Seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander has claimed that Rafael Nadal is more “fun” to watch than Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, admitting he is “blown away” by the way he hits the ball. 

Last week the ‘King of Clay’ lived up to his nickname as he swept aside Norway’s Casper Ruud in straight sets in the final to win the French Open for the 14th time.

Despite a second set wobble, Nadal put on a powerful display as he steamrolled the 23-year-old as the match wore on claiming a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 victory.

The victory means that Rafael Nadal has won a record 22 Grand Slams, two more than his old rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer who sit on 20.

Reflecting on the players style of play, former world number one Mats Wilander argued that Rafael Nadal’s way of playing the game is more “fun” than Djokovic and Federer’s as the former world number one admitted Nadal currently reminds him of “watching Federer when he was at his best.”

The Swede, speaking to French media outlet L’Equipe saying, “The older I get, the more I enjoy watching him play.

“We see that he trusts his variations more than when he was 22 or 23 years old. I find his tennis more fun than Roger’s or Novak’s.

“With Roger, everything seems easy. It’s simple and aesthetic. Rafa is different: his true personality arises when the racquet hits the ball.

“Of course, the beginning and the end of the motion are not as fluid as with Roger. But the contact with the ball is so pure, his touch on the ball is so extraordinary that I am blown away.

“I’ve always loved its intensity and emotional involvement. But before, there was a repetitive aspect to his game. We knew exactly how he was going to win the point. And we knew he would win 6-2 6-2 6-2.

“Now he creates uncertainty: what will he do on the next move? It’s like watching Federer when he was at his best. I no longer want to commentate on his matches, I just want to watch him play.”