"Nadal is the best by far, he is a special tennis player"

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Italian tennis is going through a very sweet moment with Jannik Sinner at number 1, Jasmine Paolini ranking as the fourth WTA player, or with Matteo Berrettini experiencing a resurgence. This is why the President of the Italian Tennis Federation, Angelo Binaghi, has many reasons to be satisfied and, on the other hand, excited about the future. Therefore, once the season was over, Binaghi reflected on the Italian players, mainly focusing on Sinner. However, he also took the time to openly comment on Rafa Nadal, "the best of all," according to the Italian.

First, Binaghi revealed to La Nuova Sardegna when was the first and curious time he heard about the current world number 1: "I had first-hand information, a very confidential and trustworthy source: my son. He had played a doubles tournament in Tunisia with Sinner and told me about a younger partner, but who was already very strong and promising. He must have been around 17 at the time. Along with my son, they reached the semifinals, but then had to withdraw because Jannik got injured," he said.

The President of FITP met Sinner in person when he won the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2019, a moment he recalled as follows: "I was impressed by his manners and simplicity. On the court, his enormous worth was already evident; from a technical point of view, he was top-notch. Yet, he still had to overcome some physical deficiencies; he was a bit immature. He reminded me a bit of Venus Williams: incredible potential, but athletic difficulties in covering the court. Then, Sinner's tenacity and determination shaped a complete player, without weaknesses. At this point, he is a rocket in his movements, has improved his serve, and also knows how to be incisive at the net."

On his way to becoming the world number 1, Jannik went through a maturation process that has been a complete success. Many accurately predicted that he would reach the top and win a Grand Slam or two. However, many doubted when that moment would come, as Carlos Alcaraz was starting to steal the spotlight. Binaghi never stopped betting on the Italian. "It was during the period when Alcaraz had exploded, and everyone was obsessed with the Spaniard. Spectacular, solid, very quick, with grit. But to those who said, 'I wish we had one like that in Italy,' I replied, 'Sinner all the way.' Give him time, and we'll talk,"

The Human Quality of Nadal

On the other hand, the Italian President also took the time to comment on other present and past players. Among them, Rafa Nadal, of whom he says is above Djokovic and Federer in a specific aspect. "Nadal is the best of all, by far, especially off the court. In 24 years, I have met him many times, from tournament to tournament. Nadal is truly a special tennis player, a true gentleman, polite, loved by fans, someone who has given a lot to tennis and has inspired generations. In my opinion, even more than Federer, who, in person, according to my experience, does not have the same kindness and charm as Nadal. And the same goes for Djokovic. Undoubtedly, he is the strongest player in the world, but in my opinion, he does not have the sporting and human depth of Nadal."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, "Nadal es el mejor de todos, con diferencia, es un tenista especial"