Badosa on Nadal’s Influence and Support

In a recent interview with EFE, Paula Badosa shared heartfelt praise for Rafael Nadal, speaking on how the tennis icon inspired her career. The 26-year-old mentioned Nadal’s support during her difficult moments, particularly with injuries, explaining:

“I was moved when Rafa announced his retirement. In the end, you also go back to childhood, to the beginnings. I will never forget my beginnings, the inspiration and watching all the matches, all the finals with Rafa in the great comebacks. I think he was an incredibly good player in the legend, but he was also a player who could move people, and that’s what made him more special.”

Badosa shared her thoughts on Nadal’s upcoming farewell, which will take place in his home city of Malaga during the Davis Cup Finals in November. She expressed how emotional the moment will be:

“It will be something very beautiful, very emotional, obviously sad at the same time because a legend like Rafa Nadal is leaving, but I think he has chosen a very beautiful place, at home.”

Reflecting on Personal Goals

Reflecting on her season, Badosa emphasized her growth over the past months, mentioning her jump in rankings despite not initially aiming for the Masters Cup. She noted her key lessons on prioritizing physical and mental health:

“This year my goal was to get as high as possible. Think that four months ago I was 120th in the world and for me to be 10th or 11th in the ranking was already a lot… next year I hope to be even higher. I want to play the last rounds, measure myself against the best in the world and see what my level is.”

Pep Guardiola on Nadal’s Legacy

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also shared his admiration for Nadal, pointing to the dedication and resilience of the Big 3—Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer:

“I really admire the Big 3, for their consistency, for being there every season, for how they never gave up and arrived. They come back after every injury, they are three geniuses. We will miss them a lot.”

Novak Djokovic: The Last of the Big 3

With Nadal retiring and Federer already retired, Novak Djokovic remains the only active member of the legendary Big 3. However, Djokovic faces a challenging season, with limited titles and his ATP Finals spot in Turin at risk. This shift underscores the end of an era in tennis, with Djokovic carrying forward the legacy established by his fellow champions.