Alex de Minaur defeated Rafael Nadal at the Barcelona Open yesterday and he delivered his verdict on the great man afterwards.
Winning a game of tennis never comes as a chore for a professional player but for De Minaur, this one proved quite tough.
For Nadal, this is likely going to be the last time that he plays at the Barcelona Open and it’s a city where he is adored by the locals.
The Australian star came through against Nadal in pretty emphatic fashion winning 7-5, 6-1 – totally outplaying the Spaniard in the second set.
After beating the serial Grand Slam winner he issued an emotional response when quizzed on the clay court expert.
Alex de Minaur reacts after defeating Rafael Nadal
Well, much like Andy Murray, the end also looks to be close for Nadal as injuries take their toll on his body.
It does feel like the end of an era, with Roger Federer already retiring and Murray and Nadal both bringing the curtain down on their careers.
It does ask the question of when Novak Djokovic will start slowing up – but that’s one for a different day.
After his win over Nadal yesterday – in which De Minaur played exceptionally well – he was quizzed on the 14-time French Open winner.
He was in the mood to praise the efforts of the all-time great and it’s clear he’s had a huge impact on his career.
De Minaur told Punto de Break: “Obviously, like the entire tennis world, I’m a little sad because nobody wants Rafa to stop playing.
“Like every tennis player, and especially of my generation, the values that Rafa has had on the court have been the ideals, the ones that they tell you to copy from a very young age.
“The attitude he has in each match, the mental strength, the determination, it’s something we’ve all seen and the play is to be as close to him as possible, which is never easy.
“He is special in my life and in my career, as well as in the world of tennis.”
Nadal absence leaves a big hole but one man could fill the void
Well, who will replace the void left by Nadal we hear you ask at the back? Thankfully, there is a man for the job.
De Minaur has some way to go to prove he can be as successful as Nadal but another player is already showcasing a very similar skill set.
Carlos Alcaraz is definitely going to become the heir to Nadal’s throne – although it’s unlikely that he will be quite as good as the greatest ever on clay.
The youngster has, however, ticked off a couple of majors in winning Wimbledon and the US Open and he looks tailor-made to showcase what Nadal has.
Alcaraz still has learning to do but ultimately there are a lot of similarities between him and Nadal as he starts out in his career.
Nadal will be sorely missed on the tour when he does bow out but watching Alcaraz buzz around the court will surely help fill the void just nicely.