Rafael Nadal: The 22-time Grand Slam champion’s biggest results & moments on British soil

Victories over Jonas Bjorkman, Kei Nishikori, Ivo Karlovic and four-time champion Andy Roddick booked Nadal’s place in his first Queen’s final. There he met one of his biggest rivals throughout his career – Novak Djokovic.

In a battle between the top two seeds and in their 12^th meeting in two years, Nadal came through a close match 7-6(6), 7-5 to etch his name on the trophy.

The 22-year-old became the first Spaniard to win a grass court title since Andes Gimeno in 1972 and is the only player to have won Queen’s and Roland Garros in the same season during the tournaments current format (since 1979).

Nadal is one of 14 former world No.1s to be crowned champion in the Open Era.

Nadal vs Federer 2008 Wimbledon - the ‘greatest’ final

Coming off the back of that Queen’s Club victory Nadal set his sights on The Championships, Wimbledon.

Despite having already won four Roland Garros titles at this early stage in his career, the 22-year-old was still yet to clinch the Wimbledon crown – losing to his biggest rival Roger Federer in the previous two finals.

Looking to make it third time lucky, Nadal blasted his way through the draw, including wins over Andy Murray and Rainer Schuettler in the quarters and semis to set up another final against Wimbledon’s most successful champion – Federer.

What ensued on 6 July 2008 is regarded by many as the greatest Wimbledon final – and even the best tennis match – of all-time.

Played over seven hours with multiple rain delays, Nadal held off what would have been an incredible Federer comeback to win 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7.

Speaking to the BBC former champion John McEnroe said: “I was fortunate enough that people talked about my match with Bjorn in 1980 as one of the great matches. But I was watching the 2008 final and sitting back and saying to myself: 'This is the best match I've ever seen at Wimbledon.'

"Towards the end, I was virtually not saying anything in the commentary box. I thought what I was witnessing was so great.”

Nadal is one of five players to win both the Queen’s Club title and Wimbledon in the same season – alongside the likes of Murray and most recently Carlos Alcaraz.

The Spaniard would go on to lift the title at SW19 on one other occasion in 2010, with a straight sets win over Tomas Berdych, and then finished runner-up the year after to Djokovic.

ATP World Tour Finals at the O2

The ATP World Tour Finals is the one title that has evaded Nadal’s incredible trophy cabinet – but the former world No.1 has competed in the Finals in 11 seasons of his career, many of which came during the tournament’s tenure at the O2 Arena in London.

Bringing together the top eight players from the ATP Tour each year, the Finals represent the summit of the men’s tennis season. During his career, Nadal made the final of the event twice in 2010 and 2013, both while the event was hosted in London.

In 2010, Nadal had been battling injury coming into the tournament and pulled out of the Paris Masters just weeks before. Despite the concerns, he came in as the top seed and showed no signs of issues once he arrived in London.

He beat Berdych, Djokovic and Roddick in the Group Stages, before one of the ATP Finals all-time classics against Murray in the semi-finals – coming through 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(6). However, he went on to lose against Federer in three sets in the final.

After losing to the Swiss star again in 2011, Nadal got his revenge two years later – defeating Federer in the semi-finals to reach his second final at the O2. Once again though he was denied the title, this time against the then world No.2 Djokovic 6-3, 6-4.

While he may not have won the title, Nadal was a permanent fixture during the Finals stint in London and gave fans many great memories at one of the sport’s biggest events.

The last dance with his biggest rival

In 2022 tennis returned to the O2 Arena once again, this time for the Laver Cup – a competition that sees the best players in Europe face off against the rest of the world.

However, this event would have extra significance – it would be the last of Federer’s career.

Nadal and Federer had been fierce rivals throughout their careers but through that, had also become good friends and the Spaniard – alongside the likes of Djokovic and Murray – jumped at the chance to share a court with the 20-time major champion one final time.

It was only fitting that Federer should play his final match alongside Nadal in a doubles match against Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock.

Despite taking the opening set, ‘Fedal’ went on to lose against the Americans 4-6, 7-6(2), 11-9.

What followed was a stream of tributes shared by players past and present, leading to one of the most iconic photos in tennis history of Federer and Nadal both in tears, holding hands at the side of the court.

These highlights on British soil represent just a handful of Nadal’s incredible moments throughout his career. An unbelievable competitor, a phenomenal athlete and a true inspiration – congratulations on everything you achieved, Rafael Nadal.