Six-time Grand Slam champion Rennae Stubbs says Rafael Nadal is “the best competitor” she has ever seen and described the Spaniard’s success at the French Open as “crazy” Nadal, 36, once again gave a master class at Roland Garros, and is already the French Open champion 14 times, a record.
On Sunday, Nadal defeated Casper Ruud in the French Open final 6-3, 6-3, 6-0. Nadal, who lifted his first French Open title as a teenager in 2005, now has an impressive 14-0 record in his French Open finals. “Rafael Nadal is truly the best competitor and champion I have ever seen,” Stubbs tweeted.
“22 Grand Slams! 14, 14 Roland Garros titles!!!!! I can’t believe what I’m witnessing with this man! He is insane! And he does it with such class, what a role model!” Nadal said that he was able to put his foot to “sleep” and that allowed him to get through the entire French Open tournament.
“Rafael Nadal has just said that he would like to come back but he doesn’t see himself doing it like that again. I think his injury to his foot is something that he knows he can’t mask anymore. I think he has taken a LOT of pain meds on that foot these past 2 weeks, I think he knows his time is running out,” Stubbs said in another tweet.
After winning the French Open, Nadal confirmed that he is not retiring from tennis. However, he pointed out that he will have to find a solution for his footing. “I don’t know, I can’t confirm or say what I think – of course I’d love to keep coming but at the same time we need to find a solution for that no because I can’t continue the way I’m doing,” Nadal said.
Nadal defeated Casper Ruud in Paris
Rafael Nadal was asked to elaborate on the risks associated with anesthetic injections. “You have control of the foot, but no sensitivity. There might be a little more risk when it comes to twisting an ankle.
Just as I am playing, with my foot asleep, it doesn’t matter if there is less sensitivity because I go from being lame to being without pain.” While acknowledging the difficulty of the task, the Mallorcan asserted that it would not be impossible.
“It seems, but it is not impossible. It is very difficult? Yes. I am realistic about the difficulty of this, about the circumstances that must exist for it to happen,” he said. “If I did it, I guess someone else can do it. It will be difficult, this is evident.”
Source: Tennis World USA