"Vamos Rafa" - Liam Broady thrilled after nailing Rafael Nadal-esque forehand winner in Challenger tournament
British player Liam Broady channeled his inner Rafael Nadal as he hit a brilliant running forehand winner that was reminiscent of the signature Nadal shot which often leaves opponents dumbfounded. Broady was thrilled with the forehand winner he absolutely nailed during his semi-final match at the ATP Challenger event in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Saturday.
Facing Damir Dzumhur in the last-four clash, Broady was pushed into a defensive position after a lucky net cord allowed Dzumhur to play an attacking volley at the net. On the stretch as he tried to respond to the volley, Broadly pulled a brilliant running forehand winner up the line.
You can watch the Briton player's impressive forehand here:
That forehand, @Liambroady 🚀
#ATPChallenger | @the_LTA https://t.co/zXyzeb64F8
Reacting to the same, Broady let out an ecstatic "Vamos Rafa" as the shot reminded him of Nadal.
"Oh baby vamos Rafaaaaa," Liam Broady tweeted, reacting to his shot.
Oh baby vamos Rafaaaaa twitter.com/atpchallenger/…
Broady has been in sublime form during the Vilnius Challenger, having not dropped a single set en route to the final. The world No. 175 faces Zdenek Kolar in Sunday's final.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal is still recovering from a hip muscle tear and is set to miss the Dubai Open and the Indian Wells Masters. His participation in the Miami Open is also in serious doubt and the Spaniard could be seen on tour next at the start of the claycourt season in April.
Andre Agassi and Simona Halep's former coach wants next generation to follow Rafael Nadal's example
Rafael Nadal is the ideal example to follow for the younger generation of tennis players, according to Darren Cahill, who has coached the likes of Andre Agassi and Simona Halep in the past. Cahill feels that the Spaniard should be an inspiration to many, not just because of his greatness as a player, but also because of his behavior on and off the court.
"Rafa is an amazing person, an amazing athlete," Cahill said on the Big Deal podcast. "You want the next generation to be little Rafa's, don't you?
Cahill, who currently coaches Jannik Sinner, further highlighted that the 22-time Grand Slam champion's work ethic is unmatched and that young players would greatly benefit from emulating the same.
"The way they train, the way they treat their opponents, the way they treat everything. His work ethic is second to none, the way he goes about his tennis. You want the next generation to have his ethics, his work ethic," Cahill added.
Meanwhile, the Spanish legend has been in the ATP Top-10 for almost 18 consecutive years, a remarkable streak that is in danger of ending due to his injury layoff.