{"id":16767,"date":"2025-01-04T02:27:55","date_gmt":"2025-01-04T02:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=16767"},"modified":"2025-01-04T02:27:55","modified_gmt":"2025-01-04T02:27:55","slug":"asb-classic-rafael-nadal-reflects-on-making-first-atp-tour-final-in-auckland-in-2004","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=16767","title":{"rendered":"ASB Classic: Rafael Nadal reflects on making first ATP Tour final in Auckland in 2004"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Rafael<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n

Rafael Nadal made the final of the then Heineken Open in Auckland in 2004 at 17 years old, losing in three sets to Dominik Hrbaty. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n

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Ask Rafael Nadal about\u00a0A<\/a>uckland\u00a0and it brings an immediate smile. As unlikely as it sounds, the Spanish legend remembers his time here well.<\/p>\n

Nadal ended his incredible career in November. He won 22 grand slams \u2013 topped only by Novak Djokovic in men\u2019s\u00a0tennis\u00a0\u2013 including 14 at Roland Garros. Nadal collected 92 titles and remained inside the top 10 for almost 20 years. He also spent 209 weeks at No 1 and remains the only man to reach the rankings summit in three different decades. The left-hander graced numerous grand arenas around the globe, including four Olympics, but has fond recollections of his time in the Queen City \u2013 for good reason.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an important tournament for me,\u201d Nadal tells the\u00a0Herald<\/i>. \u201cI played the final there in Auckland and it was my first\u00a0ATP final<\/a>. It was one of my first big tournaments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Across a career that encompassed more than 1300 professional matches, the humble New Zealand event holds that special milestone, marking his first appearance in the climax of an ATP event. It\u2019s quite remarkable in the context of the other members of the \u201cBig Three\u201d.<\/p>\n

Djokovic has never played in New Zealand. Roger Federer came only once, famously losing on an outside court in his first-round match and never returning. But with Nadal, the Auckland crowd and television viewers across the country witnessed the birth of a legend.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n

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\"Rafael
Rafael Nadal arrived in Auckland as a 17-year-old in 2004. Photo \/ Photosport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n