Rafael Nadal advanced to the second round of the Masters 1000 in Madrid on Thursday after seeing off Darwin Blanch (16, 1028 ATP) 6-1, 6-0 at the end of a fast-paced match that just over an hour of gameplay. Nadal, who has expressed concern about his fitness, was unfazed by his opponent 21 years and 117 days his junior.
Rafa fan Stefanos Tsitsipas knows how hard it is for a kid to meet the great Spanish champion and recalled his first face-to-face meeting with the greatest player in history on clay. It happened in 2018, in the final in Barcelona, and Nadal prevailed with a categorical 6-2, 6-1.
“I got my first taste of what Nadal is when I played against him in Barcelona and he was completely ruthless. I still remember his energy after the coin toss. He gave the feeling that the stadium belonged to him, which I did not feel with other tennis players I faced. I have never felt anything like this in my life.
As a young player, you’re not used to that feeling when you go up against someone. It’s something I carry with me mentally and now, I remember that feeling. It took me a while to get used to his ball, but it’s almost impossible to forget who’s on the other side of the net. I grew up watching him, I even had a poster of him in my room. He is very difficult to play with and for what he means to tennis, he is my childhood hero“, the Greek told Eurosport.
Tsitsipas on his victory against Nadal in Madrid and his goals
Tsitsipas and Nadal met 9 times in the ATP circuit, the Iberian winning 7 times. However, the Greek player achieved a huge success against Rafa, even on clay, in the semifinals of Madrid 2019 (6-4, 2-6, 6-3).
“I would consider it my greatest victory. I have a lot of respect for him because he has done things that I don’t think any other tennis player is doing except for Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. These are three guys who pushed the sport to its limits. What they have accomplished makes us wonder if they are really human or heroes“, Tsitsipas also said.
The Greek, now number 7 in the world, has started the clay season in the best way possible. With a title in Monte Carlo and a final in Barcelona, Tsitsipas wants to keep ticking off the final stages of tournaments, but doesn’t want to set any trophy goals for now.
“The goal is to maintain this mental state that I have found and continue to work hard. I don’t want to think too much about what I can get, I just want to enjoy the moment.
A few weeks ago I left the Top 10, but I’m back. I don’t just want to stay there, I want to fight for more, I want to achieve bigger things. I know I need a lot of dedication and good results to regain my full confidence, I hope to arrive at Roland Garros in the best shape“, the Greek also pointed out.
Tsitsipas had time off in the first round in Madrid, but today he will enter the contest, next meeting the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro. As for Rafa, he will have to wait until tomorrow to play De Minaur (11 ATP) in the second round. Nadal also met the Australian in the second round in Barcelona, and the “Demon” prevailed 7-5, 6-1.
