Rafael Nadal's Most Impressive Record Might Have Its Days Numbered

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 26 Nov 2024 | 07.37

Alcaraz threatens one of Nadal's records. Photo: gettyimages.

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In life, almost nothing is forever, not even some of the most impressive historical records held by Rafael Nadal in the world of tennis. Taking advantage of the Spaniard's retirement and reviewing some of his most impressive feats, we found one where Carlos Alcaraz could become the historical leader.

The name of Rafael Nadal will endure for a very long time as the dominant figure in numerous historical statistics, but there is one where the Balearic's reign is jeopardized in the short term. In fact, it is one of the most relevant and symptomatic of the impressive nature of his career, showing his precocious talent by becoming the youngest player of all time to win all four Grand Slam titles. Nadal completed the feat in New York at just 24 years and 3 months of age, at the 2010 US Open.

- Nadal may soon be displaced as the youngest player in history to achieve the Career Grand Slam.

It seemed really unlikely that in the short term, a player capable of challenging that record would emerge, but the early rise of Carlos Alcaraz has placed him in a privileged position to succeed Nadal on this list. So much so, that with his titles at the US Open, Wimbledon, and Roland Garros, the Murcian will have three chances to break Nadal's precocity record. If he wins the Australian Open in the 2025, 2026, or 2027 editions, he will become the youngest player of all time to win all four majors.

- Alcaraz will not be able to surpass Nadal in another record closely related to Olympic gold.

The most impressive thing about Rafa's achievements is that he managed to win all four Grand Slam titles by the age of 24, and he had already secured Olympic gold. Only the great Steffi Graf achieved this at a younger age in tennis, with her memorable 1988 season when she completed the Golden Slam, being the only person in tennis history to do so. She did it at 19, a precocity record that Nadal couldn't break.

In any case, the Spanish tennis player is the youngest man to conquer the four Grand Slam titles and Olympic gold, surpassing Agassi's record, who did it at 29 when he won at Roland Garros, having already won the other major events on the calendar as well as the Olympic gold in 1996. Carlos Alcaraz will not be able to aim at completing the five titles at a younger age than Rafael Nadal, as his next opportunity to win Olympic gold will come in 2028 when he will be 25. Much to celebrate for Spanish tennis, in any case.

📊 Youngest tennis players to complete the "Career Grand Slam" (All-Time/Men’s Singles):

🇺🇸 Budge | 22y 11m, 1938
🇦🇺 Laver | 24y 1m, 1962
🇪🇸 Nadal | 24y 3m, 2010
🇬🇧 Perry | 26y 12d, 1935
🇦🇺 Emerson | 27y 8m, 1964
🇨🇭 Federer | 27y 9m, 2009
🇷🇸 Djokovic | 29y 14d, 2016 https://t.co/ZftpwxxgMy
— MisterOnly.Tennis (@OnlyRogerCanFly) January 22, 2024