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“I have given Rafael Nadal the confidence to win 19 majors,” says the former No. 1 in the world

In 2003, Rafael Nadal was still 17 years old and was already showing some of his great qualities to the world. In that year the Spanish phenomenon won two Challenger titles, also achieving success in the Masters 1000 and was immediately raised as one of the most interesting young people on the world tennis scene.

In the following season Rafa took another step, reached the first ATP final in Auckland and above all managed to defeat the number 1 in the world Roger Federer in Miami. It was the beginning of an incredible dualism that still lasts today and that sees the Spaniard prevail in direct confrontations.

Four years after the first, Spain took the second Davis Cup title in front of the 25,000 partisan crowd, with Nadal performing at a very high level to oust the world no. 2 Andy Roddick in the second tire. Speaking of the game almost 16 years later, while watching it on the ITF Youtube channel, Roddick said it’s evidence that he won a set against Nadal on clay and trusted the 11-year-old to chase 19 major crowns.

Roddick on Rafael Nadal

“Proof that I won a set against Rafael Nadal on clay. He was 11 at the time, and there wasn’t much else to celebrate in the next 3 sets, but those seem irrelevant details from where I sit.

If anything, I gave him the confidence to win 19 majors “- explained Andy Roddick.” Rafa Nadal is one of the most skilled athletes on earth … humility … looks the same all year round, “added Roddick.

“He can joke. He has this childish innocence. He doesn’t know how big he is. That’s why he’s so affectionate with tennis fans around the world. Rafa is doing well 10-12 events a year, making sure he’s ready for the French, participating in games, playing the Masters Series events on Clay.

Entering the US Open with very few tough games, Rafa feels comfortable. I think he felt desperate to do repetitions on surfaces that weren’t clay and now he’s comfortable enough to mature 34 years old to go in a sense and trust the process.

He will have to grind the first two rounds to get fit. But once he does, he is a legitimate contender in any Slam “- concluded the ex number 1 of the world.

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