Rafa's Records
by elise
Many – if not all – of us have been missing watching Rafa play these past few weeks. As we gear up for the last regular ATP tournament of the season, I thought it would be interesting to note some of the records that Rafa holds.
At 23, Rafa has already earned 36 singles titles (and 5 doubles), the second-highest of any active player. The most impressive part of what he has achieved is his performance at the “big” events: the Masters and Major tournaments. Fifteen of Rafa’s 36 singles titles are from Masters events, 6 are from Majors. Rafa ranks third in the all-time list of Masters tournament titlists. (Three more Masters titles and he would be the all-time leader.)
Rafa is the fastest accumulator of Masters Shields since the series was introduced in 1990: Rafa won his titles faster – and younger – than any of the other 10 elite ATP players that hold 5 or more Masters titles. (Needless to say, Rafa was also the fastest and youngest to 10 and 15 Masters titles.)
At 18 years and 10 months, Rafa was the second-youngest player ever to win a Masters tournament: Monte Carlo in 2005.
Rafa has won 6 of the 9 Masters events. The BNP Paribas Masters in Paris is one of the 3 he is missing for a complete set. (The other two are Miami and Cincinnati.) If Rafa wins in Paris, he will be tied for holding the most different Masters series titles.
“Only” Records
- Won French Open, Wimbledon, and Olympic gold medal singles in the same calendar year (2008)
- Simultaneously held Olympic singles gold medal and Major titles on clay, grass and hardcourt (French Open 2008, Wimbledon 2008, Olympics 2008, Australian Open 2009)
- Won the same ATP Master series event (Monte Carlo) for 5 consecutive years (2005-2009)
- Won four Rome titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009)
- Longest single-surface winning streak (clay): 81 matches (2005-2007)
- Tied for winning a Major title on his first attempt (French Open 2005)
“Youngest” Records
- Youngest player to win a singles match in a Davis Cup final for a winning nation (2004)
- Youngest player to reach 5 ATP Masters series titles
- Youngest player to reach 10 ATP Masters series titles
- Youngest player to reach 15 ATP Masters series titles
- Tied for most ATP titles won as a teenager (16)
- Longest winning streak of any teenager in the open era (24 matches in 2005)
- Youngest player to win 6 Major titles (4 French, 1 Wimbledon, 1 Australian)
“First” Records
- First player to simultaneously hold Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces (clay, grass and hardcourt)
