Rafael Nadal and the top 2 finish: Better than Federer and Djokovic
Rafael Nadal finishes his 2020 tennis season once again as one of the best two tennis players.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Nov 28, 2020, 09:56 am
It was only at the beginning of November that Rafael Nadal set a new record with 790 weeks of continuous membership in the top 10 and pushed the eternal Jimmy Connors to second place.
Now "Rafa" has another entry in the expanded record books: Because his annual finish as number 2 in the tennis world is already his twelfth among the top 2. Specifically: As number 2, Nadal already ended his tennis years in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011 , 2018 and now 2020; as number 1, the seasons 2008, 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019. That means: seven times runner-up, five times first = twelve times among the top 2.
Nadal and the top 2: Before Federer and Djokovic
For comparison: Roger Federer "only" managed six seasons as world number two at the end of the year and five as first, a total of eleven year-ends in the top 2. Novak Djokovic for six years at the top and three years in second place, i.e. nine finishes the best two players of the year.
And as Grag Sharko, the official "number guru" of the ATP, found out: Nadal, at twelve years of age, is among the top 2 not only in the "Big 3", but since the introduction of the ATP ranking in 1973.
Nadal and the Top 10: Jimmy Connors has to be careful
At the age of 16 at the end of the season among the top ten players, Nadal has again drawn level with Jimmy Connors, who had done this between 1973 and 1988. And will probably have to worry about this record at the end of the coming season, should Nadal come through the year relatively unharmed.
How much Nadal gives for both achievements? Questionable. A great proof of his consistency - despite all injury problems over the years - these numbers are definitely ...