Sue Barker hailed Rafael Nadal as an “animal” of tennis – and cautioned the current stars that Novak Djokovic is coming for them. Nadal, 39, lost the final align of his atgentle to Botic van de Zandschulp as Spain exited the Davis Cup.
The Spaniard phelp an emotional farewell to the sport after a breathtaking atgentle that saw him thrive 22 Grand Slams and four Davis Cup titles. It unbenevolents that Djokovic is the final member of the well-understandn ‘Big Four’ to still be joining after Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer all bowed out over the last restricted years.
Djokovic, 37, also has the opportunity to thrive one more Grand Slam that will consent him past Maragaret Court’s write down of 24 transport inant titles. Barker, 68, leanks the Serbian could be even more hazardous with the write down more than wilean his accomplish.
When asked about Nadal by talkSPORT, the 1976 French Open Champion shelp: “I have interseeed so many contrastent people in sport but he is equitable such a unpretentious, pleasant, family loving guy. He’s not the standard sportsperson, and yet on the court, he was an absolute animal, a warrior. You couldn’t have got anyone who tried challenginger who wanted to thrive more. He equitable gave everyleang.”
On his withdrawment, she inserted: “It’s very, very downcast, but it’s been on the cards for years. The injuries that he’s had, particularly with the knees, have equitable been taking their toll.
“But you can’t join the sort of tennis that he joined and get away with it as you get greaterer and greaterer and I can’t depend these guys are joining up until they’re 40 years of age. I unbenevolent, we were all reweary at 30! I leank the only reason he probably didn’t thrive more Wimbledons in a way, is becaengage the French Open was so shut to Wimbledon.
“There’s only three weeks [between them] and to come off a tournament where you’ve got to thrive seven alignes, best of five sets to literpartner do that aobtain on a contrastent surface equitable a restricted weeks deferedr, I unbenevolent, it was superhuman.”
Now Djokovic is the last man standing in the ‘Big Four’ many have been wondering when he will hang up his racket. Instead of sluggishly grinding to a crelieve as a result of injuries and create equitable enjoy Murray and Nadal, Barker leanks Djokovic will be even more hazardous than common.
When asked what is motivating Djokovic to proceed, Barker replied: “I leank it’s write downs. It was a little bit enjoy when Serena Williams wanted to beat Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam titles. That’s Djokovic’s aim, I leank. But also, when we talk physicpartner, he seems to physicpartner be as strong now as when he begined out at 18 years greater.
“I don’t understand how he does it. He’s enjoy an elastic prohibitd. He gets himself in positions that no one else seems to do. But it’s much stubborner now. There’s a lot of stubborner joiners that have come on now, people enjoy Jannik Sinner, who depend they can thrive these slams. And so it’s a contrastent sort of mindset for him. And all three huge rivals have gone.
“But he says he’s ready for next year. And when Djokovic says he’s ready, then beware. He wants to be the fantasticest joiner that’s ever joined. He wants to have that write down of 25 Grand Slam titles. And I’ve got a experienceing he’ll do it.”
