Google News Tim Henman: No disrespect to Novak Djokovic, this is about Rafael Nadal
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 11242
Tim Henman says this moment is all about Rafael Nadal as he says Nadal is now absolutely in contention to go down as the greatest tennis player of all time. Nadal pulled off a historic comeback in the Australian Open as he recovered from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev 2-6 6-7 (5) 6-4 6-4 7-5.
“No disrespect to Djokovic, this is about Nadal. Nadal hasn’t been in this conversation for so long because he’s been out injured,” Henman said in The Cube on Eurosport. “We really didn’t understand or know how his foot is going to be and then he had Covid, he had more complications.
“So then to finally arrive in Melbourne having not played any tennis, he plays the first week of the year and you’re thinking, ‘OK, he’s getting some matches under his belt’ – but they were only best-of-three sets.
“He’s just built this momentum and for me the key word has been belief. We’ve all been questioning and doubting whether he could do it, but he’s the one that’s had the belief in his own ability”.
Nadal breaks the all-time Grand Slam record
Nadal now owns a record 21 Grand Slams while Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have 20 Majors. Djokovic beat Nadal en route to winning last year's French Open. Mats Wilander admitted he thought Nadal lost the GOAT race after failing to win the French Open last year.
“I have to say that I thought he lost the race when he lost to Novak Djokovic in the semis of Roland Garros last year,” Wilander said. “That was it, I thought: ‘Nadal is out of the race. He’s not going to be able.
Maybe he wins another French, but most probably not, and he’s not going to win the other tournaments.’ And suddenly we’re here. It’s incredible”.
