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WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 1: Rafael Nadal (ESP) speaks with press on Media Day ahead of the 2021 Citi Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center on August 1, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mike Lawrence/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

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WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 1: Rafael Nadal (ESP) speaks with press on Media Day ahead of the 2021 Citi Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center on August 1, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mike Lawrence/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal has been a huge force in tennis. Over all these years, he has been a key figure to youngsters and has encouraged them to develop a liking for the game. Even after winning everything in the sport, the hunger in him still remains the same.
Recently, a Spanish teenager Daniel Rincon spoke highly of Rafael Nadal. The youngster won the recently concluded US Open juniors. In doing so, he highlighted the importance of the 20-time Grand Slam winner and the keen interest he has taken in his progress.
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The 18-year-old sensation praised Rafa and stated, “Of course. It is not only the things that they say to you, it also has a lot to do with who tells you and how they say it to you. Having Rafa so close, sometimes even behind me training, is a great influence. Part of the improvement I have had in recent years has been thanks to him and his environment.”
(Quotes translated using Google translate)
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Rafael Nadal kicked off things in Australia
Speaking of Rafa, he began competing in Melbourne before losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinal of the Australian Open. He was up two sets before the 23-year-old won the next three sets.
Prior to the French Open, Nadal won titles in Barcelona and Rome. However, he suffered a setback at Roland Garros as his journey came to an end in the semifinal to Novak Djokovic.

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PARIS, FRANCE May 29. Rafael Nadal of Spain with coach Carlos Moya while practicing against Aslan Karatsev of Russia on Court Philippe-Chatrier in preparation for the 2021 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on May 29th 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
He then skipped the Wimbledon Championships and the Tokyo Olympics, following which Rafa went to Washington but lost in the initial rounds. And after that, he came back to Spain to work on his foot injury. A while after, he called an end to his season in order to recover fully and get back in better shape for the 2022 season. And we wish him a speedy recovery.
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Watch this story: Top Seeds Naomi Osaka, John Isner, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev and Others Who Faced Huge Upsets at US Open
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