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Jim Courier points out where Carlos Alcaraz is even ahead of Rafael Nadal as he reaches the French Open final

Carlos Alcaraz is into another French Open final, having beaten Lorenzo Musetti this afternoon.

The match started off as if it was due to be a long, drawn-out affair, but once the 22-year-old got firing it became one-way traffic.

He brushed off the setback of losing the first set to wrestle the second in a tiebreak before bagelling the Italian in the third.

However, it swiftly became clear that something was wrong with Musetti, a notion confirmed when he called for the trainer. His movement had slowed and the match had got away from him, leading to his sad retirement.

Despite that, Andre Agassi was still left stunned by what he had seen, with Jim Courier going as far as to state that Carlos Alcaraz has surpassed Rafael Nadal in one key area.

Carlos Alcaraz told the area of his game where he’s surpassed Rafael Nadal

Given his current trajectory, the young Spaniard is actually on track to mimic what his legendary compatriot did in terms of Grand Slams won, such is the scale of his winning record at these elite events.

At just 22 years old, Alcaraz is a mainstay at the latter stages of almost every event he participates in, with the French Open his latest favourite after making Wimbledon his own too.

His game is perfectly moulded for every surface, but clay in particular is proving a true success. Agassi started his praise by stating: ‘I mean, look at the average speed of his forehand compared to his fastest. He never knows what’s coming off the racket and what that doesn’t say is how feathery his touch is as well.’

Courier would follow that up by comparing Alcaraz to Nadal, noting: ‘And with that forehand, just to put those numbers into context, that’s the same type of rotation on the forehand that Nadal got in his career, which revolutionised the sport. Don’t take my word for it, Andre had to play it. But the speed of the shot is so much greater than Rafa’s.

Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz

‘Rafa’s forehand was in the high 70s. If you can hit it that hard with that much control, it can cause problems and force you to basically push your body past its limits, which is what happened with Musetti.’

Andre Agassi praised one area of Alcaraz’s game that’s changed, but some traits he boasts are simply so good they barely need improvement.

Carlos Alcaraz reaches yet another French Open final

It seems that, once Alcaraz decides he likes an event, he develops a fascination with winning it.

At Wimbledon, he was not content with claiming a dramatic five-set victory over Novak Djokovic, so had to follow that up by crushing the 24-time Grand Slam champion in straights.

And, having reached the French Open last year, he seems poised to mimic that feat on the Parisian clay.

He is yet to learn who his opponent will be, but knows that it will either be Djokovic again or Jannik Sinner, his generational rival who he overcame at this event last year.

Neither will pose an easy afternoon for Alcaraz on Sunday, but the tennis community is at least guaranteed a blockbuster clash as one of these two superstars seeks to wrestle the title from the defending champion.

Jannik Sinner surpasses Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer on key milestone at Italian Open

Jannik Sinner, the current world No. 1, broke a record previously held by the Big Three, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer, after his match at the Italian Open.

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  • Rafael Nadal makes huge prediction about Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s future

Italian star Jannik Sinner continues to make headlines at the Italian Open, matching a historic milestone once held by Bjorn Borg while surpassing legends Roger FedererNovak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal. The world No. 1 advanced to the quarterfinals with a strong comeback win in the Round of 16, his first tournament appearance after a three-month layoff.

Now set to face Madrid Open champion Casper Ruud, Sinner looks in top form despite the extended absence. His return has been nothing short of remarkable, and with another title in sight, the 23-year-old appears more motivated than ever to continue his dominant run on the ATP Tour.

With his win over Francisco Cerundolo, Sinner surpassed Juan Martin del Potro’s record as world No. 1 and matched Borg’s astonishing mark of 50 wins in his first 53 matches while holding the top spot. Notably, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic never achieved that level of efficiency at No. 1.

Sinner is now right on the heels of the “Big Three” in terms of victories as world No. 1. Federer notched 50 wins in 54 matches at the top, while Nadal needed 56 to reach the same milestone.

Sinner reflects on return after three-month absence

After reaching a key milestone in his career and drawing comparisons to legends like Borg, Jannik Sinner shared his thoughts ahead of a highly anticipated match against Ruud. The Italian star discussed his return to the ATP Tour following a three-month layoff due to a doping suspension.

