“TThat wheel of time turns, and ages come and go, leaving memories that become legends.” The opening line of Robert Jordan’s ‘The Wheel of Time’ is the same as that of Spanish tennis master Rafael Nadal. It embodies greatness.
Regardless of how many years come and go, it cannot be denied that Nadal’s name will always be written down as one of tennis’ greatest athletes.
His courage and resilience, tremendous dominance on the clay, sprints from one end of the court to the other, superb athleticism, and lasso-style forehand will forever be etched in the minds of tennis fans.
“It’s been 20 years of a professional career that you’ve carried me through the good times, and in the bad times, you’ve made me keep playing,” Nadal told a crowd in his hometown.
The modern generation is fortunate to have been born in the era of the “Big Three,” with Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer dominating tennis. The three giants have won 66 of the 84 Grand Slams since 2003, with Djokovic winning 24, Nadal 22 and Federer 20.
Nadal turned pro in 2001 at the age of 15. But it was in 2005 when the long-haired Nadal showed glimpses of his talent by winning the French Open, and as they say, the rest is history.
Fast forward to 2017, the Spaniard picked up his 10th French Open crown, cementing his status as the “King of Clay”. His French Open titles (14) distracted from what he achieved at other levels.
If you ever thought clay was the only surface where he was successful, you’ve got the context all wrong.
Whether it’s his two Wimbledon and Australian Open crowns or his four US Open victories, I think a combined eight trophies are enough to disprove the notion that Nadal is merely a “clay-court bully”.
From his spirited victory over Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final to winning the 2022 Australian Open, there have been moments when Nadal has surprised everyone.
Upper hand on Federer
Their rivalry is considered one of the greatest in men’s tennis. They were two contrasting personalities, but their comparisons were interesting spectacles. Nadal surpassed Federer in 40 matches, with Espinar winning 24 matches. In the majors, he is 10-4.
Oh yes! How could I forget to mention the 2008 Wimbledon final, considered one of the greatest tennis tournaments ever!
Thrilling on the edge of the seat, the game spanned seven hours. Nadal, 22, claimed his first Wimbledon crown, defeating Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, (5-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7. . in center court
So many matches with Djokovic
The two legends met each other in 60 matches – 18 Grand Slams. Of the 18, Nadal has prevailed in 11 games, but Serbia’s Novak Djokovic leads him 31-29 overall.
The interesting matches between the two were the finals of the 2010 US Open and the 2012 Australian Open. In 2010, Nadal came out on top in the tooth-and-nail final to claim his first US Open crown.
In sports, it’s not always success that defines a champion, but the response to adversity, and that’s what we’ve seen Nadal do throughout his career.
No matter how many ages come and go, Nadal’s legacy will live on forever.
Thank you, Rafi! We were lucky to witness you!