Young players were in awe to meet their legendary tennis
star Rafael Nadal during the Next ATP Gen. The mega-event, which is the biggest
for the players who have not turned 21, is being played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
for the second year in a row.

Young Alex Michelsen and Joao Fonseca met with the 38-year-old
who has been nominated as the ambassador for the upcoming event. Nadal is
regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the singles
category, having won as many as 22 Grand Slam titles. Both players were quoted
in a report by Tennis 365 where they explained their reaction after meeting one
of the biggest names in the sport.

Michelsen stated that he had a poster of the former world
number one in his room and that he was really ‘pleased’ after meeting a player
who has achieved nearly everything on the court. “I have had a poster in my
room since he won his eighth French, so it is really cool and I am pleased I
have the chance to talk to him,” he said. “To win 11 titles at 19 is absolutely
ridiculous. I almost got one, but to get 11 is absolutely absurd! That is why he
is one of the best players to ever walk onto a tennis court.”

On the other hand, 18-year-old Fonseca stated his desire to
replicate the success achieved by Nadal in his early days and also revealed
that he and his coach are big fan of the legendary Spaniard. He also stated
that his phone unlock screen also has a poster of Nadal.

“Rafa is a legend,” he said. “I’m a Roger fan, but I also
love Rafa. My coach is a Rafa fan. My phone unlock screen is Rafa with a
sentence. It has been a pleasure to meet him. Eleven titles in a season is just
insane. I will try to do the same.”