I’m happy to be back after three months out,” Sinner said before his quarterfinal matchup at the Italian Open“In every situation, I feel fortunate and lucky. Let’s see what happens, whatever comes, comes.”

Sinner also spoke about his current form and overall performance since returning to the tour. “I’m very happy because today I felt I raised my level,” he added. “Game-wise, I felt a little bit better, which makes me very glad.”

Sinner aiming for first Italian Open title

Returning to competition on home soil could prove meaningful for Sinner as he advances to the later stages of the tournament. Despite his success on the ATP circuit, the Italian has yet to win a title in his home country. This year, with strong momentum and crowd support, he may finally have the opportunity to lift the trophy in Rome.

His first major test will be against Ruud, who enters the match in excellent form after winning the Madrid Open. Should Sinner move past him, he would face one of the breakout stars of the tournament: American Tommy Paul.

Rafael Nadal,the Spanish tennis maestro from Mallorca, has crafted a legacy that cements him as one of the sport’s-time greats. Bursting onto global stage as a, Nadal quickly to dominate the clay with his fierce-handed style, earning the title of the undisputed king of clay.

His reign at Roland Garros is the stuff of legend, claiming the French Open title a staggering 13 times from 2005 to 2021. Such consistent excellence at a single Grand Slam is unparalleled, setting the bar at the highest level.

However, Nadal’s prowess isn’t confined to clay alone. Throughout his stellar career, he has amassed 91 titles, including a historic 21 Grand Slam victories, and 36 Masters 1000 titles, just one shy of rival Novak Djokovic.

Nicknamed the “Bull of Manacor,” Nadal is among an elite group of seven men who have achieved victory at all four Grand Slam tournaments. His impressive haul includes two Australian Opens, thirteen French Opens, two Wimbledons, and four US Opens.

Nadal’s career is also marked by his sustained excellence, having spent 209 weeks at the pinnacle of the ATP rankings—a testament to his unwavering performance and durability. A proud flag-bearer for Spain, Nadal has played a vital role in five Davis Cup victories and boasts two Olympic gold medals—one in singles in 2008 and another in doubles in 2016.

Carlos Alcaraz has recalled the first time he played Rafael Nadal and admitted he was intimidated by his legendary countryman’s routines.

Nadal’s intense pre-match warmup routine, which involved jumping and sprinting in the corridor, was an iconic element of his aura.

The 2021 Madrid Masters played host to the first encounter between Alcaraz and Nadal.

The second round match was contested on Alcaraz’s 18th birthday, and Nadal showed no mercy as he claimed a crushing 6-1, 6-2 win.

The Spanish duo faced off twice more — both times in 2022 — with Nadal winning in the Indian Wells semi-finals before Alcaraz prevailed in their final meeting in the last eight at the Madrid Open.

Alcaraz reflected on his his 2021 Madrid showdown with his idol Nadal in his Netflix documentary series: Carlos Alcaraz: My Way.

“I remember the first time I played against Rafael Nadal at the Madrid Open. It was a special moment. I was turning 18,” the four-time Grand Slam winner said.

“You see Rafa Nadal doing his routine. Jumping, sprinting around. You could see it on my face, I didn’t know where to hide. Scared to death would be an understatement.”

Alcaraz has frequently been compared to Nadal, but the 21-year-old asserted that he does not want to be viewed as the Mallorcan icon’s successor.

“I don’t want to be called Rafa’s successor,” the world No 3 said. “I want to be called Carlos Alcaraz Garfia.”

Nadal, who spoke in the documentary, echoed Alcaraz’s thoughts on the comparisons.

“When you’re young and they’re constantly comparing you to some professional that’s been on the circuit for many years, there are times you get tired of hearing it,” the 22-time major winner said.

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“This leads to an excess of pressure and in the end, I think it can distort your daily life and even confuse you.”

Following Nadal’s retirement at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in November, Alcaraz paid tribute to his teammate.

