ATP > Guy Forget on Nadal’s retirement: “We can say that Federer was technically the most accomplished, the most incredible when he played well. We can say that Djokovic is the best raiser, the player who misses the least, the most difficult to counter, but for me, the mentally strongest is Rafa”

Director of Roland‐Garros between 2016 and 2021, Guy Forget was able to observe Rafael Nadal very closely for several years. And as he explains to The Teamwhat impressed him most about the Spaniard was his mental strength.

“We can say that Federer was technically the most accomplished, the most incredible when he played well. We can say that Djokovic is the best raiser, the player who misses the least, the most difficult to counter, but for me, the mentally strongest is Nadal. On this level, I place him above Roger and Novak. When some other legends could show signs of annoyance and even give up during the match, I never saw him lower his head or admit defeat. Until the last point. And even when you compare him to Jimmy Connors or Lleyton Hewitt, monsters of pugnacity, of resilience, he was far above him. It was probably his greatest strength, this ability, whatever his physical problem, the score, his opponent or the surface, to constantly say to himself: ‘I will find the solution and I will get through it’. I don’t know where he got this strength from. »

Published on Friday October 11, 2024 at 11:46