Reilly Opelka Reacts to Rafael Nadal Politely Shutting Down a Reporter For Making a Factual Error

20-time Grand Slam Champion and the current World no.6, Rafael Nadal has been known for his honesty throughout his career while giving interviews. He showed the same honesty and maturity during a recent interview when an interviewer made some factual errors while asking a question. 

The reporter asked Nadal, “I just wanted to ask, you haven’t reached the semifinals at the Australian Open since you won the title in 2009. I just wondered if there’s anything you find difficult or challenging about the conditions compared to other Grand Slams.”

In reply, Nadal corrected the reporter in a polite manner with a smile on his face. He said, “I am very sorry to tell you, I don’t want to, but I have been in the final of 2012, ‘14, ‘17, ‘18… Sorry to correct you.”

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Rieley Opelka uses the instance to question the tennis media

Although Nadal’s response was quite mature and light-hearted, Rieley Opelka, the current World no.25, questioned the professionalism of the journalist and tennis media. The American big server retweeted the video on Twitter and wrote, “But tennis media is good right?” 

In the past as well, Opelka has expressed his frustrations with the coverage of the sport. He even called tennis media the worst of any sport; clearly, the American does not mince his words when expressing his frustration with the sport’s journalists. 

Rafael Nadal started 2022 with a title win in Melbourne

Rafael Nadal started the year with winning momentum as he clinched the Melbourne title this Sunday. He beat Maxime Cressy in the final by 7-6, 6-3 to win the trophy. Incidentally, this is Nadal’s first title in Australia in quite a few years and he hopes to continue this winning momentum at the Happy Slam.  

However, his biggest rival, Novak Djokovic, is expected to compete as well after his fiasco in Australia seems to have reached a conclusion. 

Will Nadal win this year’s Australian Open? Will we see another Nadal-Djokovic final? Let us know in the comments.

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