Tennis World - The curious case of Franco Livi, the tennis player who is able to imitate Rafael Nadal!

Lefty, 1 cm shorter than Rafael Nadal, similar temper on court, Franco Livi was Born in Macerata, Italy, 26 years ago and since he was three he has lived in Argentina, in San Carlos de Bariloche. Here he started to practice in the Del Prado Club, played the first national tournament and was back in Europe with his family, first in Cadice, then in Madrid.

In this city he started to coach in the Majadahonda International Tennis Club. Everything was normal till there. The strange news is that he has a second job. Livi was often invited by professional tennis players to play as hitting partner because he has something particular, he plays like Rafael Nadal! Before playing against the Former World No.1, some players searched for Franco due to his lefty serve and for his game style, slightly different than Rafa. 'Last year, a friend who is the hitting partner for the professionals, called me saying that he needed somebody to practice to prepare Madrid Master.

I accepted and we trained in the Caja Magica. Two weeks after the organization asked me to substitute their lefty sparring because he was playing some tournaments in USA. After passing some test, they hired me. I helped Nishikori to prepare the final against Nadal.

Then I was called from Beijing. Also this year I went to Madrid. I played with Leo Mayer, Dimitrov, Isner, Berdych, Feliciano Lopez and Murray, who won the final against Nadal. For a few days I was Djokovic's sparring partner helping him to practice the day before the final, always against Nadal' said Franco.

Franco gets many requests. There are people who ask him to play like Feliciano Lopez or Petra Kvitova: 'Nobody asks me something special, but only tactical questions. It's not easy to play that often because sometimes I have three practices in one day and I've to prepare players who will face Nadal, Lopez and Kvitova.

So I have to do a transition, from the topspin forehand, to serve and volley to flat shots'. Franco spoke about his experience on the Tour: 'Novak Djokovic radiates happiness. He's friendly and funny. ATP allows me to receive treatment that the players have: hotels, transport, meals, access to the VIP Zone.