“I think that he was one of the best ambassadors for tennis,” Alcaraz said in a press conference. “His legacy is going to be eternal. You know, he has been great for tennis, for this sport in general.

“It is difficult, at least for me. I don’t want to think that I should continue the legacy that he has left. It is difficult, almost impossible.

“I will try to do my best, but right now, it’s time to say, you know, just great things about Rafa, what he has done, during his career.

“I think he has said everything, but, you know, the way he left tennis, it is incredible. Probably he was one of the players that put tennis, you know, in the top of sport in the top of the world. So it is just great to have had Rafa in tennis and in this period in my life.”

Iga Swiatek has enjoyed a solid start to her 2025 campaign, reaching the quarter-finals of all four events she’s participated in.

The world number two began her season with a trip to the United Cup final with Poland, losing out to the United States, 2-0.

She was then just a point away from reaching the Melbourne final before Swiatek lost to Madison Keys in a thriller on Rod Laver Arena.

After her defeat down under, Swiatek traveled to the Middle East for the two WTA 1000 events in Doha, and Dubai.

Losing her fifth straight encounter with the Latvian star, Swiatek fell to defeat against Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals of the Qatar Open, where she was the three-time defending champion.

Heading to Dubai, Swiatek lost to Mirra Andreeva in the last eight, as the Russian 17-year-old went on to win the title.

As the Pole now looks ahead to the WTA 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells, and Miami, she has taken the time to reflect on her biggest inspiration in tennis.

Iga Swiatek says ‘inspiration’ Rafael Nadal impressed her most with his ‘values’

Speaking on her new website, Swiatek explained how she originally felt about tennis as a youngster and named the ATP star who inspired her the most.

“Tennis was not love at first sight,” she said.

“Competing and pushing my own limits was, I had to mature into a passion for tennis.”

“Without a doubt, my biggest sports inspiration and I probably won’t surprise anyone here has always been Rafael Nadal.

“Mastery in sports is one thing, but what impresses me the most is what values he lives by and what kind of person he is despite his incredible success.

Rafael Nadal

“This is definitely the path I would like to follow.”

Swiatek and Nadal played together in the ‘Tennis Plays for Peace’ event ahead of the 2022 US Open, facing off against Coco Gauff and John McEnroe in a light-hearted exhibition match.

The Pole and Spaniard won 10-8, both hitting ‘tweeners’ during a thrilling point at 3-1, which got fans out of their seats.

Swiatek then explained how her tennis success has affected her over recent years, admitting that it can sometimes feel ‘overwhelming.’

“Tennis has made me a recognizable person in Poland and in many places around the world,” she said.

“People and the media are often interested in me and in what I am doing (which can sometimes be overwhelming), and I want to use this attention to bring about positive change.

“That’s why I speak openly about the importance of mental health, the joy and benefits of physical activity and sports, especially for children and young people.”

Comparing Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal at the French Open

Swiatek has spoken openly about her admiration for Nadal throughout her career to date and has worked hard to replicate the successes he enjoyed on the ATP Tour.

Nadal won a record 14 French Open titles during his time as a professional, a record that many believe will never be touched.

Swiatek’s four Roland Garros crowns see her closer to Nadal’s record than any other active tennis player, as she looks almost as dominant as the Spaniard on the Parisian clay.

Player Titles Most consecutive titles Win/Loss record Win %
Rafael Nadal 14 5 112-4 97
Iga Swiatek 4 3* 35-2 95
Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek’s record at the French Open

The Pole has won 35 of her 37 matches in Paris, lifting the trophy at each of the past three tournaments.

Swiatek’s 2024 French Open victory was one of her most dominant, dropping just 11 games in her final three matches as she won her fourth Roland Garros title.

When she returns to the French capital later this year, she’ll do so having not lost at the event in over 1,350 days.

Entering as a heavy favorite, the pressure will be firmly on Swiatek’s shoulders, as she will perhaps look to Nadal for inspiration once more when the French Open kicks off on Sunday, May 25.

Some of us never quite get over that silver medal we won back in high school trampolining, others just win, and win, and win again.

One of those men is Rafael Nadal – and his net worth isn’t the only reason he’s always smiling.

