Rafael Nadal in action in Spain at the Davis Cup Finals.

Firsts and Lasts: Bookending the Legendary Career of Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal (UTR Rating 15.51) is undisputedly one of the very greatest players to ever grace the most prestigious tennis courts all around the world – and one of the most beloved.

Thrilling fans for more than two decades, with countless ripped forehand winners, dominant performances, and come-from-nowhere points won, Nadal and his tenacious, exciting playing style will be missed.

He first emerged on the ATP scene in 2002, commencing what would be an incredibly impressive and globally celebrated career. As the 22-time Slam champion gets his final send-off at the Davis Cup Finals, here’s a look at his career bookends.

First ATP Tour Match Win – 2002 Mallorca

Nadal was just 15 years old when he was given a wild card entry into the ATP Tour event in Mallorca in April 2002. Ranked No. 772 at the time, here is where Nadal earned his first ATP match win.

Playing on familiar terrain, a clay court on his home island of Mallorca, the young Spaniard ousted Ramon Delgado 6-4, 6-4 in the first round. From Paraguay, Delgado was ranked No. 81 with a peak of No. 52 in 1999.

Nobody knew it at the time of course, but whoever watched that match witnessed the start of an unmatched career.

Last ATP Tour Match Win – 2024 Bastad

With his ranking down to No. 261 due to injuries and infrequent competition, Nadal played what would ultimately become his last ATP Tour tournament in Bastad, Sweden in July 2024.

At the age of 38, Nadal advanced to the final of the 250-level tournament. There, he lost to Nuno Borges, making his semifinal victory his last ATP Tour match win – a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over No. 130-ranked Duje Ajdukovic.

In total, Nadal would go 676-170 in ATP Tour matches (not including Grand Slams, Davis Cup, or the Olympic Games).

First ATP Title – 2004 Sopot

It was two years after his first ATP match win that Nadal lifted his maiden ATP-level trophy. On the clay courts of Sopot, Poland, a No. 71-ranked Nadal – seeded No. 6 – ousted No. 105 Jose Acasuso, 6-3, 6-4, for the trophy. Marat Safin, the tournament’s top seed, had lost in the second round while No. 2 seed Nikolay Davydenko was eliminated in the opening round. Nadal, who did not drop a set all week, won the title without having to face another seeded player.

Last ATP Title – 2022 Acapulco

Nadal last hoisted an ATP Tour title at Acapulco (an ATP 500-level tournament) in February 2022, defeating No. 12 Cameron Norrie for the championship. Ranked world No. 5 at the time, Nadal also bested No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals. This result came on the heels of the Spaniard winning the Australian Open title.

 

While Acapulco was his last ATP trophy, it was not his last title – that would come a few months later at Roland Garros, where he picked up Grand Slam No. 22.

In total, Nadal won 92 titles – including 69 ATP tournaments, 22 Slams, and one Olympic gold medal.

First Grand Slam Match Win – 2003 Wimbledon

Nadal’s Grand Slam debut did not happen at Roland Garros – an injury prevented him from competing in Paris back in 2003. So, he made his first Slam appearance a month later at Wimbledon. At age 17, he was the youngest player in the draw.

 

Ranked world No. 76 at the time, Nadal – who never once had to play qualifying to make a major main draw – defeated No. 68 Mario Ancic in the first round 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to claim his maiden Slam match win. He added one more in the second round over Lee Childs before falling to No. 11 Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand in the round of 32.

Last Grand Slam Match Win – 2023 Australian Open

It was in his penultimate Grand Slam that Nadal captured his final match win, in the first round of the 2023 Australian Open. Ranked world No. 2 at the time, after a 2022 season in which he claimed the Australian Open and French Open titles, he ousted Jack Draper, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Nadal came up short in the second round, hampered with injury, falling to American Mackenzie McDonald, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.

Nadal would play one more major, the 2024 French Open, but he lost in the first round to Alexander Zverev. It marked his 68th Grand Slam appearance.

First Grand Slam Title – 2005 Roland Garros

Fun fact: Nadal won the Roland Garros title in his first-ever appearance at the tournament. After missing it in both 2003 and 2004 due to injuries suffered earlier in the clay season, Nadal finally debuted in 2005 where it didn’t take long for him to show that Court Philippe-Chatrier was HIS court.

Just 19, Nadal was already up to world No. 5 at the time and reeled off three straight-set wins to make the second week. He vanquished Sebastien Grosjean in the fourth round and compatriot David Ferrer in the quarterfinals to set up a duel versus No. 1 Roger Federer in what was their third meeting, but first at a major. Nadal would win 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The last player standing in Nadal's way in the final was No. 37-ranked Mariano Puerta of Argentina, who he took down in four sets for his first major title.

Last Grand Slam Title – 2022 Roland Garros

Fittingly, it was also in Paris where the King of Clay hoisted his last Grand Slam trophy. A year earlier, Nadal had lost in the semifinals, on the heels of four consecutive Roland Garros titles. He claimed his crown back in 2022, handily defeating first-time finalist Casper Ruud for the championship, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0.

En route, Nadal eliminated Felix Auger-Aliassime in five sets in the fourth round – only the third time he was ever taken the distance in Paris – and ousted world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals in another thrilling match-up between the two legends. He was then leading over Zverev in the semifinals when the German retired with an injury.

With the win, Nadal claimed his 22nd Slam title and 14th at Roland Garros.

First Week at World No. 1 – August 18, 2008

The 2008 season was memorable for many reasons, notably for what is still considered one of the best major finals in history: the epic Wimbledon battle between Nadal and Federer. It was Nadal who came out victorious over the grass-court maestro in a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7 saga.

 

The win gave Nadal his fifth Slam and first outside of Roland Garros, and was part of five consecutive titles won (Hamburg, Roland Garros, Queen’s Club, Wimbledon, Toronto). Combined, it all marked his continued and determined march to the No. 1 ranking.

He finally nabbed the top spot for the first time just a monthfollowing that Wimbledon trophy, after winning the gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Read More: Jannik Sinner Ends 2024 on Top

Last Week at World No. 1 – January 20, 2020

Nadal’s name was last found atop the world rankings in January 2020 at the start of the Australian Open. He had finished 2019 as the year-end No. 1 after regaining the position at the ATP Finals when both he and Djokovic were ousted in the round-robin stage. This came after a season in which Nadal claimed both the Roland Garros and US Open titles, finished as Australian Open runner-up, and made the Wimbledon semifinals.

With Nadal’s elimination in the Aussie Open quarterfinals and Djokovic winning the title, the Serbian reclaimed the No. 1 ranking.

In total, Nadal spent 209 weeks as world No. 1 (sixth on the all-time ATP list) and was year-end No. 1 five times.

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