Rafael Nadal continues to make history. The Spaniard, after defeating Matteo Berrettini, qualified for his sixth final at the Australian Open and for the 29th overall of a Grand Slam. Add 20 titles in the previous 28 finals. On Sunday he will look for his 21st big against Medvedev, which would put him on the highest ranking throne, as he is currently tied for 20th with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. In total, Nadal has 13 wounds at Roland Garros, four at the US Open, two at Wimbledon and one in Australia.
He has faced 10 different opponents in Grand Slam finals: Mariano Puerta, Roger Federer, Robin Soderling, Tomas Berdych, Novak Djokovic, David Ferrer, Stanislas Wawrinka, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev.
This is how Nadal went in his 28 Grand Slam finals (20-8)
1. Roland Garros, 2005 (Win)
At the age of 19, Nadal conquered Paris for the first time. Surely no one imagined that, at the moment, he would do it ten times more. The Spaniard defeated the Argentine Mariano Puerta in four sets 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1 and 7-5.
2. Roland Garros, 2006 (Win)
Second consecutive year with final and title in Paris. It was no longer surprising, but at the age of 20 Nadal began to forge a legend after defeating Roger Federer for the first time in the final of a major 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 and 7-6 (4)
3. Wimbledon, 2006 (Loss)
Nadal’s first loss in a Grand Slam final came in the third. He lost to Federer in London, being the only final in which he has received a donut 0-6, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (2) and 3-6
4. Roland Garros, 2007 (Win)
Again against Federer, Nadal won his third consecutive title in Paris in a final that was decided in four sets 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 and 6-4.
5. Wimbledon, 2007 (Loss)
Second year in the London final against the same opponent, Roger Federer, and also with defeat. The title was resisted on the grass after falling in a disputed final that was decided in the fifth set 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 and 2-6
6. Roland Garros, 2008 (Win)
Nadal kept writing his name in history. Fourth victory in a row in Paris and the third consecutive against Roger Federer, whom he swept 6-1, 6-3 and 6-0
7. Wimbledon, 2008 (Win)
The match of matches. Nadal got his first Wimbledon in what is considered by many to be the best match in history after defeating Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8) and 9-7 in a final To remember. Rafa finally, to the third, conquered the grass of London.
8. Australian Open, 2009 (Win)
Nadal’s only victory in Australia, for now. He got the title after beating Federer once again in a final that was also decided in the fifth set 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 3-6 and 6-2.
9. Roland Garros, 2010 (Win)
The first of the three greats that Nadal achieved in 2010, possibly the best year of his career. After falling in 2009 in the round of 16 against Soderling, the Spaniard took revenge on the Swede and defeated him in the final the following year with forcefulness 6-4, 6-2 and 6-4.
10. Wimbledon, 2010 (Win)
Second and last trophy in London for Nadal so far, after defeating the Czech Thomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5 and 6-4.
11. US Open, 2010 (Win)
In his first final in the United States, Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 and, at 24, became the youngest player to win the Big Four.
12. Roland Garros, 2011 (Win)
The sixth Musketeers Cup for Nadal, the fourth against Roger Federer. The Spaniard defeated the Swiss in four sets 7-5, 7-6 (3), 5-7 and 6-1.
13. Wimbledon, 2011 (Loss)
Nadal fell in London for the first time, in a final, to a rival other than Federer. The executioner was Novak Djokovic, who won in four sets 4-6, 1-6, 6-1 and 3-6.
14. US Open, 2011 (Loss)
For the second consecutive year, Nadal reached three Grand Slam finals. This time he won one of the three, for the plenary session of 2010 (three of three). In the United States, he defeated Djokovic again in four sets 2-6, 4-6, 7-6 (3) and 1-6.
15. Australian Open, 2012 (Loss)
Nadal started the year reaching the final in Australia, but could not win the title after losing to the same rival who took his measure during that time: Novak Djokovic, 7-5, 4-6, 2-6, 7-5 (5) and 5-7.
16. Roland Garros, 2012 (Win)
The seventh and, now, against Djokovic. Nadal defeated the Serb in the final after four sets 6-4, 6-3, 2-6 and 7-5.
17. Roland Garros, 2013 (Win)
Spanish final in Paris between Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer. The one from Jávea completed a brilliant tournament, but he could do little in the final against the one from Manacor 6-3, 6-2 and 6-3.
18. US Open, 2013 (Win)
Rafa’s second title in the United States after defeating Novak Djokovic in four sets 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 and 6-1.
19. Australian Open, 2014 (Loss)
A limping Nadal, with physical problems, had a Swiss as his executioner, but this time it was not Roger Federer. Wawrinka took the final in four sets 3-6, 2-6, 6-3 and 3-6.
20. Roland Garros, 2014 (Win)
Another one, the ninth. Rafa conquered Paris for another year after defeating Djokovic in four sets 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 and 6-4.
21. Australian Open, 2017 (Loss)
With no finals in 2015 and 2016, Nadal’s future was uncertain. However, he returned to the highest level despite losing in the final against a Federer who also went through a major bump, both demonstrating the reason for their successful careers. Swiss victory in five sets 4-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 and 3-6.
22. Roland Garros, 2017 (Win)
Without a doubt, one of the most enjoyed by the Balearic Islands. Three years later, Nadal returned to conquer Paris. He did it after defeating Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3 and 6-1.
23. US Open, 2017 (Win)
Four years later Nadal won again in the United States. He did it after defeating the surprising South African Kevin Anderson in three sets 6-3, 6-3 and 6-4.
24. Roland Garros, 2018 (Win)
The eleventh. Rafa Nadal won once again in Paris. This time against a new opponent, Dominic Thiem, whom he clearly beat 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
25. Australian Open, 2019 (Loss)
Novak Djokovic overwhelmingly beat Nadal in three sets and left the Spaniard with, for the moment, a wound in Australia. The Balearic fell 6-3, 6-2 and 6-2.
26. Roland Garros, 2019 (Win)
Nadal achieved his twelfth title in Paris. As in 2018, he defeated the Austrian Dominic Thiem in four sets 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 and 6-1.
27. US Open, 2019 (Win)
After almost five hours of play, Nadal beat Russian Daniil Medvedev in New York in an agonizing match that was decided in the fifth set: 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4.
28. Roland Garros, 2020 (Win)
And the 13th success in Paris came, the first for Nadal since the start of the pandemic. In a final with a clear dominance, the Spaniard beat Djokovic 6-0, 6-2 and 7-5 in three sets (donut included) to continue making his legend even bigger.
29. Australian Open 2022 vs. Medvedev
After not being in any Grand Slam final in 2021, Nadal returns 476 days later to play for a Grand Slam title.