Darwin Blanch has to find a way to control nerves during Rafael Nadal showdown admits Andy Roddick
ATP
Andy
Roddick offered advice to Darwin Blanch ahead of his showdown against Rafael
Nadal in the first round of the Madrid Open. The former world No. 1 shared on
his podcast, "Served with Roddick," that the 16-year-old must work on
his footwork on clay and capitalize on Rafa's service woes.
The
Blanch-Nadal clash has sparked great anticipation, not only due to the return
of the 22-times Grand Slam champion to Madrid, but also because Blanch himself
has drawn attention for his youth, contrasting with Nadal, making it the
largest age difference match in Masters 1000 history, with over 21 years apart.
"Your feet are the first thing to go," Andy Roddick advises Blanch before facing Nadal.
The
2003 US Open champion suggested that Blanch needs a way to control nerves when
playing against Nadal, who will likely have ample support from the crowd:
"Focus on your breathing. Exhale when you hit the ball," was
Roddick’s advice to the youngster.
"Your
feet have to move. Your feet are the first thing to go when you’re nervous,
when something’s wrong. Darwin Blanch. Move your feet," Roddick added.
"It is a little bit different and there is cause for optimism if you’re
Blanch and I’m his coach, in the situation where, by the way, I want to get to
the fact that he’s our best prospect and he doesn’t live in America."
According
to Roddick, even though they're in Madrid on clay, Blanch has to seek a
positive start to put pressure on his opponent: "Rafa isn’t No 1 in the
world. You’re still on clay, you’re still in Madrid, the ball jumps everywhere.
If he gets a hot day, he is going to get a lesson in a ball jumping off of a
court."
Nadal will play in the Madrid Open for the 14th time in his career, having clinched the title on 4 occasions.
“But if I’m his coach I’m saying ‘Listen, all
the respect in the world. You can give credit to this guy and also, I don’t
know if this is true on clay, time will tell, he’s not a top-ten player in the
world at this moment. He’s a guy who is ranked 800th in the world’.
“And I
would be feeding him this narrative even if I didn’t believe it myself,” he
added. “If you get off to a hot start, he is compromised and he is not serving
properly yet. I would be trying to feed these positive thoughts.”
“He
looks like a mini-Shelton. He has a big serve, a cool vibe. He played at the
Miami Open and it was clear that his footwork is not making sense yet,” the
former world No. 1 claimed. “This is cool. How fortunate is he that Rafa has
four tournaments left to be able to say I played Rafa. I hope he enjoys it.”
“Also,
this kid is in a situation in Spain with Juan Carlos Ferrero, coach of Carlos
Alcaraz, and he plays for America. He has our flag. Ten of 15 years ago, they
would have tried to reel his ass back into America. Leave him there.”
“Send
him all the player development money they are taking away and let him train
with Carlos Alcaraz and become, be guided by Juan Carlos Ferrero and be a top three
player. That would be awesome,” Roddick concluded.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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