World number one Rafael Nadal said during the press conference for the Rio Open 2014, which begins on Monday, that he does not know whether he can overtake the record 17 Grand Slam title haul of Roger Federer. The Spaniard currently has 13 Major titles and had a chance to tie Pete Sampras’ record of 14 at the Australian Open 2014 but lost in the final to Stanislas Wawrinka.
“I don’t know if I’m able to reach Federer’s record of 17 Grand Slams,” Nadal said in a translated interview by BreakPoint BR.
The 27-year old tennis superstar is also setting his sights at the 2016 Olympics which will also take place in Rio de Janeiro. The tennis competitions are said to be done on claycourts, something that Nadal is looking forward to. The 2008 Beijing Olympics tennis competitions were contested on hardcourts while the 2012 London Olympics took place on grasscourts at the All England Club in Wimbledon.
“It is difficult to predict what will happen over the next two-and-a-half years, but I am motivated to arrive at the Olympic Games in 2016 and be competitive,” Nadal said. “The fact that the Olympic Games will be on clay gives me a little bit of extra motivation. Representing my country at an Olympic Games, at Beijing 2008, was one of the greatest moments of my career.”
