Comparisons between the 22-time Grand Slam winner and young ace have frequently been made and Nadal is confident that his compatriot – who has already won four majors at the age of 21 – will go on to be one of the all-time greats of the sport.

Nadal told CNN: "All of us received the pressure from the media and from the hope that people have about you, but I think at the end, we are humans and we know how to handle that.

"I don't think for Carlos it's a big deal holding that pressure. He's a great player and has a great family behind (him).

"I think he's doing great and he's having an amazing career and he's going to win much more if he stays out of injury – that's the most important thing. I wish and I really believe that he's going to have one of the best careers of all time."

Nadal retired from tennis last year after a glorious career and wants to be remembered for the way he conducted himself on the court.

The former world number one said: "The results are the results, you know. I won what I won, I lost what I lost, that's the results and nobody can change that.

"Of course, I will be remembered as a good tennis player, but for me, it's important to be remembered as a good person, a player who fights as hard as possible but with positive values, being always fair and correct with everyone on court.

"Trying to respect every single moment, for me that's the most important thing."