“He finished the year playing unbelievable, winning all the Davis Cup matches, winning two matches at the ATP Finals and he finished the year as world No 1.
“Everything he is improving his game. His mentality is different to other players I’ve seen in my life.
“He’s won on every surface. Of course clay courts are his favourite but when you finish as No 1 in the world it is because you’d played all year really good, on all surfaces, not only clay courts. Rafa, Roger and Novak are special tennis players.”
Back in May, Nadal was among several ATP players past and present who said goodbye to Ferrer as he retired from the sport after 19 years on the tour at the Madrid Open.
The Spaniard is arguably the best player never to win a Grand Slam but he has no regrets and is now finding comfort in developing the next tennis superstar at his academy in Valencia, being the tournament director at the Barcelona Open and spending more time with his family.
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