The 21-year-old has two of the best role models one could ever hope for on his side.
21-year-old Spaniard picked up his first Masters 1000 win this week in Miami, before falling to 6th-seeded Kevin Anderson in three sets on Saturday. After his first-round victory over Prajnesh Gunneswaran the rising star talked to ATP Tennis Radiso’s Seb Lauzier about his relationship with two of Spain’s greatest legends, Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer.
Munar, who hails from Mallorca and trains at Rafael Nadal’s Academy on the island, says he has forged a great relationship with the king of clay over the years.
“At the beginning he was my, maybe, work partner, or something like this,” said Munar. “Right now he’s a friend for me. We are sharing a lot of moments on court and of court. I know him a lot right now and he’s special. I think he can teach me everything I’m going to see during the years on the tour. I think he’s trying to do this because he wants me to be the best player I can be, and also I have one of the best friends of Rafa in my team—the relationships is getting closer and I’m really happy with this.”
🎙️Start your weekend by listening to exclusive interviews from the @MiamiOpen with @ATPTennisRadio 😊
Alexander Bublik 👉 https://t.co/qn9vifyFHv@tompatennis 👉 https://t.co/oY44uDQT0s@CasperRuud98 👉 https://t.co/rquX7flJK7@jamunar_38 👉 https://t.co/wnz24QkWF3#ATPTour
— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) March 23, 2019
Munar also professed his deep respect for Ferrer, saying that he admires what the indefatigable baseliner has done over the course of his career.
“David is amazing for me, I’m in love with this guy,” Munar said. “I always say that David is my idol. I think he’s a person who is a “ten” in life and also he’s this way on the tennis court. I have very much respect for him and I think and I hope he will a wonderful career outside of tennis and a wonderful life. Something is going to change for him in the next months but I’m pretty sure that the person he is and he has been during the whole of these years on tour he will be for all his life.”
Munar has enjoyed quite a bit of success in 2019, his first full year on the ATP Tour. He entered this week with a career-high ranking of 61 and a record of 9-7 (now 10-8). He has already reached four quarter-finals this season, including three in a row during the Golden Swing in South America.
He’d like to continue his momentum rankings-wise, but is more focused on working hard and growing his game.
“It’s difficult in the situation I am right now to say numbers, but I am feeling like I am growing,” he said. “I am growing as a player, I really feel like I can do it right now. I have been working so hard for this and this is the important part right now. You have to remain clear and I think I am. I know that I will have my chances for the year. I started with the South American swing and I did well there. Just keep growing… maybe to say a number inside the Top 40 but I don’t like the numbers.”
