Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola says he is stuffed with admiration for Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, calling them the “three geniuses” of tennis.
Nadal, 38, is retiring after subsequent month’s Davis Cup finals in Malaga, bringing the curtain down on an unbelievable profession during which he has gained 22 Grand Slam titles – together with 14 French Open crowns.
Earlier than then, he’ll face acquainted foe Djokovic for the final time on Saturday on the Six Kings Slam, dwell on Sky Sports activities.
Guardiola says he felt “a little bit sad” when Spanish compatriot Nadal introduced his retirement, however the Premier League boss has paid tribute to the three legends who’ve dominated males’s singles tennis for 20 years, collectively successful 66 Grand Slam titles.
Federer, Novak Djokovic and Nadal have dominated males’s tennis panorama for the final 20 years
“I think it happened because he saw that he cannot be or compete in the level that he had been for two decades, but I admire all of them, all three,” Guardiola informed Sky Sports activities’ new One on One collection and podcast.
“I love the consistency of ‘The Large Three’ each single season being there and by no means giving up, getting back from the setbacks.
“I love all of them, so for me they’re three geniuses. I attempted to be taught so much from their physique language, how they behave within the dangerous moments, how robust they’re mentally, and naturally the expertise and ability.
“I think all three will be missed – but still Novak Djokovic can enjoy it – but the three will be missed.”
Guardiola additionally defined how he would observe the greats of the sport and see how they might overcome adversity.
He mentioned: “I would always pay attention to the way tennis players look at the ball with their eyes and how they behave in certain moments. I also want to see how losers react in the next match.”
Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp have left the Premier League however Pep Guardiola stays
Guardiola has loved loads of heavyweight battles of his personal, competing within the Premier League towards the likes of Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp.
Like Djokovic nonetheless standing from an period of nice tennis gamers, solely Guardiola stays within the high flight from that illustrious assortment of managers.
“When you are here nine years and then you become the oldest in football…Jurgen is tired, and when you don’t get results you change the manager, so it’s a simple answer for that – we won – otherwise I would not be here,” mentioned the 53-year-old former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.
“Here you have to win. This is the only job where people are demanding desperately to sack you. It’s our profession so you have to accept it.”
Catch our new soccer collection One on One on the Sky Sports activities Premier League You Tube channel and hearken to the podcast – search One on One from Sky Sports activities.
