Perspective: Rafael Nadal’s numbers are breathtaking, but they can't capture his singular greatness.
and became the first man to get to 21 major wins. On Sunday, he got to 22 — and, apparently, at 36, is still counting. He’s now halfway to a calendar Grand Slam, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished on the men’s side since Laver did it in 1969 at a time when three of the four majors were still played on grass.
Djokovic, who has won at Wimbledon six times, will no doubt be poised to take him down there. And although Nadal won one of the two greatest matches of all time in the 2008 final at the All England Club, grass is still the toughest surface for him because he can’t wear opponents down the way he does in Paris — and to a lesser extent in New York and Melbourne — over shorter rallies and shorter matches.That is a discussion for another day.
What’s more, in a sport that has often lacked grace in its champions, Nadal is never anything but gracious in victory and defeat. He finished his victory speech Sunday by thanking the fans in French, which the crowd adored. He is as charming as he is brilliant.
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