Interviewed by Europa Press, Fermando Verdasco spoke about the Australian Open finalists Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who cameback at a great level after the injuries suffered last year. 'How many times we thought Federer was finished and then he came back? It's very difficult to think that players like Federer and Nadal are finished because of their technical, physical and mental abilities.

They are among the five best players ever if not the two best. As for Rafa, I always thought that he could win Grand Slams until he retires. At the Roland Garros I do not know if he will be the favourite, but he is one of the strongest candidates to win.

He is not the favourite like four or five years ago because Djokovic, if he is at 100%, has already showed that can be at his same level on clay. But it's cleae that if Rafa manages to be at his best level physically and mentally, he will be one of the best players with the best chances to win.' About the Next Generation, Verdasco said, 'In the last years there wasn't a big generational change on the Tour.

There are players like Thiem, Kyrgios or Zverev who are playing well, but the real thing is that the over 30 players or players who are almost 30 win the big titles. Djokovic and Murray are almost 30, Nadal is 30 and Federer 35.

Younger players aren't at the level of the players of my generation. At 18, Nadal had won Roland Garros and at 23 he already had four titles. The right moment will come, but later than the time it took our generation to breakthrough.' ALSO READ: Grigor Dimitrov: 'Nadal told me that if I play like this, I will win a Grand Slam title'