Lopez on Nadal: "Technically and tactically, he is, if not the best, second or third in history"

After attempting to defend the farewell ceremony organized in honor of Rafael Nadal during the Davis Cup finals, Feliciano Lopez, tournament director and former world number 12, returned to the character and legacy of his friend and compatriot.

Very complimentary, he declared: "He's a very shy person, but once you get to know him better, he can be a lot of fun. One of the reasons he's such a great competitor is the confidence he has in himself.

We've talked a lot about his behavior on the court and his physique. I think he's a great tennis player. Technically and tactically, he is, if not the best, the second or third best in the history of the sport."