16 year old Darwin Blanch had a hilarious reaction when he realized he plays Rafa Nadal in the first round of Madrid “Guys I play Nadal wtf” 😂 21 year age difference. This is only his 2nd tour level match.
"Guys I play Nadal wtf": American talent Darwin Blanch gives hilarious reaction to drawing Rafael Nadal at Madrid Open
ATPMonday, 22 April 2024 at 19:30
"The young tennis player Darwin Blanche shared a humorous reaction on social media after learning that he will face Rafael Nadal in the Madrid Open. This will be the 22-times Grand Slam champion's third tournament of the year and will be against one of the biggest promises of the ATP Tour.
Blanche, at just 16 years old, gained entry to the Mutua Madrid Open draw with a wild card, although it won't be his first time in a Masters 1000, as he made his professional tournament debut at the Miami Open in late March, where he was defeated by Czech Tomas Machac in a clear 4-6, 2-6.
Despite his young age, Blanche has already made a name for himself in tennis as one of the great promises, ranking eighth in the junior rankings. At just 14 years and five months old, he earned his first ATP point and has already reached junior semifinals at both the French Open and Wimbledon.
In Darwin's early years in tennis, he was mentored by none other than coach Rick Macci, former coach of the Williams sisters and Andy Roddick, among others. The 16-year-old is also a left-handed player standing at 1.90 meters tall with an excellent serve that easily exceeds 200 km/hr.
On the other hand, Nadal last played in Madrid in 2022, where he was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Carlos Alcaraz, the champion of the last two editions. Unlike tournaments like Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, or the Italian Open, Nadal's dominance on the clay of Madrid is less overwhelming, considering he has 'only' won four titles. His trophies came in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2017, with a record of 43-9 (83%).
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