“It Was Frightening”: Greg Rusedski Recalls Watching a 15-Year-Old Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal became the first person in history to win 21 Grand slams, with his win over Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open 2022 this Sunday. He came back from two sets down and overcame the Russian world No. 2 in a 5 hour 24 minutes long battle.

Medvedev also had 3 breakpoints in the third set, and for quite some time it felt like it was only a matter of time before he would lift his second Grand Slam title. But Nadal, always the fighter, did not give up and stepped up his game, taking the third and fourth sets. Forcing the match into a deciding fifth, Nadal was broken once, before he broke back and took the set and thus the match.

It was arguably one of the best Grand Slam final performances by Nadal, who has been to 29 of them, losing only 8. His grit and determination when it comes to the game is unparalleled, and he’s always ascribed it to a strong work ethic and passion for always being better.

Greg Rusedski says watching young Rafael Nadal was frightening

Former British tennis star Greg Rusedski, who reached a career-high ATP ranking of No. 4, recalled seeing young Nadal play in his hometown. He remembered watching a 15-year-old Rafael Nadal play, and he has “never seen anything like it.”

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He also mentioned how the teenager’s level of talent, a few years before he turned pro was “frightening.”

He further wrote, “I still clearly remember when I first saw Rafa. I was playing an exhibition in Mallorca. He was 15, practising on a clay court, and it was frightening… He just had this extraordinary forehand, where he could have his opponent on a string, and a mind-boggling level of intensity.”

Rusedski compared watching young Nadal to watching soccer greats like Cristiano Ronaldo or George Best for the first time. He even said that Nadal’s level of intensity at such an age made him not want to face him ever.

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