ATP REVEALS THE BEST OF THE DECADE

Mallorca, December 16, 2009

The 2010 season will not only mark the end of a spectacular decade of tennis, but also, it reminds us tennis fans of how lucky we have been to witness some of the best moments the sport has ever seen.

Roger Federer takes the cake as the best player without doubt, and Rafa Nadal (who celebrates his 9th year on tour at the start of 2010), deserves an honourable mention for giving tennis the excitement and entertainment it deserves. This decade wouldn't have been the same without either of them.

Perhaps, not having Roger around would have meant Rafa would have had a few more titles under his belt, and some would even say he would have become the best in history, BUT lucky for Rafa (and tennis fans), it hasn't been that easy. If anything, it’s thanks to their rivalry that their achievements are that much more significant.

As prove, check out this week’s ATP World Tour website to read about this decade’s best players, and the top 10 records and achievements.

Below are Rafa’s outstanding results:

DECADE IN REVIEW

TOP 10 RECORDS & ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DECADE

by ATP Staff

3. Rafael Nadal’s four consecutive Roland Garros titles is a stunning feat. The Spaniard won on debut in 2005 and won 31 consecutive matches before big-hitting Swede Robin Soderling upset him in a fourth-set tie-break in the fourth round this year.

5. Rafael Nadal became the first man since Bjorn Borg 28 years before him to claim the elusive Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in 2008. (Federer repeated the feat in 2009). In a banner year Nadal also won Olympic gold that season.

8. Rafael Nadal’s imposing clay-court streak during the decade was breathtaking. Nadal, who owns a 181-16 career win-loss record on clay, won more than 11 matches for each one he lost on the surface. He amassed an 81-match winning streak between 2005-07. His record in best-of-five-set matches on clay is 49-1 and he has won 24 of 26 finals on the surface.

10. Rafael Nadal’s record at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments is astonishing. Before turning 23 in June, Nadal had won 15 of the ATP World Tour’s premier tournaments between 2005-09. He trails Federer by just one and all-time leader Agassi by two titles. (Agassi won his record 17th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title as a 34 year old.)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Rafael Nadal reaching 400 match wins faster than any other active player is worthy of note. Nadal reached his 400th win from 491 matches, topping Federer and Hewitt, who both needed 520 matches to register their 400th wins.

THE PLAYERS OF THE DECADE

2. RAFA NADAL

In recent years, Rafa Nadal has emerged as the strongest challenger to Federer’s dominance and has established one of the most gripping rivalries in the history of men’s tennis with the Swiss. The Spaniard, who proudly displays the silhouette of a bull’s horns on his tennis shoes, has been the undoubted King of Clay in the past five years. Of the Spaniard’s 36 tour-level titles, 25 have come on his surface of choice.

!Vamos Rafa!

Source: http://www.rafaelnadal.com/nadal/en/home