‘Rafael Nadal faced Roger Federer, Roddick, Hewitt, Ferrero,’ says his uncle


'Rafael Nadal faced Roger Federer, Roddick, Hewitt, Ferrero,' says his uncle

Rafael Nadal barely played junior tournaments, focusing on his pro career at 15 and scoring the first ATP win at home in Mallorca in 2002. The youngster was ready to challenge the more experienced rivals in Futures and Challengers.

Rafa finished the mentioned season just outside the top-200 and cracked the top-50 in 2003 after an impressive run at Challengers and the ATP Tour. Nadal reached four Challenger finals in the opening three months of 2003 and scored his first Masters 1000 victories in Monte Carlo and Hamburg before skipping Roland Garros.

A teenager returned at Wimbledon and reached the third round as one of the youngest players in the Open era. Nadal had to deal with injuries in 2003 and 2004, still doing enough to keep himself around the 50th spot and winning the first ATP crown at 18 in Sopot 2004.

A teenager claimed one of Spain’s crucial points against the USA in the Davis Cup final in Seville at the end of that season and gathered momentum ahead of historic 2005.

Toni Nadal spoke about his nephew’s first steps on the Tour.

The Spaniard lost the Miami final in five sets to Roger Federer before claiming his first Masters 1000 title in Monte Carlo a few weeks later, reaching the top-10 by the end of April. As we all know, Rafa would win the Rome and Roland Garros crowns in May and June, entering history books and becoming the last teenager with a Major title.

Speaking about Rafa’s early days, his long-time coach and uncle Toni Nadal said they dealt with Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick Guillermo Coria and Marat Safin. Despite challenging and more experienced rivals, Nadal found his way towards the top, finishing the 2005 season as world no.

2 and remaining Federer’s closest rival before passing him in 2008. « Many great young players were there when Rafa made the first professional steps, including Federer, Roddick, Hewitt, Coria, Nalbandian, Ferrero, Safin.

They were all young, and it seemed that it would be tough to reach the top. I knew we had to prepare well to fight against those rivals. I’m Rafa’s uncle and director of his tennis complex in Mallorca. Above all that, I have a special affection for my nephew. Forgetting that I’m his uncle, I’ve been linked to him for many years, » Toni Nadal said.

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