Open and French Open to move to 22 Grand Slam titles. He also finished the season as world No.

2. WTA Indian WellsRaducanu handed wild card for Indian Wells, Murray and Norrie in singles draw09/02/2023 AT 22:36 Messi’s standout moment was leading Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring seven goals in the tournament, including two in the final.

athletics win Lionel Messi Max Verstappen Rafael Nadal Steph Curry Armand Duplantis Qatar France Argentina Australia county Miami India county Wells

Rafael Nadal has stepped up his recovery from a lengthy injury and shared footage on social media of himself hitting on a tennis court again. The 22-time Grand Slam champion picked up a hip injury in his defeat to Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in January and was initially expected to be out for six to eight weeks. Ad However, the Spaniard withdrew from Indian Wells and the Miami Open this month because of the issue.

Bjorn Borg backs 'unbelievable' Novak Djokovic for more success and expects Rafael Nadal to continue

Bjorn Borg has predicted that Rafael Nadal will soon retire but believes that fellow veteran Novak Djokovic will win more Grand Slam singles titles. Following the retirement of Roger Federer and the surgeries undergone by Andy Murray, Nadal and Djokovic are the last two of tennis’ 'big four' to remain credible challengers for the Grand Slams on the men’s side of the sport. Ad Djokovic and Nadal are both battling against the passage of time as they look to add a few remaining titles to their CVs before they are forced to hang up their racquets.

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

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.

Rafael Nadal's 'biggest enemy' named – and it’s not a player

Eurosport expert Mats Wilander believes Rafael Nadal is more mentally strong and tactically adept than at any point in his career – but said his movement on court would likely prove “his biggest enemy”. Nadal, who has not competed since losing in the Australian Open second round in January, has been tormented by injury in 2023 and pulled out of Indian Wells and the Miami Open with a hip complaint last month. Ad Wilander has no doubt that he has the game to compete with the likes of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz for tennis’ biggest prizes, but said the 36-year-old may be hampered by his speed around the court.

Rafael Nadal 'has been a warrior' and now 'has a different perspective' - Chris Evert exclusive

Eurosport expert Chris Evert has hailed fellow tennis icon Rafael Nadal as «a warrior» while discussing his challenge to get back up to speed for the French Open. The 36-year-old has withdrawn from Indian Wells and the Miami Open due to injury in a bid to ensure that his preparation for defending his crown at Roland-Garros will be smooth.

Rafael Nadal's last Indian Wells win 10 years ago - and what's next for the 22-time Grand Slam champion

Watching back the 2013 Indian Wells final between Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro there is one word that keeps coming to mind: How? How was Del Potro’s forehand that good? Ad And how did Nadal keep on retrieving even the most punishing of those forehands? ATP Indian WellsNadal withdraws from Indian Wells and Miami Open due to injury28/02/2023 AT 17:56 It was one of the great Masters finals of the current era – and one that preceded arguably Nadal’s greatest season on tour. The 22-time Grand Slam champion will not be back at Indian Wells this month due to injury, but 10 years on from his stunning victory in 2013, we look at what it meant for him then, and what the future holds for him now.