Shock Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal claim made by Rublev: Do fans really think this?
THERE will be better tennis players than Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal one day, says Andrey Rublev.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have dominated tennis over the last decade, setting the standard for their peers year after year.
At 36 and 31 respectively, the duo are still managing to rewrite the history books, and finished as the top two in the world rankings for 2017.
Federer won a record eighth Wimbledon title last year, while Nadal won a record 10th French Open with victory over Stan Wawrinka.
Federer currently tops the list of total Grand Slam titles with 19, while Nadal sits on 16, having overtaken American legend Pete Sampras (14).
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I am sure that in the future there will be someone better than them.
However, Russian 20-year-old Rublev, surprisingly feels one day their records will be beaten - a view the duo’s legions of fans will strongly disagree with.
“I always thought that Rafa, whatever happened and no matter how many problems he had, would win again,” Rublev told Spanish newspaper Marca.
“And Federer is the best in history. They changed tennis and they are still the best.
“I am sure that in the future there will be someone better than them.
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“In sport it has always been like that. It may be a long time but there will be substitutes.”
Rublev, who has one career title to his name, is due to take part in the Australian Open that starts this week.
Nadal and Federer are also preparing to take part despite some injury concerns over the Spaniard’s fitness.
Defending champion Federer, along with the other participants, will find out who they’ll be facing in the first round when the draw is made tomorrow (8am UK time).
