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Happy Birthday Rafa Nadal: King of Clay turns 35
Defending champion Rafa Nadal will mark his 35th birthday on Thursday with his first night-session match at Roland Garros but the Spaniard will have to celebrate the special occasion inside an empty Court Philippe Chatrier. Nadal’s second-round match against Frenchman Richard Gasquet is scheduled to begin after 9 pm, when the government-enforced COVID-19 curfew forces organisers to ask fans to vacate the premises. Third seed Nadal, who has an astonishing 101-2 record on the Parisian red dirt, has in the past described how difficult it is to maintain the same intensity without his fans spurring him on. Here we take a look at home of Nadal’s high points in his career in these collection of pictures.
Rafa Nadal is one short of Roger Federers record of 21 Grand Slam titles
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the only players with 100 wins at a single Major event, building their legacy for 15 or 20 years and standing tall on 20 Major trophies each. Nadal is one short of Federer's record of 21 Grand Slam titles. (Source: Twitter)
Rafa Nadal blasted his way to 2019 and 2020 French Open titles
Rafa Nadal shrugged off injury problems on his way to victory in 2019 and also blasted his way to the 2020 title without dropping a set in the rescheduled tournament last October despite hardly playing any matches in the run-up due to COVID-19 concerns. (Source: Twitter)
Rafa Nadal wants to retire as the greatest in history of tennis
Speaking about his retirement, Nadal set out his ambition which he wants to fulfil before considering calling it time. "I have never hidden the fact that I would like to retire as the best in history and as the player with the most Grand Slams," Nadal told El Pais in an interview. (Source: Twitter)
Rafa Nadal is 13-time champion at French Open
Rafa Nadal has won 13 of his 20 Grand Slam crowns at Paris, winning these over the last 16 years the Spaniard has played here. (Source: Twitter)
Rafa Nadal has won 20 Grand Slam titles
Ever since his first Roland Garros victory in 2005, Nadal has played 27 Grand Slams finals and has won 20 singles titles so far. (Source: Twitter)