After a more than 20-year tennis career, Rafael Nadal has announced his plans to retire from tennis after a final appearance at Davis Cup in November. Over the last three decades, the 22-time Grand Slam singles champion, now 38 years old, smashed records on his beloved clay, in New York at the US Open, and across the entire spectrum of the sport.
Known for grace, humility and a legendary competitive fire, Nadal was also a winning machine.
Let's take a look at the inimitable Spaniard’s mind-blowing statistical legacy, by the numbers:
1: Nadal held the No. 1 ranking for 209 weeks, first claiming the top spot on Aug. 18, 2008. He ranks sixth all-time among the men in this category.
2: Always one to answer the bell for his country, Nadal won two Olympic gold medals: 2008 men’s singles in Beijing and 2016 men’s doubles (with Marc Lopez) in Rio.
3: Nadal’s winning ways weren’t solely limited to the singles court. In addition to his Olympic gold medal in 2016, Nadal won three Masters 1000 titles in doubles.
4: A legend in Flushing Meadows, Nadal won four US Open titles, including two (in 2017 and 2019) beyond the age of 30. His 80 percent winning percentage in US Open finals is tied with John McEnroe for the best all-time among players with four or more finals reached.
5: Nadal was a part of five Spanish Davis Cup triumphs, and he has chosen to end his career at the competition in November, bidding for a sixth.
6: Nadal defeated his archrival Roger Federer six times in major finals (6-3).
7: Nadal won Monte Carlo and Rome in the same season seven different times. He compiled 21 titles across those two red clay Masters 1000 events.
8: Number of stints at world No.1 by the Spaniard. Nadal held the ATP’s top ranking in three different decades. He first climbed to the top of the ATP rankings on Aug. 18, 2008. He last held the No. 1 ranking on Feb. 3, 2020, at the age of 33 years and 244 days.
9: Nadal successfully defended the Monte Carlo title nine times, which is a Masters 1000 record.
10: Nadal won 10 titles at the Rome Masters. He also won a major in 10 consecutive years, from 2005-14, which is the longest streak by a male player.
11: Number of cumulative wins notched over Federer (6-3) and Djokovic (5-4) in major finals.
12: Number of titles Nadal won in Barcelona, more than any other player.
13: Nadal set a record for the longest gap between title wins at the Australian Open, winning titles in Melbourne in 2009 and 2022.
14: Nadal claimed 14 Roland Garros titles, breaking and extending the record for most Grand Slam singles titles at a single major. Nadal won all 14 finals he played in Paris, and was never taken to five sets in any of his finals.
15: Nadal was 15 years old when he won his first ATP match in 2002. He was 34 when he notched his 1000th ATP win, at the 2020 Paris Masters.
16: Nadal qualified for the ATP Finals a record 16 times in succession, from 2005 to 2020.
17: Consecutive years inside the Top 10. Nadal holds the record for most consecutive weeks inside the Top 10 (912), holding a Top 10 ranking from April of 2005 to March of 2023.
18: Nadal holds the record for most consecutive seasons with at least two ATP titles, achieving the feat from 2005 to 2022.
19: Nadal went 19-0 in Davis Cup singles matches on clay, and 19-6 at the Olympics (singles and doubles combined). The Spaniard was 19 when he won his first major title, at Roland Garros in 2005.
20: Against the Top 20, Nadal notched 335 wins, with 89 of his Top 20 wins (89-27) coming at the majors.
21: Number of cumulative wins notched over Federer (10-4) and Djokovic (11-7) at the majors.
22: Nadal won 22 major singles titles, going 22-8 in major finals. He won his 22nd and final major title at Roland Garros in 2022.
23: Nadal owns 23 wins over reigning world No. 1 players, most all-time among the men.
24: Having achieved the feat at 24 years of age, Nadal is the youngest man to complete tennis’ career Grand Slam. He would go on to win all four major titles at least twice, and add two Olympic gold medals to his resume. Nadal was 24 years, 3 months and 10 days old when he won the 2010 US Open, his first of four titles at Flushing Meadows, to complete the set.
32: in 2008, Nadal won 32 consecutive matches across three different surfaces. It is the longest winning streak across three surfaces, with at least eight victories on each surface, in men’s tennis history. The streak included five titles: two Grand Slam titles (French Open, Wimbledon), two Masters titles (Hamburg, Canada), and the Queen's Club title.
36: Number of Masters 1000 titles won (second all-time).
39: Nadal won 39 consecutive matches at Roland Garros from 2010 to 2015, an all-time tournament record.
46: Length of Nadal’s record-breaking winning streak at Monte Carlo which started on his debut in 2005 and lasted until 2013.
50: Nadal won 50 consecutive sets on clay, from May of 2017 to May of 2018, an all-time surface-specific record.
52: Nadal won 52 consecutive clay-court semifinals from 2004 to 2014.
67-12: Nadal’s career record at the US Open.
81: From 2005 to 2007 Nadal compiled an 81-match winning streak on clay, which is the longest surface-specific winning streak in men’s tennis history.
92: Number of ATP titles won by Nadal, which is third all-time.
97.4: Nadal’s winning percentage at Roland Garros.
112-4: Nadal was the first player to win 100 matches at Roland Garros, and owns a 112-4 overall record at his favorite major.
131: Number of ATP finals reached by Nadal (92-39), which is third all-time.
209: Nadal's total weeks at No.1.
484-51: Nadal’s career clay-court record.
596: Weeks Nadal spent inside the ATP’s Top 2.
912: Nadal spent 912 consecutive weeks inside the Top 10. Nadal first reached the Top 10 in 2005 and he only exited it in March 2023 after missing most of the season due to injury.
1,080: Nadal has earned 1,080 career wins, currently third all-time.
