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Spain's Rafael Nadal defeated Austria's Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the French Open on Sunday to win the season's second Grand Slam for a record 11th time.

Here are some of the key numbers from the Spaniard's clay-court season, which culminated in the successful defense of his Roland Garros title:

11
Nadal is now the first player in the Open era, male or female, to win the same Grand Slam tournament 11 times, a feat that has been dubbed La Undécima, after Real Madrid's bid to win an 11th European Cup. He is, however, the second player overall to win a major 11 times after Australia's Margaret Court, who won four of her 11 Australian Open titles after the start of the Open era in 1968.

The players, male or female, with the next-highest number of singles titles at the same major are Martina Navratilova (nine, Wimbledon), followed by Roger Federer (eight, Wimbledon), Serena Williams (seven, Australian Open and Wimbledon), Steffi Graf and Pete Sampras (seven, both at Wimbledon), Federer and Novak Djokovic (six, both at the Australian Open), Graf and Bjorn Borg (six, both at the French Open) and Williams (six, US Open).

1
Nadal is now the first player in the Open era, male or female, to win 11 titles at three different tournaments, having also completed La Undécima at Monte Carlo and Barcelona in April this year.

Federer (nine at Halle, eight at Basel) and Argentine clay-court legend Guillermo Vilas (eight, Buenos Aires) are the male players with the next-highest number of titles at a tournament below Grand Slam level.


4
Nadal is now the fourth man in the Open era to win three or more Grand Slams after turning 30, having won his third since turning 30. The other three are Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall and Federer, all of whom have won four each.

17
The number of Grand Slam singles titles now held by Nadal, who is second on the all-time list among men in the Open era, behind Federer (20), and ahead of Pete Sampras (14), Djokovic and Roy Emerson (12 each).

7
The number of consecutive Grand Slam tournaments now won by a man age 30 or older, the longest streak of its kind in the Open era. The previous record was four, when Australian legend Laver won all the majors in 1969 to complete the Calendar Slam.

86-2
Nadal's win-loss record at the French Open, his only losses coming against Swede Robin Soderling in the fourth round in 2009 and against Djokovic in the quarterfinals in 2015. The Spaniard officially withdrew before the start of his third-round match in 2016. Of those 86 victories, 78 have come when Nadal has won the first set, after which he has never lost a match on Parisian clay.

57
The number of titles won by Nadal on clay, extending his lead at the top of the men's Open era leaderboard, ahead of Vilas (49) and Austria's Thomas Muster (40).



79
Nadal's career title count, which is now fourth on the all-time list, behind Jimmy Connors (109), Federer (97) and Ivan Lendl (94), and ahead of John McEnroe (77), whose tally he equalled and then surpassed with titles this year in Barcelona and Rome, respectively.

24
The number of Grand Slam finals now contested by Nadal, extending his position at second on the men's Open era leaderboard, behind Federer (30) and ahead of Djokovic (21) and Lendl (19).

11-0
Nadal's win-loss record in Roland Garros finals, which is the best in a Grand Slam final among men in the Open era, ahead of Sampras (7-0, Wimbledon), Djokovic (6-0, Australian Open) and Borg (6-0, French Open). Federer's record in Wimbledon finals is 8-3.

50
The number of consecutive sets won on clay by Nadal, breaking the previous record for most consecutive sets won on a single surface by McEnroe, who won 49 on carpet in 1984. Nadal's streak began at Roland Garros last year and was ended by Thiem, who beat the Spaniard in straight sets in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open.

400
Nadal's Barcelona Open semifinal win over David Goffin was his 400th tour-level clay-court match win, making him the fourth man in the Open era to win 400 matches on clay, after Vilas (659), Manuel Orantes (502) and Muster (422). The Spaniard also became the first man in the Open era to win at least 400 matches on both clay and hard courts. After Roland Garros, Nadal's win-loss record on clay stands at 415-36.

32
The number of Masters 1000 titles won by Nadal, the most by a single player since the series began in 1990. The Spaniard's 11th Monte Carlo title and his eighth Rome title were his 31st and 32nd Masters titles, respectively, breaking a tie with Djokovic, who has won 30.

The close nature at the top of the ATP Rankings in 2018 is such that Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have traded the No. 1 position on six occasions in the first six months of the season. The all-time record for most changes in the top spot is 10 in 1983. Today, Nadal is back at the summit of men's professional tennis.

No. 1 Rafael Nadal, +1
The 32-year-old Spaniard returns to No. 1 after Federer lost in the final of the Gerry Weber Open. In the week beginning 18 June, Federer, with 8,920 points (to Nadal’s 8,770), had been attempting to defend 500 ATP Rankings - as a result of winning his ninth Halle title in 2017 - but he earned 300 points. Nadal now leads Federer by just 50 points (8,770 to 8,720 points) in this week’s standings and will hold onto the top spot until at least 16 July.