Nadal’s record in professional tennis is exceptional. We’re talking 22 Grand Slam men’s single titles, 92 ATP-level singles titles, and a record-breaking 14 French Opens (with an absolutely ridiculous 112-4 career record there).

He was first or second favorite with tennis sportsbooks to win the French open for an astonishing 16 years straight from 2006 to 2021.

The man even has a couple of Olympic gold medals buried somewhere beneath his boxes of trophies.

One major benefit of all that success is a healthy bank account. Let’s slice through Nadal’s net worth and see what we’re dealing with.

Rafael Nadal’s net worth

Brace yourselves, as Nadal’s net worth might shock you.

His total net worth is estimated to be in the region of $220 million. That’s enough for him to pay all the prize money to every player at the Wimbledon Championships for three years straight and still have enough left over to buy a 100ft superyacht.

And all he had to do was be the number one tennis player in the world for 209 weeks, including one spell of over a year straight. Easy.

Career earnings

Nadal’s net worth includes around $135 million in prize money alone since he turned pro in 2001.

It’s not surprising when you consider how many titles he’s amassed in both singles and doubles tennis.

Nadal had been part of the top three tennis players in the world for more than a decade alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

For years, those three, along with Andy Murray made the game look easy – and working out how to bet on tennis easier still.

Nadal bagged his first Grand Slam, and the first on that record-breaking streak of French Open wins back in 2005.

He was just 19. In fact, had the tournament been held a week earlier, he’d have only been 18.

And he might not be done yet. Although Nadal previously suggested he might retire after the current season, he more recently indicated that he was “enjoying playing tennis” and wasn’t ready to “close, 100 per cent, the door”.

Sounds like the King of Clay still has some oil in the tank.

Endorsements and Business Ventures

As one of the ‘big three’ in tennis for so long, and boosted even more by his famous rivalry with Djokovic, there aren’t many sports fans who don’t know the name Rafael Nadal.

His net worth has certainly benefited from this celebrity status, even when not among the favorites for Wimbledon and other major tournaments.

Nadal’s business ventures are impressive. He’s enjoyed a slew of sponsorships and endorsements over the years, covering everything from high-end fashion (Emporio Armani) to cars (Kia Motors).

One particularly interesting partnership Nadal signed was with PokerStars, one of the most popular online poker sites in the world.

This has given players a chance to see another side of Nadal, taking him on at the digital felt and sitting across from him at live tournaments.

You could even have won a weekend away to Majorca with the former world number one to play some poker, break bread, and hit a few balls on the court.

We almost forgot – he also has a $10 million deal with little-known sportswear outfit Nike.

He’s done his own thing, too. Nadal opened the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in 2016, delivering a tennis experience mainly aimed at youngsters.

Visitors can check out the museum, engage in one-on-one tennis coaching and much more. And all for the low, low price of more than $60,000 per year.

Conclusion

When you’re the best in the world at anything, whether it’s sports, cooking or dancing, there’ll always be a queue of people lining up to pay for your expertise.

Nadal’s net worth is a testament to his immense skill, dedication, and incredible achievements in the world of tennis.

The 38-year-old pro is in the later years of his career, as reflected by his current world ranking which is way down the list, around the 250-mark.

He is due to play for Spain at the 2024 Olympics in Paris in what may be his final tournament.

Although his net worth of $220 million isn’t going to skyrocket from career earnings from now, between the Nadal academy and his other business ventures, it’s safe to say the tennis legend has a few aces up his sleeve yet.

The Big Three of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer all feature highly on the list of players with the most top 10 wins.

Four men have won over 150 matches against top 10 players, while just two have surpassed the 200-win milestone.

Here, we look at the seven players who have won the most matches against opponents in the top 10 of the ATP Rankings.

7. Pete Sampras – 124

Pete Sampras accumulated 124 wins over top 10-ranked players in the world.

The American’s maiden top 10 win came against Tim Mayotte in Detroit in 1988, while his last was against Andre Agassi in the 2002 US Open final — the last match of his career.

Sampras won 10 or more matches against top 10 opponents in seven different campaigns (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999). His 14 top 10 triumphs in 1995 is his best tally.

