Private class with Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz | ATP Tour

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Private masterclass with Nadal, Sinner and Alcaraz

17-year-old Andres Santamarta's experience at this week's Davis Cup

November 21, 2024

“How old are you?”
“17.”

“What are you playing with right now?”
“The junior championships, I was planning to be in the USA this week.”

“What about next year?”
“I would like to get a good result in the Junior Grand Slams, to improve as a player and jump to real tennis, with seniors.”

“Stick, it's a long road, but the most important thing is to enjoy it.”

Words of advice from Rafael Nadal, he was talking to Andres Santamarta. The 17-year-old enjoyed the experience of a lifetime this week at the Davis Cup Finals, where he had the privilege of being part of the Spanish team as a partner.

Rafael Nadal and 17-year-old Andres Santamarta in the 2024 Davis Cup Final 8. ” style=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/ news/2024/11/21/16/29/nadal-santamarta-davis-cup-2024.jpg?w=100%25″>
^{Photo Credit: Andres Santamarta}

In the days leading up to the tournament, he was practicing with the 22-year-old Grand Slam champion. “For me, Rafa is a good example. I have watched him for so many years, for as long as I can remember. I'm very lucky and I hope that I can learn something from him and use it in my tennis, in my game,” he told ATPTour.com.

In Santamarta, the current No. 1308 in the PIF ATP Rankings, it was a masterclass. As well as sharing the dressing room with Nadal in his farewell tournament, he did the same with the very player destined to carry on his legacy, Carlos Alcaraz, along with Roberto Bautista Agut, Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martínez.

“I feel very lucky that I was able to share this time with those five and the whole team in general,” added Santamarta, who tried to be a sponge and absorb as many lessons as possible throughout the week.

The young player could not share any time on the court with Alcaraz, who arrived in Malaga from the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and did not have much time to prepare. However, it was not the first time the two met.

As it happens, at last year's Mutua Madrid Open they were champions in two men's singles categories at the event: ATP Masters 1000 (Alcaraz) and Under-16 (Santamarta). “Yes, we had our photo taken at the Mutua Madrid Open when he won. He congratulated me and, now that I think about it, he told me almost the same as Rafa, to continue, that the road is very long.”

Jannik Sinner in the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga.” style=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2024/11/21 /16/ 35/santamarta-sinner-davis-cup-2024-practice.jpg”>
^{Photo Credit: Andres Santamarta}

Despite Spain's journey to the Davis Cup coming to an abrupt end in the quarter-finals, the fun at Santamarta in Malaga continued on Wednesday. The Spaniard, who has five points on his PIF ATP Rankings account, was on the other side of the net as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner hit his first balls when he arrived at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena.

“But I was also happy because he is the first in the world and I really wanted to share the practice time with him. I really liked it. I respect him.”

Once on the court, Santamarta forgot his anger and, just as Nadal had suggested a few days ago, he relished the opportunity. He says: “I felt free. “The thing that affected me the most was the strength, like in Rafa. He's a relaxed guy, he doesn't get tired, and he plays with so much energy. He misses and is ready for the next ball. What I like about Sinner is the way he moves and his backhand.”

As a player at the GTennis Academy in his hometown of Valencia, he had trained with some top players, but he was never 'in this shape', as he put it.

“I learned a lot and I like it a lot, because it's a good thing to hit balls and train with high-level players. I will try to take the positives, what I have learned from them on and off the court.”

He is ambitious: “I would like to start with real tennis, ATP and all tournaments with adults, where you can see the experience. I hope I can adapt, because it's a really big change, tennis is very different, the way they play and think.”

Now, with many memories, hope, desire and valuable advice, he will return home to continue his path on that long road ahead.