‘We have not left’ – Rafael Nadal issues warning to young players as he vows to prolong career
Rafael Nadal believes the youngsters on the ATP Tour are now ready to compete for the top titles, but has warned the big three won’t go away easily.
Nadal, along with rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, have dominated men’s tennis for a decade-and-a-half and have all but monopolised the Grand Slam titles in that time.
Many have criticised the young players for that, including Boris Becker who has questioned their desire, but Nadal believes that is unfair.
“The reality is that they (the young players) are already there,” he told ESPN.
“There are many young players fighting for the maximum and winning important things.
“They have not been able to do it in Grand Slams, also because we have not left.
“So now there is a very nice fight between young people and old men that I hope will last as long as possible.”
Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer have won the last 13 Grand Slam titles between them.
However, recent times has seen Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev push them very close in finals, while Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas have both bested them to win the ATP Finals.
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