Rafael Nadal rarely struggled against his opponents on the ATP Tour, as is customary for someone who wins 22 Grand Slam titles.
The Spanish bull played the best of the previous generation, defeating the likes of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
Now the new generation has arisen, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner firmly behind the wheel.
Nadal’s faced the newest kids on the block on a few occasions during his career, including the new Wimbledon champion, Jannik Sinner, at the 2021 French Open.
After defeating the spirited Italian, Nadal admitted there was something he ‘couldn’t do’ during the match.
Rafael Nadal said he ‘couldn’t make too many mistakes’ when playing Jannik Sinner
At the 2021 French Open, Rafael Nadal was still at the peak of his powers and entered the tournament full of confidence after winning the event in 2020.
During the tournament, Nadal played a young Jannik Sinner, which was their third and last meeting on the ATP Tour.
Nadal ended up winning the match 7-5 6-3 6-0. Despite the victory, Nadal was polite enough to compliment his young opponent after the match.
The Spaniard’s comments foreshadowed the future superiority of Sinner in regard to one particular aspect of his game – consistency.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Nadal said: “He is young, he is improving every week.
“He has big shots. I needed to be solid and aggressive. I can’t make too many mistakes [against someone like him]. I knew it was the fourth round – you can’t expect an easy opponent at that stage.”
Rafael Nadal’s head-to-head record against Jannik Sinner
Sinner, who joined Nadal on an exclusive list after winning Wimbledon, was congratulated by the Spaniard for his latest triumph.
On X [Twitter] Nadal said: “Congratulations Jannik Sinner on your first Wimbledon title! Special moments!
“I know it won’t be an easy day, but… Congratulations Carlos Alcaraz on another Grand Slam final and for the great season you’re having!
One of Nadal’s key achievements could be matched by Sinner in 2026. The Italian is just one French Open victory away from completing the career Grand Slam.
