Rafael Nadal follows Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors on ranking milestone

At the beginning of 2005, an 18-year-old Rafael Nadal was ranked just outside the top-50, hampered by injuries in the previous season and determined to show his full potential in the upcoming months. After reaching the Australian Open fourth round, a teenager conquered Costa do Sauipe and Acapulco on his beloved clay in February. Rafa skipped Indian Wells and gathered energy for Miami, where he almost went all the way, losing a tight final to Roger Federer after being two points away from victory. On April 4, Nadal found himself in the top-20 for the first time, using that boost and conquering Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Roland Garros to earn Major glory. The youngster became Roger Federer's closest rival, improving his game on hard court and grass and settling into the top-2. Nadal has never left the top-20 group after cracking it in April 2005, embracing an incredible streak and becoming the third player since 1973 with 800 consecutive weeks in that company after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer!

In fact, Nadal has never left the top-10 since the end of April 2005, overcoming all the setbacks with injuries - especially in 2015 and 2016 -and remaining competitive for 15 years. Returning stronger in 2017, Nadal returned into the top-2 following the first Roland Garros triumph since 2014 and staying there until now, embracing the record-breaking 12 year-end top-2 finishes and gathering many ranking records at the end of 2020.

Rafael Nadal is the third player with 800 consecutive weeks in the top-20.

If he remains in the top-20 for another 14 months, Nadal will catch Jimmy Connors in the second place, with the famous American standing on 860 consecutive top-20 weeks between 1973-1990. Kicking off the 2020 season from the ATP throne, Nadal led Spain towards the ATP Cup final, losing it to Novak Djokovic and becoming world no. 2 following the Australian Open quarter-final loss against Dominic Thiem.

The Spaniard claimed the 85th ATP title in Acapulco at the end of February and spent the next six and a half months at home following the coronavirus outbreak. Returning to action in Rome in September, Rafa lost the title following the quarter-final loss to Diego Schwartzman, heading to Roland Garros with three matches in his legs in seven months! Showing his greatness, Rafa conquered the 13th crown in Paris, beating all seven rivals in straight sets and joining Roger Federer on 20 Major titles. That was enough for Rafa to save the season, but he wanted to test his skills during the indoor swing, entering the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals. The Spaniard lost in the semis at both events to young opponents Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, finishing the season with two ATP titles and preparing for more in 2021.

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