Rafael Nadal: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic US Open claim made by Mats Wilander
RAFAEL NADAL will not lose to Vasek Pospisil when they clash at the US Open - but Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic could knock him out - claims Mats Wilander.
Nadal breezed through his opening-round clash with David Ferrer after the retiring Spaniard withdrew midway through the second set.
It means Nadal should be fresher for his second-round tie against Pospisil, which is the last on Arthur Ashe Stadium and expected to get underway at 2am (BST) Thursday morning.
The pair will play under the floodlights and avoid the blistering heat which has wreaked havoc all week.
Looking ahead to the game, seven-time Grand Slam winner Wilander says only two men have the chance to beat Nadal over the next fortnight.
And those are Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer - who have all won one Grand Slam apiece already this year.
“He’s not going to lose to anyone that is not a great player,” Wilander told Eurosport.
“If you play tennis with him, he’s not losing.
Nadal eased past Ferrer in the first round but then took time to hail his “good friend” who is retiring at the end of the season.
“Well, I thought there going to be some tough match because always he's a very good competitor,” Nadal said.
“I thinking that it will be his last match, probably he will come on court to enjoy, play with the right intensity.
“I think that's what he did. I think he was playing well.
Novak Djokovic was the pre-tournament favourite (Image: GETTY)
“And for me, the only player he can lose to is Novak Djokovic - maybe Roger Federer if he is on fire.”
“I’m very sad about what happened to him in his last match probably on a Grand Slam. But that's like this. That's life.
“He deserved a better finish on a Grand Slam. But I am sure that he will have the right finish for him in the tournaments that he decide to play to finish his career. So is not his last event.
“I am sad for him. But being honest, I am sure he will have the good-bye that he deserve on the events that he decides to play.”