6. John McEnroe – 128

John McEnroe registered 128 victories against top 10 players in the ATP Rankings.

The American scored his first-ever win over a top 10 player against Wojciech Fibak in Indianapolis in 1977, and his last against Guy Forget at the 1992 Wimbledon Championships.

McEnroe earned 10 or more top 10 wins in seven different seasons (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985). His best single-season top 10 win total is the 24 he compiled in 1984.

5. Jimmy Connors – 131

Jimmy Connors won 131 matches against top 10 opponents in his career.

The American’s maiden top 10 win came against Tom Okker at the 1973 US Open, while his last came against Michael Stich in Memphis in 1992.

4. Ivan Lendl – 166

Ivan Lendl recorded 166 triumphs against players in the top 10 of the ATP Rankings.

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The Czech-American earned his first top 10 win against Arthur Ashe at the 1979 French Open and his last against Boris Becker at the 1993 Tokyo Indoor.

Lendl registered 10 or more top 10 wins in eight different seasons (1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1989). His 22 wins in 1986 is his best single-season tally.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal

3. Rafael Nadal – 186

Rafael Nadal amassed 186 wins over players ranked in the top 10 in his career.

The Spaniard’s first victory over a top 10 player came against Albert Costa at the 2003 Monte Carlo Masters, while his final one was against Casper Ruud at the 2022 ATP Finals.

Nadal won 10 or more matches against top 10 opponents in 10 different seasons (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2018). His best top 10 win tally in a season is the 24 he compiled in 2013.

2. Roger Federer – 224

Roger Federer earned 224 victories against opponents in the top 10 of the ATP Rankings.

The Swiss’ maiden top 10 win was against Carlos Moya in Marseille in 1999, while his last came against Novak Djokovic at the 2019 ATP Finals.

Federer recorded 15 or more top 10 wins in nine different campaigns (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015). His 19 wins in 2006 is his best single-season total.

1. Novak Djokovic – 260

Novak Djokovic holds the record for the most matches won against players ranked in the top 10 with a remarkable tally of 260.

The Serbian’s first-ever triumph over a top 10 opponent came against Mariano Puerta at the 2005 Paris Masters, while his most recent was against Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 Australian Open.

Djokovic has registered 15 or more top 10 wins in nine different seasons (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2023). His 31 wins over top 10 players in 2015 is an all-time single-season record.

Iga Swiatek shared some huge praise for Rafael Nadal as she explains how their playing styles are similar.

The 23-year-old grew up idolizing the Spaniard and has named him as her biggest inspiration within the sport and her favourite player.

It is clear to see how the 22-time Grand Slam champion has influenced her game given Iga Swiatek’s levels of intensity and heavy groundstrokes.

But the World number two has now provided some insight into how she believes her game mirrors that of the 14-time French Open champion.

How did Iga Swiatek compare her game to Rafael Nadal’s?

Rafael Nadal developed a reputation for using high amounts of topspin with acute angels to drag his opponents out of position and wear them down.

Swiatek also implements topspin into her game and in addition to using her excellent footwork to move up the court quickly and take control of the rallies, hallmarks of Nadal’s game.

Swiatek has been compared to Nadal in terms of their dominance at Roland Garros, where they hold a combined 18 titles.

But during an interview with The Athletic, The Pole explained how they are similar from the perspective on how they played the game.

“It’s just physics. On clay, it’s going to be a bit easier because my topspin will jump higher and my movements will be maybe better than what other girls can bring with the sliding and changing direction,” Swiatek said.

“But on hard courts, I feel like I’m a good player as well. It was the same with Rafa.”

Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek makes a bold Rafael Nadal claim

Early in his career Nadal’s detractors did not believe he could achieve plenty of success away from clay courts.

But the 38-year-old proved his doubters wrong by succeeding on every surface, winning multiple titles on grass and hard courts, inducing the Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the US Open.

After showing he could adapt to all surfaces throughout his career, Swiatek called Nadal the greatest of all time on all surfaces.

