Rafael Nadal tops Roger Federer, Rolando and Messi for massive award

Marca readers had the opportunity to choose the male athlete of the previous decade, picking between some of the most accomplished sportspersons since 2010. In the end, some 160,000 readers voted in the battle of two remaining stars, with Rafael Nadal beating Lionel Messi 62% to 38% to grab another massive award in his native Spain. With more than 570 triumphs, 48 ATP titles, 13 Majors and 20 Masters 1000 crowns, Nadal was the second-best player of the decade behind Novak Djokovic, finishing the season at the top four times and accumulating almost 160 weeks as world no. 1.

In the middle of the decade, Rafa had experienced the worst period of his career, overcoming it in 2017 and standing as the most consistent player on the Tour in the last three years. Marca organized fierce "competition" with 16 big names from the previous decade, with Roger Federer beating Lewis Hamilton in the first round while Nadal ousted Eliud Kipchoge. In the quarters, Federer left behind Usain Bolt while Nadal toppled Cristiano Ronaldo, setting the semi-final with a great rival that he successfully passed (surprise, surprise!). On the other side of the draw, Lionel Messi got more votes than Novak Djokovic in the first round, leaving behind Marc Marquez as well before a more comfortable victory over Michael Phelps to set the final clash with Rafa.

As we already said, Nadal won that one fair and square to secure another big honor following a season that brought him two Major crowns and two Masters 1000 trophies, finishing as the year-end no. 1 for the fifth time and delivering another Davis Cup trophy for his country. Rafa closed the season with the fifth crown at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, heading back home to Mallorca and preparing for the upcoming ATP Cup where he wants to claim another team competition for Spain. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2SzHrWp