"I have had a poster in my room since he won his eighth French": Next gen players in awe after meeting Rafael Nadal in Jeddah

Young players were in awe to meet their legendary tennis star Rafael Nadal during the Next ATP Gen. The mega-event, which is the biggest for the players who have not turned 21, is being played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the second year in a row.

Young Alex Michelsen and Joao Fonseca met with the 38-year-old who has been nominated as the ambassador for the upcoming event. Nadal is regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the singles category, having won as many as 22 Grand Slam titles. Both players were quoted in a report by Tennis 365 where they explained their reaction after meeting one of the biggest names in the sport.

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Michelsen stated that he had a poster of the former world number one in his room and that he was really ‘pleased’ after meeting a player who has achieved nearly everything on the court. “I have had a poster in my room since he won his eighth French, so it is really cool and I am pleased I have the chance to talk to him,” he said. “To win 11 titles at 19 is absolutely ridiculous. I almost got one, but to get 11 is absolutely absurd! That is why he is one of the best players to ever walk onto a tennis court.”

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On the other hand, 18-year-old Fonseca stated his desire to replicate the success achieved by Nadal in his early days and also revealed that he and his coach are big fan of the legendary Spaniard. He also stated that his phone unlock screen also has a poster of Nadal.

“Rafa is a legend,” he said. “I’m a Roger fan, but I also love Rafa. My coach is a Rafa fan. My phone unlock screen is Rafa with a sentence. It has been a pleasure to meet him. Eleven titles in a season is just insane. I will try to do the same.”