We mark time by historical events, some that jolt us, some bringing us joy. The year was defined by the worst disaster possibly in US history in hurricane Katrina, the London bombings but it was also the year that the iconic Youtube was born, an era before iPhones when Nokia sold 220 million phones. Disneyland celebrated its 50th birthday.

In the land of sports, June 2005 was when a new star was born. The Man from Majorca won his first of what would be several French Open Tennis titles.

A gifted athlete, Nadal grew up under the protective shade of his demanding uncle Toni. They said he wouldn’t stand a chance on the hard courts while acknowledging his greatness on clay. He proved his critics wrong winning the Wimbledon in 2008, the Australian in 2009 and became the youngest to achieve a career grand slam, winning the US open in 2010.

Always in the shadow of his stylish competitor, Federer, Nadal had to fight himself and his foe to climb the long ladder to greatness. What he lacked in Fed’s flow, he had to make up in other ways and his body had to absorb the physicality of his brand of tennis. It took a toll and he lost many years and matches to injuries.

Fourteen years after his first title at Roland Garros, Nadal still stands tall unmoved and unshaken winning his 12th title, a constant in a decade of change. What could be his secret as he chases his greatest foe and gifted friend Federer’s career grand slam total? Chasing the Fed benchmark all his life, Nadal carved his own sculpture on the face on Tennis, a unique beauty built on power and mental toughness. If footwork is the key to the Fed’s dominance, the ability to exercise full body power and unleash a power forehand with such unplayable topspin is Nadal’s nuclear weapon. The weapon that gets magnified on clay, leaving his opponents gasping for air, forced to play from the shoulders.

“”He never takes a point off. He’s fighting as hard as he can the whole time.” says Blake and that symbolizes the man more than anything. The game is never over, every point is played as if it is a match point. “Losing is not my enemy, fear of losing is my enemy”, says Nadal living by this motto and in the process becoming invincible.

Champions have a license to be arrogant, more so when you have sublime talent. What makes Nadal stand out is his natural humility, accepting the greatness of the game and the players who came before him. He still stands in awe of Federer, trying to measure up to his genius, oblivious of his own that shines bright even in the presence of the sun.

““People sometimes exaggerate this business of humility. It’s a question simply of knowing who you are, where you are, and that the world will continue exactly as it is without you.” says Nadal, his feet firmly rooted in the very clay that defines him.

Those feet anchored by aching knees haven’t always been his friend. His body not tuned to the DNA of Tennis like Federer’s, often let him down. “There was a moment in my career when I seriously wondered whether I’d be able to continue competing at the top level,” says Nadal. In 2011, the third leg of the three stooled genius, Novak Djokovic beat him six times in six finals, leading many to declare the end of Nadal.

2012 for Nadal began with him reaching the finals of what would be one of the greatest ever finals to be played. Nadal donning green and white, came out losing in 5 sets. But he was back, the painful losses of 2011 a distant memory.

It is a testament to his greatness that his most improbable injury prone year, 2014, where he would suffer a back injury, a wrist injury, and appendicitis, would still see him finish No #3 with 4 titles. Superman was Clark Kent and still good enough for world #3.

A disappointing 2016 was followed by one of the greatest tennis show put on by the Gods of tennis, the Australian Open final of 2017. I thought that the world can end now, for we have seen the greatest spectacle in sports, a Rafa-Fed classic when neither was at their peak.

“I play through pain much of the time, but I think all elite sports people do. All except Federer, at any rate. I’ve had to push and mold my body to adapt it to cope with the repetitive muscular stress that tennis forces on you, but he just seems to have been born to play the game.”, mused Nadal, paying a tribute to his nemesis.

The #1 court, the #2 court and even the main Philippe Chatrier Court have changed over the years, the past quirks fading into the comfortable new. It is only the ageless man holding the trophy who has not faded. The Theim forehanded landed long. After watching it closely, Nadal slid, landing on his back, his arms spread and eyes closed. Number #12.

If greatness is defined as consistency amidst odds, nothing would be greater than Nadal’s feat at the French. ““For sure, you are not going to see another guy win 12 French Opens,” said Nicolás Massú, Thiem’s coach.

What is left to prove? Two more grand slams assuming the goal post does not move in the next few years? The Twin Gods of Tennis have enlivened our lives over two decades. It is only fitting they finish at 20 each.

“It’s a motivation, but it’s not my obsession,” Nadal said of the record. “It’s not what makes me get up every morning or go and train and play. I don’t think my inner happiness or my future will change if I equal Federer or if I do something like Djokovic. I have already achieved more in my career than I ever imagined.”

Ever so humble, Nadal is quick to dismiss any such expectations, almost afraid to contemplate a pantheon along with the great one.

Like his many fans, I hope to see him get there one forehand one point at a time.

I love you 3000 Rafa.