Rafael Nadal records that may never be broken, No. 2: Multiple majors in three decades

Over the last few years several all-time greats have called time on their professional tennis careers, and we’ve given them a statistical send-off, counting down some of their most incredible records that may never be broken. We did it for Serena Williams, Roger Federer and most recently Andy Murray.

And now, it’s Rafael Nadal’s turn.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 is playing the final event of his career this week, the Davis Cup Finals, and in the five days leading up to it we’re bringing you five of his records—one a day—that may never be broken.

In the last three days we've covered his 23 career wins over world No. 1s, his 912 straight weeks in the ATP Top 10 and how he became the youngest man ever to complete a Career Golden Slam.

Today, a multi-era, multi-major achievement.

Winning multiple Grand Slam titles in three different decades

It’s already a rare feat to win at least one Grand Slam title in three different decades, with only seven players, male or female, having done it—Ken Rosewall, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic on the men’s side, and Nancye Bolton, Blanche Bingley, Martina Navratilova and Serena Williams on the women’s side.

But for one of those seven players, it gets more special.

Nadal is the only tennis player ever to capture two or more Grand Slam titles in three different decades.

And it gets even more special: Nadal has actually won three or more Grand Slam titles in three different decades.

By decade, the Spaniard's 22 career Grand Slam titles include six in the 2000s, 13 in the 2010s and three more in the 2020s.

RAFA’S GRAND SLAM TITLES BY DECADE:
~ 2000s (6): 2005 Roland Garros, 2006 Roland Garros, 2007 Roland Garros, 2008 Roland Garros, 2008 Wimbledon, 2009 Australian Open
~ 2010s (13): 2010 Roland Garros, 2010 Wimbledon, 2010 US Open, 2011 Roland Garros, 2012 Roland Garros, 2013 Roland Garros, 2013 US Open, 2014 Roland Garros, 2017 Roland Garros, 2017 US Open, 2018 Roland Garros, 2019 Roland Garros, 2019 US Open
~ 2020s (3): 2020 Roland Garros, 2022 Australian Open, 2022 Roland Garros

No other active player can possibly match Nadal’s feat of winning three or more majors in three decades until at least the 2030s.

Nadal is also the only player to hold the world No. 1 ranking in three different decades, not only in ATP rankings history, but in either ATP or WTA rankings history.

He ascended to No. 1 for the first time in 2008 and spent his last week there in 2020. He amassed 209 total weeks at the top spot.

ATP rankings began in 1973, while WTA rankings began in 1975.

The Rafa stats countdown wraps up tomorrow with arguably the most dominant record in tennis history…