Rafael Nadal finishes 6000 days on the bounce in ATP top-10 despite persistent injury issues


Rafael Nadal finishes 6000 days on the bounce in ATP top-10 despite persistent injury issues

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is inarguably one of the greatest ever to play the game. Besides his wide array of achievements and titles, the Spaniard’s greatness also lies in the fact that he can continue to break records, even when he isn’t playing the sport.

While the 20-time Grand Slam champion may be out of action, due to his persisting foot injury, the former World No.1 has finished 6,000 consecutive days in the top-10 of the ATP rankings. Nadal shot to fame after winning his maiden Slam at the French Open in 2005. Since then, he has been in the top-10 and till now, remains firmly glued to the elite list.

Not too long ago, the 35-year-old also shattered the record by becoming the only player on the ATP tour to spend more than 800 weeks in the top-20 of the men’s rankings. Currently, Nadal has a record 836 weeks, spanning 16 years.

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After a wide gulf, tennis legends Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer, Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras complete the top-5 list.

Injury pushed Nadal’s to No.6 in the world

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal

After losing in the semifinals at 2021 Roland Garros, Nadal made a comeback to the tour in Washington, but persistent foot problem prematurely put an end to his season. Sadly, the King of Clay couldn’t play the US Open and is currently placed at No.6 in the rankings.

For the year, Nadal has only won two titles, which came on the clay. He beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in Barcelona and overcame World No.1 Novak Djokovic in the finals in Rome.

Although the Spaniard has points to defend in Indian Wells, Paris Bercy and the World Tour Finals, he is unlikely to be drop out of the top-10 in the ATP rankings.

While the likes of Andrey Rublev and Matteo Berrettini can realistic overtake the Mallorca boy with inspired performances, it remains to be seen if the guys ranked out the top-10 can significantly climb up the rankings to push the Spaniard from the top-10.

Also read: ‘Maybe Roger Federer would like to be the Co-Captain or Vice Captain of Team Europe,’ Steve Flink on ‘Court-Side with Beilinson Tennis’