‘Video pal Ferrer deserves to win’
Rafael Nadal insisted video games rival and close friend David Ferrer deserves his chance at a Grand Slam title and anybody who claims otherwise is ignorant of the sport.
Nadal will become the first man in history to win the same major eight times if he beats his Spanish compatriot in Sunday’s final at Roland Garros.
With a Paris record of 58 wins from 59 matches, Nadal, in his 17th Grand Slam final is the overwhelming favourite but has backed his 31-year-old rival to shine after making his first final at the 42nd time of asking.
“Tennis is a fair sport, and if somebody deserves to win titles, to be in the finals of a Grand Slam, is David,” said Nadal.
“It’s like And Murray in the US Open. He deserved to be the winner of a Grand Slam because he was in that position to be the winner a lot of times. So if somebody deserve to win a Grand Slam was Andy.
“Somebody deserves to be in the final of a Grand Slam it is David. His level of tennis is higher every year. He’s always playing at a very high level and very often.”
Ferrer’s only win over Nadal on the surface was back in 2004 at Stuttgart, the pair’s first meeting when the seven-time French Open champion was just 16.
Despite his overwhelming dominance, the 27-year-old Nadal believes that Ferrer, who has the lowest profile of the world’s top five men, does not get the respect he deserves.
Nadal and Ferrer have been friends and Davis Cup teammates since 2004 and often spend their free-time teaming up as video game partners. “He’s a very good guy. He’s relaxed. He’s very big fighter. He always worked a lot to be where he is, and I like this kind these kind of persons,” said the champion.
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