Spanish star Pablo Carreno Busta has made a shocking claim regarding the retirement of 20-time Major champion Roger Federer and World No. 2 Rafael Nadal.
World No. 1 Federer and 10-time Roland Garros winner Nadal have dominated the ATP tour for more than 15 years, but Carreno Busta believes their dominance will soon get over. The Barcelona resident thinks that once Federer and Nadal hang up their boots he will succeed in cementing his place in the top-10 of the rankings.
The World No. 19 reached his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at the 2017 French Open and then made it through to the semifinals of the US Open before losing to Kevin Anderson of South Africa in four sets.
With the clay court season round the corner, the 26-year-old is confident of accomplishing good results on his favorite surface, but his priority right now is the ongoing Miami Open, where the tournament organizers have given him a bye in the opening round.
“It seems that they will never retire,” Carreno told Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo.
“But I suppose there will be a day when they will have to stop playing and I will take advantage of those moments to be there
“That step from one generation to another to continue advancing positions.”
Carreno gave details about how he was hoping to regain his status among the game’s elite by becoming a top ten player yet again.
“Go back to at least the top 10, and from there dream big,” he added.
“Being among the top five, and then you will see when they start to retire Federer, Nadal, and these players who are older than me.
“We will see if the new generation that comes below, the Zverev, Shapovalov and Chung take over or give a little time so that players like me can continue climbing positions.”
