Since the computerized ranking was introduced in tennis over four decades ago, only five players have reached the milestone of reaching at least 200 weeks at the World Number One. Spanish legend, Rafa Nadal joins this exclusive group on Monday as he began his 200th week at No. 1 joining the likes of Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Novak Djokovic, Ivan Lendi and Jimmy Connors.
The Mallorca-born tennis star led his country to Davis Cup success over the weekend is enjoying a beautiful end to 2019. He recently got married to his longtime partner and regained the No. 1 ranking at the start of November from Djokovic. Nadal became World Number One for the first time in August 2008 and he is starting his eighth spell in the position.
2019 has been another successful year for the 33-year-old; winning two majors – Roland Garros French Open and the Flushing Meadows US Open. With 19 Grand Slam titles, he is just one behind all-time record holder Roger Federer with 20. Rafa also won Masters 1000 titles in Rome and Montreal, and capped it off with a sixth Davis Cup title with Spain.
Nadal heads into next year’s first Grand Slam in Australia as one of the top seeds in Melbourne. This is the fifth time Nadal has secured the year-end No. 1 ranking, matching Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in that department. Pete Sampras, with six, holds the record for the most year-end No. 1 finishes.
Congrats Rafa! You are a champion.