“Everybody always talked about clay, but like he’s the GOAT (greatest of all time) basically on every surface,” she added. “Also winning Wimbledon twice. Not every player can have these results on even one surface.

“This is something that people are focusing on, and I am talking about this as well, because clay is where I have the most fun, but I love hard courts as well.

“And I feel like I have my weapons and I can use them. I want to be an all surface player for sure.”

US Open’s Mixed Doubles Shake-Up: Will Federer and Nadal Come Out of Retirement for a Fan Week Spectacle?

The US Open just dropped a game-changing bombshell—Mixed Doubles is moving to Fan Week with a drastically altered format, and Andy Roddick believes this could open the door for some of tennis’ biggest legends to step back onto the court. Could we really see Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or even Serena Williams back in action for a high-profile doubles cameo?

The US Open just dropped a game-changing bombshell—Mixed Doubles is moving to Fan Week with a drastically altered format, and Andy Roddick believes this could open the door for some of tennis’ biggest legends to step back onto the court. Could we really see Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or even Serena Williams back in action for a high-profile doubles cameo?

“I will tell you this, I want to put this out there right now,” Roddick said with a grin. “There are some recently retired players… I don’t know about a little Roger and Serena action.”

And what about Rafael Nadal, who remains on the comeback trail but is winding down his career?

“I don’t know what Rafa is doing right now. I am just saying, let’s throw a bomb of enthusiasm into this thing! This is just me wishing, I don’t know.”

The prospect of seeing Federer and Nadal teaming up—or even clashing in mixed doubles—would set the tennis world ablaze. Imagine Serena Williams or even Venus Williams making a surprise return. If the revamped format makes it more of a fun, exhibition-style event, the possibility of legendary cameos becomes tantalizingly real.

Not Everyone is on Board—Doubles Stars Slam the Decision

While Roddick and others see this as an exciting shake-up, established doubles players are furious. Many are calling the move a blatant dismissal of professional doubles players’ careers, reducing their opportunities on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

Jan Zielinski was particularly blunt, blasting the lack of player input.

“No communication with the players, no thought behind what it means to some people’s careers, no respect to the history and traditions,” Zielinski wrote. “Sad to see.”

French doubles star Edouard Roger-Vasselin echoed the frustration, labeling the decision “terrible” for professional doubles players who rely on Grand Slam mixed doubles for ranking points and career opportunities.

Rafael Nadal

Australian doubles specialist Ellen Perez went even further, taking to social media to call out the US Open’s decision in scathing terms:

“Tell us that you think doubles players are trash, that tradition is overrated and job opportunity is a thing of the past without actually saying it.”

A Risky Move or a Brilliant Innovation?

The new format undeniably shifts the focus away from traditional doubles and towards a more entertainment-driven experience. The wildcard system means that high-profile names—perhaps even celebrity pairings—could grab the spotlight, transforming Mixed Doubles into a fan-favorite spectacle rather than a competitive discipline.

For fans, the idea of Federer, Nadal, Serena, or even Andy Murray stepping onto the doubles court in front of roaring crowds during Fan Week is a dream scenario. But for professional doubles players, it’s yet another reminder of how their discipline often takes a back seat to singles stars.

Whether this move reinvigorates mixed doubles or sparks ongoing controversy, one thing is clear: The US Open has just shaken up the tennis world in a major way.

Rafael Nadal enjoys retirement as Spanish sport celebrates its hero: “Now is the time to organise my next chapter”

Two-time Olympic champion Nadal admitted that he has not picked up a tennis racket since retiring from the sport in November 2024.

Rafael Nadal is enjoying retirement life to the fullest.

The two-time Olympic champion brought an end to his professional tennis career in November 2024 with 92 career singles titles and 22 Grand Slams.

Nadal has since been away from the limelight but briefly stepped back into it on Tuesday (11 February) as he was honoured in a tribute event at the Spanish Olympic Committee headquarters in Madrid.

Olympians, athletes and invitees all wanted to pay their own homage to the 14-time Roland Garros champion, many desperate to meet their idol.

When the auditorium got their first glimpse of Nadal, everyone rose from their seats to clamber around him: they were in the presence of a legend.

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