Since successful the French Open the primary time he entered in 2005, Rafael Nadal had by no means missed his favourite match till now. The proprietor of 14 titles in Paris and 22 Grand Slam trophies general introduced Thursday {that a} dangerous hip will power him to skip the journey to Roland Garros.
Here is a have a look at the victories, losses, rivalries and accidents which have marked the 36-year-old Spaniard’s profession:
2002
At 15 years, 10 months, earned first ATP match win in hometown of Mallorca.
2003
Reached third spherical in Wimbledon debut at 17, youngest man to get that far on the All England Club since Boris Becker was 16 in 1984.
2004
Beat then-No. 1 Roger Federer in Miami. Won first ATP title in Sopot, Poland, on clay. Defeated Andy Roddick to assist Spain prime the United States and win the Davis Cup.
2005
Won title in French Open debut; 11 trophies for the 12 months have been most in a season for a young person in ATP historical past. Moved into prime 10 in April; remained there till 2023. Finished the 12 months ranked No. 2.
2006
Earned second French Open title, beating Federer within the ultimate, earlier than dropping rematch in Wimbledon ultimate. Stretched clay successful streak to document 62 matches.
2007
Third consecutive French Open title got here by way of one other victory over Federer – and, as soon as extra, Federer beat him within the Wimbledon ultimate. Clay successful streak reached 81 matches earlier than loss to Federer at Hamburg, Germany.
2008
Topped Federer in Roland Garros ultimate for fourth straight trophy there; first man since Bjorn Borg in 1978-81 with that lengthy a streak in Paris – and first since Borg to win the title with out dropping a set. Met Federer within the ultimate on the All England Club, however this time received 9-7 within the fifth set in fading mild. Won Beijing Olympics gold; reached Australian Open and U.S. Open semifinals. Ended the 12 months ranked No. 1. Dealt with tendinitis in proper knee.
2009
Won first Australian Open title, defeating Federer in a five-set ultimate, after edging Fernando Verdasco in a five-set semifinal. His 31-match unbeaten run on the French Open ended with a fourth-round loss to Robin Soderling. Nadal was troubled by knee tendinitis and sat out Wimbledon. Dealing with an stomach difficulty, reached the U.S. Open semifinals earlier than dropping to champion Juan Martin del Potro.
2010
Stopped throughout Australian Open quarterfinal due to an injured proper knee, however returned to prime type on the French Open: He received his fifth title in Paris and didn’t drop a set, beating Soderling within the ultimate. Won Wimbledon for the second time, then accomplished profession Grand Slam by beating Novak Djokovic within the U.S. Open ultimate. Finished the 12 months ranked No. 1.
2011
Hurt left leg muscle on the Australian Open, however was superb by the French Open and tied Borg’s profession mark for males with a sixth championship, beating Federer within the ultimate. Nadal misplaced seven of 10 finals that season, with six of these setbacks towards Djokovic, together with at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
2012
Beat Djokovic for seventh French Open title. At Wimbledon, misplaced to Lukas Rosol within the second spherical whereas hampered by a left knee downside that stored him out for the remainder of the season.
2013
After seven months off the tour due to his left knee and a abdomen virus, put collectively a 10-title season that put him again at No. 1. Won eighth French Open and second U.S. Open (beating Djokovic within the ultimate), elevating Grand Slam complete to 13, trailing solely Pete Sampras (14) and Federer (17).
2014
Pulled even with Sampras by including French Open title No. 9, beating Djokovic within the ultimate. Lost to 144th-ranked Nick Kyrgios within the fourth spherical at Wimbledon, then missed three months with a nasty proper wrist. After returning, sat out two occasions due to an appendicitis.
2015
Lost to Djokovic in French Open quarterfinals; bowed out at that stage or earlier at different three majors, ending 10-year run with at the least one Grand Slam trophy.
2016
For first time since 2004, didn’t attain any Grand Slam quarterfinals. Lost in Australian Open’s first spherical; withdrew from French Open earlier than third spherical due to injured left wrist and was out of motion for months.
2017
After dropping Australian Open ultimate in 5 units to Federer, returned to dominance on the French Open, dropping 35 video games by seven matches en path to his tenth title, beating Stan Wawrinka within the ultimate. Added third U.S. Open trophy – his sixteenth main moved him inside one in every of Federer – and completed at No. 1 within the rankings for the fourth time.
2018
Won eleventh championship at Roland Garros. Stopped enjoying two Grand Slam matches elsewhere due to accidents and skipped different tournaments with knee, hip and stomach points.
2019
French Open title No. 12 and U.S. Open title No. 4 arrived, as did a return to No. 1 at age 33. Lost to Djokovic within the Australian Open ultimate, to Federer within the Wimbledon semifinals. Was troubled by thigh, knee, left hand and stomach issues at numerous factors.
2020
Pulled even with Federer with 20 Slam trophies with a thirteenth title on the French Open, defeating Djokovic within the ultimate. Won a number of titles in a season for sixteenth consecutive 12 months.
2021
Blew two-set lead towards Stefanos Tsitsipas within the Australian Open quarterfinals, then misplaced to Djokovic within the French Open semifinals. Played solely two matches the remainder of the 12 months due to continual ache in his left foot.
2022
Moved into sole possession of the document for many Grand Slam singles titles, one forward of Federer, by claiming No. 21 on the Australian Open, coming again to beat Daniil Medvedev after dropping the primary two units. Got No. 22 on the French Open, the place he overcame what he stated was debilitating ache in his left foot to raise the trophy for the 14th time by beating Casper Ruud within the ultimate. That made Nadal, at 36, the oldest champion in match historical past and improved his profession document on the clay-court main to 112-3. Pulled out of Wimbledon earlier than semifinals due to torn stomach muscle; misplaced within the fourth spherical of the U.S. Open to Frances Tiafoe.
2023
Lost within the second spherical of the Australian Open to Mackenzie McDonald whereas coping with a left hip flexor harm. It’s Nadal’s earliest Grand Slam loss in seven years. That dropped his season document to 1-3. He hasn’t competed since.
• Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis author since 2002.
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