Just outside Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros, the venue for wheelchair tennis in Paris 2024, stands a statue of the man known as the King. Rafael Nadal has won 14 French Open titles and is inspiring the Spanish team as they prepare to compete in Paris.

Nadal’s influence on Spanish tennis is profound, but his love affair with Roland Garros is eternal. Juan Carlos Ferrero, his predecessor as Spain’s poster boy, won there in 2003, while Carlos Alcaraz, the current hero coached by Ferrero, is the reigning champion.

Three Spanish hopefuls at the Paralympics are Daniel Caverzaschi, Martin de la Puente and Enrique Siscar Mosquer. They are well aware of the importance of their surroundings and the reputation of the legend who made this place his own.

“Roland Garros is an icon for Spanish players,” said Caverzaschi.

“It’s nice to play here. There are so many role models who have won here in the past. Rafa was my biggest role model in sport.

“The way he plays, the style; I can’t compare myself at all, but I’m also left-handed, there are similarities that I tried to learn from Rafa.”

Now 38, Nadal may be making his final appearance at Roland Garros after being knocked out in the doubles quarterfinals alongside Alcaraz, the pair affectionately known as the “Nadalcaz.”

“It was pretty cool,” Caverzaschi said. “There was a huge hype about it in Spain. It was fun to watch. They lost against a good doubles team, against specialists. It was normal that they could lose. We thought it was going to be an epic comeback in true Rafa style, but we loved watching it.”

Return after career-threatening injury

The hunt for medals is even more important than usual for Caverzaschi. After returning from an injury hell that included three wrist operations and battling the possibility of a forced retirement, the 31-year-old is confident.

He continued: “It’s very emotional for me – I haven’t played here since 2022, I was injured for a year and a half. It’s been a very good year to come back here; I’m playing very well, I like the courts, I love the clay. I’m really looking forward to it.

“This is the best comeback I could have wished for. I believe I can beat anyone. I have to keep expectations in check, ideally the Games would be next year. I want to keep going like this, if I play well I can achieve great things. Why not dream big? I hope for a medal in singles or doubles.”

Clay courts are the foundation of Spain’s dominance in Paris, and Caverzaschi says Spanish players are taught tennis in a way that makes the most of the surface.

“Many tennis academies have clay courts, we are used to it. We don’t have grass courts – in my academy in Barcelona all the courts are clay. Several players came to train with me in the summer, it’s similar to ours in Paris. Clay is suitable for a harder and more physically demanding style, it is suitable for intense players who like to play hard from the baseline.

“Tennis has been taught this way for a long time – the other factor is Rafa and what he has done for all of us.”

Make a difference

Wheelchair tennis and the Paralympic movement in general are still struggling for recognition. Caverzaschi, who is very passionate about the subject, is trying to drive his own change.

“I started a marketing company last year that specializes in accessible sports,” he said.

“I think there is great potential for commercial companies to partner with athletes and campaigns in disability sport.

“It was tough – we changed our strategy because we learned from our mistakes. I founded it with my best friend, it’s special to create it with him.”

“A lot of people don’t understand the terminology, they don’t want to offend anyone, so we want to do the work for them and create the content for them. I love it, there’s so much potential but we still have so much education to do. We have to challenge an old way of thinking but I like the challenge.”

Caverzaschi’s first Games were held in London in 2012. He says it was a landmark moment for the movement and that other nations should learn from it.

“The perception has changed there; disability has been completely normalised after the Games,” he explained. “Britain is a role model for the whole world; in Spain the situation is improving. We are seen as elite athletes, the institutions are supporting us more. There is definitely an evolution, but there is still a long way to go.”

After “dark moments” during his injury layoff, Caverzaschi is feeling better again, but given what he has been through and where he is, he is taking a philosophical approach to his performance in the coming weeks.

“There were moments when I had done everything I needed to do, every routine or operation, and I still needed more, when I was angry, sad or frustrated.

“Dark thoughts crept in, but I’m proud of how I’ve handled the last two years. There were doubts about whether I could compete at a professional level, and here I am. The best is yet to come. But I have to enjoy my fourth Paralympic Games and a place like Roland Garros.”

Spain’s wheelchair tennis stars are full of inspiration. They hope to use it to make this summer a golden one.