‘Rafael Nadal has an aura that transcends what you can imagine and makes you feel it’

Ewan West
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Madrid, Spain. 29th Apr, 2024. Rafael Nadal of Spain plays against Pedro Cachin (not in picture) of Argentina during the Mutua Madrid Open 2024 tournament at La Caja Magica
Rafael Nadal hits a forehand

Pedro Cachin has admitted he entered his match against Rafael Nadal at the 2024 Madrid Open “with even more fear” than he had imagined he would.

The Argentine proclaimed that Nadal possesses an aura “that transcends what you can imagine and makes you feel it” as he expressed he could not imagine the challenge of facing the tennis great in his prime.

Nadal overcame Cachin 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 in a hard-fought third round contest at the Madrid Open on Monday to continue his encouraging return to action after injuries.

Following the match, Nadal fulfilled Cachin’s request to have one of his shirts and also offered the world No 91 a hug in a great gesture.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion is playing the second tournament of his latest comeback, having returned at the Barcelona Open earlier this month.

With his three victories in Madrid, the 37-year-old has won three consecutive matches for the first time since the 2022 US Open. The Spaniard will face world No 31 Jiri Lehecka in the last 16 of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Rafael Nadal makes brutally honest confession as he admits his future is ‘unpredictable’

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Cachin discussed his experience of facing Nadal for the first time.

“I can’t imagine what Rafa must have been in his best period and at five sets, because if being at his worst puts you in such uncomfortable situations, both in terms of play and aura, it must have been incredible,” he said.

“Now he has mistakes that he didn’t have a few years ago, but as a good competitor, he’s going to leave his soul on the court until the end.

“This tournament will make me regain a good level and, above all, it gives me a lot of self-esteem. It’s not easy to compete against Rafa, regardless of the level he’s at.”

The 29-year-old also spoke about the aura the former world No 1 brings to the court and how it affected him during a one-sided first set.

“I went in with even more fear than I imagined. Rafa has an aura that transcends what you can imagine and makes you feel it,” Cachin explained.

“I was able to get out of those bad moments in the first set, where I made many mistakes. From the warm-up I was paying attention to details to go getting rid of those nerves, but in the first game I noticed the nerves.

“I didn’t make a single serve, my head played tricks on me, but I trusted that I would loosen up and that he would help me a little.

“That happened in the second set, and I started. From there I was able to compete at the highest level and enjoy it a lot.”

READ MORE: The 3 men to beat Rafael Nadal in consecutive clay court matches

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