Since the start of the ATP ranking in 1973, 21 players have been ranked inside the top-4 after turning 30. The list becomes shorter with every raised year, and there have been seven competitors in the mentioned group following the 33rd birthday.
Four players have cracked the top-4 after turning 36, with Rafael Nadal as the newest edition to the exclusive charts. The Spaniard celebrated his 36th birthday last Friday, and he is back in the top-4 on Monday following the 22nd Major crown at Roland Garros.
Thus, Rafa joins Ken Rosewall, Roger Federer and Rod Laver as one of the four oldest top-4 players since the start of the ATP ranking. Rosewall achieved that in 1975 at 40, and his compatriot Rod Laver followed him earlier that season at 36 years and eight months.
Roger Federer stayed in the top-4 until the end of 2020, standing second on the list at 39 years and two months. Rafael Nadal became the fourth 36-year-old player in the top-4 on Monday, celebrating his birthday three days ago and giving himself the best possible gift in Paris.
Rafael Nadal became the fourth 36-year-old player in the top-4.
Rafa secured the 22nd Major crown and the second of the season, proving himself as the best player in 2022 and replacing Stefanos Tsitsipas in the top-4. Nadal skipped the second part of the previous season, and he drew the most from the current one despite setbacks and injuries.
Rafa is 30-3 so far in 2022, claiming four titles from five finals and conquering the season’s opening two Majors for the first time in a career. Nadal made a comeback at the beginning of the season in Melbourne, not playing at his best but claiming the title to gain confidence.
The Spaniard used it nicely at the Australian Open, keeping his foot under control and defeating seven rivals en route to the second Melbourne Park crown after 2009. Nadal performed one of his most remarkable comebacks in the title clash against Daniil Medvedev, trailing 6-2, 7-6, 3-3, 40-0 before overcoming the deficit and prevailing in five hours and 24 minutes.
Nadal conquered Acapulco in February and reached the Indian Wells final. Struggling with a fractured rib, Rafa lost to Taylor Fritz in straight sets and took a break until Madrid. The king of clay did not play at his best in the Spanish capital, and he struggled a lot with his foot in Rome versus Denis Shapovalov.
Rafa took his doctor with him to Paris and annulled the pain with injections. That allowed him to perform on a high level and secure the 14th Roland Garros crown from 18 trips to Paris. Nadal will take a couple of weeks off, and he will decide about his next move and the Wimbledon participation in the next ten or 15 days.
