Rafael Nadal retired from tennis at the end of 2024, but not before he inspired the next generation of ATP stars.
Upon the conclusion of the 2024 Davis Cup, Nadal retired from tennis having won 22 Grand Slam titles during his time on tour.
Nadal had struggled with injury in the last few years of his career and joined Andy Murray and Dominic Thiem as the big names to retire this year.
Tributes poured in for Nadal, as players and fans looked back upon the 38-year-old’s legendary career.
One ATP star has recently spoken about just how much of an inspiration Nadal was for him growing up.
Alejandro Tabilo says he wanted to be ‘exactly like’ Rafael Nadal when he was younger
Alejandro Tabilo enjoyed the best year of his career in 2024, winning his first two ATP titles, and beating Novak Djokovic at the Italian Open.
However, It was another legend of the sport, Nadal, that Tabilo used to copy when he was younger, as he now looks to emulate his success.
“I always said when I was little the one player I tried to be exactly like was [Rafael] Nadal,” he said.
“From when I was little, being a lefty, I used to use Babolat.
“I was like everything I wanted to do was like Nadal, the short sleeves, the long pants.
“In Canada, I would win a tournament and I was also biting the trophy, I wanted to be exactly like him.”
Tabilo was born in Canada to Chilean parents, the nationality he switched to at the age of 18, as he now resides in Santiago, the countries capital city.
Whilst Nadal was perhaps Tabilo’s greatest idol, he also looked up to his countryman and former world number one Marcelo Rios.
“I mean from idols that would be the number one but I also remember watching the YouTube videos of [Marcelo] Rios a lot with my Dad,” said Tabilo.
“Trying to be a bit like him with the hands he had, it was crazy.
“He was basically taunting everyone he was playing.
“For me it was incredible.”
Was Marcelo Rios the best ATP tennis star to never win a Grand Slam?
Tabilo would no doubt love to achieve the same success that Rios did during his career, having reached world number one.
However, the Chilean does hold the unfortunate record of being the only man to reach top spot in the world rankings having never won a Grand Slam trophy.
Rios made the final of the Australian Open in 1999, but lost comfortably to Petr Korda, as he fell short in straight sets.
The Chilean may be the only man to reach number one without winning a Major, but who else can put up a challenge to Rios as the best to never win a Slam?
| Name | Career-high ranking | Best Grand Slam result | Masters 1000 titles | ATP titles |
| Marcelo Rios | 1 | F – 1999 Australian Open | 5 | 18 |
| Alexander Zverev | 2 | F – 2020 US Open, 2024 French Open | 7 | 23 |
| Casper Ruud | 2 | F – 2022 French Open, 2022 US Open, 2023 French Open | 0 | 12 |
| Stefanos Tsitsipas | 3 | F – 2021 French Open, 2023 Australian Open | 3 | 11 |
| David Nalbandian | 3 | F – 2002 Wimbledon | 2 | 11 |
| Guillermo Coria | 3 | F – 2004 French Open | 2 | 9 |
| David Ferrer | 3 | F – 2013 French Open | 1 | 27 |
| Nikolay Davydenko | 3 | SF – 2005 French Open, 2006 US Open, 2007 French Open, 2007 US Open | 3 | 21 |
| Robin Soderling | 4 | F – 2009 French Open, 2010 French Open | 1 | 10 |
| Todd Martin | 4 | F – 1994 Australian Open, 1999 US Open | 0 | 8 |
There are plenty of players who have come close, but just couldn’t quite get over the line to bring home a Major title.
Amongst the active players, Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, are all still waiting for their maiden Grand Slam success.
In the case of the German, fans have been questioning whether Zverev can finally win a Grand Slam title for a long time, after two previous final heartbreaks.
Regardless of their shortcomings, as of right now, Rios remains the only player in ATP history to have reached world number one without winning a Grand Slam.
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