The Spaniard is famous for practicing as hard and with as much focus as he plays in his professional matches. "Last two years we went to his structure in Mallorca to practice and both times I was able to practice with him," Ruusuvuori said.
"So, the first time I was more nervous... and he hits the ball so hard from the first ball. I would say there is nobody with whom you can get this kind of an experience." Emil Ruusuvuori went on to compare the training methodology of Rafael Nadal with that of Novak Djokovic.
Ruusuvuori said that even though the Serb hits the ball "cleaner", the intensity at which he operates during practice is not as frenetic as Nadal. "It's just a different kind of way with which he approaches practice and of course, how he plays," the Finn said.
"Even, say, Novak (Djokovic) is nice, and he hits the ball cleaner. But the pace in the practice is not as high, and that's something very, very different."
After ten incredible years on the Tour that promoted him into one of the greatest players of all time, Rafael Nadal started to lose steam in the second part of 2014 due to injuries. Winning only a couple of ATP titles by the end of 2016, Rafa struggled to find the form in those years and challenge the rivals from the top.
Nonetheless, the Spaniard remained in the top-10 despite taking only one Masters 1000 title, recovering completely ahead of 2017 and returning where he belongs. Rafa conquered six trophies in 2017, including two Majors and two Masters 1000 tournaments to earn the year-end no.
1 honor for the first time in 2013 and complete an impressive comeback. Nadal has never left the top-6 again despite more troubles with injuries in the previous years, standing on 20 Major titles and 36 Masters 1000 crowns and as one of the most accomplished players in history.
The Spaniard added a Major and three Masters 1000 trophies to his tally in 2018 and spent most of the season at the top before Novak Djokovic passed him in the closing stages after Rafa closed the year following the US Open semi-final loss to Juan Martin del Potro.
Nadal returned more vital in 2019, choosing his schedule wisely and delivering steady results and four notable titles to regain the ATP throne from Novak and become the oldest year-end no. 1 player in the ATP history at 33 (Djokovic would take that record away in 2020).
There were some injuries again, but they could not disturb the Spaniard's rhythm. For more updates, please follow us on Isports247.net!