Martin Landaluce, a rising tennis talent, recently recalled a practice session at Rafael Nadal’s tennis academy with his fellow countryman.

Landaluce is the winner of the boys’ singles tournament at the 2022 US Open. He trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, and is presently ranked 672 on the ATP rankings.

He had a quick chat with the ATP Challenger tour and started by talking about his very first win on the court. He said: “It was in Madrid at home with all my family watching. It was such a good match. Everyone was cheering me. It was the place to win my first Challenger match, so it was a great experience. And then I lost in second but it was a fun week there.”

Landaluce continued by mentioning what he had learned from fellow Spaniards Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal. He added: “I’ve practiced with both many times, they’re such good persons in and off the court. I really take a lot of things about them. They’re such amazing persons and it’s good to practice with these kind of because you get a lot of things from them.”

He made a comment after watching a video of one of his practice sessions with Nadal. Landaluce stated his remarks about Nadal and said: “Oh! This point was good. He [Nadal] was destroying the ball here, he was destroying it. Nah he’s too good. He’s too good. He was beating me like he was winning every point. He was hitting everything. No no no, he wanted to destroy me.”

Rafael Nadal has been Martin Landaluce’s inspiration ever since he began playing tennis, and after he won the US Open boys’ singles title last year, he praised his determination, which he claimed is a common trait among Spaniards.

“He wants to destroy me” (image) (image)

17-year-old Martin Landaluce learning things the hard way in practice with @RafaelNadal#ATPChallenger | @rnadalacademy pic.twitter.com/biPUacOlVt

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 4, 2023

Landaluce in the Alicante Challenger, ranking, and results in 2023

Now ranked no.672, the Spaniard has achieved an overall 18-21 record in 2023. The Spaniard is playing in the Alicante Challenger where he defeated the world no.223 Francesco Maestrelli 6-4 4-6 6-4 and the world no.124 Arthur Cazaux 4-6 6-2 6-3.

Martin Landaluce will fight against the world no.107 Constant Lestienne in the quarter. In the past, they have never competed against each other so far in top competitions.

Rafael Nadal in 2023

Now the world no.240, Rafael played his last match on the 18^th of January when he surrendered to world no.38 Mackenzie Mcdonald 6-4 6-4 7-5 in the 2^nd round of the Australian Open (draw).

This year the Spaniard has an overall 1-3 match record.

Martin Landaluce and Rafael Nadal have never faced off.