Sue Barker hailed Rafael Nadal as an “animal” of tennis – and warned the current stars that Novak Djokovic is coming for them. Nadal, 39, lost the final match of his career to Botic van de Zandschulp as Spain exited the Davis Cup.
The Spaniard paid an emotional farewell to the sport after a breathtaking career that saw him win 22 Grand Slams and four Davis Cup titles. It means that Djokovic is the final member of the famous ‘Big Four’ to still be playing after Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer all bowed out over the last few years.
Djokovic, 37, also has the opportunity to win one more Grand Slam that will take him past Maragaret Court’s record of 24 major titles. Barker, 68, thinks the Serbian could be even more dangerous with the record more than within his reach.
When asked about Nadal by talkSPORT, the 1976 French Open Champion said: “I have interviewed so many different people in sport but he is just such a humble, nice, family loving guy. He’s not the typical sportsperson, and yet on the court, he was an absolute animal, a warrior. You couldn’t have got anyone who tried harder who wanted to win more. He just gave everything.”
On his retirement, she added: “It’s very, very sad, but it’s been on the cards for years. The injuries that he’s had, particularly with the knees, have just been taking their toll.
“But you can’t play the sort of tennis that he played and get away with it as you get older and older and I can’t believe these guys are playing up until they’re 40 years of age. I mean, we were all retired at 30! I think the only reason he probably didn’t win more Wimbledons in a way, is because the French Open was so close to Wimbledon.
“There’s only three weeks [between them] and to come off a tournament where you’ve got to win seven matches, best of five sets to literally do that again on a different surface just a few weeks later, I mean, it was superhuman.”
Now Djokovic is the last man standing in the ‘Big Four’ many have been wondering when he will hang up his racket. Instead of slowly grinding to a halt as a result of injuries and form just like Murray and Nadal, Barker thinks Djokovic will be even more dangerous than usual.
When asked what is motivating Djokovic to continue, Barker replied: “I think it’s records. It was a little bit like when Serena Williams wanted to beat Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam titles. That’s Djokovic’s aim, I think. But also, when we talk physically, he seems to physically be as strong now as when he started out at 18 years old.
“I don’t know how he does it. He’s like an elastic band. He gets himself in positions that no one else seems to do. But it’s much tougher now. There’s a lot of tougher players that have come on now, people like Jannik Sinner, who believe they can win these slams. And so it’s a different sort of mindset for him. And all three big rivals have gone.
“But he says he’s ready for next year. And when Djokovic says he’s ready, then beware. He wants to be the greatest player that’s ever played. He wants to have that record of 25 Grand Slam titles. And I’ve got a feeling he’ll do it.”
