"Del Potro has a very high level as a player. It's all relative. For a long time he was giving incredible shots that nobody else can do. He will be a very good player. It's clear that he's a candidate for No. 1. He will be amongst the first four players in the world next year. He's a very complete player. He doesn't have any cracks in his game. He's very solid. He will be unstoppable next year if the [wrist] injury allows him."
For Del Potro to get into the top four, someone currently ranked in those position would have to fall. Was Rafa's statement a shot at one of his top-ranked rivals? Is this setting up a battle royale between tennis players who speak romance languages and all the savages who don't? Let's act like it was! (And not an easy line of praise Rafa threw out to a fellow competitor.) We rank Rafa's candidates to fall out of the top four, from least to most likely.Novak Djokovic -- In Rafa's dreams, perhaps.
Roger Federer -- Nadal has always been effusive in his praise of his long-time rival, even going so far as to say on numerous occasions that Federer is the greatest player in history, mostly after defeating Federer in the final of a Grand Slam.
Nadal himself -- To listen to Nadal's press conferences, you'd think he was a 3.5 trying to get some court time down at the local middle school. If modesty is a virtue, Rafa is St. Francis of Assissi.
Andy Murray -- I'm on board. Let's get someone in the so-called "Big Four" who's actually won something.
No comments:
Post a Comment