Rafael Nadal, 37, will face 16-year-old American wildcard Darwin Blanch in the opening round of the Madrid Open, creating a 21-year and 117-day age gap, the largest in an ATP Masters 1000 match since 1990. Blanch, ranked 1,028th, turned pro two years ago and trains in Spain. Nadal, a 5-time champion, is set to play his likely final Madrid Open.
Rafael Nadal (37) vs Darwin Blanch (16) - the biggest age difference between opponents in Masters 1000 history! 🕰️ #MMOPEN https://t.co/Zj8NIJGQpS
A hero’s reception for Rafa 🙌 @RafaelNadal #MMOPEN https://t.co/R0hBOk4w4N https://t.co/u2gxUfMI3j
🐂 EL TORO is back in Madrid! Rafael Nadal starts his last tournament at home against Darwin Blanch ⚡ https://t.co/a7abnw9U0k
16-year-old American Darwin Blanch taking on 37-year-old Rafa Nadal in Madrid. Biggest age gap in a singles match in Masters 1000 history https://t.co/lZz6R032Cs
I C O N I C @RafaelNadal #MMOpen https://t.co/OsJZSVt2NH
'Guys I (really) play Nadal wtf' - Darwin Blanch, probably #MMOpen https://t.co/zMJB1gKHZn
If you’re interested…16-year old American getting a *ton* of hype in the tennis world about to take on Nadal in Madrid. Second ATP-level match. https://t.co/kCtEEARtYT
Generations collide 🤜🤛 5-time champion @RafaelNadal (37) and Darwin Blanch (16) are competing in the biggest-ever age gap at Masters 1000 level at 21 years and 117 days! @MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN https://t.co/V938b3mw2i
Gen Z vs Legend 🌟 5x champion @RafaelNadal - playing for likely the final time in Madrid - takes on 16-year-old rising star Darwin Blanch —>> https://t.co/hOHmv2wMlX https://t.co/P6njRl4x6k
A packed crowd as Rafael Nadal faces off against 16-year-old Darwin Blanch in Madrid 🗣️ Stream live NOW —> https://t.co/tPoe44TDv0 #MMOpen https://t.co/j9v6atsRGu
Rafa Nadal now taking the court in his final @MutuaMadridOpen on @TennisChannel He is 37 and his opponent, American Darwin Branch, is 16. It's the largest age gap ever in a Masters 1000 event. https://t.co/iMHiXNfdLe
It's about that time: Watch Nadal's return to Madrid vs. Blanch right here ⤵️⤵️⤵️ https://t.co/5EmSQEKnZH
‘WTF’: Darwin Blanch Hilariously Freaks Out When He Realizes He Has To Play Rafael Nadal In The Madrid Open https://t.co/MbIn067nlY
Rafael Nadal begins his singles campaign in Madrid against 16-year-old Darwin Blanch. 🎾 Don't miss it! ⏰⤵️ https://t.co/oyzo1oxmWW
"Guys I Play Nadal WTF" - American Teenager Darwin Blanch's Raw Reaction To Drawing 37 Year Old Rafa In The First Round Of This Week's Madrid Open https://t.co/mN7Pq7XHue https://t.co/qgKO6ZZVTG
American teenager Darwin Blanch will play just the second ATP Tour match of his career against Rafael Nadal on Thursday at just 16 years old in the Madrid Open first round #AFPSports https://t.co/AKBYcBHOLa
Meet Darwin Blanch, the 16-year-old wild card facing Rafael Nadal American youngster speaks four languages, has been Carlos Alcaraz’s hitting partner and is more than 21 years younger than opponent at Madrid Open Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/iur3pFLx0T
Imagine drawing Rafael Nadal in the first round 😂 16-year-old Darwin Blanch has a hilarious reaction to seeing his first-round Madrid matchup with the tennis legend ⤵️ https://t.co/qwQdyQi7lc
Sinner looks to close the gap for World No. 1, while Nadal draws 16-year-old Darwin Blanch in the first round 🍿 We're taking a look at the men's draw ahead of the ATP 1000 event in Madrid ⤵️ https://t.co/Pua2REFXkc
American teen tennis star Darwin Blanch, 16, shares HILARIOUS reaction to being drawn against Rafael Nadal at the Madrid Open... after rare wildcard gifted the world No 1,028 a chance to play in the tournament! https://t.co/5eIYcDVoqh https://t.co/PlK6zWCIk8
POV: You’ve just drawn Rafael Nadal in the first round of the Madrid Open… 🫢 (Via Darwin_blanch on Snapchat) https://t.co/R3VJ8mklWR
Darwin Blanch was born in 2007. At age 16, the young tennis player is ranked 1,028th in the world. He turned pro two years ago and has received a wildcard bid to play in this week’s Madrid Open. His reaction to drawing Rafael Nadal in the first round: https://t.co/fDrTZT2nfu
ATP Madrid draw is out. #Nadal's next challenge: a first-round match against 16-year-old American wildcard Darwin Blanch and a potential rematch with Alex De Minaur, who beat Nadal in Barcelona https://t.co/mo4GMwhgu3
Darwin Blanch's reaction to being drawn against Rafael Nadal in the Madrid Open! 😂 https://t.co/Tu3IcnCMaZ
Nadal playing 16-year old American phenom Darwin Blanch in the first round of Madrid (Blanch trains in Spain). https://t.co/ZXQ8dVPa3F
Nadal plays Blanch in the opening round in Madrid. He'll likely take on de Minaur in round two.
21,117 - The age gap of 21y 117d between Rafael Nadal and Darwin Blanch will be the biggest between 2 opponents in an ATP Masters 1000 match, surpassing the 19y 204d between Gasquet and Landaluce (Madrid R1 2023) – since the format’s introduction in 1990. Generations. @atptour https://t.co/25Sm6dg4Wm
Just @RafaelNadal hitting balls in Madrid 🥹 #MMOPEN https://t.co/V1UTRVqjHt
🇺🇸 Darwin Blanch to face Rafael Nadal in the 1st round in Madrid ▫️ 16 years old ▫️ World No.1028 ▫️ 21 years apart from Rafa ▫️ So much fan of the Spaniard to the point of posting stories of his practice Magic. https://t.co/RbahoXLmrB
Madrid ATP 1000 full draw. 37yo Rafael Nadal gets 16yo Darwin Blanch in the first round before eventually having to face De Minaur again in R2. Nadal was already a three time Roland Garros champ when Blanch was born. https://t.co/5uf0Sm8SnR
21, 117 - The age gap of 21y 117d between Rafael Nadal and Darwin Blanch will be the biggest between two opponents in an ATP Masters 1000 match since 1990, surpassing the 18y 344d between Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors - Miami R32 1992. Eras. #MMOPEN | @MutuaMadridOpen @atptour https://t.co/25Sm6dgCLU
When generations collide 📆 Rafael Nadal will face 16-year-old Darwin Blanch in the opening round of the Madrid Open! #MMOPEN https://t.co/yhIGehc4Zp
🇪🇸 @rafaelnadal will open against Darwin Blanch in round one of the #MMOPEN https://t.co/N4Z1oPtolG