MELBOURNE (Australia): World number one Rafael Nadal said that matching or beating Roger Federer’s record 20 Grand Slam titles is not important.
“I don’t care about 20 or 15 or 16. I just care about trying to keep going, keep enjoying my tennis career,” Nadal said after he opened his Australian Open campaign with 6-2, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Bolivian Hugo Dellien in the first round on Tuesday.
The Mallorcan, the first man to be world number one in three different decades, can not only match his great rival’s achievement, but also become the first man in the Open era to win all four Majors at least twice if he lifts the trophy again at Melbourne Park.
“It’s not like 20 is the number that I need to reach. If I reach 20, fantastic. If I reach 21, better. If I reach 19, super happy about all the things that I did in my tennis career,” said the Spaniard.
Nadal has won just one Aus Open title
The 33-year-old has only won the title once before in Australia, against Federer in 2009, with four runner-up finishes to his name.
“I am very satisfied about my tennis career because I give it all most of the time,” Nadal said. “That’s the only thing that matters.”
The Australian Open is the only Major Nadal has failed to win more than once, having claimed 12 titles at Roland Garros, four at the US Open and two at Wimbledon.
He has been a finalist in Melbourne four times since winning but has struggled to get over the line, something that baffles him.
On why he had not been able to convert in Australia, he said, “I’ve been a break up twice in the fifth set and I lost. Another time I have been injured in a final, of course, against a great opponent.”
