Rafael Nadal’s dominance on the French Delivery has with out smash left its designate on tennis historic past. All over an eminent profession, Nadal secured 14 French Delivery titles, successful 112 fits and losing handiest four since his debut in 2005.
His reign on the Parisian clay is unmatched, a feat that has been a key pillar of his 22 Huge Slam triumphs. Right here is a explore back at Nadal’s 14 title wins at Roland Garros and six of his most memorable Huge Slam finals.
The 14 French Delivery triumphs
2005: bt Mariano Puerta (ARG) 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 7-5
Nadal, fair appropriate 19, turn into the youngest Huge Slam winner since Michael Chang in 1989, clinching his first French Delivery title on his debut, emulating Mats Wilander’s feat from 1982. His opponent, Puerta, was later banned for failing a medication take a look at.
2006: bt Roger Federer (SUI) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6
Nadal was the important thing man to beat Federer in a Huge Slam last, denying him the chance to sustain all four valuable titles simultaneously. This victory extended Nadal’s unbeaten glide on clay to 60 fits.
2007: bt Roger Federer (SUI) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Nadal turn into the important thing player since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to score three consecutive French Delivery titles.
2008: bt Roger Federer (SUI) 6-1, 6-3, 6-0
In one amongst his most dominant performances, Nadal handed Federer his worst Huge Slam defeat. Nadal additionally claimed the title with out dropping a scheme, joining Ilie Nastase and Borg because the handiest men to raise out this in the Delivery generation.
2010: bt Robin Soderling (SWE) 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
After suffering his first and handiest defeat at Roland Garros to Soderling a year earlier, Nadal purchased his revenge, successful the title with out losing a scheme and regaining the enviornment quantity one rating.
2011: bt Roger Federer (SUI) 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1
Nadal equalled Borg’s story of six French Delivery titles and took his Huge Slam tally to 10. Federer had ended Novak Djokovic’s 43-match successful glide in the semi-finals, but Nadal was over but but again too solid.
2012: bt Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
Nadal broke Borg’s story with his seventh French Delivery title, ending Djokovic’s divulge to sustain all four majors as we articulate. Rain delayed the match till Monday, adding drama as Djokovic was leading in the fourth scheme when the stoppage happened.
2013: bt David Ferrer (ESP) 6-3, 6-2, 6-3
Nadal easily defeated his compatriot Ferrer to assert his eighth French Delivery title. Nonetheless, the precise discipline came in the semi-last against Djokovic, the save Nadal won a gruelling 4-hour, 37-minute match.
2014: bt Novak Djokovic (SRB) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4
In their 2d last clash in three years, Nadal won his ninth French Delivery title. The score additionally secured his 14th Huge Slam, tying him with Pete Sampras for 2d on the all-time list.
2017: bt Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 6-2, 6-3, 6-1
Nadal turn into the important thing man to score the identical valuable 10 events, defeating Wawrinka in his most lopsided last victory since 2008. His 15th Huge Slam triumph added one other layer to his legendary scheme.
2018: bt Dominic Thiem (AUT) 6-4, 6-3, 6-2
Nadal cruised past Thiem to score his 17th Huge Slam title, though not with out some drama. He wished clinical consideration in the third scheme for a finger hurt, but in the smash closed out the match comfortably.
2019: bt Dominic Thiem (AUT) 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1
Nadal defeated Thiem in the last for the 2d consecutive year, securing his 12th French Delivery title. No matter dropping a scheme, Nadal stormed by the third and fourth sets, extending his score-loss story at Roland Garros to 93-2.
2020: bt Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-0, 6-2, 7-5
In a match delayed by the pandemic and played in front of a puny crowd, Nadal beaten Djokovic to score his 13th French Delivery title. The victory additionally tied him with Federer’s story of 20 Huge Slam titles, hailed by Federer as “one amongst sport’s greatest achievements.”
2022: bt Casper Ruud (NOR) 6-3, 6-3, 6-0
No matter a foot hurt that plagued him at some level of the match, Nadal secured his 14th French Delivery title by demolishing Ruud. It was his 112th score at Roland Garros, cementing his legacy because the King of Clay.
Six unforgettable Huge Slam finals
2005 French Delivery: bt Mariano Puerta (ARG) 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 7-5
The last that began Nadal’s clay-court docket legacy. At fair appropriate 19, he defeated Puerta, who would later support a doping suspension. Nadal’s 2005 victory was fair appropriate the open of his dominance at Roland Garros.
2008 Wimbledon: bt Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7
Regarded as one amongst the greatest tennis fits ever, Nadal dethroned Federer in an fable last lasting 4 hours and forty eight minutes. Rain delays, fading gentle, and breathtaking tennis made this a legendary contest. Federer saved match components in the fourth scheme, but Nadal in the end won, collapsing in relief as darkness descended.
2009 Australian Delivery: bt Roger Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2
Nadal’s relentless energy and excellent endurance saw him overcome Federer but but again, successful his first Australian Delivery after a gruelling five-setter. It adopted an laborious semi-last score that lasted over five hours.
2012 Australian Delivery: lost to Novak Djokovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5
Though Nadal lost, this match is remembered for its sheer intensity and length. After 5 hours and fifty three minutes, Djokovic emerged victorious in the longest Huge Slam last in historic past. Both players were exhausted by the tip, wanting chairs for the interval of the trophy ceremony.
2013 US Delivery: bt Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
Nadal’s resurgence after knee injuries was capped with this victory, his 2d US Delivery title. The last was a pulsating affair, featuring a 54-shot rally as Nadal triumphed in four sets.
2022 Australian Delivery: bt Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5
In a unbelievable comeback, Nadal overturned a two-scheme deficit to beat Medvedev, securing his twenty first Huge Slam title. It was the 2d time Nadal defeated the Russian in a vital last, ending one amongst his greatest victories.
A legacy devour no reasonably a pair of
Rafael Nadal’s recede by Huge Slam historic past is printed by resilience, dominance, and moments of magic. His 14 French Delivery titles and unforgettable battles on tennis’s greatest stages salvage made him an icon of the sport. From Paris to Melbourne, Contemporary York, and beyond, his achievements will resonate by the annals of tennis for generations.
