Andy Roddick has been previewing the Madrid Open, on the latest iteration of his podcast.
And after he was finished praising Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud for their proficiency on clay this season, he moved on to the outstanding first-round match of the aforementioned tournament: Rafael Nadal vs Darwin Blanch.
The teenage sensation, who stunned many as he made his way into last month’s Miami Open, is set to face the toughest challenge of his young career so far, as he meets the legendary veteran on his favoured surface.
However, Roddick thinks that despite the overwhelming worries that might persist, there is cause for shock optimism regarding the match-up.
Andy Roddick issues advice for Darwin Blanch
Speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, the former world number one sought to offer some advice to the teenage sensation, due to face Nadal tomorrow.
The 16-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise of late, and has burst onto the scene as the next big thing to come out of America despite having spent the bulk of his tennis career in Spain amongst other places across the world.
When asked what he would recommend Blanch do ahead of the match by his co-host Jon Wertheim, Roddick claimed: ‘Focus on your breathing. Exhale when you hit the ball. Your feet have to move. Your feet are the first thing to go when you’re nervous, when something’s wrong.
‘Darwin Blanch. Move your feet. It is a little bit different and there is cause for optimism if you’re Blanch and I’m his coach, in the situation where by the way I want to get to the fact that he’s our best prospect and he doesn’t live in America.
‘Rafa isn’t number one in the world. He’s not peak Andre [Agassi] at this point. You’re still on clay, you’re still in Madrid, the ball jumps everywhere. If he gets a hot day, he is going to get a lesson in a ball jumping off of a court.
‘But if I’m his coach I’m saying ‘Listen, all the respect in the world. You can give credit to this guy and also, I don’t know if this is true on clay, time will tell, he’s not a top-ten player in the world at this moment. He’s a guy who is ranked 800th in the world’. And I would be feeding him this narrative even if I didn’t believe it myself.’
Rafael Nadal just needs to get fit for the French Open
Whilst this marks a potential banana skin for Nadal, he should have far too much quality and experience for the energetic youngster regardless of his fitness issues.
However, regardless of what happens at the Madrid Open, of which his draw remains unsurprisingly harsh due to his low ranking, it feels like he is simply seeking to rebuild his body in preparation for one tournament: Roland Garros.
As the King of Clay, the French Open has been his playground across the last two decades, having won that Grand Slam a record 14 times.
Few will likely ever enjoy dominance over one court like it ever again.
So, whether he enjoys a deep run in Madrid or gets shocked by Blanch in the first round, Nadal must just keep preparing ahead of his return to Roland Garros.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
