Young rival's cheeky message for Rafa Nadal after career-best win
Rafa Nadal's training partner delivered a hilarious message to the 21-time grand slam champion after his match at Acapulco.
Stefan Kozlov, who was involved in a bizarre incident with a BMW last week, was in the middle of a training session with Nadal at the Mexican Open.
WOW: Lleyton Hewitt record broken as tennis rocked by 'crazy' scenes
BRUTAL: Sad Aussie twist after Novak Djokovic return to tennis
AWESOME: Eagle-eyed fans spot telling detail on Rafa Nadal's bag
However, due to an injury and withdrawal from Maxime Cressy, Kozlov was chosen as the lucky loser main draw entry.
The 130th ranked American lost in the Mexico Open qualifying, but gained the call up and was to face Grigor Dimitrov.
And the American said Nadal was super excited for the 24-year-old.
"I was playing a practice set with Rafa ... he breaks his string, goes to his bag. I just happen to check my phone for whatever reason," Kozlov said after the match.
"I just had an intuition and then I have 20 text messages ... they're like 'get over here'.
So here’s the moment Kozlov found out he’d have to leave Rafa since he was drafted in as the LL and will have to play tonight, sweet boy 🥰🥰 pic.twitter.com/oVaudmsNv5
— La Marquesita (@marquesitacarla) February 22, 2022
On court practice with the GOAT - Kozlov’s coach has perfect world views 💯💯👏🏻👏🏻🤪🤪🐐🐐 pic.twitter.com/HrfmpwaA0s
— La Marquesita (@marquesitacarla) February 22, 2022
"I dropped all my stuff. I told Rafa, he's got a big smile on his face. He's super excited for me, he knew I was No.1 lucky loser.
"I got over here and I had about 30 minutes to get ready."
Footage of their training session showed Kozlov rushing to leave the court with Nadal wishing him luck.
Kozlov could be heard on the phone asking: "Who do I play?"
Stefan Kozlov's hilarious message to Rafa Nadal
Amazingly, Kozlov ended up defeating the former World No.3 Dimitrov 7-6, 5-7, 6-3 after suffering from severe cramps in the second set.
And Kozlov wrote a cheeky message to Nadal following the best win of his career.
"Rafa, sorry for stopping practice today," he wrote on the camera lens, as is tradition for tennis players at some tournaments.
So fitting that @MikeCTennis did this interview for @TennisTV. He’s had a front row seat for much of Stefan’s winding journey via the @ATPChallenger Tour. Full circle in more ways than one. 👏 pic.twitter.com/foXWvorOfZ
— Blair Henley (@BlairHenley) February 22, 2022
No apologies necessary 🤣@stefankozlov had to cut practice with @RafaelNadal early to enter the main draw as a lucky loser today at #AMT2022 pic.twitter.com/eVYqt5uj82
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 22, 2022
“Rafa sorry for stopping practice today.❤️”
A giddy Stefan Kozlov certainly seized the lens-writing moment. You love to see it. pic.twitter.com/rUowkTHerL— Blair Henley (@BlairHenley) February 22, 2022
Amazingly, Kozlov could face Nadal in the next round if the Spaniard defeats American Denis Kudla.
"Today I was totally expecting not to be playing," said Kozlov, adding that he would have retired if he had failed to hold his first service game in the third set against Dimitrov.
"Now I've got the biggest win of my career and I'm about to play Rafa Nadal."
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.