Nadal, the winner of four clay-court trophies this year, began the year in the top spot, and today starts the 178th week of his career at No. 1. He has now held No. 1 for a total of 18 weeks, over four stints in 2018. Federer gained No. 1 for six weeks from 19 February, one week from 14 May and last week.

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No. 17 Novak Djokovic, +5
The Serbian, who spent the last of his 223 weeks at No. 1 in the week of 6 November 2016, is on the rise once more, up to No. 17 — a five-spot promotion — after he reached the Fever-Tree Championships final. The 31-year-old was unable to convert one championship point against Marin Cilic and lift the 69th tour-level trophy of his career on Sunday in his first final since 1 July 2017 at the Nature Valley International. Djokovic, who missed six months of last season due to a right elbow injury, did become only the 10th player in the Open Era (since April 1968) to record 800 match wins on Friday with victory over Adrian Mannarino in the quarter-finals at The Queen’s Club.

No. 21 (Career High) Borna Coric, +13
The 21-year-old Croatian beat Alexander Zverev en route to a 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2 final victory over Federer at the Gerry Weber Open. It guaranteed Coric a 13-spot rise to a career-high No. 21. It is his biggest single jump since moving from No. 49 to No. 36 on 19 March 2018, after he reached his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final at the BNP Paribas Open (l. to Federer 5-7, 6-4, 6-4). Coric won his first ATP World Tour trophy in April 2017 at the Grand Prix Hassan II (d. Kohlschreiber).

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No. 46 Jeremy Chardy, +15
The 31-year-old appears in the Mover of the Week story for the third straight week after another fine week on grass courts. On the back of a sixth ATP Challenger Tour trophy at the Surbiton Trophy (d. de Minaur) and a run to the Libema Open title match (l. to Gasquet), the Frenchman moved into the Fever-Tree Championships semi-finals (l. to Djokovic) last week. Chardy, who was a career-high No. 25 on 28 January 2013, has today moved up 15 positions to No. 46, his highest ranking since 8 August 2016 (No. 39). Just three weeks ago, he was at No. 86.

Other Notable Top 100 Movers This Week
No. 51 (Career High) Matthew Ebden, +9
No. 52 (Career High) Frances Tiafoe, +10
No. 76 Nikoloz Basilashvili, +9
No. 83 Denis Kudla, +26

Rafael Nadal, a two-time Wimbledon champion who recently lifted his 11th Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy at Roland Garros, might not have played a grass-court event ahead of The Championships. But the World No. 1 has no intention of dimming his hopes.

“Expectations are always high,” Nadal said. “I am not here to play the tournament. I am here to try to have a good result, of course. But it’s true that on the other hand, it’s one of these events that you arrive here and you really don't have the previous feeling of how you feel, how you are playing, how you are not playing.”

n fact, a shortage of matches before the grass-court Grand Slam is nothing new for Nadal. When he made the final at Wimbledon in five consecutive appearances (2006-08, 2010-11), he played just three matches on the surface before the major four times. To Nadal, that’s fine. It’s just a part of the challenge.

“Even with three matches, you arrive here and you really don't know very well. It’s an event that you need to find your confidence during the tournament and during the practice the week before,” Nadal said. “When I arrive to Roland Garros, I know more or less if I am playing well or if I am not playing well. I know where my chances are, more or less. In the US Open, little bit less, but still knowing better than here."

Nevertheless, Nadal is confident heading into his 13th appearance at the All England Club. The left-handed 32-year-old is 30-2 on the season, capturing four tour-level titles for the 11th time.

“I'm feeling good,” Nadal said. “It’s a very special event, of course. I always loved to be around here. Has been always a special thing. It was not positive for me, of course, to not play Queen's. I was sad to not have the chance to be there. On the other hand, I didn't go there because I played a lot on clay. So I was very happy.



“I am not 20 anymore. I had to take decisions on the schedule sometimes... The body needed a rest, needed a slow adaptation to adapt to the grass. That's what I did.”

Nadal will hope that pays off, beginning with his first-round match against Israeli veteran Dudi Sela, against whom he has not lost a set in two previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings. The first seeded player Nadal could face is Roland Garros semi-finalist Marco Cecchinato, who reached the semi-finals this week at the Nature Valley International.. Plenty of dangerous players loom in the No. 2 seed's quarter, including No. 5 seed Juan Martin del Potro, 2017 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up David Goffin, No. 11 seed Diego Schwartzman and #NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov.

On the 10-year anniversary of his maiden triumph on the legendary grass, Nadal is simply ready to begin another run for a title.

“Today I see that like a long time ago,” Nadal said. “But the good thing is I’m still here. I am happy for that.”

