Related items

• Rafael Nadal retires: The King of Clay's career in numbers

  The day tennis fans across the globe had feared was coming for some time has finally arrived, with Rafael Nadal confirming his impending retirement on Thursday.

  Nadal had previously suggested 2024 was likely to be his final year on the ATP Tour after struggling with injuries throughout a difficult few years.

  The Davis Cup Finals, set for Malaga in November, will now be the final event for one of sport's all-time greats.

  Here, we delve into the Opta data to run through the best facts and figures from Nadal's astonishing career.

  The records

  Across the ATP and WTA Tours, only Margaret Court, Novak Djokovic (24 each) and Serena Williams (23) have won more singles grand slam titles than Nadal's 22 in tennis history.

  An astonishing 14 of those triumphs came at the French Open (more on that event later), which is the most of any player at a single major in history. Djokovic's 10 Australian Open titles are the second-most by anyone at a particular grand slam.

  Nadal's first grand slam title came at the 2005 edition of Roland-Garros, while the 2022 season saw him triumph in the French capital and at the Australian Open, speaking to his remarkable longevity.

  He is the only player to win at least one major in 15 different calendar years, and between 2005 and 2014, he never ended a season without a grand slam title. No other player in the Open Era has won at least one major in 10 consecutive seasons. 

  Nadal ended 13 different years in the top two of the ATP World Rankings, more than any other player throughout the Open Era.

  He is also the only player in the Open Era to win multiple grand slam crowns both as a teenager and when aged over 30, and the only player since 1990 to win more than five ATP Masters 1000 finals before turning 20 (boasting a 6-1 record) and since turning 30 (8-3).

  The rivalries

  Nadal's exploits are even more impressive when one considers the competition he faced throughout his career, being a part of tennis' 'Big Three' alongside Djokovic and Roger Federer.

  The other members of the 'Big Three' (Djokovic – 37, Federer – 31) are the only players to compete in more men's grand slam finals than Nadal in the Open Era (30).

  Djokovic (257) and Federer (224) are also the only men to have won more matches against top-10 opponents than Nadal (186) since the ATP Rankings were first published. Nadal has played 289 matches against such opponents (third-most) and his win ratio of 64.4% is the fourth-best among players with a minimum of 100 such victories.

  Nadal and Federer, in particular, enjoyed many titanic tussles through the years, not least the 2008 Wimbledon final, which the Spaniard won 6–4 6–4 6–7 (5–7) 6–7 (8–10) 9–7 in four hours and 48 minutes, a match regarded by some as the greatest of all time.

  The duo faced off 40 times before the Swiss great retired in 2022, with Nadal edging their head-to-head 24-16 overall and 14-10 in finals.

  Djokovic, meanwhile, is the only player to beat Nadal at all four majors, winning 31 of the pair's 60 all-time meetings. 

  The King of Clay

  While Nadal enjoyed success on all surfaces and at all four majors (plus the Olympic Games), it is Roland-Garros that will be remembered as his tournament.

  Nadal's unbelievable 96.6% win rate at the French Open (112 wins from 116 matches) is the best of any player at a grand slam event in men's singles, with only Djokovic (twice), Robin Soderling and Alexander Zverev beating him at the tournament.

  Nadal's 112 French Open wins are the most of any man at a single major in the Open Era, while his 14-0 record in Roland-Garros finals is the best recorded by anyone at an event in that span.

   

  His dominance on clay extended beyond Paris, though, with Nadal's total of 63 career clay-court titles are more than anyone else in the Open Era, with Guillermo Vilas second on 49. His win percentage of 90.5% (484-51) on clay is also the best of any player on any individual surface in the Open Era.

  At the peak of his powers, Nadal managed an incredible 81 consecutive victories on the surface between 2005 and 2007 – the longest streak on a single surface in the Open Era.

  Only three tournaments have been won more than 10 times by the same player in the Open Era – Roland-Garros (14), Barcelona (12) and Monte-Carlo (11), all by Nadal on the clay.

  It was perhaps fitting, then, that Nadal's final match at the very top level – at the Paris Olympics in July – saw him soak up the adulation of the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd following a hard-fought defeat to old rival Djokovic.

  Current French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz may be the pretender to Nadal's throne, but the title of 'King of Clay' will surely always be his.

• Barbados, Belize win League C groups to earn promotion

  Barbados and Belize sealed promotion as League C resumed in the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League on Wednesday.

  Saint Kitts and Nevis earned a victory to maintain its group lead to also improve to a 3-0-0 record. The victory assures the nation at least a spot in the Play-In round.

  British Virgin Islands vs. Saint Kitts and Nevis

  Saint Kitts and Nevis won 3-1 against the British Virgin Islands in Group C at Warner Park in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

  Malique Roberts scored the opening goal in the 25' with a header in the box to connect on a free kick service.

  Gvaune Amory increased the lead for the Sugar Boyz in the 37' with a right-footed hit inside the penalty area, connecting on a pass over the top by Raheem Hanley.

  Kristian Javier Samuel cut the deficit for the British Virgin Islands in the 46' with a right-footed hit from the top of the box.

