Rafael Nadal reacts to ultimate tribute from Daniil Medvedev on The SportsRush

"Daniil Medvedev praises Rafael Nadal's dream return to ATP Tour, admits being 'scared' ahead of potential quarter-final clash."

Rafael Nadal's remarkable return to the ATP Tour has left Daniil Medvedev in awe. The Russian tennis player couldn't stop praising the 22-time Grand Slam winner in a recent post-match press conference. Medvedev admitted to feeling "scared" at the prospect of facing Nadal in a potential quarter-final matchup.

After suffering a loss to Alex de Minaur at the Barcelona Open 2024, Nadal bounced back with a victory over the Australian in Madrid. The match lasted 122 minutes, with Nadal emerging victorious with a score of 7-6, 6-3.

Following Nadal's impressive win over the World No.11, the tennis community was impressed with the King of Clay's performance. Medvedev, in particular, expressed his admiration for Nadal's return to form. Despite feeling scared of facing Nadal on clay, Medvedev acknowledged the Spaniard's dominance and expressed excitement about seeing how much more Nadal could improve.

Medvedev's candid admission of fear towards Nadal on clay is not new. In 2023, he had previously mentioned his apprehension about facing the legendary player on the clay court. With a losing head-to-head record against Nadal, Medvedev may not be the most confident heading into a potential quarter-final clash.

As Nadal advances to the third round of the Madrid Open 2024, he is set to face Pedro Cachin, followed by either Jiri Lehecka or Thiago Monteiro. Meanwhile, Medvedev defeated Matteo Arnaldi in the opening round and is scheduled to face Sebastian Korda next, with a potential matchup against Ben Shelton in the fourth round.

If Medvedev and Nadal meet in the quarterfinals, the Russian may be considered the favorite. However, Nadal's recent victories over Medvedev and the support of the home crowd could work in his favor. The potential showdown between these two talented players promises to be an exciting match for tennis fans.