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 [September 20, 2023]
(Reuters) - Rafael Nadal's last Grand Slam win came at the
French Open in 2022, but with Novak Djokovic having overtaken his
impressive haul of most major titles in men's tennis, the Spaniard
conceded the Serbian is the best player in history.
Djokovic's recent win at the U.S. Open, his third Grand Slam title
this year, took his tally to 24 Grand Slams, two ahead of Nadal's
total.
"I believe that numbers are numbers and statistics are statistics.
In that sense, I think he (Djokovic) has better numbers than mine
and that is indisputable," Nadal said in an interview with AS
published on Wednesday.
"This is the truth. The rest are tastes, inspiration, sensations
that one or the other may transmit to you, that you may like one or
the other more," the Spaniard said.
"I think that with respect to titles, Djokovic is the best in
history and there is nothing to discuss about that."
Nadal has suffered with injury issues in recent years, also missing
out on the U.S. Open in 2021 with a foot problem which had troubled
him all year. However, he doesn't want this to be used as an excuse.
"As always, everyone can see the story as they wish, saying that I
suffered many injuries. Bad luck for me or bad luck that I had my
body this way," he said.
"He has had another one and in some ways that is also part of the
sport. I congratulate him for everything he is achieving and it
doesn't cause me any kind of frustration."
The 37-year-old also spoke about fellow Spaniard, the new kid on the
block Carlos Alcaraz, winner of this year's Wimbledon.
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Tennis - Rafael Nadal Press Conference - Rafa Nadal Academy,
Mallorca, Spain - May 18, 2023 Spain's Rafael Nadal announces that
he has withdrawn from the French open during a press conference
REUTERS/Miquel Borras/File Photo
"He has been the world number one until recently.
Although he's very young right now, practically the only rival I see
for him is Djokovic," Nadal added.
Despite losing his record of Grand Slam titles to current world
number one Djokovic, Nadal is more than happy with what he has
achieved in his career to date.
"I said it when I was the one with the most Slams, I said it when we
were tied and I say it now that I am behind. I am not going to be
the one who tries, through a personal struggle, to want to be what I
am not," he said.
"What is, is, and what is not, is not. I say this, I am very
satisfied with everything that I have done."
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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