Rafael Nadal and former tennis player Manolo Santana have been nominated for the Spanish 'The Best in History' award.
The accolade is run by the television channel La 1, and it recognises 50 of the greatest Spanish figures of all time in several categories. It is a spin-off of the original BBC's '100 Greatest Britons', which has since expanded into 30 different countries.
Nadal is the most coveted Spanish tennis player of all time, having won 23 Grand Slam titles in a professional career that has lasted for over two decades. The 37-year-old has been particularly successful at the Roland Garros, where he has won a record 14 titles.
Nadal made his long-awaited comeback to tennis in January 2024 after spending most of the 2023 season out with injury and recovering from surgery. So far, the Spanish player's return has gone smoothly, and he has notched two wins from two at the Brisbane International, defeating Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Santana is another Spanish great in tennis who also achieved great success in a different era. The two-time Roland Garros winner began his career in the amateur era in 1965 before retiring from the sport in 1977.
During his playing days, Santana won 96 titles and four Grand Slams at the Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. However, the former great passed away in 2021, and he is set to be honoured in the 'The Best in History'.
The RTVE Comunicación y Participación released the list of the 50 candidates for the Spanish 'Best in History' on X along with a statement explaining the criteria behind the nominees.
"Who is, for Spaniards, the most relevant and admired figure in our history today? La 1 is looking for 'The best in history', a new entertainment space presented by @SIntxaurrondo."
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