With his epic victory at the Australian Open, Rafa Nadal has just become the first male tennis player to win 21 Grand Slams. At 35 years old, the Spaniard has made history in racket sport and is confirmed as one of the great athletes in history. Olympus opens for Nadal, as it happened in his day with Michael Jordan, Ali, Usain Bolt, Maradona, Tiger Woods…
“It makes me happier to enjoy tennis again than to be able to win the 21st Grand Slam,” said Rafa Nadal in the run-up to the 2022 Australian Open final. With that humility and that passion to compete, the man from Manacor has lifted two sets against a great Daniil Medvedev to finish proclaiming himself champion in Melbourne. The title had escaped him four times and with everything against him, Nadal recovered to end up taking his second bite of the title at the Australian Open .
A victory that also allows him to become the first male tennis player in history to win 21 Grand Slams . Nadal breaks the tie with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic and already reigns alone as the tennis player with the most top-class titles in his showcases.
Rafa Nadal thus becomes the reference in tennis, as in his day other geniuses managed to change history in their sport. Michael Jordan did it in basketball with his six NBA titles (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998); or Michael Phelps in swimming with his 22 Olympic medals, 18 of them gold. In athletics Usain Bolt broke all records, while in boxing the legend of Muhammad Ali lives on with his 56 victories in 61 fights. Diego Armando Maradona also revolutionized the history of football. Another genius on Olympus, Tiger Woods with his 15 Masters.
21 Nadal Grand Slams
Rafa Nadal has 21 Grand Slams in his showcase: 13 titles at Roland Garros, four at the US Open, two Wimbledon and two Australian Open. The latter achieved at the age of 35 and after coming back for the first time in his career in an indoor final two sets against. Nadal reigns again in Australia and is already the sole leader in the race to win more Grand Slams.
An athlete who is not only a champion on the track but also outside, with an always impeccable behavior. “For me it is incredible. A month and a half ago I didn’t know if I would be able to play tennis again and now to see myself in front of you with the trophy is incredible. Thanks for the support. It is one of the most exciting moments of my career. I’m going to remember it for the rest of my life,” the Spaniard said at the foot of the track after becoming champion for the second time in Australia.
