Rafael Nadal

Iga Swiatek was once a bashful, teenage hard-rock fan who watched Rafael Nadal in awe before storming to a memorable Grand Slam triumph at a bleak, COVID-hit autumn edition of the French Open in 2020.

Today, she will be the new world number one.

With Guns N' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle" in her headphones, the Pole took to the clay courts of Roland Garros in October 2020.

The Serbian ace missed the Australian Open for political reasons, thus losing the chance to defend the trophy, but also to write the history of breaking the record in the number of Grand Slams, now owned by Rafael Nadal (21:20).
Almost a month later, Djokovic will have a "premiere match" at the 500 series tournament in Dubai.

After the interview he gave for the BBC, in which he said that he did not intend to be vaccinated against COVID, even at the cost of being absent from the biggest competitions, positive news arrived from Italy.
Namely, Djokovic will not have any problems playing in the Masters in Rome in May, if he wants to.

Rafael Nadal says he "doesn't care much" if his record 21st Grand Slam title makes him the best men's tennis player in history, after edging ahead of great rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic with his thrilling Australian Open win.

Although he did not have the opportunity to defend the trophy in Melbourne, which ended in the hands of Rafael Nadal, Djokovic remained at the top.
Daniil Medvedev, who with a potential triumph in the final had the opportunity to win points that would overtake Novak, suffered a defeat and therefore remained in second place.

He reached the triumph after a turnaround and five hours and 28 minutes of play - 2: 6, 6 (5): 7, 6: 4, 6: 4, 7: 5.
An unprecedented 21st major, his first since Roland-Garros in 2020, gave Rafael Nadal the outright lead over his great rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic for the first time.

Medvedev defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas and scheduled a clash with Rafael Nadal.
Medvedev had an outburst of rage between the second and third sets, when he attacked the umpire for not warning Stefanos' father about coaching.

The editor of the local "Telegraph" loudly said "that the demonisation of Novak Djokovic has to stop".

Of course, those are Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who also have 20 Grand Slam titles each.
In an interview with German Eurosport, Boris Becker first expressed surprise by Novak's tears in the final of the US Open.

That brought him one step closer to becoming the first player to win a calendar Grand Slam, since Rod Laver back in 1969.
Djokovic won seven matches at the Australian Open, seven at Roland Garros and seven at Wimbledon.