Rafael Nadal ‘more fun’ to watch than Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, says former world No 1
Mats Wilander says he no longer wants to commentate on Rafael Nadal’s matches as he “just wants to watch him play” as he is often blown away by the Spaniard’s touches.
Nadal has produced some extraordinary tennis en route to winning a record-extending 14th title at Roland Garros and a 22nd Grand Slam with the latter moving him two majors ahead of his great rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Rafael Nadal wins record-extending 14th French Open title
Who is the tennis GOAT?
Novak Djokovic deserves more respect
Novak Djokovic is the Wimbledon favourite
Can Swiatek dominate the game?
Can anyone stop Iga Swiatek?
Murray spoke to Russian players over points removal
Murray not happy with ATP removing Wimbledon points
Murray's high expectations for the rest of his career
Of the three tennis icons, Federer has often been described as the most aesthetically pleasing while Nadal and Djokovic were always considered aggressors.
But Nadal has changed his game in recent years and Wilander is now firmly in the Spaniard’s camp when it comes to watching tennis due to the uncertainty he creates when it comes to his shot creation.
“The older I get, the more I enjoy watching him play,” he told French paper L’Equipe, which was translated by Eurosport.
“We see that he trusts his variations more than when he was 22 or 23 years old. I find his tennis more fun than Roger’s or Novak’s.
“With Roger, everything seems easy. It’s simple and aesthetic. Rafa is different: his true personality arises when the racket hits the ball.
“Of course, the beginning and the end of the motion are not as fluid as with Roger. But the contact with the ball is so pure, his touch on the ball is so extraordinary that I am blown away.
“I’ve always loved its intensity