Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement from tennis

[MargaretMcAleer]

Seven Rafa Nadal ' Incredible Records"

10 consecutive years winning a Slam
11 titles in one year as a teenager
14 Roland Garros titles
81 consecutive wins on clay
912 consecutive weeks in the Top Ten
Monte Carlo/Madrid/Rome/RG Sweep
Career Golden Slam at age 24!

 

[El Dude]

Here's another three:
596 weeks in ATP top 2
91.33 win percentage on clay
63 clay titles

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Rafa was one of a kind. I love the guy even though he hurt me more than all my exes combined, beating on my guy. His work ethic, not taking points off no matter what are values that extend beyond tennis and are appreciated less and less these days.
I wish him and his family all the best.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Kudos to a well fought career and thoroughly earned retirement. I hope for one more glorious moment in Davis Cup to send him off. He will definitely be remembered for his grit and dogged determination. He was part of some epic matches that will always be worth a rewatch.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Maybe the most incredible of his records

 

[tented]

I feel we have to do the list of his greatest matches. The first few are in order, then the rest were as I thought of them:

1) 2008 Wimbledon final
2) 2022 Australian Open final
3) 2006 Rome final
4) 2009 Australian Open SF & final (in my mind, I think of the final two rounds that year as a heroic couplet)
5) 2013 USO final
6) 2019 USO final
7) 2005 MC & Rome finals against Coria (another couplet)

And …?

 

[the AntiPusher]

I feel we have to do the list of his greatest matches. The first few are in order, then the rest were as I thought of them:

1) 2008 Wimbledon final
2) 2022 Australian Open final
3) 2006 Rome final
4) 2009 Australian Open SF & final
5) 2013 USO final
6) 2019 USO final
7) 2005 MC & Rome finals against Coria

And …?

the 2009 the Madrid semi final vs Novak..2018 Wimbledon semi final (the close roof) vs Novak

 

[tented]

the 2009 the Madrid semi final vs Novak..

Yes! I can’t believe I forgot that one.

 

[El Dude]

I feel we have to do the list of his greatest matches. The first few are in order, then the rest were as I thought of them:

1) 2008 Wimbledon final
2) 2022 Australian Open final
3) 2006 Rome final
4) 2009 Australian Open SF & final (in my mind, I think of the final two rounds that year as a heroic couplet)
5) 2013 USO final
6) 2019 USO final
7) 2005 MC & Rome finals against Coria (another couplet)

And …?

2017 Australian Open final

 

[El Dude]

Actually, on a serious note, it might be interesting to do a list of his most heart-breaking matches. I don't think the 2017 AO would be #1, but certainly in the top 5. I'm guessing most Rafa fans would say the 2012 Australian Open. 2010 or 2013 World Tour Finals is probably up there somewhere

 

[tented]

2018 Wimbledon semi final (the close roof) vs Novak

That would be another interesting list — his greatest/biggest losses. The 2018 Wimbledon SF stands out. The 2012 AO final. The 2017 AO final. The 2007 Hamburg final (which snapped his clay-court winning streak)

And …?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

What about the 2007 Wimbledon final he lost to Federer in 5 sets, still I thought Rafa played well and at one stage I thought he might win, though he did make up for it in 2008.

 

[Kieran]

Another record of note, mentioned on Andy Roddick’s podcast, I’d that Rafa’s is the only player in history to be world number 1 in three separate decades. That’s almost as astonishing as Pete’s six in a row YE#1…

 

[El Dude]

Another record of note, mentioned on Andy Roddick’s podcast, I’d that Rafa’s is the only player in history to be world number 1 in three separate decades. That’s almost as astonishing as Pete’s six in a row YE#1…

Kinda. "Three decades" is rather arbitrary, and really only means 10 years + a moment on either end.

Roger was #1 in 2004-2018, a span of 15 seasons.

Novak was #1 in 2011-24, a span of 14 seasons.

Rafa was #1 in 2008-20, a span of 13 seasons.

Don't get me wrong, being #1 during a span of 10+ years is very impressive - but it is dependent upon when one played.

 

[Kieran]

Kinda. "Three decades" is rather arbitrary, and really only means 10 years + a moment on either end.

Roger was #1 in 2004-2018, a span of 15 seasons.

Novak was #1 in 2011-24, a span of 14 seasons.

Rafa was #1 in 2008-20, a span of 13 seasons.

Don't get me wrong, being #1 during a span of 10+ years is very impressive - but it is dependent upon when one played.

3 different decades, bro. It ain’t rocket salad…

 

[nehmeth]

Congratulations on a fantastic career to Rafael Nadal.

 

[El Dude]

3 different decades, bro. It ain’t rocket salad…

Yes, and I'm saying it is a meaningless statistic - not "astonishing." Sort of fun as a quirk, but not as impressive as it sounds.

It is a classic way of framing something to make it sound more impressive than it is - an arbitrary range of time, sort of like saying "I ran for two days straight" if you run from 11:59pm to 12:01am, which is two minutes. Is not running for 10 minutes from 11:45 to 11:55 on one day more "astonishing?"

That said, being #1 over a 13-year span IS pretty astonishing. But Novak and Roger edge out Rafa on this one.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

7) 2005 MC & Rome finals against Coria (another couplet)

I prefer 2005 Toronto Final against Agassi over this.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Another one for Rafa's remarkable accomplishments

• He is the only male player to regain the year-end No. 1 crown four times and finish as the year-end No. 1 in five non-consecutive years. He also has the most wins against world No. 1 ranked players, with 23 in total.

 

[mrzz]

His most astonishing record is having the most obnoxious fan base of all times... which oddly enough has a small bunch of nice people lurking inside it!