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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – FEBRUARY 07: Academy Member Boris Becker passes the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award to Rafael Nadal during the award ceremony for the 2011 Laureus World Sports Awards at the Emirates Palace on February 7, 2011 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for Laureus)
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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – FEBRUARY 07: Academy Member Boris Becker passes the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award to Rafael Nadal during the award ceremony for the 2011 Laureus World Sports Awards at the Emirates Palace on February 7, 2011 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for Laureus)
Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal has been one of the most formidable players in the circuit. After winning the Australian Open this year, he became the first man to win 21 Grand Slam titles.
Recently, the German tennis ace Boris Becker spoke on the heroics of Rafa. He felt that for many weeks the Spaniard was in the same bracket as his rivals. Rafa, Federer, and Djokovic tied on 20 Majors each before the Australian Open.
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Rafael Nadal is in his own bracket
However, after winning the title in Melbourne, one can consider Nadal a step ahead going by statistics. How he won the Australian Open this season was phenomenal. He was two sets down and was nearly broken in the third. Somehow, he found a way and turned the match in his favor.
Speaking about Rafa, the German stated, “Rafa showed once again that he is a fighter, a champion, a tremendous personality to play the way he did and come back from a final that was very complicated. He is now the most successful tennis player in history, something that should be highlighted since a few weeks ago there were three and now there is only one.”
(Quotes translated using Google translate)
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Novak Djokovic of Serbia, Rafael Nadal of Spain and Roger Federer of Switzerlan wait to go on stage during the ATP Heritage Celebration at The Waldorf=Astoria on in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
The contest gets more thrilling
According to Becker, moving on to 21 Majors will make Nadal’s rivals, Federer and Djokovic strive harder to exceed the Spaniard on numbers. With the French Open coming up next, Rafa would surely relish the opportunity to extend that lead over the two other greats.
The 54-year-old added, “I am sure that this will affect Novak and Roger, both will want to win another Grand Slam or even two since Rafa will be the big favorite for the next Roland Garros.“
Coming on to tennis, Nadal is busy competing in Acapulco in Mexico. Moreover, Djokovic is competing at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Roger has been out of action for a while but hopes to be back later this season. We wish all of them the best of luck.
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