Rafael Nadal’s greatest season: What was the best year of his career?

Oli Dickson Jefford 23 Nov 2024 10:43 AM

Rafael Nadal in 2008, 2010, and 2017.

Rafael Nadal’s career is officially over, with the tennis great saying a final goodbye to the sport at the Davis Cup this week.

A 22-time Grand Slam champion, the Spaniard was dominant throughout large patches of his career, and some of his seasons are among the very best in recent ATP history.

Following his retirement, we look back at four of the best years of Nadal’s career to see which one should be recognised as his most successful.

2008

W/L: 82-11
Grand Slams: French Open, Wimbledon
Overall Titles: 8
Overall Finals: 10
Win Percentage: 88%

Undoubtedly the most significant season of his career, 2008 was also one of Nadal’s most successful.

This was the year that the Spaniard finally toppled Roger Federer and rose to world No 1 in the ATP rankings, after his significant French Open and Wimbledon triumphs.

Alongside semi-final showings at both hard-court majors, Nadal thrashed the Swiss at Roland Garros, before avenging two previous final losses to down Federer in their legendary SW19 championship match.

Nadal also won singles gold at the Beijing 2008 Olympics and was part of the Spain squad that won the Davis Cup.

He won eight singles titles across 2008 – the third-most of any season in his career – and lost just 11 matches.

2010

W/L: 71-10
Grand Slams: French Open, Wimbledon, US Open
Overall Titles: 7
Overall Finals: 9
Win Percentage: 88%

Nadal retired injured in his Australian Open quarter-final versus Andy Murray, but then did not lose another Slam match throughout 2010.

This was the only season where he won three Grand Slam titles, and his triumph at the 2010 US Open saw him become the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam in the Open Era.

The ‘King of Clay’ did not lose a match on his beloved dirt in 2010, sweeping Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros with a perfect 22-0 record.

Nadal also stormed to the second of his two Wimbledon titles and won seven titles in total, losing just two finals – including his first of two championship matches at the ATP Finals.

His win percentage of 88% matched his 2008 effort, and 2010 proved to be the second of five years he finished as the world No 1.

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2013

W/L: 75-7
Grand Slams: French Open, US Open
Overall Titles: 10
Overall Finals: 14
Win Percentage: 91%

Nadal suffered a shock round one loss at Wimbledon in 2013, though that was the one low point in what was a hugely successful season for the tennis great.

Despite missing the Australian Open, the Spaniard won a seventh title in eight attempts at Roland Garros and also won his second US Open title – beating key rival Novak Djokovic in the final.

Nadal missed the Miami Open but reached at least the semi-final of the eight Masters 1000 events he played, winning five; Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome, Canada, and Cincinnati.

The 10 titles he won was the second-most he won across any season of his career, while he reached 14 finals – the most of any year across his two-decade-long career.

With a 75-7 record, Nadal’s 2013 win percentage of 91% is the highest of any season in his career.

2017

W/L: 68-12
Grand Slams: French Open, US Open
Overall Titles: 6
Overall: Finals: 10
Win Percentage: 85%

Three years after winning his most recent title, a resurgent Nadal finished 2017 as the year-end No 1.

The highlight of his season was undoubtedly regaining his French Open title, winning the event for a historic 10th time, though he was also able to claim his third victory at the US Open.

Nadal was also a beaten finalist at the Australian Open, falling to Federer in a five-set classic, and despite a limited schedule, was still able to win six titles.

Notably, the Spaniard was the champion in Monte Carlo and Madrid, while he reached a further four finals across the year.

After finishing 2016 down at ninth in the ATP Rankings, he was back as the world No 1 by the end of 2017.

Conclusion

For various reasons, any one of the above seasons could be recognised as his best – as could 2005 or 2019.

However, in terms of overall impact and success, it is hard to look past 2008 or 2010.

Though he won more titles and comparatively more matches in 2013, it was these first two seasons that he hit his greatest heights.

2008 saw him develop into the icon he became, while 2010 was the most dominant Grand Slam run of his entire career.

The overall titles won may give 2008 the edge if the debate is between these two seasons, though both are undoubtedly among the most remarkable in recent tennis history.