One of Rafael Nadal’s most recent opponents gave a very honest response to how he now sees the Spaniard’s game.
The 38-year-old is well and truly into the twilight phase of his career after playing just 19 singles matches in 2024 so far.
The Spaniard has done his best to look after his body after missing the entire 2023 season other than the Australian Open due to a serious hip injury.
Rafael Nadal retuned to the tour in January 2024 played nearly the entire clay court season this year, which was one of his goals after previously stating the 2024 season could be the last of his illustrious career.
One of his opponents this year was Zizou Bergs, who took on Nadal in the opening round of the Italian Open.
What did Zizou Bergs say about Rafael Nadal’s game?
After Nadal reached the Madrid Open round of 16, he entered the Italian Open in Rome, an event he has won 10 times in the past. He took on Bergs in round one, after the Belgian came through the qualifying rounds at the Foro Italico.
The 25-year-old put in a brave performance and took the first set against the 22-time Grand Slam champion, before Nadal showed his trademark fighting qualities against Bergs to bounce back and win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Five months later during an interview with Claytenis.com, Bergs recalled his battle with Nadal and explained the ways in which the tennis legend’s game is below the levels he showed in his prime.
“You come on court and you find his forehand, his backhand. You could say, okay, just avoid that forehand a little bit because it’s really heavy and he will drag it into your backhand, which obviously any double-handed player doesn’t really like,” Bergs said.
“He can play it so heavy as well. Those are two aspects in the rally, which is relatively tough to compete with. His average level is not the same as before.
“He’s also a little bit less fast. But he had some flashes, obviously, during the match where he really showed that he’s the top of the top.”
Rafael Nadal is back in training ahead of Davis Cup finals Saudi Arabia exhibition
Nadal has not played since the Paris Olympic Games in July. He was due to compete at the Laver Cup, but withdrew from the event just over a week before it commenced.
On Monday Nadal uploaded a video to his Instagram training for his upcoming events, which are the ‘Six Kings Slam’ and the Davis Cup.
The exhibition event featuring Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Holger Rune and Jannik Sinner, will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from October 16 to 19.
From November 19 to 24, Spain will compete in the Davis Cup finals, and Nadal has been named in the squad as he goes in search of a sixth Davis Cup title.
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