Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic - tight program in Kazakhstan
The two best players in the world will compete in Kazakhstan next week. With this, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are giving some tournament organizers a headache.
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Oct 16, 2019, 10:00 am
Rafael Nadal has not played much tennis in the past few weeks. After his five-set win against Daniil Medvedev at the US Open, the Spaniard was only at the Laver Cup in use, but there was already the third day free. Nadal renounced a start in Shanghai due to a wrist injury. Probably not too heavy heart, is but in a few days a big private highlight: the wedding with longtime girlfriend Xisca Perello.
After that, however, there is no time for honeymoon, Rafael Nadal has made an appointment with Novak Djokovic for a show fight in Kazakhstan. At an appointment that has forced at least one frown on the tournament organizers in Vienna and Basel: Djokovic and Nadal will compete in the capital Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana) on October 24th.
Nadal and Djokovic at the Davis Cup final
There is no doubt about the sporting value, the two superstars have no secrets anyway: 54 matches have Nadal and Djokovic contested on the ATP tour, the Serb has just a nose ahead with 28 wins. The last serious meeting took place in Rome, Nadal won in three sets.
In Kazakhstan, however, time will be used efficiently. At noon, a press conference for both players is announced, in the early evening then a training session with young people, which will operate as a "Master Class". The actual highlight then follows at prime time.
For both players, however, are still important dates, especially the ATP Finals in London and the first Davis Cup final tournament in Madrid. Last year, Rafael Nadal had long since ended his competition program, 2019 want to attack the Mallorquin twice.