Rafael Nadal in action at the Monte Carlo Masters 2021 (Imago)
Rafael Nadal’s French Open record is unbelievable.
Rafael Nadal has been unparalleled in world tennis. His clay-court exploits are second to none. The Spaniard has been a behemoth in the French Open since the year 2005, dilapidating any opponent coming his way. Rafael Nadal’s French Open record is unbelievable.
Here are some of Nadal’s unbelievable stats at the French Open:
No one, absolutely no one is even close to this ridiculous record of 13 French Open titles. This is the most title wins ever at a single Grand Slam event. Novak Djokovic’s record of 9 Australian Open titles, comes second in the list.
This goes to show his sheer dominance in the clay court. The Spaniard has never lost in a French Open final. Hence, if one gets to meet him at the finals, it is doomsday.
Nadal has around 10% of his career wins in the French Open alone. Even more impressive is the fact that he wins almost 98% of his matches at the French Open. His only two losses have been against Robin Soderling in 2009, which was eventually won by Roger Federer.
His next loss at the Roland Garros came six years later. This time Djokovic steamrolled him in straight sets. However, the Serb went on to lose the finals against a giant-killing Stan Wawrinka.
The Spaniard’s exploits at the Roland Garros are just out of this world. He has won four Grand Slam titles without even dropping a single set. And, all 4 have been at the French Open. Bjorn Borg has won 3 titles without dropping a single set, and Federer, 2.
His first French Open win without dropping a set came in 2008, came against Federer in the finals. The next one was even sweeter, as he beat Robin Soderling at the 2010 French Open, exacting revenge for his 2009 loss and eventually going on to win the tourney without dropping a set.
His next came at the 2017 French Open, where he beat Stan Wawrinka in the final. And the most recent one was the 2020 French Open, where he poleaxed every opponent including Djokovic in the final.
After his bitter loss to Robin Soderling at the 2009 French Open, Nadal went absolutely haywire. He showed no mercy against his opponents starting with the 2010 Roland Garros.
Rafa went on a wild unbeaten run, demolishing his opponents. After winning the 2010 French Open, he went on to win the next 4 as well, thereby setting an open era record for the most consecutive titles at a Grand Slam.
He had previously won four consecutive titles at the French Open, between 2005-2008.
Nadal’s indomitable run came to an end at the 2015 French Open, where he was beaten by Novak Djokovic.
At the 2005 Roland Garros, a very young and teenage Rafael Nadal took centerstage. He took the world by storm with his mesmerizing performances.
By defeating Mariano Puerta in the final, Rafa became only the second player in the history of the sport to win the French Open in the very first attempt. The first was Mats Wilander in 1982.
Nadal achieved this feat, just two days after turning 19.
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