Rafael Nadal's 13 grand slams - in pictures

2005 French Open Beat: Mariano Puerta 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 ... Photograph: CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images

... aged 19, Nadal became the youngest slam winner since Michael Chang triumphed at Roland Garros aged 17 and the first player to win the tournament in his main draw debut since Mats Wilander 23 years earlier. “It’s a dream come true to win on my first appearance here,” says Nadal. “Mariano was my toughest opponent in the two weeks. It was a great final.” Slams: Nadal: 1 Federer: 4 Photograph: Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images

2006 French Open Beat: Roger Federer 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 ... Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

... the Spaniard recovers from a set down to retain his Roland Garros title and crush Federer’s hopes of holding all four slam titles at once. He also becomes the first man to beat Federer in a slam final after dominating the final three sets of the contest. The match is also Nadal’s 60th consecutive win on clay. “I want to congratulate Rafael,” says Federer. “He is so hard to beat on this surface.” Nadal: 2 Federer: 7 Photograph: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images

2007 French Open Beat: Roger Federer 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 ... Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

... Nadal defeats Federer again to become the first man since Bjorn Borg to win three French Open titles in a row. The 21-year-old puts in an awesome display of strength and speed with his serve improving as the match goes on, and despite Federer – once again in possession of the other three slam titles – winning a set, Nadal is always in control. Nadal: 3 Federer: 10 Photograph: Jacques Demarthon/AFP/Getty Images

2008 French Open Beat: Roger Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 ... Photograph: Pierre Verdy/AFP/Getty Images

... Federer is broken at the start of each set as Nadal cements his reputation as the best clay court player of modern times, and in the process becomes only the seventh man to win a slam without dropping a set. The final set sees Nadal put on a masterclass on how to play on the surface, with a lob in game four a particular highlight. Nadal 4: Federer: 12 Photograph: Patrick Kovarik/AFP/Getty Images

2008 Wimbledon Beat: Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins

... arguably the greatest slam final of all time sees Nadal win his first top title away from the clay of Paris. This rain-interrupted contest includes sublime rallies, incredible returns, a gutsy fightback from Federer and the dropping of two championship points from his opponent. But Nadal eventually triumphs to become the first man since Bjorn Borg to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back. Nadal: 5 Federer: 12 Photograph: Tom Jenkins

2009 Australian Open Beat: Roger Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 ... Photograph: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

... an epic five-set final sees Nadal win his first Australian Open title and, in the process, stop Federer from equalling Pete Sampras’s record of 14 slam titles. The Spaniard, now established as world No1, has to save 13 of 19 break points to triumph and comes into the contest having just two days earlier played the longest match in Australian Open history – the five-set victory over Fernando Verdasco. Nadal: 6 Federer: 13 Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images

2010 French Open Beat: Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 ... Photograph: Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Images

... having suffered a shock defeat to Soderling during the 2009 French Open, Nadal makes amends 12 months later by beating the Swede to record his fifth title at Roland Garros. The Spaniard saves all eight break points in a relatively comfortable straight-sets victory which lasts for two hours and 18 minutes. Nadal: 7 Federer: 16 Photograph: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images

2010 Wimbledon Beat: Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins

2010 US Open Beat: Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 ... Photograph: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

... Nadal establishes himself among the true greats by becoming only the seventh man in history to complete the grand slam. The 24-year-old’s maiden US Open title comes via a rain-interrupted final in which he beats an uncharacteristically sluggish Djokovic. In fairness to the Serb, he came into the match on the back of an exhausting semi-final win over Roger Federer. Nadal: 9 Federer: 16 Photograph: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

2011 French Open Beat: Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 ... Photograph: Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images

... Nadal equals Bjorn Borg’s record of six Roland Garros titles with yet another final victory over Roger Federer. This contest proves closer than those of previous years, however, with the Swiss saving a break to win the third set and hint at a comeback. But Nadal stands firm to clinch his 10th slam title and hold onto the world No1 crown ahead of Novak Djokovic. Nadal: 10 Federer: 16 Photograph: Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images

2012 French Open Beat: Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 ... Photograph: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images

... another Paris final, another win for Nadal, who snuffs out a Djokovic fightback to triumph in a rain-affected contest. Djokovic, like Federer in previous years, comes into the match aiming to hold all four slam titles simultaneously only to find himself up against a dominant force on clay. For Nadal, the victory is something of a relief given he had lost his last three slam finals, all against Djokovic. Nadal: 11 Federer: 16 Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

2013 French Open Beat: David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 ... Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

... a downpour and an intruder are not enough to stop Nadal winning his eight Roland Garros title. The match begins in edgy fashion with Nadal and his compatriot exchanging breaks of serve and there is more of the same after a shirtless man in a mask vaults the flower bed and waves a burning flame above his head. Nadal eventually triumphs, however, to move ahead of Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver on the all-time slam-winners list. Nadal: 12 Federer: 17 Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

2013 US Open Beat: Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 ... Photograph: Mike Groll/AP

... a magnificent encounter sees Nadal beat the world No1 to claim his second US Open title. The Spaniard begins in blistering style only to lose the second set, which includes a 54-shot rally, the longest in the tournament's history. He wins the next two sets, however, to complete his comeback from a seven-month absence with a knee injury in grand style. “All of my team knows how much this match means to me,” says Nadal. Nadal: 13 Federer: 17 Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images