END OF AN ERA: Rafael Nadal is focused on helping team win Davis Cup in final tournament of his career. (Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images) Nadal 's record is testimony to his tennis and temperament, but his legend is more than the inimitable craft.
It's also his character Rafael Nadal of the ironclad routines - the placement of his drink bottles, the way he wears his socks or why he wipes his forehead with his forearm before he serves - is a personality like no other on the sporting planet. Nadal's numbers are the mountain, but there's also the man. The 38-year-old is the winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 French Opens.
He has 92 Tour level titles, 209 weeks as No.1, finishing year-end No.1 five times.
Nadal is one of three men to complete a career Golden Slam in singles, owns the longest single-surface win streak in the Open era in men's singles, 81 wins on clay from 2005 to 07. The Spaniard will look to supplement that in the Davis Cup Finals , starting Tuesday, which he has already won four times. Nadal will maybe play singles, likely only doubles, in what'll be his farewell tournament, but there won't be a dry eye in Malaga this week.
The Spaniard's record is testimony to his tennis and temperament, but his legend is more than just the inimitable craft - guts and guile, ripper forehand and tireless legs in knickerbocker shorts. It's the character, not just how he competed, but the way he did. He's respectful of opponents, his coac.