Promising Austrian Jurij Rodionov to train with Rafael Nadal this week



by DZEVAD MESIC

Promising Austrian Jurij Rodionov to train with Rafael Nadal this week

Rising Austrian star Jurij Rodionov will be training at the Rafa Nadal Academy this week. The 19-year-old will have a chance to train alongside 17-time Grand Slam champion and the founder of the academy, Rafael Nadal. The Austrian and former world No.

2 Nadal will be joined at the academy by rising stars Jaume Munar, Casper Ruud and Akira Santillan. "(The) new season is calling. For the final steps in my preseason training I'm at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor and will stay here the next week.

With players like Rafa himself, Jaume Munar, Casper Ruud and Akira Santillan I will get the final touch for the next season," Rodionov wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday. Rodionov, ranked at No. 236 in the world, will be eager to continue his rise and improvement in 2019.

The 19-year-old won his maiden ATP Challenger title this past June when he won eight matches to win the Almaty 2 Challenger as a qualifier. Rodionov also debuted at the ATP level this past season as he won two qualifying matches in Kitzbuhel to reach the main draw of the Austrian clay-court tournament.

However, the Austrian failed to clinch his maiden ATP win in Kitzbuhel as he lost to fellow compatriot Dennis Novak in the first round in a three-setter. Rodionov, who started the year ranked at No. 503 in the world, achieved his career-high ranking of No.

228 in October. Also read: Coach Jamie Delgado: Andy Murray pushing himself to limits this offseason

Jurij Rodionov Rafael Nadal