By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, October 13, 2020

 

"I think it’s one of the best records in sport—maybe even the best," Andy Murray said of Rafael Nadal's record 13th Roland Garros triumph.

Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open Facebook

Rafael Nadal stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Roger Federer as co-Grand Slam king.

Andy Murray says the king of clay stands alone as the owner of perhaps the most impressive record in all of sport.

More: Nadal Dismisses Djokovic, Matches Federer's Major Mark

Nadal dismissed Novak Djokovic in straight sets to collect his record 13th Roland Garros title matching Federer's men's major mark winning his 20th career Grand Slam championship.

The second-seeded Spaniard raised his Roland Garros record to an astounding 100-2, including 81 victories in straight sets and a perfect 26-0 mark in French Open semifinals and finals. Nadal is the first champion—male or female—to win the same professional singles championship 13 times.

Former world No. 1 Murray says Nadal's record will not only never be matched—he does not envision anyone even coming close to the mark he regards as the best in sport.



"It’s an amazing achievement," Murray told the media in Cologne. "I don’t think what he’s done at Roland Garros, I don’t think that will ever be beaten. I don’t see anybody beating that. I mean obviously he could win another one and make it 14 or 15—whatever he finishes on. He’s one short of winning the same amount of Grand Slams as Sampras did at one tournament.

"It’s incredible. I think it’s one of the best records in sport—maybe even the best. I don’t think it will ever be repeated. And I actually don’t think anyone will ever get close to it."

The title came more than 15 years after a teenager Nadal defeated Mariano Puerta to win his first Grand Slam title in Paris, which is a men's Open Era record for longest gap between first and most recent Grand Slam titles. The 34-year-old Spaniard won a record sixth major championship after age 30.

Nadal has won six of the last seven Grand Slam finals he's contested with his lone loss in that span coming to Djokovic in a 2019 Australian Open blowout.



So which Big 3 icon will wind up with the most career Grand Slam titles? Will it be either of the 20-time major champions Nadal or Federer or 17-time major title holder Djokovic, who is the youngest of the Big 3?

“It’s impossible to answer those questions because you never know someone can get injured have an issue like I had and that changes your whole career,” Murray said. “Providing they all stay fit and if they retire all at the same age then I’d think it would be between Rafa and Novak. I’d think it would be between the two of them.

“It depends a little bit on many things. If they both stay healthy and they retire at the same time I would think it would be between those two.”