In the history of men's professional tennis, only three people have achieved 20 career grand slam titles. All are still currently playing but only Rafael Nadal entered into this year's Australian Open. With Novak Djokovic facing well-publicized visa issues due to COVID-19 and Roger Federer still out due to injury, Nadal has used that to his advantage and now sits just one win shy of sole possession of first place. Despite playing at such a high level, a foot injury that has sidelined him since May and a bout with COVID-19 in December actually caused Nadal to consider retirement before shifting gears to this year's action.

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Roger Federer of Switzerland, Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Andy Murray of Great Britain with Rafael Nadal of Spain during the presentation ceremony paying tribute to the career of Rafael Nadal of Spain on a packed Court Philippe Chatrier Courtday on day one at Roland Garros Stadium.
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“I am just enjoying playing tennis, as I said hundreds of times. But honestly, and from the bottom of my heart … of course I want to keep winning, because I love what I am doing. The goal is to prolong my career and continue to do what makes me happy, to compete at the highest level and keep fighting for those professional and personal goals at the maximum level of competition” – Rafael Nadal

If Nadal is going to get that 21st title, he needs to let go of his thoughts from the past and focus on the future, and that is his opponent, Danil Medvedev. Currently sitting as the number two ranked player in the world, Medvedev won the first major of his career last year at the U.S. Open and is looking to avenge his 2021 loss in the Australian Open final to Djokovic. If Medvedev can win the Australian Open this year over Nadal, it would be his second major in as many attempts, becoming the first player in the history of tennis to do so.