Rafael Nadal is all set to walk into retirement, as he gears up for the last tournament of his career—The Davis Cup clash against Netherlands in Malaga. The season-ending event starts today, and there's a possibility of Nadal teaming up with his heir apparent, Carlos Alcaraz. As much as Nadal has tried to downplay the significance of his farewell in the build-up to this tournament, he can't evade the spotlight. Nadal is a four-time Davis Cup champion and boasts a winning record of 29-1. We look at some of the most iconic moments of Nadal's career that will live with us forever.
Miami Open 2004: The Arrival of Nadal
It started in Miami—a clash between a 17-year-old muscular teenager from Mallorca and the tennis royalty in the form of Roger Federer from scenic Switzerland. Those watching the event, even the most prophetic ones, wouldn't have seen this as the start of a rivalry that defined modern tennis. Nadal stretched every sinew and muscle to put on a display of extreme athleticism for 70 minutes that was just too hot to handle for Federer, whose winning streak of 12 matches ended with this game.
Nadal's First Grand Slam Title
By 2005, Nadal had already made a reputation for being a total slayer on clay court. He was 24-0 in the clay season, surpassing the record Andre Agassi set for the longest stretch of going undefeated as a teenager. Nadal held his rhythm to outshine everyone who came his way in Paris, as he became the youngest to win the French Open.
Winning "The Greatest Match Ever"
After two unsuccessful attempts at winning the Wimbledon, Nadal reached his third final in a row, where he would be facing Federer. The Swiss maestro has won five consecutive Wimbledons and was poised to add one more. What transpired was the longest final in Wimbledon's history, lasting almost five hours, and it was Nadal who ended on a victorious note. John McEnroe dubbed this as "the greatest match ever".
La Decima in Paris
A spate of injuries forced Rafael Nadal away from the French Open for three years after he won the title in 2014. The cloud of uncertainty loomed large on Nadal's future, however, he buried all the doubts by making a grand comeback at Rolland Garros. In 2017, he became the first player to win the grand slam title ten times.
Creating History in 2022
After a tumultuous year, Nadal started 2022 on a strong note by winning the Australian Open in January. Four months later, he clinched the French Open for the record 14th time, becoming the first man ever to win 22 grand slam titles. He also holds the notable distinction of being the oldest winner of the French Open.
