Formula One driver Carlos Sainz made waves at the ongoing Monte-Carlo Masters in Monaco, not only for his presence but also for his insights into the world of tennis and his encounters with top players.
Sainz, enjoying a successful season in F1 with podium finishes in every Grand Prix so far, shared his admiration for tennis athletes and the demands of their sport. “I like athletes when they are pushing each other,” he remarked. “I am a big fan of Rafa (Nadal)… I met Djokovic last year… and became a big fan of his too.”
During his visit, Sainz engaged in a light-hearted exchange with Novak Djokovic, where he humorously assessed his tennis skills. Djokovic, in response, playfully teased Sainz about the prowess of Spanish players, particularly Rafael Nadal’s formidable forehand.
Tennis TV shared the amusing interaction, showcasing the camaraderie between the two athletes. Sainz also met World No. 2 Jannik Sinner, expressing his support during their encounter. Sinner, a Formula 1 ambassador himself, reciprocated the admiration, acknowledging Sainz’s achievements and consistency in F1.
Reflecting on the encounter, Sinner expressed his delight at meeting the F1 star, noting the mutual appreciation between the worlds of tennis and motorsport. “I’m very happy for him,” he said. “He’s doing an amazing season… It was a nice feeling.”
🏎 @Carlossainz55 shares his appreciation for tennis players 👏#RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/9zFiBQWS7P
— TENNIS (@Tennis) April 11, 2024
Sainz’s visit to the Monte-Carlo Masters not only showcased his passion for tennis but also highlighted the camaraderie and admiration shared between athletes across different sporting disciplines.
Rafael Nadal in 2024
Currently ranked no.646, Nadal played his last match on the 5th of January when he was overcome by world no.32 Jordan Thompson 5-7 7-6(6) 6-3 in the quarter in Brisbane (draw).
This season Nadal has a 2-1 win-loss record.
Djokovic in Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, ranking, and results in 2024
LWWWLWLWWW Now ranked no.1, Djokovic achieved an overall 11-3 record in 2024. Djokovic is participating in Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters where he bested the world no.41 Roman Safiullin 6-1 6-2, the world no.24 Lorenzo Musetti 7-5 6-3 and the world no.11 Alex De Minaur 7-5 6-4.
Novak Djokovic will come up against the world no.10 Casper Ruud in the semifinal on Saturday at 1:30 pm on COURT RAINIER III. The head to head is 5-0 for Djokovic.
Novak won 98 titles in his career: 52 on hard courts, 19 on clay courts, 19 on indoor courts and 8 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic clashed against each other 59 times. The head to head is 30-29 for Djokovic. Previously, the last time they played, Rafael Nadal won 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6(4) in the quarter in Paris (French Open) in May 2022.
Here are the highlights.
