Rafael Nadal turns 40 and tennis still misses him. The Spaniard, a symbol of effort and competitiveness for more than two decades, is going through a quieter phase away from the professional circuit, although his name remains present in every conversation about the greatest in the history of this sport.
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For years, ‘Rafa’s’ birthday was inevitably linked to Roland Garros. Between 2005 and 2022, the manacorí made Paris his favorite territory and celebrated many of his birthdays competing in the Grand Slam where he built an unrepeatable legend with 14 titles.
His career was marked by impressive figures. He won 22 Grand Slam tournaments, conquered 92 ATP titles, and remained number one in the world for 209 weeks. Alongside Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, he formed the historic “Big Three” that dominated a golden era of tennis.
Nadal also left his mark representing Spain. He won two Olympic gold medals (in Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016) and was a key figure in winning five Davis Cups, always showing the same competitive character that made him a global reference.
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Despite retirement, many of his records remain intact. He continues to be the most successful tennis player in tournaments such as Roland Garros, Montecarlo, Rome, Madrid, and Barcelona. Additionally, he maintains one of the highest winning percentages in history, only surpassed by Djokovic.
Last year he received an emotional tribute at Roland Garros alongside Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. Today, away from the pressure of the elite, Nadal enjoys his family and remains connected to tennis through his academy in Mallorca, where he continues to pass on his experience to new generations.
