Mark Knowles: There is no greater competitor in sports history than Rafael Nadal

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• Rafael Nadal

Australian tennis legend Mark Knowles has called Rafael Nadal "the best competitor in sports history" as he can't recall a single moment or match when Nadal wasn't giving his absolute best. Knowles is a great champion himself, having won four Grand Slam doubles titles during his career.

Also, Knowles was once ranked at No. 1 on the ATP doubles rankings list. "I mean have you ever seen a better competitor in any sport?" Knowles said on Tennis Channel's Inside-In podcast, per Sportskeeda. "I mean, I've gone on record with a lot of people and I respect every single athlete, I mean I am a sports fanatic, the Jordans, the Woods, the Gretzkys, there is no greater competitor in my eyes than Rafael Nadal.

"And the reason I say that is, you break down tennis, we've all played matches, whether it be 40-0, whether it be 4-0, where your mindset is 'I'm not going to give a hundred per cent'"

Knowles: Nothing but admiration for Nadal

Nadal skipped almost the entire second half of the 2021 season due to a foot issue.

Nadal made his comeback at the start of this season in January and it was nothing short of impressive as the Spaniard won the Melbourne Summer Set and then a record 21st Grand Slam at the Australian Open. "I've been around the game for a long time," Knowles added.

"I've played, watched and commentated Rafael Nadal. I've never seen him not give a hundred per cent on a point, I never have. If someone has, please send me a clip of it because I haven't. "So if you really break that down, think about how crazy that is.

He's never taken a play off and it speaks of his mentality, I mean, he is one of the greatest champions in any sport and, nothing but admiration for Rafael Nadal."