  Ikyjah Williams accidentally hit the ball into his own net in the 90'+5, striking a deflection off a ball into the box from Romaine Sawyers for a third goal for Saint Kitts and Nevis.

  The result seals a qualification to the Play-In round for Saint Kitts and Nevis. The Sugar Boyz can win the group without playing if the Cayman Islands fails to win against the British Virgin Islands on Saturday.

  U.S. Virgin Islands vs. Barbados

  Barbados won 5-nil against the U.S. Virgin Islands in Group A at the Wildey Astro Turf Stadium in Bridgetown, Barbados.

  Hadan Holligan struck the opening goal in the 42' with a right-footed finish to place Barbados in the lead before the end of the first half.

  Niall Reid-Stephen extended the lead for Barbados in the 45'+2 with a conversion from a penalty kick opportunity.

  Reid-Stephen scored on the other side of halftime, with a left-footed shot from outside the box in the 47', securing a brace in consecutive matches.

  The Barbados scorer struck with his left again, from a free kick chance in the 65', to earn his hat-trick.

  Omani Leacock scored inside the penalty area in the 90'+2 to put a bow on the victory for the Tridents.

  Kishmar Primus made four saves as he collected his second clean sheet of the campaign.

  The victory clinched the top of the group, and a return to League B, for Barbados.

  Anguilla vs. Belize

  Belize won 1-nil against Anguilla in Group B at FFB Stadium in Belmopan, Belize.

  Orlando Velasquez broke the deadlock in the 56' with a strike inside the box, connecting on a pass from Krisean López.

  The Belize defense, led by goalkeeper and captain Charles Tillett, earned its third clean sheet and have yet to concede a goal in the tournament.

  With the victory, Belize assured itself a first-place finish in the group and promotion to League B.

   

• McClaren, Lowe cautious but confident as Boyz hunt Nicaragua scalp in Group B top-of-the-table showdown

  While boasting the stronger squad on paper, senior Reggae Boyz Head coach Steve McClaren is by no means grandstanding against Nicaragua, as the two are set to lock horns in a defining Concacaf Nations League encounter.

  With both teams unbeaten and locked on four points each in Group B of League A, a win for either at the Nicaragua National Stadium on Thursday, would put them one step closer to a quarterfinal berth and, more importantly, secure their spot in next year’s Concacaf Gold Cup.

  Kickoff is at 9:00 pm Jamaica time.

  Though confident that his squad possesses enough quality to secure the three points, McClaren is not underestimating their opponents, especially in hostile territory where the crowd’s fervor can serve as a crucial 12th man.

  “We're coming here to win the game, but without doubt, we respect Nicaragua. I've watched a few of their games and they are a very good team, very comfortable in possession, and always competitive. Like us, they've collected four points, so they're going well in the Nations League, so we respect them,” McClaren said in a pre-game interview.

  “If we have to play them on turf, we play them on turf. We have no excuses. Football is football, and they may be a little more used to it, but hopefully our quality will come out in the end. You’ve got to be prepared for anything and so we just need to be smart and stay disciplined,” he added.

  

  Jamaica’s journey in the Nations League so far has been marked by flashes of brilliance and growing cohesion within the squad. The team’s strength lies in its potent attack, which is yet to really fire having only tallied two goals so far in this campaign.

  Yet, as McClaren emphasized, talent alone won’t guarantee victory, especially against a Nicaraguan side that has defied expectations with its spirited performances.

  “We know we're a very good team, and we know to be a very good team you have to be consistent and that's what we're hoping to achieve. We didn't beat Cuba, so we were inconsistent in that game; we had a good game against Honduras and we anticipate that this is going to be a very difficult game,” McClaren reasoned.

  “I've told the players already, Nicaragua are a good team and, at home, a strong team. But we have no excuses, we must produce our quality, and that's why I'm here. The talent within the squad is so good; the potential is so big, and we have to realise it. Along the journey, there's going to be a lot of tests and tomorrow (Thursday) is going to be a big test for the team,” he noted.

  Still, Nicaragua’s defence will face its toughest test yet against the Reggae Boyz front line, which features the likes of West Ham United’s Michail Antonio and former Everton man Demarai Gray, who now plies his trade in Saudi Arabia. Both players are capable of turning a game in an instant, but breaking down a compact and organized Nicaragua will require patience and precision.

  

  McClaren’s approach is likely to be a blend of assertive attacking play and controlled buildup, with midfielders such as Leicester City’s Bobby Reid and possibly Tyreek Magee pulling the strings.

  “But again, sometimes the surface has an effect on the game, but with the quality of players that we have and how focused we are going into this game, we have no excuses and we're just going to go in... it's a cup tie, and so it's going to be very difficult. So we just have to focus on the task at hand and not worry about the obstacles ahead,” the tactician declared.

  Defensively, Damion Lowe, whose leadership and experience have been invaluable, and his partners will need to be on high alert to contain any counterattacking threats.

  Like McClaren, he too is confident that with efficient execution, they should secure the win.

  “I think we prepared well. The gaffer has, you know, put the game plan on the board and we just have to follow the instructions. I can't give too much away because then we would be giving you the game plan. But just know that the guys are excited, we're focused, and we're ready for the task at hand. Fully prepared, and we're going there to get three points,” Lowe stated.