‘Surely he’s motivated to keep going now’ – Calendar Slam chance is on for Rafa Nadal claims top 10 stalwart

Rafael Nadal is now in with a chance of winning every Slam on offer in 2022, and that opportunity should spur him on to continue playing according to Tim Henman. 

The Spaniard could now achieve what no other player in recent times has managed by winning all four Major men’s singles titles in the same calendar year.

Four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Henman thinks that more than anything could motivate the 36-year-old.

He said: “Surely it is going to motivate him to keep on going.”

Novak Djokovic nearly achieved the feat in 2021 but was left wanting at the US Open.

There the expectation and emotion of the moment seemingly got the better of him as he lost the men’s singles final to an inspired Daniil Medvedev.

Henman, himself a six-time Slam singles semi-finalist, spoke after Rafa had claimed a record-extending 14th French Open title and 22nd Major title overall.

He added: “When you have won as much as he has, you just never know what’s around the corner.

“I think he has been very frank, and very honest, to say that he doesn’t know if he is going to be back here.

“But when you see a performance like that.

“It was just another clay court masterclass.

“You would have thought that when he wins these big titles, don’t forget he’s won the Australian Open, the French Open, now you can talk about the [Calendar] Slam being on.

Nadal has not won Wimbledon since 2010, by far his longest Major drought.

His last US Open came in 2019, while he has now won Roland Garros and the Australian Open in 2022.

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