“At Least Two More Years Left” – Alex Corretja Asserts Rafael Nadal Will Win More Grand Slams

Former Spanish tennis star Alex Corretja has made a huge claim on the future of compatriot Rafael Nadal in the sport.

In an interview with a Spanish portal, Corretja, who finished with 17 career ATP Tour titles, said he sees Nadal carrying on for at least another couple of years.

Asked on the priceless moment during the Madrid Open when the 13-time French Open champion posed for pictures with teen tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, the former star said it was akin to receiving one’s “letter of introduction in Spain.”

The crowd at the Manolo Santana was witness to the golden moment after Alcaraz received a masterclass from his idol in a third-round clash on his 18th birthday. “It was in an ideal setting: in Madrid and on Carlos Alcaraz’s birthday. It is your letter of introduction in Spain,” the former star said.

Apart from receiving a cake on court from tournament director and veteran tennis star Feliciano Lopez, young Alcaraz got himself a photo opportunity with the ‘King of Clay,’ making it a day to remember for him.

Rafael Nadal opened his clay season with an early Monte-Carlo exit

However, veering to Nadal, Corretja said he has at least two more years of tennis left in him during which he will gun for more Grand Slam titles.

“Nadal has at least two more years left and he will try to take advantage of them to try to add a Grand Slam,” Corretja added.

The champion had an indifferent start to his clay-court season, crashing out in the quarter-finals at Monte-Carlo Masters after losing to eventual runners-up Andrey Rublev.

Nadal recovered to win 12th Barcelona title and 10th crown in Rome

Though the Spaniard recovered from the disappointing Monte-Carlo exit to lift an unprecedented 12th career title at Barcelona Open, he suffered another rude jolt on his favorite surface after losing eventual champion Alexander Zverev in Madrid.

However, even as many feared that he was losing his footing on clay, the Spaniard responded by hauling his faltering season on soil back on the rails with a 10th career title in Rome.

Read More: WATCH: Rafael Nadal’s Top Shots of 2020

Surviving tricky tests against Jannik Sinner and Denis Shapovalov in the opening rounds and avenging his Madrid loss by beating Zverev, Nadal clinched yet another title in the ancient city with a typical, hard-fought win over old rival and current World No.1 Novak Djokovic.

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