Rafael Nadal seeks ultimate Major record in 2023

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Since the start of the Open era, only four players have played at least 100 matches at a single Major. To accomplish that, you must stay competitive at the selected tournament for 15 or 20 years and reach the latter stages in almost every visit! Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are the only players on that list, with no one to join them soon. Federer leads the charts with 119 Wimbledon encounters and 117 at the Australian Open. Jimmy Connors embraced 115 clashes at his beloved US Open, and Rafael Nadal joined him and Roger in the 'Club 115' following the last year's Roland Garros. Competing in Paris for the 18th time, Nadal conquered the 14th title and extended his unprecedented dominance at a single Major. Rafa has won 112 out of 115 Roland Garros matches since 2005. The Spaniard has failed to pass the quarter-final stage only three times, scoring 28 triumphs in 29 encounters from the semi-final stage! Rafa kicked off his 18th Roland Garros campaign with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 win over Jordan Thompson.

Rafael Nadal is the third player with 115 matches at a single Major.

He ousted Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 in the second round after breaking the rival's serve seven times. Playing well despite a foot injury, Rafa beat Botic Van De Zandschulp 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and 11 minutes to preserve energy for more difficult rivals. Felix Auger-Aliassime was the first on that list, and Nadal prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in four hours and 21 minutes for his 16th Roland Garros quarter-final. Rafa seized six out of 22 break points while getting broken four times. The veteran made a fresh start in the decider to overpower the young gun and set the quarter-final clash against Novak Djokovic. It was their 59th encounter on the Tour, and Nadal earned a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 triumph in a challenging four hours and 12 minutes. Rafa dethroned Novak after a rock-solid performance in sets one and three, playing with desire and determination and making a brilliant comeback in set number four to avoid a decider.

Despite not playing at his best, Djokovic could have sent the clash into the fifth set. The Serb led 5-2 in the fourth set and created two set points on serve in game nine. Nadal erased them, broke back and gained a boost. He used it nicely to take the tie break 7-4 and advance into the last four. Rafa had to give his everything against Alexander Zverev, staying on the court for three hours to forge a 7-6, 6-6 lead! The German hurt his ankle ahead of the second set tie break and retired to propel the Spaniard into his 14th Roland Garros final. Nadal's 115th Roland Garros match came against Casper Ruud in the final, and the Spaniard earned a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 victory in two hours and 18 minutes for his 14th trophy in Paris and the 22nd Major. Rafa has to reach the quarter-final in Paris in 2023 to take the record away from Roger Federer and become the first player with 120 matches at a single Major.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/g9B6Ene

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