Rafael Nadal tipped a player to reach the top eight when he beat him in 2006 while he was ranked World No. 690.
Nadal, who was ranked World No. 2 at the time, fell to Joachim Johansson in the second-round of the Stockholm Open.
Johansson was a former top 10 player, but had struggled with injuries for much of 2006, causing his massive slip down the rankings.
The Swede showed his class on home soil as he dispatched the King of Clay in straight sets, and Nadal made a bold prediction about the star.
Rafael Nadal was blown away by Joachim Johansson after their 2006 match
A year prior to his match with Nadal, Johansson had reached a career high of World No. 9 in the ATP Tour rankings.
Johansson showed that top 10 form as he shocked Nadal in a 6-4, 7-6 victory in his home country to attempt to climb back up the rankings.
Nadal was adamant that he would soon see Johansson back in the top 10 of the rankings after their match.
“He played with confidence and without pressure, very aggressively. I did not play a bad match. His serve is top five for sure,” Nadal said about his opponent.
“If he continues playing like this he has the chance to make the top eight in (next year’s) Tennis Masters Cup,” continued the Spaniard.
“He has an unbelievable potential with his serve and forehand, and his backhand is not bad either,” he added.
Johansson would continue his run at the Stockholm Open by defeating Kristof Vliegen in the third round, but he came unstuck against Jarkko Nieminen in the semi-finals.
Joachim Johansson called his Rafael Nadal win his ‘greatest’ ever
Johansson did not back up Nadal’s prediction as he was unfortunately plagued by injuries for the rest of his career.
The Swede only played four tournaments in 2007 and retired just a year later, but he will always hold his win over Nadal in high regard.
“It’s my greatest win ever,” said Johansson about defeating the legendary Spaniard. “I had to play aggressive.
Johansson won just three titles in his career, but he did shine in Sweden’s Davis Cup campaign in 2007, which saw them reach the semi-finals.
