Battling against the odds is something Rafael Nadal knows a lot about as he backs the Argentine football team to bounce back following their shock loss at the World Cup earlier this week.
Nadal had been in Buenos Aires this week where he played an exhibition match against Casper Ruud on Wednesday evening. Although the main spotting topic in the nation is their country’s unexpected 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia. Argentina entered the World Cup on a 36-match unbeaten run and hadn’t been beaten by a country since Brazil in 2019.
Quizzed by reporters about his reaction to that match, Nadal believes the South American team have no reason to lose confidence due to the blip and they still can go far in the tournament. Argentina is bidding to win the trophy for the third time in history and their first since 1986.
“I’m not one for extremes, neither too much euphoria nor too much catastrophe,” Reuters news agency quoted Nadal as saying.
“The world hasn’t changed… They simply lost a game and there are two to go. The least they deserve is confidence and respect.
“They come from being champions of America, from having one of the best winning streaks in history, so why lose confidence? I still think Argentina is a clear candidate to go far.”
Nadal also paid tribute to football superstar Lionel Messi who played in the Spanish LaLiga for FC Barcelona between 2004-2021. The same team his uncle, Miguel Ángel Nadal, played for during the 1990s.
“Messi took things away from Real (Madrid) for years but in the end, as a sports lover, you appreciate someone so special,” he commented. “In LaLiga we’ve been lucky enough to enjoy him in the best years of his sporting career.
“He has given us special moments in the world of sport, he’s one of the top players in the history of football and sport”.
Argentine will next play Mexico on Saturday at the World Cup.
Sabatini features In Parque Roca exhibition
On the court, Nadal prevailed in his exhibition match against ATP Finals runner-up Ruud, winning 7-6(8), 6-2. Both players were greeted by cheers from onlookers in the crowd but La Nacion newspaper said the venue wasn’t completely sold out. Something they attribute to the World Cup and high ticket prices for the event.
“I am happy to have been able to share these moments with the Argentine public, who are very passionate and knowledgeable about the sport. They have always treated me in the best possible way and I get an injection of positive energy,” Nadal said on court.
Nadal and Ruud also took part in a doubles match which involved two former heavyweights of Argentine women’s tennis – 1990 US Open champion Gabriela Sabatini and former world No.1 doubles player Gisela Dulko.
Sabatini, who was partnering with Nadal in the one-set match, had not played an exhibition event in her home country since 2009. The duo won the showdown 6-4.
“Having the opportunity to play with Casper, who is a great player, number 3 in the world, a good friend and an excellent person…, and also playing with Gisela and Gaby, two leaders of Argentine and Latin tennis in the last 20 years, it was a pleasure.” The 22-time Grand Slam champion concluded.
Buenos Aires is the first of six exhibition events Nadal will play across South America during the off-season.
