Rafael Nadal: “Playing Del Potro in Second Round For Me is a Terrible Draw” [Video]

The King of Clay Rafael Nadal sounds on guard for his big showdown match with Juan Martin Del Potro later today in the Mutua Madrid Open’s Magic Box.

Nadal is the defending champion of Madrid and he’s won 35 consecutive matches on clay, but despite those hefty numbers Del Potro is a serious threat, and Rafa agrees calling the matchup a “terrible draw”.

Del Potro, who is returning from a major wrist injury, is working his way back into form climbing from a ranking of 484 in February to a current standing of No. 32. The former US Open champion has won seven straight on this surface winning Estoril on Sunday. And this season Del Potro has won 25 of his last 28 ATP matches.

Nadal has taken five of eight meeting with the Argentine but Del Potro has won three of their last four, and show good form in a semifinal final loss to the Spaniard at Indian Wells.

In video, Nadal also speaks of how he always has motivation when he takes the court because he understands, unlike many other athletes, that fans pay good money to see them perform. That’s good to hear from Rafael.