Some tennis records seem to touch the realm of the impossible. From the great names who set them to the eternal challenge of breaking them, these feats defy time and history. Check out the players and the stories behind them.
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Rafael Nadal celebrates with the trophy after winning the men’s singles final match between Rafael Nadal and Robin Soderling on day fifteen of the French Open in 2010.
© Julian Finney/Getty ImagesRafael Nadal celebrates with the trophy after winning the men’s singles final match between Rafael Nadal and Robin Soderling on day fifteen of the French Open in 2010.
By Ariadna Pinheiro
In tennis, where records seem to be made to be broken, there are certain achievements that stand as eternal landmarks, monuments to unmatched greatness. These are not just numbers etched in history; they are stories of resilience, brilliance and moments that transcended the sport itself.
Think of Rafael Nadal’s commanding supremacy at Roland Garros, with 14 French Open titles won through effort and skill, or Steffi Graf’s Calendar Golden Slam in 1988, an extraordinary year in which she swept all four Grand Slams and the Olympic gold medal in a single season.
What makes these records truly special is their apparent invulnerability. Year after year, new players emerge with renewed energy and ambition, yet these achievements remain untouched, as if challenging the next generation to surpass them.
Rafael Nadal’s 14 French Open titles
Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with the trophy after winning against Casper Ruud of Norway during the Men’s Singles Final match on Day 15 of The 2022 French Open. (Source: Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal claimed his 14 Roland Garros titles between 2005 and 2022, an achievement that seemed unimaginable even in modern tennis. In 2005, he arrived in Paris as a 19-year-old with an impressive clay-court winning streak, having triumphed in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome that year. On his debut, he not only defeated then-world No. 1 Roger Federer in the semifinals but also dominated Mariano Puerta in the final.
Each subsequent title came at different stages of his career: from a young and unstoppable Nadal to a resilient champion overcoming injuries, as seen in 2022 when he defeated Casper Ruud while battling a foot injury amid retirement rumors. His incredible longevity and consistency on the demanding clay surface earned him the nickname “The King of Clay“.
Rafael Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam titles
Rafael Nadal celebrates with the championship trophy during the trophy presentation ceremony after winning his Men’s Singles final on day fourteen of the 2019 US Open. (Source
: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
