Rafael Nadal: The 11 men Spanish star faced in Grand Slam singles finals
Rafael Nadal’s Grand Slam career is officially over, with the Spaniard confirming he will retire at the Davis Cup this November.
He won 22 Grand Slam singles titles and reached a further eight finals and, in honour of his career, we’re looking at the 11 different men he played in those finals.
1) Mariano Puerta
Nadal’s first Grand Slam final opponent at the 2005 French Open was perhaps the most surprising, with former world No 9 Puerta never making it past the fourth round of a major across the rest of his career.
The unseeded Argentine stunned 12th seed Nikolay Davydenko in the semi-finals, though was then beaten in four sets by Nadal, who won his first Roland Garros title on his tournament debut.
Puerta’s career was effectively ended by a drugs ban towards the end of that season.
2) Roger Federer
One of the most significant rivals of the Spaniard’s career, ‘Fedal’ contested nine Grand Slam finals against each other.
They met in the Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals in 2006 and 2007, with Nadal triumphing in Paris and Federer ruling over the lawns of SW19.
However, Nadal usurped his Swiss rival at the top of the game in 2008 by thrashing him in the French Open final, before winning a legendary Wimbledon final later that summer.
Nadal would also prevail in the 2009 Australian Open and 2011 French Open finals, though Federer prevailed in their last Grand Slam final at the 2017 Australian Open.
3) Robin Soderling
In 2009, Soderling shocked the tennis world by becoming the first man to beat Nadal at Roland Garros, dumping the ‘King of Clay’ out in the fourth round.
The Swede made the final before losing to Federer and in 2010 roles were reversed; he beat the Swiss in the quarter-finals, before facing Nadal in the final.
However, there was no repeat of the previous year’s shock; Nadal won this final with the loss of just eight games.
4) Tomas Berdych
Nadal beat Berdych in 20 of their 24 meetings, and his victory in the 2010 Wimbledon final was perhaps his most significant against the Czech.
Berdych had beaten Federer and Novak Djokovic in consecutive matches to reach the final, and many fancied him to win a first Slam title.
However, it would ultimately prove to be a difficult day at the office for him, Nadal triumphing in straights.
5) Novak Djokovic
Djokovic and Nadal’s rivalry is the most played in tennis history, and nine of their 60 matches came in major finals.
Their first such meeting came at the US Open in 2010, which Nadal won in four sets to complete the Career Grand Slam, though the Serbian would triumph in Wimbledon and US Open finals in 2011.
The Serbian made it three major final victories in a row over Nadal thanks to his epic 2012 Australian Open victory, though the Spaniard turned the tide by winning the 2012 French Open final.
He would again beat Djokovic in the 2012 and 2020 French Open finals and the 2013 US Open final, while current world No 4 prevailed in the 2019 Australian Open final.
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6) David Ferrer
Outside of Federer and Djokovic, no one played more matches against Nadal than former world No 3 and current Spanish Davis Cup captain Ferrer.
One of the best players never to win a major, Ferrer would have likely won at least one French Open title – on his beloved dirt – had it not been for his compatriot.
Ferrer’s sole Grand Slam final was at Roland Garros in 2013, which Nadal comfortably won in three sets.
7) Stan Wawrinka
Nadal won 19 of his 22 matches against Wawrinka, though his first loss to the Swiss – after 12 previous victories – came in one of tennis’ greatest stages.
With the Spaniard perhaps struggling physically, Wawrinka made the most of his chance and beat Nadal in four sets to lift the 2014 Australian Open title – his first of three majors.
Three years later, they met in the French Open final and it was an entirely different story; a rampant Nadal dropped just six games.
8) Kevin Anderson
Back as the world No 1 after a resurgent season, Nadal largely cruised through to the US Open final while many potential rivals were absent or suffered surprise losses.
With a significant opportunity up for grabs in the bottom half of the draw, it was 28th seed Anderson who took advantage – reaching the first of two Grand Slam finals.
The South African could make little impact in the final though, Nadal facing little trouble in winning his third of four titles in New York.
9) Dominic Thiem
Once dubbed the ‘Prince of Clay’, Thiem also calls time on his career this year after struggling with a long-term wrist injury.
The Austrian reached his first Grand Slam final at the 2018 French Open final though could not push Nadal, with the Spaniard sealing his 11th French Open title in straight sets.
Things were more competitive when they met in the 2019 final, though Nadal was still able to battle his way to victory in four sets.
10) Daniil Medvedev
Two of Nadal’s most memorable finals in recent years came against Medvedev, who nearly beat the Spaniard twice, but couldn’t get over the line.
When they met in the 2019 US Open final, the Russian sensationally forced a decider after rallying from two sets down, only for Nadal to right the ship and win in five sets.
Two and a half years later Medvedev was in cruise control in the 2022 Australian Open final, leading by two sets and holding multiple break points.
However, in one of the greatest comebacks of his career, Nadal somehow rallied to triumph and seal a second title in Melbourne – 13 years after his first.
11) Casper Ruud
Nadal’s last Grand Slam final fittingly came in Paris and against Ruud, a man who idolised the ‘King of Clay’ growing up.
The Spaniard was the heavy favourite heading in and faced little trouble lifting the 14th French Open title of his career, dropping just six games.
That was not only his 22nd and last major title, but also his 92nd and final tour title.
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