(VIDEO) "I think it’s a joke" - Nadal blasts John McEnroe for preferential treatment comment

Rafael Nadal was less than impressed by John McEnroe's comments suggesting that the Spaniard received preferential treatment by the umpires.

Rafael Nadal won his first-round match at the US Open and his time management was less than ideal. Nadal is known for milking the clock and has been penalised in the past for time violations which he disagreed with most times.

The Spaniard often gets away with it as umpires do not enforce it as strictly as they technically should. Nick Kyrgios is always quick to point out Nadal whenever he gets one. John McEnroe made a comment about it during the broadcast suggesting that Nadal gets preferential treatment from the umpires at times which Nadal was informed of after the match.

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His response was harsh:

“I think it’s a joke. I went through a lot of warnings in my tennis career. Never for breaking the racquet... but yes for the time clock."

He continued explaining the reasons:

“I have a problem, that I am sweating a lot, and when you are playing a game during these very humid conditions, we have the biggest problem today. We don’t have the ballboys bringing the towel to you, so you have to go to the farthest place on the court. For players like me, I am sweating that much, you know when you go to pick up the towel you’re going to be in trouble with the time, so I’m not going very often."

And concluding:

“I don’t think I have different treatment from the umpires at all. I don’t think I am receiving different treatment at all. I don’t understand why John can say that on the TV. I’m going to have a chat to him later.”

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Luigi Gatto

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Rafael Nadal on John McEnroe claiming he is not following the 25-second serve clock rule. Classy response 👏

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