​Rafael Nadal is preparing to return to tennis after almost a year’s break. The Iberian said there is a good chance that 2024 will be his last season in the ATP. The former world leader set himself the task of creating the perfect player, “borrowing” important weapons from Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Rafael Nadal uses Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic strokes to create ‘perfect player’

Rafa has officially announced that he will return to the court at the ATP tournament in Auckland from the beginning of next year. Nadal, currently ranked 664 in the world, challenged journalists to create the perfect tennis player.

The Iberian took important weapons from the BIG 3 (from him, Roger and Novak), and a big surprise happened at the volleyball level: he chose the Czech Radek Stepanek.

Rafael Nadal’s choice to create the perfect tennis player

• Service: Ivo Karlovych

• Forehand: Roger Federer

• Backhand: Novak Djokovic

• Kick: Radek Stepanek

• Physical training: Carlos Alcaraz

• Mental: Rafael Nadal

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What you need to know about Rafael Nadal

• He is currently ranked 664 in the ATP rankings after a season in which he played just four matches (one win and three losses).

• He collected in 2023 only $310,797 from tennis. This is actually the only season in which Rafa did not win the title.

• He climbed ATP No. 1 for the first time on August 18, 2008.

• He has 1068 wins and 220 losses in his career.

• He has collected $134,640,719 in tennis prize money alone and has 92 ATP titles in his career.

• He ranks second in the hierarchy of conquered major competitions: 22 Grand Slam titles against Novak Djokovic’s 24.

Ranking of Grand Slam titles won

1. Novak Djokovic 24

2. Rafael Nadal 22

3. Roger Federer 20 / finished tennis.

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