Moje oczekiwania jak zawsze są wysokie. Nie jestem tutaj, tylko by wystąpić w turnieju. Chcę osiągnąć dobry wynik, to oczywiste - powiedział Rafael Nadal przed startem Wimbledonu.
Marcin Motyka
Marcin Motyka
30 Czerwca 2018, 20:01
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Niepewny występ Rafaela Nadala w Pucharze Lavera. Hiszpan woli Puchar Davisa

Rafael Nadal przystąpi do Wimbledonu bez rozegranego oficjalnego meczu na nawierzchni trawiastej. Hiszpan miał wystąpić w imprezie na londyńskich kortach Queen's Clubu, lecz wycofał się. - Czuję się dobrze. Wimbledon to wyjątkowy turniej. Od zawsze lubię tu być. Oczywiście to, że nie zagrałem w Londynie, nie jest dla mnie korzystne - mówił na konferencji prasowej.

Zamiast udziału w imprezie w Londynie, Nadal trenował na Majorce oraz rozegrał pokazowy mecz z Matthew Ebdenem w Hurlingham. - Czułem smutek, że musiałem się wycofać z turnieju w Londynie, ale nie zagrałem tam, bo miałem za sobą wyczerpujący sezon gry na kortach ziemnych. Nie mam już 20 lat i muszę rozważnie planować swój kalendarz startów. Moje ciało potrzebowało odpoczynku i powolnej adaptacji do nawierzchni trawiastej - wyjaśniał.

REKLAMA

Rafa przyznał, że nie potrafi ocenić, w jakiej jest formie. - Kiedy przyjeżdżam na Rolanda Garrosa, wiem czy gram dobrze, czy nie. Przed US Open trochę w mniejszym stopniu potrafię to ocenić, ale i tak w większym niż tutaj. Wimbledon to taki turniej, przystępując do którego nie potrafisz określić, jak grasz, nawet jeśli przed początkiem rozegrasz trzy mecze. Tutaj musisz znaleźć pewność siebie w trakcie turnieju bądź na treningach.

Choć tenisista z Majorki nie jest specjalistą od gry na trawie, ma w dorobku dwa tytuły w Wimbledonie (sezony 2008 i 2010). - Każdy wie, że zwycięstwo w tym turnieju było jednym z moich marzeń. Ten wygrany finał z 2008 roku, po dwóch wcześniejszych przegranych, miał duży wpływ na moją karierę. Satysfakcja, jaką czułem po tym zwycięstwie, jest nieporównywalna z niczym innym - wspominał.

Spaniard wins his 13th consecutive match
Rafael Nadal's latest hunt for history began with more domination at Wimbledon as the second seed routed Israel's Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 on Centre Court.

The Spaniard improved to 44-10 at The Championships and will next meet Canada's Vasek Pospisil or Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan.

Sela competed well through the first six games, serving and volleying and matching Nadal from the baseline. But the two-time Wimbledon champion (2008, 2010) pulled away, winning 17 straight points from 3-3 in the opener to 1-0, 15/0 in the second set.

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Nadal grew more comfortable, moving well and racing around his backhand to wallop forehands against the 33-year-old veteran, who beat American John Isner en route to the third round last year. The Spaniard attacked the net 29 times, winning 83 per cent of those attempts (24/29).

The No. 1 player in the ATP Rankings didn't play a grass-court match before Wimbledon for the second consecutive year. He pulled out of the Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen's Club to recover from his record-breaking clay-court run. The Spaniard won 11th titles at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell and at Roland Garros, in addition to his eighth Internazionali BNL d'Italia title in Rome.

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The 32-year-old Nadal is attempting to win the Roland Garros – Wimbledon double for the third time and tie Bjorn Borg’s record. The Swede accomplished the back-to-back sweep in consecutive years (1978-80).

Nadal, however, has struggled at SW19 in recent times. He last made the quarter-finals in 2011 when he fell to Novak Djokovic in the final. Last year, Gilles Muller upset the Spaniard in the fourth round. From 2012-2015 at Wimbledon, Nadal lost to a player with a triple-digit ATP Ranking: No. 100 Lukas Rosol in 2012, No. 135 Steve Darcis in 2013, No. 144 Nick Kyrgios in 2014 and No. 102 Dustin Brown in 2015.

But Nadal avoided another addendum to that footnote on Tuesday, and he can extend a more positive streak – his time at No. 1 – if he reaches the fourth round at the All England Club. Roger Federer will climb to the top spot if he wins the title and Nadal loses before the Round of 16.

Did You Know?
Nadal has never won Wimbledon without playing a prior grass-court tournament. In 2008 and 2010, he competed at the Fever-Tree Championships in London before winning Wimbledon.