Alex De Minaur admit that he "loses all respect" for Rafael Nadal when they play against each other - because he has no other choice.
The Australian star, competing at this week’s Miami Open, opened up about what it’s like to face Nadal and how matches against the King of Clay differ from other opponents. He shared his feelings during an episode of All on the Table, where he talked about his match with Nadal at Wimbledon in 2018.
He said: “So much physicality, even on the grass, so I can only imagine on a clay court. You have to lose all the respect you have for him and just play him as another player.”
De Minaur lost that match at Wimbledon, before losing twice more to the 22-time Grand Slam winner in their next two matches. He finally ended that streak at the 2023 United Cup, in his hometown of Sydney, with a three-set triumph.
Fellow tennis star Casper Rudd also joined the conversation and added: "His backhand cross is quite heavy, like a normal right-handed forehand in my eyes. The first time I hit with him, I was like, 'What the hell?'
"His backhand looks on TV a bit sloppy or slow, but it's heavy, it's crazy."
While Nadal's career is winding down after one of the greatest career's the game has ever seen, De Minaur believes there is an up-and-coming player whose style compares similarly: current world No.3, Jannick Sinner
"The comparison now is Sinner," he said. "His two-handed backhand is almost like a forehand because he's getting so much force and rotation on it as well, and that's the same with Rafa on the other side."
De Minaur starts his 2024 Miami Open journey on Thursday afternoon. He'll partner with Rinky Hijikata to play in the men's doubles. They've been matched against Stefanos Tsitsipas and Thanasi Kokkinakis for their first match of 32, while De Minaur will be playing in the singles on Friday too.