Rafael Nadal has revealed the two most important matches of his career citing an evident choice along with a more unexpected selection.
The iconic Spaniard highlighted his memorable 2008 Wimbledon final victory over Roger Federer and his agonising loss to Novak Djokovic in the demanding 2012 Australian Open final.
During the 2008 Wimbledon Championships, Nadal triumphed over his formidable rival Federer, securing a thrilling 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5-7), 6-7(8-10), 9-7 victory in the final, marking his inaugural title at the All England Club.
Regarded by many as one of the finest matches in tennis history, this contest witnessed Nadal clinch his fifth Grand Slam title and his first outside the French Open.
In the 2012 Australian Open final, Nadal was narrowly defeated 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5-7), 7-5 by his other major rival, Djokovic, in a remarkable and gruelling encounter.
Lasting an astonishing five hours and 53 minutes, this marathon final, also considered a timeless classic, stands as the longest match in Australian Open history and the lengthiest major singles final ever.
In a comprehensive interview with La Sexta’s El Objetivo, Nadal discussed the matches that stood out as the pinnacle of his illustrious career.
“Roland Garros is undoubtedly the most important tournament of my career. Concerning the special matches, it’s true that I have never experienced a five-set final in Paris,” the 37-year-old said.
“So I would say the 2008 Wimbledon final won against Roger Federer and the 2012 Australian Open final lost against Novak Djokovic. I lost, but I took a step forward in my career that day.”
The 22-time Grand Slam champion made his eagerly anticipated return at the Brisbane International last month, where he progressed to the quarter-finals. The individual from Mallorca pulled out from the 2024 Australian Open due to a hip muscle injury that surfaced during his loss to Jordan Thompson in Brisbane.
Before Brisbane, Nadal had not participated in a singles match for nearly a year — since his defeat to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open, where he sustained a hip injury. In June 2023, he underwent arthroscopic surgery to address the psoas muscle issue in his hip.
Nadal had hoped to come back from his most recent setback at the ATP 250 tournament in Doha this week, but he was compelled to withdraw.
“I would have loved to play in Doha, where the tournament team, as well as the amazing Qatar fans, have always supported me greatly,” said Nadal in a social media post.
“Unfortunately I am not ready to compete and I won’t be able to come to Doha where I really wanted to be and play again after that unforgettable win in 2014. I will focus on keep working to be ready for the exhibition in Las Vegas and the amazing Indian Wells tournament.”
The Spaniard is aiming to compete at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells next month, which will run from March 6-17. Before that, Nadal will play his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in the ‘Netflix Slam’ exhibition in Las Vegas on March 3.