Rafael Nadal, the undisputed king of clay, has once again shown his trademark humility when asked whether his record 14 French Open titles will ever be surpassed. Speaking candidly, Nadal acknowledged the difficulty of such a feat but didn’t rule it out entirely.
“I’ve always said the same thing. I know it’s going to be difficult. But to be honest, if I did it, then I believe someone else can too. I don’t see myself as someone extraordinary,” Nadal stated, making it clear that he believes the next generation holds potential for greatness.
Still, he didn’t shy away from pointing out the immense challenges that lie behind such an accomplishment. “A lot of things have to go your way. You need a long career, and you can’t have too many injuries—although I did. I actually retired here once in 2016. But overall, you can’t have very bad periods. You also need a bit of luck,” he explained.
While not impossible, Nadal believes that equaling his record will take considerable time. Winning 14 Grand Slam titles at the same venue, especially at a tournament as physically demanding as Roland Garros, is no easy task. “It’s possible, but it will take at least another 30 years,” he concluded with a mix of realism and hope.