TENNIS COMEBACK
Nadal praises new breed — and archrival Federer
Nadal, says it is good for the game to see younger players starting to make their mark
The emergence of a new generation is just what tennis needs, Rafael Nadal says, while welcoming back his old foe Roger Federer to help him keep them at bay. The Spanish great, a 14-time Grand Slam champion, is on the comeback trail after his 2016 season was ruined by a wrist problem that has seen him slip to No 9 in the world. Federer is also easing his way back after six months out with a knee injury, with both of them keen to return to winning ways at the big tournaments. They will have their work cut out at the opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park next week, with not just Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic to contend with, but an emerging new breed. Leading the pack are the likes of Austria’s Dominic Thiem, Germany’s Alex Zverev and Australia’s Nick Kyrgios. Nadal, 30, said it was good for the game to see younger players starting to make their mark. "These guys are doing well," he said in The Australian newspaper on Wednesday. "It’s great to have a new generation of fantastic players...
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