Connors, Federer, Lendl and now Nadal! The phenomenal Spaniard has reached an extraordinary milestone

Rafael Nadal is one of the best tennis players not only of his generation, but in the history of the sport. He recently won his jubilee and record 20th Grand Slam title, and now he has reached another exceptional milestone.

Although Rafael Nadal is Spanish, it seems that France is his promised country in his tennis career. For it is there that he has won the greatest number of Grand Slam titles, it is there that he is king and it is there that he has now reached an exceptional milestone.

In the second round of the Paris Masters indoor tournament, he managed to defeat Feliciano Lopez after a three-set battle. It was his 1000th career win.

He became only the fourth tennis player in the so-called open era to do so. Before him, Jimmy Connors (1,274 wins), Roger Federer (1,242 wins) and Ivan Lendl (1,068 wins) did it.

The current world No. 1 Novak Djokovic has 932 wins, so he will have to wait to reach that mark.

For the 34-year-old Nadal, however, it is a great honour. At 19, he was in danger of not being able to play anymore. He appreciates his current success all the more, even if it does mean one inconvenience. “I’m proud of it, of course, but it means I must be very old,” he joked after the special anniversary.

“I have faced many challenges or injuries in my career. But I still have the passion to carry on and I still have the determination and humility to take on challenges and things don’t always go the way you want. It’s a great achievement that at 34 I’m still playing and can be competitive. It’s important to me and I’m proud and happy of everything I’ve done, not only me but my whole team,” Nadal finished sympathetically.

Source:: as.com