Rafael Nadal has said he would like to finish his career as the most decorated male Grand Slam champion in history but believes he will need more than the 21 titles he has won so far.
Nadal, 35, moved ahead of long-time rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic by winning the Australian Open title on Sunday, fighting back in remarkable style to defeat world No 2 Daniil Medvedev in five sets.
The Spaniard will now turn his focus to major title No 22 at the French Open, where he is by a distance the tournament's most successful player with 13 trophies.
"I have no idea what number of Grand Slams I will have," Nadal told reporters at his academy in Mallorca on Wednesday.
"I want to be the one with the most majors out of the three of us, I would love that, but I'm not obsessed, absolutely not. Whatever comes is welcome and I don't think 21 is enough to be honest. But you never know what will happen in the future."
World No 1 Djokovic did not feature at the Australian Open after being deported from the country due to his Covid-19 vaccination status, while Federer was ruled out following a third knee surgery last year.
Nadal, who missed much of last season due to a niggling foot injury, added that it still hurts when he plays but his game was a higher level now.
"This (win) has given me a huge boost of confidence to move forward," he said. "I have been able to enjoy the highest level of sport again, something that was very difficult to imagine a few weeks ago."
Rafael Nadal's 21 Grand Slam titles
-
RAFAEL NADAL'S 21 GRAND SLAM TITLES: 1) Rafael Nadal wins his first Grand Slam at the 2005 French Open. Getty Images -
2) Rafael Nadal wins the 2006 French Open. Getty Images -
3) Rafael Nadal makes it three in a row at the 2007 French Open. Getty Images -
4) Rafael Nadal secures a fourth straight Roland Garros title at the 2008 French Open. Getty Images -
5) Rafael Nadal win his first major away from the French Open at the 2008 Wimbledon Championships. Getty Images -
6) Rafael Nadal won major title No 6 at the 2009 Australian Open, his first Grand Slam on hard courts. Getty Images -
7) Rafael Nadal wins his fifth Roland Garros title at the 2010 French Open. Getty Images -
8) Rafael Nadal becomes a two-time Wimbledon champion at the 2010 Championships. AFP -
9) Rafael Nadal completes the career Grand Slam by winning the 2010 US Open. AFP -
10) Rafael Nadal reaches 10 Grand Slam titles with his sixth Roland Garros triumph at the 2011 French Open. AFP -
11) Rafael Nadal wins the 2012 French Open, his seventh title in Paris. Getty Images -
12) Rafael Nadal wins a fourth straight Roland Garros for the second time in his career at the 2013 French Open. AFP -
13) Rafael Nadal wins his second US Open title at the 2013 tournament. Getty Images -
14) Rafael Nadal wins a fifth successive Roland Garros title at the 2014 French Open. AFP -
15) Rafael Nadal brings up his French Open La Decima at the 2017 tournament in Paris. AP Photo -
16) Rafael Nadal wins the 2017 US Open for his 16th Grand Slam title. Reuters -
17) Rafael Nadal wins his 11th Roland Garros title at the 2018 French Open. AFP -
18) Rafael Nadal wins his 12th Roland Garros title at the 2019 French Open. AFP -
19) Rafael Nadal claims his fourth US Open title at the 2019 tournament. Reuters -
20) Rafael Nadal pulls level with Roger Federer on a record 20 major titles with his 13th trophy in Paris after winning the 2020 French Open. AFP -
21) Rafael Nadal becomes the most successful male player in history with his 21st major title, won at the 2022 Australian Open. AAP -
22) Nadal makes it a record-extending 22 majors with victory in the 2022 French Open. EPA
