Despite being a teenager, Rafael Nadal’s career took off at a rapid pace as he quickly rose to the top of the game. He achieved his first ATP title at the age of 18 and was able to defeat numerous top-ranked players even before he was eligible to vote.
At the young age of 16, Nadal achieved his first victory against a top-10 player at the 2003 Monte-Carlo Masters. His first significant win was against Albert Costa, who was ranked No. 7 at the time and the current French Open champion.
Despite being a teenager, the Spaniard consistently outsmarted his more renowned competitors on numerous occasions. Let’s take a closer look at five Major champions who were defeated by Nadal during his youth.
#5 Rafael Nadal
Despite being Nadal’s coach since 2016, Moya and him had been rivals on the court long before. In 2003, Nadal had just started his second year on the ATP tour and it was also his first full season, marking the beginning of his successful career as a 22-time Major champion.
Next, he took on Moya, the second-ranked player who had previously won the 1998 French Open.
At the age of 16, Nadal defeated his older compatriot with a score of 7-5, 6-4, but was then defeated by Gaston Gaudio in the following round. However, a few months later, Moya would defeat Nadal in the semifinals of the Croatia Open, avenging his previous loss.
Over the years, Nadal’s dominance in the rivalry became increasingly evident and he ultimately finished with a 6-2 lead. Their quarterfinal match in Hamburg in 2008, which was their last encounter, also ended in favor of the younger Spaniard, who won in straight sets.
#4 Rafael Nadal
At the 2004 Miami Open, when Federer and Nadal first met, it was unknown to the world that this competition would become a defining factor in the world of tennis. Federer, who had just won his second Major title at the Australian Open, had also achieved the top spot in the rankings for the very first time.
Despite being just 17 years old, Nadal had already reached the top-40 rankings a few weeks before his match against the top-ranked player in Miami. In the third round, the Spaniard easily defeated his opponent with a 6-3, 6-3 score, marking his first victory over a No. 1 player and his third win against a Grand Slam champion.
After a year-long wait, fans finally witnessed the highly anticipated showdown between the two tennis greats in Miami once again. In the final, Federer managed to come back from a two-set deficit and claim the title. Their intense rivalry captivated the world for almost 20 years, with Nadal ultimately leading the head-to-head record 24-16.
#3: The Legendary Andy Roddick
Despite his victory over Federer at the 2004 Miami Open, Nadal was unable to secure any wins against notable opponents in his subsequent matches. It wasn’t until the end of the season that the Spaniard finally defeated a high-profile player.
In Seville, Spain, the first week of December saw a Davis Cup final match between Spain and USA. Moya secured the lead for Spain with a straight sets win against Mardy Fish.
At the second singles tie, Nadal, who was 18 years old at the time, faced off against Roddick. Previously, Roddick had beaten Nadal in the second round of the US Open, where Nadal was the defending champion, just a few months earlier.
Despite Roddick winning a tightly contested first set of their Davis Cup match, Nadal rebounded and ultimately triumphed in four sets. This marked his fourth victory against a top-10 player and yet another against a Major champion.
The pair continued to compete against each other in the following years, culminating in their final match at the 2011 US Open. Nadal emerged victorious, solidifying his lead in the head-to-head record at 7-3.
#2 Rafael Nadal
In 2003, Ferrero had his most successful season yet, winning his first Major title at the French Open and finishing the year ranked No. 3. Although he was unable to match this success in the following year, he displayed promising improvements in 2005.
In 2005, Nadal had a breakthrough season as he dominated on clay from the very beginning. He won his second and third professional titles in February and was the runner-up in Miami.
After his victory in Valencia, Nadal proceeded to compete in his next tournament in Valencia where he defeated Ferrero with ease, only dropping three games. A few weeks later, the two met again in the final of the Barcelona Open, with the 18-year-old emerging victorious with a score of 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-3.
Despite securing the victory, Nadal’s ranking remained unchanged as he entered the top-10 for the first time. Despite Ferrero’s occasional triumphs over his fellow countryman in the following years, he ultimately ended his career with a 7-2 deficit in their rivalry.
#1 Tennis Legend: Andre Agassi
Despite his young age, Nadal maintained his dominance on the tour in 2005, securing eight titles in the first half of the season. Just two days after celebrating his 19th birthday, the Spaniard even managed to win his first Grand Slam title at the French Open.
Despite facing another legendary player, Agassi, in the final of the Canadian Open, top-seeded Nadal was still able to reach the final. Although Agassi had already won his eighth and final Major title at the 2003 Australian Open, he was still a formidable opponent.
Despite a tough battle for the title, it was ultimately Nadal who emerged victorious as he defeated Agassi 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. This was yet another impressive win for the rising Spanish star, solidifying his breakout success.
Nadal also celebrated his first hardcourt victory and ninth trophy of the year with this title. By the end of the season, he had accumulated a total of 11 titles and was ranked second, just behind Federer. The two would face each other one final time, with Federer winning in straight sets at the 2006 Wimbledon Championships.
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