In another testament to his incredible legacy, 21-time Major champion Rafael Nadal is spending his 18th season in the top-20. In December, the Spaniard broke into the top-20 in an exclusive group at 850 weeks and set another milestone this week.
Rafa counts his 861st week in the top 20, becoming the fourth player to achieve this after Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi and Roger Federer, who leads the field with 1064. An 18-year-old Nadal was ranked just outside the top-50 in early 2005, hampered by injuries the previous season and determined to show his full potential.
After reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open, the teenager conquered Costa do Sauipe and Acapulco on his beloved clay in February to give himself a boost. Rafa skipped Indian Wells and gathered energy for Miami, where he lost a tight final to Roger Federer after being two points away from victory and the first Masters 1000 crown.
Rafael Nadal follows three major rivals on a ranking milestone
On April 4, Nadal cracked the top-20 for the first time and used that momentum to conquer Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Roland Garros in the following two months.
After winning the first Major crown in Paris, the young Spaniard became Roger Federer’s closest rival, improving his game on every surface to settle in the top-2. Nadal has never left the top 20 group, having entered it in April 2005 and has enjoyed an incredible streak becoming the third player since 1973 with 850 consecutive weeks in this category after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer!
Nadal never left the top-10 either, overcoming all setbacks with injuries, especially in 2015 and 2016, and stayed at the top for 17 years! Overcoming the physical struggles and setbacks, Nadal came back stronger in 2017 to reclaim the place he deserves.
Rafa broke into the top-2 after winning Roland Garros for the first time since 2014 and stayed there until March last year. Nadal, dealing with injuries, claimed two ATP titles in 2021, losing the Roland Garros crown to Novak Djokovic.
After just the third loss in Paris, Rafa took two months off after suffering a foot injury, missing Wimbledon and the Olympics and ending the season after two matches in Washington.
Like many times before, Nadal put the setbacks behind him in early 2022, winning all 15 matches and claiming the 21st Major trophy that will surely keep him in the top-20 for at least another year.
Nadal will pass Andre Agassi’s 868 top 20 weeks in two months and there will be no one between him and Roger Federer on that list.
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