Rafael Nadal is and will always be one of kind. This is what many tennis analysts consider the Spanish tennis great as he enters the 2017 season. Compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut even thinks it's 'impossible to find another Rafael Nadal' in this generation.
Legacy and The Rise New Crop of Players
According to Bautista Agut, the 31-year old Nadal has accomplished so much throughout his tennis career that it's inconceivable to find a player who can match the level of success Rafa had.
However, Agut is also aware that they are at the point where the next generations of tennis talents such as Milos Raonic, Nick Kyrgios and Alexandre Zverev who are slowly narrowing the gap between them and the elites (Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray).
"He had an unbelievable career. But it Rafa leaves top 10 or retires, there will be people who will want to be at the places where he was. We are seeing a generational change', he said Speaking about the World Next Generation. 'There are young players. At the ATP Finals we saw two or three new faces and instead before they were always the same."
Unfortunately, the future isn't that much bright beyond Nadal, because the youngest Spanish player on the top-100 of the ATP world ranking is 25-year old Pablo Carreno Busta.
Spain is scheduled to face Croatia in the first round of Davis Cup world group. Nadal hasn't committed yet in the tournament, making it hard for Spain to map out their plan with so many Spanish veterans already retired from international competition.
Rafael Nadal Tennis Schedule for First Quarter of 2017 ATP Season:
Mubadala World Tennis Championship, Abu Dhabi - exhibition match (Dec. 29 to 31)
Brisbane International (1 -8 January)
Australian Open (16 - 29 January)
Rotterdam (13 - 19 February)
Acapulco (February 27 - March 4)
Indian Wells (March 6 - 19)
Miami (March 20 - April 2)
Note: Nadal's availability on these tournaments will depend on his health and condition.