Rafael Nadal, king of clay, has won 13 of his 21 Grand Slam titles at Roland-Garros, but he has fought epic battles on all surfaces. Here are some examples:
. Roland-Garros 2005: semi-final won against Federer
On the way to the first Major. Federer was aiming for a fifth Grand Slam title, the first in Paris. But that day, the young Spaniard who had won three titles on clay in the previous weeks made a name for himself. Nadal beat the Swiss 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to his first major final. Two days later the Majorcan won the first of his 21 Grand Slam titles.
. Wimbledon 2007: lost final against Federer
Turning. Federer wins 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 for his 5th consecutive Wimbledon title, but after this match, we think that Nadal is much closer to beating Federer in his London garden as the Swiss beat the Spaniard on clay in Paris.
. Roland-Garros 2008: final won against Federer
The Spaniard Rafael Nadal during the final at Roland Garros 2008, won against the Swiss Roger Federer on June 8, 2008 in Paris
PATRICK KOVARIK – AFP/Archives
Spanking. It is the severity of the score that makes this match incredible: Nadal played almost perfectly to humiliate the world No.1 6-1, 6-3, 6-0.
. Wimbledon 2008: final won against Federer
Victory at dusk. The rivalry between the two men is already well established and the Spaniard almost brought down the Swiss in his kingdom the previous year. This time, after 4:48 of a game interrupted several times by rain and as night fell, Nadal won the match point at 9:16 p.m. with the score of 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7 , 9-7, ending Federer’s run of five Wimbledon titles in a row. This meeting is the most famous in the history of tennis with the Borg-McEnroe of 1980, at the same place.
. Australian Open 2009: final won against Federer
Tireless. Nadal wins his first title in Melbourne by beating Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-2 and almost 4:30 of very high level tennis. In the semis, he had already fought 5:14 to dismiss Fernando Verdasco. Defeated, Federer could not hold back his tears during the trophy ceremony.
. US Open 2010: final won against Djokovic
The Spaniard Rafael Nadal after his victory in the final of the US Open against Novak Djokovic on September 13, 2010 in New York
TIMOTHY A. CLARY – AFP/Archives
The Missing Major. In 2010, the US Open was the last one missing from Nadal’s list. Despite the confidence built up thanks to his victory against Roger Federer in the semis, the Serb could not stop the Spaniard. Nadal won 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
. Australian Open 2012: lost final against Djokovic
The longest. Novak Djokovic won 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 in 5:53 hours, making it the longest Grand Slam final to date. The Serb concluded on Monday at 1:37 a match which had started on Sunday evening.
. US Open 2019: final won against Medvedev
Never defeated. After two sets quietly won, Nadal was surprised by the return of a still unknown young Russian with a strange game. Pushed into the fifth set, the Spaniard proves that he never gives up and wins in 4:51 of an epic fight 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4.
. Roland-Garros 2020: final won against Djokovic
Lesson. The edition of the Major on clay is played in the fall because of the covid pandemic which prevented it from being held in the spring. Wet, windy and cold conditions are all obstacles on the road to a 13th Parisian title for Nadal. And we think that Djokovic has his chance to beat the king of the earth in the final of “his” tournament. In fact, the Spaniard corrects the Serb 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 and equals the record of 20 Grand Slam titles held since 2018 by Roger Federer.
. Roland-Garros 2021: semi-final lost against Djokovic
The Spaniard Rafael Nadal during his lost semi-final at Roland-Garros against the Serbian Novak Djokovic on June 11, 2021 in Paris
Christophe ARCHAMBAULT – AFP/Archives
The payback. Djokovic played the match of his life on clay and won 3-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2 at the end of a match of rarely equaled quality and tension. Nadal will later confess to suffering from foot pain and will only play two games of the season, forfeiting Wimbledon and the US Open.
. Australian Open 2022: final won against Medvedev
Overwhelming. Led two sets to nothing against the Russian Daniil Medvedev, the Majorcan manages to win 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 after 5:24 of play to afford a historic 21st title in Grand Slam. He had however contracted the Covid-19 in December and missed six months of competition in 2021 due to a painful foot.
AFP / Melbourne (AFP) / © 2022 AFP
