“Carlos has incredible potential and that is why he is where he is, he deserves it,” acknowledged the world number 2 at a press conference in the Plaza de San Francisco, located in the historic center of the Ecuadorian capital.
When asked if the trend of two Spaniards at the top of the ATP ranking will continue, Nadal said: “I don’t think it’s going to be a trend, honestly it’s difficult to maintain such a high level (…) I play very few events at these heights, so it is very difficult to maintain a very high ranking”.
Nadal, winner of 22 Grand Slam tournaments, arrived in Ecuador this Sunday to play against the Norwegian Casper Rudd at the height of Quito, in his fourth stop on a tour of Latin America.
“It’s going to be (a meeting) difficult because of the height,” said Rudd, ranked 3rd in the world.
The Norwegian added that he aspires to beat his “idol” in Quito, a city at 2,850 meters above sea level and where he played several years ago.
Before speaking with the press, Nadal and Rudd played a mini tennis exhibition match inside a Quito metro station, which is about to open.
Nadal and Rudd met in Argentina last Thursday in the first match of this exhibition tour, which included Chile and Brazil before arriving in Ecuador.
The tennis players will continue the trip through Bogotá (on the 29th) and Mexico City, where the tour will conclude on December 1st.