There is an age-old mantra to examine the past but not to live in it and it is one that sits perfectly well with Rafael Nadal.

Even if history shows much to revel in, the Spaniard finds no point in becoming bogged down in accolades and numbers.

There will be time for that when all is said and done, a chance to glance across a long line of trophies that take pride of place back at his academy in Mallorca.

Two more have already been added to his brightly lit Grand Slam wall this year, two that many seriously questioned were even possible when he turned up at the Australian Open in January.

For the first time in his career, Nadal arrives in SW19 halfway to the calendar Grand Slam, a feat no man has achieved since Rod Laver in 1969.

It is quite the start to a season already blighted by a rib fracture and recurrent left foot problems.

“[The] past is past. Sport and life goes so quick, no? I am not a big fan of keep[ing] living on the things that you achieved because sport doesn’t give you that time to keep thinking on the things that happened,” Nadal said.

“But [it] is something that already happened. [It] is something that’s going to be in my museum for the rest of my life, so that's something that makes me feel proud, of course.

“[The] last six months of 2021 haven't been easy. Even 2022, [though] I am able to have an amazing start of the season, haven't been easy at all.”

The Spaniard has reached the semi-finals the last two times he has taken part in The Championships, but it is now 12 years since he lifted the trophy as gentlemen’s singles champion for a second time.

Even so, it had been even longer since he’d had his hands on the silverware at Melbourne Park: in January he broke a 13-year spell to deny Daniil Medvedev and take sole ownership of the men’s all-time Grand Slam tally.

It elicited congratulatory messages from his two great rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, the latter hailing his fighting spirit.

“I am proud to share this era with you and honoured to play a role in pushing you to achieve more, as you have done for me for the past 18 years,” Federer posted on social media.

"I am sure you have more achievements ahead but for now enjoy this one.”

In the Swiss great’s absence from Wimbledon for the first time in 24 years, Nadal afforded himself time to reflect on their rivalry without dwelling for too long on the past.

“[To] have somebody like him, like a rival, that he's amazingly good, helps you to let you know the things that you have to do to be better,” he said.

“In some way it's easier to have a way to improve when you have an example in front that is better than you, not always but a lot of times.”

After he scooped the title at Roland-Garros for a staggering 14th time at the expense of his academy apprentice, Casper Ruud, earlier this month, Nadal took a well-earned break aboard his catamaran off Mallorca.

While having rested and since tested his problematic left foot in exhibition matches at the Hurlingham Club and in practice sessions, including on Centre Court with last year’s finalist Matteo Berrettini, Nadal was determined to focus squarely on the future.

The soon-to-be father will compete at The Championships for the first time in three years when he opens against Argentine Francisco Cerundolo next week.

“I will never say [the foot has been] a drama because dramas are other things on life,” Nadal said. “Without a doubt, we are only playing tennis, but in terms of daily suffering [it has] been tough in terms of every day going on court without knowing if I [am] going to be able to finish the practice the proper way or even finish the match the proper way. That's tough to accept.

“But in general terms [it has] been an amazing, positive six months in terms of tennis results. Yeah, I enjoy it because [it has] been unexpected. But now is the moment to keep going.”

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