Italian Tennis Star Proclaims: 'Rafael Nadal Is LeBron James, Roger Federer Is Michael Jordan'

No. 10-ranked player Matteo Berrettini has the perfect analogy to distinctly differentiate and appreciate the brilliance of tennis superstars Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

The Italian ace compares Nadal and Federer to basketball icons and NBA greats such as LeBron James and Michael Jordan respectively.

Berrettini, a self-confessed fan of basketball, labeled Nadal as the "LeBron James of tennis." He feels both the American cager and the multiple-time Grand Slam winner share similar traits in terms of their sheer physicality.

Meanwhile, Berrettini likened Federer to Jordan due to both men's reverence from media and followers as the greatest of all time in their respective fields.

"Rafael Nadal is the LeBron of tennis, in terms of physicality and because they both exploded [on the scene] very young," he told Ubitennis. "Roger Federer, I would compare him to Michael Jordan."

Federer has yet to make an on-court return as he is still nursing the knee injury that he sustained last year. Berrettini is confident that the Swiss will be back in his signature competitive form.

“He has shown many times that when he comes back, it is as if he had never stopped,” he said regarding the matter.

While he is delighted to equate Nadal and Federer with perhaps two of the best athletes to ever dribble a basketball on hardwood, Berrettini also took time to describe the talent offered by reigning ATP top-rated player Novak Djokovic.

The 24-year-old Rome native sees qualities of the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant in Djokovic.

"Novak Djokovic reminds me of Kobe Bryant for how he remains cold [and stoic] in difficult situations," Berrettini shared.

Berrettini recently signed with LSJ Sports, the agency headed by former World No. 3 Ivan Ljubicic. Apart from heading the management company, the retired tennis player is also the coach of Federer.

The right-handed stalwart shared that his business relationship with Ljubicic has given him the confidence to push harder going into the 2021 season.

“He is a great professional and an excellent person. He believes in me, [and] as per him, I can become one of the strongest Italians ever," he concluded.