Nadal says men's tennis at best ever level in history

World number two Rafael Nadal has said that men's tennis is a the best level at which it can ever be, with the top four or five players at a different level altogether.

According to Gulf News, Nadal expressed that in his opinion, the top four or five players had been very, very solid for a long time now, and if they were compared with the top four or five from the past generation, one would find that they are losing less.

Nadal was speaking after fighting back from the brink of defeat to a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Italian Fabio Fognini in the China Open, the report said.

Nadal added that he was sure the statistics would prove him right.

Nadal, who will regain the world number one ranking should he win Saturday's semi-final against Tomas Berdych, was literally against the wall with Fognini up 4-1 and 40-15 in the second set, the report added.

However, he hung in there in trademark style to win in three sets, the report further said.