Nadal received the Australian Open title in 2009 and 2022 and was runner-up on one other 4 events, together with basic five-set finals in opposition to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in 2017 and 2012, respectively.
He’s greatest recognized for his extraordinary and unmatched clay-court prowess – highlighted by a record-obliterating 14 French Open championships – however has received all 4 majors at the very least twice every.
Nadal is a key a part of the game’s golden technology, most notably alongside nice rivals Federer and Djokovic, with Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka different greats from this period.
Nevertheless, at age 37, accidents have develop into a much bigger drawback for Nadal, which is why he predicted eight months in the past that he would probably be on an prolonged tennis farewell tour all through this yr, together with the Paris Olympic Video games being performed on clay.
Nadal received the singles gold medal on the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
There may be uncertainty about whether or not he has performed his remaining Australian Open, after he hobbled off courtroom from a shock straight-sets defeat to American Mackenzie McDonald within the second spherical final yr.
Nadal stopped in need of declaring this might be his remaining season since arriving in Australia, admitting solely that he contemplated retirement throughout his lengthy lay-off.
“I went by means of quite a lot of issues [that were] fairly dangerous,” he stated.
“I didn’t miss the competitors as a result of all this time my physique was not able to compete. What I missed was to be wholesome; to get up and never have ache.
“In some unspecified time in the future I made a decision to maintain going. Then I simply started working day-to-day with out pondering a lot and doing the issues I’ve to do. It’s inconceivable to consider successful tournaments right now. What’s actually doable is to benefit from the comeback. I don’t count on a lot – one yr with out being on the courtroom.”
Nadal stated in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais in December that he would resolve on his future earlier than this yr’s French Open.
“Once I arrive in Paris, I’ll know whether it is my final yr. And there shall be a previous announcement,” Nadal stated. “There can have handed 5 months on the circuit, and I’ll know my actuality.”
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