Rafael Nadal in 10 memories | The Press

Rafael Nadal on Tuesday became the second member of the great trinity to hang up his racket. The 38-year-old bullfighter has certainly marked the history of his sport in different ways. The memories are numerous and the praise comes from all over the globe. Here, in 10 acts, the reasons why we will remember Nadal’s time on the most prestigious courts in the world.

The prodigy

Few players have generated as much expectation as Nadal. At 15, the left-hander was already a professional. At 17, he became the youngest player in almost 20 years to reach the third round at Wimbledon. At 18, he won his first ATP title, in Sopot. And at 19, on his first appearance at Roland-Garros, he left with great honors. Before the age of 20, he had won 16 of his 18 finals, an unrivaled efficiency rate of 88.9%.

The Grand Slams

In 2022, Nadal became the first male player in history to win 21 Grand Slam titles. It was in Australia, when everyone thought the best was behind them. He was then ahead of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer by a win. A few months later, he consolidated his lead by triumphing once again at Roland Garros. This 22^e major title turned out to be his last. In 2023, Djokovic overtook him to reach 24 triumphs. Nadal won twice in Australia, 14 times at Roland Garros, twice at Wimbledon and four times at the United States Open.

Clay

We will have to mourn the loss of never again seeing a player with such mastery of clay in action. Nadal’s 14 titles at Roland Garros are enough to impress. But his record in the French classic gives a better overview of his domination. In 116 matches at Porte d’Auteuil, Nadal has won 112 times. He therefore suffered only four defeats. His way of brushing the ball, giving it spin and sliding on clay have always favored him. He has won 63 of his 92 career tournaments on clay.

Injuries

Who knows how Nadal’s destiny would have been defined if he had not suffered so many injuries? Could he have obtained more Grand Slam titles, more big victories? His history of injuries would have slowed down any “normal” player: shoulder (2003), ankle (2004), foot (2006), buttocks (2007), knee (2009, 2010, 2012), stomach (2013), back (2014), wrist (2016), foot (2021), ribs (2022), hip (2023) and thigh (2024). Due to space constraints, some injuries are missing from the list. Imagine… It is estimated that Nadal had to withdraw from 14 major tournaments.

The rivalries

Nadal was part of the most prestigious and competitive era in tennis history. With his rivals and acolytes, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, he offered tennis fans the greatest spectacle for almost two decades. The Big Three, like a privilege, left its mark. Epic finals, fierce rivalries and incredible interest in this increasingly popular discipline. Nadal has had the upper hand 24 times in 40 clashes against Federer. Against Djokovic, he won 29 of his 60 duels.

The left-handed

Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe had paved the way for left-handed players before Nadal came along. The fact remains that the Spaniard has redefined the contours of what it is to play as a left-hander on the circuit. Especially since Nadal is naturally right-handed. He also writes and eats his cereal with his right hand. His uncle Toni suggested that he hit from the left in his early days to gain an advantage over his rivals. On his returns of service, his angled attacks and his lasso shot, playing from the left has become a considerable asset.

The international scene

Throughout his career, the Majorcan was a vigorous ambassador for his native country. In 2008, Nadal won Olympic gold at the Beijing Games. He beat the Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in the final, after getting the better of Novak Djokovic in the semi-final. In 2016, with his partner Marc Lopez, he also won gold in men’s doubles. A true power on the international scene, Spain was also favored by Nadal during the Davis Cup. In 2004, 2009, 2011 and 2019, the country was crowned world champion.

The fighter

In September 2021, Nadal ended his season to treat a chronic left foot injury that had haunted him for several seasons. He had surgery during the off-season. He then moved around using crutches and an immobilizer boot. But in January 2022, at the first major in Australia, he defeated Daniil Medvedev in five sets, overcoming a two-set deficit. The resilience and combativeness he has demonstrated are a reflection of his career.

L’Omnium Banque Nationale

Nadal has participated in the National Bank Open 13 times, including 8 times in Montreal. He won three of his five titles on Canadian soil at the IGA stadium. Not only has Nadal always been a crowd favorite, but he has also always considered coming to Quebec. Despite himself, Nadal will also be remembered for his third round defeat in 2017 when he was knocked down by Denis Shapovalov, a young 18-year-old Canadian who had yet to prove anything. An anthology duel for Canadian tennis.

The ritual

Nadal also marked his time as one of the most superstitious players. At the service, he had the same ritual. On his chair, before returning to the action, he placed two bottles between his feet. The front of the bottles, perfectly aligned, had to point in the direction of where he was about to serve. Then he would sprint to the baseline. Then, before serving, he pulled his shorts from his buttocks, pinched his nose, slipped his hand behind his left ear and then his right. Afterwards, he bounced the ball four to six times with his hand.