SportsMoll takes a look back at the five best matches of Rafael Nadal's career since retiring from tennis at the age of 38.
A 22-time Grand Slam winner, the tennis world bid an emotional farewell to one of its favorite sons on Thursday morning. Rafael Nadal declared His retirement from the game At the age of 38.
The undisputed king of clay – winner of an unparalleled 14 French Open titles, four US Open crowns, two Wimbledon Respect and two Australian Open Cups – The final two years of his career were plagued by injury.
Noted for his long-running rivalries with fellow Big Three members Novak Djokovic And Roger FedererNadal has a total of 92 top-level tournament wins, as well as two Olympic gold medals and 209 weeks at world number one.
Nadal will take to the court for the final time in November to represent Spain in this year's Davis Cup finals, and in 20 years and 1,307 singles matches, he's inevitably had his fair share of breathtaking battles.
Here, Game mole Nadal is tasked with turning thousands of matches into the best five he has ever played in his career.
5. Nadal vs Puerta (2005 French Open Final) – Nadal won 6–7[6]6–3, 6–1, 7–5
The moment it all began for the then-teenage Nadal, the 2005 French Open final represented Argentina's debut at the Roland-Garros Championship. Mariano Puerta Provides a formidable opponent.
The Argentine also played in his first Grand Slam final, taking the first set in a tie-breaker against Nadal, the only Spaniard to display his royal qualities on clay in three consecutive sets.
Then aged just 19 years and two days – by knocking Federer out of the semi-finals on his birthday – Nadal became the first man to win the French Open on his debut. Mats Wilander In 1982, and the youngest champion Michael Chang In 1989.
While the 2005 French Open catapulted Nadal to fame, his opponent Puerta tested positive for a banned substance immediately after the final and was handed an initial eight-year ban before seeing it reduced on appeal.
4. Nadal vs. Federer (2009 Australian Open final) – Nadal won 7–5, 3–6, 7–6[3]3–6, 6–2
Seven months after the epic Wimbledon affair – and more of that later – Nadal and Federer crossed paths once again in the final of the 2009 Australian Open, the Spaniard's first major championship.
In contrast, his Swiss opponent – who was looking for revenge after the unforgettable events of SW19 – had already played in eight hard court finals, winning 8 of them, but Federer was yet to reach a fifth marathon finish.
Twice Nadal put himself back for good, and twice Federer responded to ensure the match would go the distance, but the Swiss icon broke a final forehand on match point before the regular Nadal collapsed.
Many in the industry believed that Nadal's five-set win signaled the passing of the Grand Slam torch as the Spaniard celebrated his first Grand Slam hard court victory, as Federer lamented one of the most painful defeats of his career. .
3. Nadal vs Medvedev (2022 Australian Open Final) – Nadal won 2–6, 6–7[5]6–4, 6–4, 7–5
Thirteen years after first reigning supreme Down Under, the 35-year-old Nadal finds himself back under the lights of Rod Laver Arena for the 2022 Australian Open final. Daniel Medvedev stood between him and the star.
Medvedev traveled to Melbourne as the defending US Open champion and was poised to add an Australian Open award to his CV when he won the first two sets against Nadal.
Indeed, Nadal recovered brilliantly from his false start to win 2–6, 6–7.[5]6–4, 6–4, 7–5 in five hours and 24 minutes, becoming the first man in the Open era to win the Australian Open final despite trailing by two sets.
Nadal didn't secure a 21st major title until 1.11am the following morning, but the Spaniard was incredibly involved in an even longer match a decade ago – see below.
2. Nadal vs. Djokovic (2012 Australian Open final) – Djokovic won 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7(5–7), 7–5.
On January 29, 2012, long-time rivals Nadal and Djokovic were eliminated at the top of the list in what many believe to be the greatest match ever played in tennis.
The Spaniard made several mistakes against his Serbian opponent in the 2012 Australian Open final, going 0-6 in matches against Djokovic in 2011, and he took two of the opening three sets to cruise to a revenge win.
However, legendary psychological monster Djokovic faced a crucial fourth-set tie-breaker and Nadal was unable to sustain an early break in the fifth set as Djokovic won the longest Grand Slam final in history in five hours and 53 minutes. Minute marathon.
By this time Djokovic was collapsing in exhaustion and exhilaration, Nadal losing a Grand Slam final despite winning the first set for the first and only time in his illustrious career.
1. Nadal vs Federer (2008 Wimbledon final) – Nadal won 6–4, 6–4, 6–7[7]6–7[8]9–7
As inevitable as the 2012 Australian Open final John McEnroe The 2008 Wimbledon Championships were the best of all time, and then the biggest of all time.
Nadal vs Federer. Central Court. British rain delay. The stage was set for an absorbing battle between two men at the pinnacle of power, and the thousands lucky enough to secure a seat for the finale were not disappointed.
Having won the first two sets of the final, Nadal came out all guns blazing before Federer used his tie-break power to level the match and force a fifth set, which had to take some time. Place the next day after bad weather.
However, at four hours and 48 minutes, Federer hit a forehand one last time to confirm Nadal's status as Wimbledon's new king.
