Rafael Nadal has been named men’s ITF World Champion for a fifth time following an incredible 2022 season in which he triumphed at the Australian Open and Roland Garros and became the outright leader in terms of men’s Grand Slam singles titles won.

Nadal, who remains the only Spaniard to have won the award in the men’s singles category, joins Roger Federer in third place for the most men’s ITF World Champion awards behind Novak Djokovic (seven) and Pete Sampras (six).

“I’m very happy to be named ITF World Champion for the fifth time,” said Nadal. “When I first won the award in 2008, I would not have expected to still be playing at such a high level 14 years later. It was really special to win the Australian Open for a second time, and of course to win Roland Garros. I am really grateful for the support of my team and my fans around the world and, I am already looking forward to the 2023 season.”

A remarkable campaign that began with questions around Nadal’s future in the sport ended with him two Grand Slams richer, assuming the lead in the Grand Slam men’s singles titles race and, alongside Djokovic, Roy Emerson and Rod Laver, as one of only four men in history to have won each of the four Grand Slams twice.

The 36-year-old compiled a 22-1 win-loss record at the majors, went 39-8 through the season, and climbed back to No. 2 in the ATP Rankings – feats that are all the more remarkable given that he began the year troubled by fears that he may have to retire as a result of a chronic foot problem.

“When I first won the award in 2008, I would not have expected to still be playing at such a high level 14 years later"

Instead, he kicked off the year with a 21-match winning streak that took in titles at the ATP 250 event in Melbourne, the Australian Open and Acapulco ahead of a runner-up finish at Indian Wells, but it was his performance at the opening Grand Slam of the year that left a lasting impression.

Seemingly down and out in the final against then-world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, Nadal hit back from two sets down (and three break points down at 2-3, 0-40 in the third set) to win 2-6 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4 7-5 for an epic five-hour-24-minute triumph – the second longest in Australian Open history.

Nadal made something of a stuttering start to his favoured clay season, falling to emerging Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals in Madrid and to Denis Shapovalov in the third round in Rome but, in spite of continuing problems with his foot, was back to his imperious best by Roland Garros.

With foot pain allayed by injections ahead of each match, Nadal ended Djokovic’s title defence in a four-set quarter-final in Paris and dismantled Norway’s Casper Ruud in the title match to win a record-extending 14th Roland Garros trophy and become the oldest champion in the event’s history.

His efforts were not without cost. He departed Paris on crutches, and injury would finally catch up with his ambitions at Wimbledon, where an abdominal tear forced him to withdraw ahead of a semi-final clash with Nick Kyrgios.

Nadal would win just four more matches from then until the end of the year, losing early at Masters 1000 events in Cincinnati and Paris either side of a fourth round exit to Frances Tiafoe at the US Open. He departed the ATP Finals in Turin at the group stage in his final event of the year, but Nadal’s astonishing efforts had already reaped their reward.

The 2022 tennis season has delivered plenty, but none more sharp a reminder than this: age, injury or otherwise, never underestimate Rafael Nadal.