It is unprecedented for one athlete to have so much success in a single event, while Nadal has also distinguished himself from Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic by winning 22 Grand Slam titles, while his rivals win 20.
“Don’t think that good old Phillippe (Chatrier) would mind if his court changed the name to Rafael Nadal – (one) statue is not enough.”
But Nadal, always eager to underestimate his achievements, thinks his record at Roland Garros may one day be improved.
“I always consider myself a very normal guy, so if I did it, maybe someone else can do it,” he told DailyExpertNews’s Christiane Amanpour on Monday.
“Obviously, the 22 grand slam record is something much more possible that someone can raise that record. I’m sure that’s going to happen; 14 Roland Garros is something… very difficult.”
In the 17 years between Nadal’s first and most recent French Open titles, he has lost just three matches on the Paris clay court: two against Djokovic, including last year’s semi-final, and one against Robin Soderling.
Sunday’s win made Nadal, who turned 36 on Friday, the oldest men’s champion at Roland Garros, and it was also the first time he won both the Australian Open and French Open in the same calendar year to clear him from Federer and Djokovic. to get. grand slam is correct.
“Of course I want to be the player with (the most) grand slams in history – that’s competition,” said Nadal.
“But it’s not something that I’m obsessed with and it’s not something that changed my mind… Honestly, it’s something that won’t bother me if Novak wins 23 and I stay at 22. I think my happiness won’t change at all, not even a percent.”
Playing While Injured
Events leading up to this year’s French Open are likely to make this title particularly special – not least unlikely – for Nadal.
At last month’s Italian Open, he dropped out of the tournament against Denis Shapovalov in the last 16 as he struggled with a foot injury – an ongoing problem that Nadal said required daily injections at the French Open to continue playing and training.
It meant he played the final without any feeling in his foot.
“After the pandemic, something happened to my foot. I can’t handle the pain to play often and even practice,” said Nadal, who has suffered from injuries throughout his career.
“All I can say is that I’m going through all these challenges, I always have the passion to keep going and I always have the love for the game,” he added. “I’ve always wanted to keep going. That’s probably why I’m in the position I am now.”
During Sunday’s press conference, Nadal said he would have a “radiofrequency injection” on the nerve in his foot to ease the pain and continue playing.
Whether he takes part in Wimbledon later this month will depend on the success of that treatment, and for now his long-term future in the sport is unclear.
“I never had in my mind (plans) to announce a retirement after this event, but of course things may not improve,” he said. “Then I don’t know what can happen.”
Is the ‘King of Clay’ just ‘The King’ now?
Winning the first two grand slams of the year means Nadal, for the first time in his career, can potentially win a grand slam on the calendar by triumphing at Wimbledon and the US Open.
It’s an achievement that last year Djokovic was one game away from completing last year, and a feat no male player has accomplished since Rod Laver in 1969.
“The odds are slim in this health situation,” tennis journalist Christopher Clarey told DailyExpertNews Sport’s Christina Macfarlane on Monday about Nadal’s chances of winning at the next two grand slam tournaments.
“Wimbledon isn’t his best surface anymore; it’s been a while since he won. But how can you not try that when you’re healthy?”
Even if he doesn’t add anything to his grand slam tally, it will be impossible to ever question Nadal’s status as one of the greatest players in the game. And in time, ‘the king of clay’ may simply be remembered as ‘the king’.
“I have achieved my dream and I enjoy what I do,” said Nadal, who is not concerned about how he ranks among his peers.
“I know the press and people always care about this, but somehow I’m an important part of the history of the sport and that makes me feel proud and happy.
“In the end it doesn’t matter much.”