In the history of tennis, no player has managed to win every Grand Slam title at least twice. The closest to this result were certainly the big three, made up of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
On numerous occasions they have participated in a final to conquer this particular record. The last time was during the last Roland Garros 2020 where Novak Djokovic was beaten in the final by the “King of the clay” and thirteen times winner in Paris, Rafael Nadal, clearly dominant in this match.
To achieve this record, Rafael Nadal only needs the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year where Rafa has often fought and where he won his only title in the now distant year 2009.
In 2021, Rafa will again have the chance to reach this record, but that of 2009 was in any case a historic achievement.
In a recent interview with Marca, Russian player Andrey Rublev looked at Rafael Nadal’s historic track record, which has 13 Roland Garros titles, saying that such a record makes everyone aspire to greatness too.
The Russian played against Nadal in the recent ATP Nitto final in London, but was beaten by the Spaniard in straight sets.
Rublev talks about his passion for Rafael Nadal.
“What comes to my mind is that if someone is able to win a Grand Slam 13 times, you have to try to win it at least once,” said Andrei Rublev.
“I couldn’t take the pressure (playing against Rafael Nadal in the ATP final),” he added. “When I showed my emotions from the start of the match, I knew I was finished”
Despite being firmly entrenched in the top 10, Rublev believes he has yet to earn his place among the sport’s elite. The Russian hopes to maintain his ranking for a few years so that he can be considered in the same register as the other big names in the sport.
“I feel like a top 10 guest,” Rublev said. “To really feel like one of them I have to find consistency and that means being in that position for a few years.
It can be argued that Thiem, Zverev or Medvedev deserved to be there. ”Just recently, the 20-time Grand Slam champion won the 2020 ATP award for his professionalism and integrity.
Being a good example for the next generation has always been one of Rafael Nadal’s top priorities. The 39-year-old Spaniard said: “I have tried all my life to convey values that are positive. They have tried to educate me to make it so and I hope these are values that help some young people to grow up appropriately ”
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