Football predictions Rafael, we have a problem...
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The uncle and long-time, former coach of the Spanish tennis superstar Rafael Nadal - Toni, noticed the talent of the current No1 in the world Novak Djokovic 15 years ago - at `Wimbledon 2005`. The ATP website recalled interesting details from Nole`s debut on the `sacred grass` in London. The Serb was then only 18 years old and in the first round of Wimbledon he faced the Argentine Juan Monaco - a regular sparring partner and friend of Rafa. On the way to the locker rooms of the All England Club, Toni Nadal passed through Court No. 18 to watch some of Monaco`s match against the then little-known Serbian teenager Djokovic. At the time, Novak was No128 in the ATP rankings and was playing in a Grand Slam tournament for only the third time in his career. However, he defeated the more experienced Monaco with 6:3, 7:6 (5), 6:3.
Impressed by the qualities of the young Balkan talent, Toni Nadal asks: `Who is this boy? `.
They answer him: `He is 18 years old and he is 100 and something in the world`. `What`s his name? ` Nadal asks.
`Novak Djokovic`. When Toni and Rafa meet in the locker room, the older Nadal tells his 19-year-old nephew, `Rafael, we have a problem. I just saw a very good kid. `Words that turn out to be prophetic. Djokovic is one of Rafael Nadal`s two biggest rivals in his career. The other is Roger Federer, but while the balance of the Spaniard from direct matches against the Swiss is more than good (24-16 victories), against the Serbian Rafa played with great success in the years of their early rivalry, but gradually things changed. Today Rafa and Nole have behind them an incredible 55 matches between them, with a slight advantage over the Serbian - 29:26 wins. But let`s go back to Wimbledon 2005 and Djokovic`s first steps on the big tennis stage. After defeating Juan Monaco, qualifier Novak faces Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the second round. The more experienced Iberian has a solid lead in the result - 6:3, 6:3, 5:3. At 5:4 he is on the point of victory - 40:30 and the luxury of serving. At first it seemed that the Spaniard won the point, but the referee of the chair ruled the ball to Garcia-Lopez in the out and the game according football betting odds continued. The match too. Djokovic broke for 5:5, but followed a break for the Spaniard, who at 6:5 and 40:0 on his own serve has three consecutive matchballs and as if nothing can save his opponent. But Djokovic doesn`t think so. The 18-year-old Serb made an incredible turn and eventually won the match with 3:6, 3:6, 7:6 (5), 7:6 (3), 6:4. Thus, even then Djokovic hinted at his uncompromising sportsmanship. a spirit that will help him fight for not one but two important victories. Roger Federer knows this perhaps better than anyone. In the third round Nole lost to Frenchman Sebastian Grosjean with 5:7, 4:6, 7:5, 4:6, but for Toni Nadal it is already clear that he has appeared in men`s professional tennis. a future champion.
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