Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur recently shared his admiration for Rafael Nadal’s impressive performance at the Mutua Madrid Open. In a post-match interview, De Minaur highlighted Nadal’s remarkable resurgence after his earlier struggles in Barcelona, expressing his admiration for the Spanish icon’s renewed form.
“In Barcelona he wasn’t prepared to play. Today you saw him close to the level he had in the past. He moved better. His level was very high from the beginning to the end,” De Minaur remarked.
De Minaur’s remarks come in the wake of Nadal’s compelling display in Madrid, where the seasoned champion showcased glimpses of his vintage form. Nadal’s agility and precision on the court left spectators and opponents alike in awe, reaffirming his status as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
Quotes from @alexdeminaur in Spanish on @RafaelNadal : “In Barcelona he wasn’t prepared to play. Today you saw him close to the level he had in the past. He moved better. His level was very high from the beginning to the end.” @MutuaMadridOpen pic.twitter.com/duKYtoHXNm
— Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) April 27, 2024
De Minaur’s acknowledgment of Nadal’s resurgence not only reflects the respect shared among players but also highlights the competitive spirit that drives athletes to push their limits and excel on the grandest stages of the sport.
Alex De Minaur in 2024
Currently ranked no.11, the Australian played his last match on the 27th of April when he surrendered to world no.512 Rafael Nadal 7-6(6) 6-3 in the 2nd round in Madrid (draw).
Until now, during this year De Minaur achieved an overall 23-9 match record. The Australian clinched 1 title in Acapulco. The Australian reached the final in Rotterdam.
De Minaur has scheduled to play next in Rome (Internazionali BNL d’Italia). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 8th of May.
Nadal in Madrid, ranking, and results in 2024
Now ranked no.512, Nadal has managed to achieve an overall 5-2 win-loss record in 2024. Nadal is now playing in Madrid where he managed to beat Darwin Blanch 6-1 6-0 and the world no.11 Alex De Minaur 7-66 6-3.
Rafael Nadal will fight against the world no.91 Pedro Cachin in the 3rd round. In the past, they have never competed against each other so far on the main tour.
Rafael won 92 titles in his career: 24 on hard courts, 63 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
He is also scheduled to play at the French Open (French Open) after Rome. The main draw will start on the 8th of May.
Alex De Minaur and Rafael Nadal faced off 6 times. Their actual head to head record is 4-2 for Nadal. Before, the last time they competed against each other, Rafael Nadal won 7-6(6) 6-3 in the 2nd round in Madrid (Mutua Madrid Open) on the 27th of April 2024.
In the following video you can watch the key moments of their match.
Alex De Minaur and Rafael Nadal |
| Embed from Getty Images |
