“One is difficult … Five is legendary … Eight is unheard of … Ten is Rafa.”
So goes the Nike’s tribute to tennis star Rafael Nadal, who won the French Open on Sunday for an unprecedented 10 times.
The Spanish champion beat Swiss third seed Stan Wawrinka in the final, in a 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 win to secure ‘La Decima’ at Roland Garros, sparking the #TenIsRafa hashtag.
He has lost only 35 matches at the tournament. But Nadal, 31, has also experienced his fair share of losses and injuries, including knee pain and a wrist problem that forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon last year.
Nadal said he he couldn’t have imagined this success 12 years ago.
“In 2005, I thought in 2017 I’d be fishing on my boat in Mallorca,” he told BBC. “I didn’t really think I’d have such a long career and win so many tournaments.”
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