I faced 16-year-old Rafael Nadal and I was shocked and impressed by what he did to me in training...

Rafael Nadal is undoubtedly one of tennis' all-time greats, and his potential was clear from the very beginning of his career.

He recalled: “I first played against him in 2003, but I was lucky to practise with him a few months before on a cold winter's day in Barcelona. It was so cold and we fixed up a practise for 9am. He continued: “The first forehand he hit was like boom! It was massive, so powerful. I stopped the ball and looked at him and said: ‘how can you hit it so hard from the first ball?’

Rafa Nadal got an introduction before stepping on court Philippe Chatrier to practice today at Roland Garros 🥹at Roland-Garros just over two years later in 2005, before going on to taste glory at the tournament a further eight times in the following nine years. “When he was injured in the past, it was a shame. Now, not having Rafa, which might be his last Roland Garros, would be devastating."

French Open Wimbledon Grand Slam Tennis Alex Corretja Talksport

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