Former World No.5 Henri Leconte of France during an event last year. (Getty Images)
Henri Leconte is a retired French professional with 19 ATP titles to his name
Former World No.5 and retired French professional Henri Leconte compared Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal to a Formula 1 (F1) team.
The winner of 19 ATP titles, Leconte was full of praise for the current world number 2, Rafael Nadal, who is the winner of 19 Grand Slam titles. According to Leconte, Nadal is like an F1 team that releases a new car every year.
“I compare it to a Formula 1 team in which we release a new car every year. He comes back every season with a different way of adapting and playing,” Leconte said in an interview with L’Equipe.
“He works his service, his backhand, his forehand, he works technically. Each time, it changes certain things. He was able to raise his level of play every year. That is what is exceptional,” he added.
Leconte is a former men’s singles finalist at the French Open in 1988. He has also won the French Open men’s doubles title in 1984 and played a key role in helping France win the Davis Cup in 1991.
Meanwhile, Nadal admitted that he was more concerned about 2021 than this year as he believes that tennis will not resume this year.
The 33-year-old was doing an interview with Spanish media outlet El Pais when he was asked if he would be seen back on the court this year.
“Hopefully, but I don’t think so. Unfortunately, … I sign to be ready for 2021. Hopefully, I’m more concerned with the Australian Open than what happens later this year. 2020 I see it practically lost. I hope to be able to start next year,” Nadal replied.
Nadal has been undergoing self-isolation at his home in Mallorca due to the coronavirus also revealed that he did not like the new normal but the old normal with adaptations.
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