Rafael Nadal is at the top of world tennis. The Spaniard won his 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Sunday, in five sets against Daniil Medvedev, and thus one unit ahead of his rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. For columnist Virginie Phulpin, this historic title does not (yet) make the Majorcan the greatest player of all time, but his success in the final after months of doubt will leave an indelible mark on the history of tennis.
One could coldly look at the numbers and simply say that Rafael Nadal is the greatest player in history. He’s the first to reach 21 major titles, so he’s the biggest. But Novak Djokovic can very well come back in front by the end of the year. We will therefore do the accounts at the end of the career of the three giants, not before.
An unaltered love of his sport
The accounting approach is the opposite of what Rafael Nadal represents. The mark he is leaving in tennis has little to do with numbers, and everything with the human and the superhuman. Before summoning History with a capital H, let’s already appreciate his own story. This fall, the 35-year-old Spaniard was in plaster, on crutches, not sure he could ever play tennis again. He hunkered down, worked hard, as always, and he tried his luck, with his incomparable mental resources.
And he emerged victorious from this Australian Open. The year of his 36th birthday, with his tonsure gradually replacing the long brown hair of his debut, and with this love of his sport unaltered since 2005. Sunday’s daunting final against Daniil Medvedev and his improbable scenario fits perfectly with the personality of Rafael Nadal.
Led two sets to zero, three break points against him, the Mallorcan was on the brink. For 99.9% of the players, the game would have been over. Not for him. He explains it very well. He can lose matches, he can collapse physically, but he will never allow himself to let go mentally. On this level, there is no debate: it is the biggest, all sports combined. Rafael Nadal’s mind is unmatched.
Rafael Nadal makes tennis grow
Who would have imagined him with 21 Grand Slam titles when he landed on the circuit, with his unbecoming cropped trousers and his tank top to show his biscotos? We were far from the aesthetics of Roger Federer. And his heavy left-handed forehands that hurt so badly on clay aroused more amazement than admiration.
But advancing in age and experience, Rafael Nadal has varied his game. The Spaniard is constantly looking for new solutions. And seeing him play, it’s all tennis that we see evolve. On Sunday, there were dazzling moments where he showed his science of play, angles, striking and placement. And today, no one can see him as a clay-court slugger anymore. He is so much more than that. Intelligence at the service of his sport: for that too, he is the greatest.
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have also paid tribute to him, and we must remember what the Swiss champion says. Rafael Nadal pushes others to become better. He does not grow up alone in his corner, he makes tennis grow. And that still counts more than 21 Grand Slam titles put together.