By Léa Ouzan – Published on Oct 06, 2024 at 8:30 p.m.
Asked about the nature of his relationship with Rafael Nadal, Nelson Monfort spoke frankly. The sports journalist has a good relationship with the tennis player.
Rafael Nadal is considered one of the greatest players of tennis history. He started playing at a young age, encouraged by his uncle Toni Nadal, who became his coach for many years. From his debut on the professional circuit in 2001, Nadal has demonstrated immense talent. Her aggressive playing style and his ability to excel on clay quickly became his trademark. Rafael Nadal is particularly famous for his impressive performances at Roland Garros. Indeed, he has won the tournament 14 times until 2023. This record makes him the most successful player in the history of this competition. In addition to his success in Paris, he also won other Grand Slam tournaments, including the Australian Open (2 titles), Wimbledon (2 titles) and the US Open (4 titles).
Rafael Nadal’s journey
His clay court game is characterized by incredible power, topspin shots and remarkable tenacity. His performances even earned him the nickname King of Clay. Nadal’s style of play is marked by his incredible athleticism and mentality of a fighter on the court.
His ability to fight for every point, combined with an often formidable forehand, allowed him to climb the rankings. He was world number one for over 200 weeks. Beyond Grand Slam tournaments, he was also a key member of the Spanish Davis Cup team. Thus, he won the gold medal in singles at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Retirement soon for the tennis player?
But Rafael Nadal seems determined to retire. Defeated in the second round by Alexander Zverev at Rolland Garros, his repeated physical problems risk soon leading to his departure. For his part, Nelson Monfort also seems ready to retire. At 71, the famous French journalist gave his last interviews on the tennis courts. A beautiful tribute was even paid to him at the end of the fortnight.
Last May, Nelson Monfort spoke about his relationship with Nadal in Réel Média. And the host spoke in all sincerity: “My relationship with Rafael Nadal? I would say it’s a brotherly relationship, I don’t hesitate to use that word,” he explained. And to continue: “I would say that among all the athletes I have met — and you know that I work in other sports, he is certainly one of the most endearing, if not the most endearing.”
“He left the tournament prematurely”
Moreover, the sports journalist has difficulty digesting his elimination against Alexander Zverev at the Roland-Garros tournament: “He left the tournament prematurely because of a draw which, I would like to point out, should never have taken place. I’m making a small digression, but it should have been protected. He should have been seeded. No one would have found fault with it. Wimbledon did it for (Roger) Federer a few years ago, I don’t see why the Roland-Garros tournament didn’t do it this year.”he revealed.
And to conclude: “There was a one chance in 128 that he would come across a player of this caliber and unfortunately, he dialed the wrong number. This draw may have — I mean maybe — prevented him from winning this tournament.”
