Rafael Nadal introduced on Thursday that he’ll retire from tennis following subsequent month’s Davis Cup finals in Malaga.
At 38, Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam victories place him second on the all-time males’s record, behind Novak Djokovic’s 24.
Accidents have restricted Nadal to simply 4 tournaments since January of final yr, following a hip harm and a subsequent muscle tear.
Right here’s a take a look at the highest 10 milestones of one of many best gamers of all time:
First Grand Slam win
In his first season on the Roland Garros in 2005, the then-19-year-old Nadal defeated an in-form Roger Federer within the semifinals.
He beat Mariano Puerta within the closing to elevate his maiden French Open title. He was the primary teenage Grand Slam winner since Pete Sampras on the US Open 15 years in the past.
READ | Nadal to retire from tennis after Davis Cup finals subsequent month
Youngest Davis Cup champion
In December 2004, Nadal turned the youngest participant to win a singles recreation within the closing of the Davis Cup at 18 years. He did so by beating USA’s Andy Roddick, and his efficiency helped Spain win the title that yr. He has lifted the title 4 occasions since, together with his 5 titles a person report.
Spain’s gamers celebrating after profitable the Davis Cup trophy in 2011.
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REUTERS
Spain’s gamers celebrating after profitable the Davis Cup trophy in 2011.
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REUTERS
Nadal vs Federer, Wimbledon 2008: One of many best Grand Slam finals
After shedding consecutive Wimbledon finals in 2006 and 2007 to rival Federer, he lastly claimed his first title after they confronted one another in what is named ‘one of many best Grand Slam finals ever performed’ in 2008.
The battle lasted for practically 5 hours, and it was the Spaniard who got here out on prime in a five-set thriller.
Second males’s singles participant to realize a Profession Golden Slam
In 2010, Nadal had a poor begin to his season, shedding the Australian Open quarterfinal. However issues began wanting up as he lifted the French Open and Wimbledon titles, and beat Djokovic to win his first US Open crown.
He had already received three Grand Slams and an Olympic gold on the 2008 Summer season Olympics. After the 2010 US Open title, he secured a ‘Profession Golden Slam’ and have become the second after Andre Agassi to do it in males’s singles.
Race to interrupt report of most Grand Slams
Federer, Djokovic and Nadal have traded the report for many profession Grand Slam titles, making their rivalry a historic one.
Nadal after profitable the 2022 Australian Open, his second title after a 13-year hole.
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AP
Nadal after profitable the 2022 Australian Open, his second title after a 13-year hole.
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AP
But it surely was Nadal who pulled forward of the trio initially, after profitable the 2022 Australian Open, his second title after a 13-year hole. He equalled Federer’s report of 20 titles on the 2020 Roland Garros after which claimed the report for himself with the win Down Underneath.
First win on arduous courtroom – 2009
Whereas Nadal established his dominance on clay, it was in 2009 that he demonstrated his potential to succeed on any floor, together with arduous courts in Australia. He triumphed over Fernando Verdasco within the semifinals of the Australian Open after which defeated Roger Federer in an exhilarating five-set closing, securing a Grand Slam title on each floor, together with clay and grass.
Olympic gold in 2008 Summer season Olympics Beijing
Nadal received a gold medal for Spain on the 2008 Olympic Video games in Beijing. Ranked World No. 1 on the time, he defeated Djokovic within the semifinals, paving the best way for a closing in opposition to Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez. Nadal clinched the highest prize by defeating Gonzalez 6-3, 7-6, 6-3, a victory that contributed to his achievement of the ‘Profession Golden Slam’ in 2010.
Bjorn Borg’s report for 4 consecutive French Open title
Nadal turned the second participant after Bjorn Borg to win 4 consecutive French Open titles. In 2005, he defeated Puerta within the closing and have become the primary man to win the Roland Garros title on debut.
He confronted Federer in three straight finals from 2006 to 2008 and didn’t want greater than 4 units to determine himself as ‘the King of Clay.’
Most French Open titles
Nadal holds the report for probably the most French Open titles (14). The Spaniard claimed his first victory on debut on the 2005 Roland Garros and went on to win the following three consecutively.
Nadal’s final French Open win got here within the 2022 season, being the second oldest to take action at 37 years and two days.
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REUTERS
Nadal’s final French Open win got here within the 2022 season, being the second oldest to take action at 37 years and two days.
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REUTERS
He received 5 successive titles from 2010-2014 and for 4 seasons in a row once more from 2017-2020. His final win got here within the 2022 season, being the second oldest to take action at 36 years and two days.
Beat Federer in first-ever assembly
The primary assembly between rivals and mates off-court, Nadal and Federer, got here on the Miami Masters in 2004 when the Spaniard was simply 17 years previous.
Federer then had two main championships to his title however was shocked by Nadal, shedding in straight units which presumably set the stage for considered one of tennis’ best rivalries.