Andrey Rublev has sparked debate by naming Rafael Nadal as the mentally strongest player among tennis' 'big three' of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Nadal himself. In an interview with TNT Sports, the Russian was asked to build his ultimate tennis player and, when it came to mental strength, he did not hesitate to choose Nadal.
Rublev, 28, praised Nadal's relentless mentality, saying: 'Rafa is the only one player in history that it doesn't matter how he feels, bad or good. In the end he always finds a way to win.' He added that if Nadal loses, it is only after long battles, particularly at Grand Slams.
For other attributes, Rublev selected Reilly Opelka and Nick Kyrgios for serving, Djokovic for return and backhand, Carlos Alcaraz for forehand and footwork, and Federer for volleying. Rublev has previously called Nadal the greatest athlete of all time across any sport.
Rublev, who has never advanced past the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, will hope to draw inspiration from Nadal's clay-court prowess at the upcoming French Open.
