“The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend.” The opening line of Robert Jordan’s ‘The Wheel of Time’ is all that embodies the greatness of the Spanish tennis maestro Rafael Nadal.

Irrespective of how many ages come and pass, there’s no denying that Nadal’s name will forever be etched as one of the greatest athletes tennis has ever seen.

His grit and resilience, staggering dominance on clay, those darting runs from one end of the court to another, supreme athleticism, and lasso-style forehand will forever strike the minds of tennis buffs.

“It has been 20 years of a professional career in which you have carried me through the good times, and in the bad, you pushed me to keep playing, “Nadal told a crowd in his hometown.

The modern generation is blessed to have been born in an era of the “Big Three,” with Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer dominating tennis. The three giants have lifted 66 out of 84 Grand Slams since 2003, with Djokovic winning 24, Nadal 22, and Federer 20.

Nadal turned pro in 2001 at 15. But it was in 2005 that the long-haired Nadal showed glimpses of his talent, winning the French Open, and as they say, the rest is history.

Fast-forward to 2017, the Spaniard lifted his 10th French Open crown, solidifying his status as the “King of Clay”. His French Open titles (14) took off the spotlight from what he achieved on other surfaces.

If you ever thought that clay was the only surface where he succeeded, you’ve got the context completely wrong.

Whether it’s his two Wimbledon and Australian Open crowns or four triumphs at the US Open, the combined eight trophies are, I guess, enough to defy the notion of Nadal merely being a “clay court bully”.

From his soul-stealing victory over Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final to his 2022 Australian Open accomplishment, there were moments when Nadal left everyone in sheer amazement.

Upper hand over Federer

Their rivalry is regarded as one of the greatest in men’s tennis. They were two contrasting personalities, but their contests were exciting spectacles. Nadal edges Federer in 40 head-to-head meetings, with the Spaniard winning 24 matches. In majors, he leads by 10-4.

Oh yes! How can I forget to mention the 2008 Wimbledon finale, regarded as one of the greatest tennis encounters!

An edge-of-the-seat thriller, the game stretched to seven hours. The 22-year-old Nadal clinched his first Wimbledon crown, dethroning Federer by 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, (5-7), 6-7 (8-10), and 9-7 under fading light at centre court.

Contests galore with Djokovic

The two legends met each other in 60 matches — 18 grand slams. Out of the 18, Nadal prevailed in 11 games, but overall Serbia’s Novak Djokovic leads him by 31-29.

The exhilarating encounters between the two were the 2010 US Open and 2012 Australian Open finals. In 2010, Nadal emerged on top in a tooth-and-nail final, bagging his first US Open crown.

In sports, it is not always success that defines a champion, but rather the reaction to adversities, and that is what we saw Nadal do throughout his career.

No matter how many ages come and pass, the legacy of Nadal will live on forever.

Thank you, Rafa! We were lucky to witness you!