Santana says Nadal will be sporting great

MADRID (AP) -Spanish tennis great Manuel Santana believes Rafael Nadal is not just the best athlete to come out of Spain but is on his way to being the greatest sportsman of his generation.

Santana was quoted by Spanish media saying that Nadal is "without a doubt the best Spanish athlete but being so young he'll finish by being the best world athlete."

The 24-year-old Nadal became the seventh player to complete a career Grand Slam in September with his U.S. Open victory. That came after French Open and Wimbledon triumphs earlier in the summer.

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Santana was previously Spain's most successful player with four Grand Slam titles. Nadal has won nine.

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