Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal Parera [ Rafael Nadal paɾeɾa ] ( born June 3, 1986 in Manacor, Mallorca) is a Spanish tennis player. Between August 2008 and July 2011, he was 102 weeks long at the top of the tennis world rankings. Since October 7, 2013, he is again the number one ranking.

Nadal won in his career so far 13 Grand Slam titles. Eight times he was victorious at the French Open, twice each at Wimbledon and at the U.S. Open and once at the Australian Open. He is one of only seven players who have won each of the four Grand Slam tournaments at least once. He also won the gold medal in singles at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In early 2011 he was elected for his services in 2010 World Athlete of the Year.

Nadal, who was first known as a clay court specialist, holds the record for the longest winning streak on clay. Between April 2005 and May 2007, he won 81 consecutive matches on clay before losing in the final of the Hamburg Masters tournament against Roger Federer. He also won eight times in a row the Masters tournament in Monte Carlo - another record for the most consecutive title in a tournament. Many of the most successful clay court player of the last years is even regarded as the best player on clay in history of tennis.

7.1 tournament schedule 2014
7.2 Tournament Win
7.3 Performance record in major tournaments

Personal

Rafael Nadal was born the son of Sebastian Nadal and Ana Maria Parera in Manacor on the island of Mallorca. After the Spanish tradition is his full name Rafael Nadal Parera, with his first surname Nadal is in the spoken there Catalan Christmas. He has a younger sister named María Isabel ( Maribel ). Father Sebastian has a company for glass and windows in Manacor, where the extended family including Rafael Nadal lives today. Since 2005, he is dating Maria Francisca Perello; both endeavors only to keep her private life from the public. After the 10th class Nadal went off with 16 years of school. In favor of his athletic career, he opted not to go further schooling.

Childhood and youth

Early in his childhood, Rafael interested in sports, not least because three of his uncles were professional athletes. His uncle, Miguel Ángel Nadal Rafael Nadal and were both professional footballers, where Rafael played in the Majorcan Football League and Miguel Ángel including for FC Barcelona. With Barça he won five championships during this time, and once the European Cup and played several dozen games for the Spanish national team. His uncle Toni Nadal was a well known on the island home tennis player but as a professional on the Spanish mainland had only moderate success and has been prescribed the training of youth. So it came that he pursued both sports as a young boy, with his great passion was football. At seven, he began at the local football club Manacor to play as a left striker and brought his team the age of eleven, the Balearic Championship. His passion for football has survived to this day, he is still passionate Real Madrid supporter.

At the age of four, he began playing tennis in a small group that was trained by his uncle Toni. He recognized and encouraged his talent early. Although tennis for the little Rafael was rather boring and he preferred playing football, early successes, presented a. He has participated in tournaments at the age of seven years. At eight, he won the championship of the Balearic sub - twelve year olds and thirteen the U14 Championship, although he has at that time in a fall in the first round of the tournament the little finger of his left hand was broken. These victories count for him to this day the most important on his way to a professional tennis player.

His uncle Toni was and is involved as a longtime coach instrumental in its success. The family members were indeed worried earlier that Toni would ask the boy too hard, but his father's calm and relaxed manner always providing for a certain compensation to Toni's pursuit of success. The intensive and rigorous training and mental training by Toni Nadal, Rafael's paired with talent have, but let him only be one of the greatest tennis players in the world.

Tennis career

Beginning of the professional career (2001-2004)

At 14, Rafael Nadal was by accident the first time the opportunity to compete in a warm-up game against a big name in tennis. When Boris Becker, who was assigned as opponents of Pat Cash, short term turned out, Nadal got his chance; he struck unexpectedly the Wimbledon champion of 1987. Nadal sought early the way to the professional tour and was reported in 2001 with 15 years for the first time as a professional player. He graduated in Spain his first two tournaments, which were finished for him but already in the first two rounds.

In 2002 he scored the first victory on the ATP Tour. In his home he defeated in the first round Ramón Delgado. In the same year he won six titles with smaller Spanish tournaments in the Future series. In June, he reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in his only start on the junior tour. At the end of 2002, Nadal had improved in the world rankings to 611 places to rank 200.

At season's beginning in 2003, he managed some finals on the ATP Challenger Tour before in April he could qualify for a tournament the Masters Series for the first time. In Monte Carlo he celebrated victory over Karol Kučera and Albert Costa, before retiring in the third round to eventual finalist Guillermo Coria. The results earned him next important ranking points also regular participation in tournaments of the ATP tour. An injury prevented then his first start at the French Open. In his first appearance at Wimbledon, he reached there at age 17 became the youngest player since Boris Becker the third round, where he lost to Paradorn Srichaphan. His best result on the tour that year was followed by the semi-finals at the tournament in Umag, where he defeated his compatriot Carlos Moyá. Already this season, his particular strength indicated on sand - eleven of his 14 victories he achieved on this surface. At the end Nadal was ranked 49 in the world rankings.

Beginning in 2004, he reached his first final in Auckland at an ATP tournament, however, he lost to Dominik Hrbatý. During his Australian Open debut Nadal moved into the third round where he lost to Lleyton Hewitt. At the Miami Masters for the first time he was able to defeat the world number one Roger Federer and advance to the knockout round. At the tournament in Estoril, he came to the quarterfinals, where he could not compete because of a stress fracture in the metatarsal. The injury forced him to a three -month break. In August, Nadal then won for the first time an ATP tournament, his opponent in the final in Sopot was José Acasuso. At the U.S. Open he reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament in the doubles alongside Tommy Robredo for the first time.

In December, Nadal was a member of the Spanish team that defeated the United States in the Davis Cup final 3-2. With his victory over Andy Roddick, he was at 18 years and six months, the second-youngest player (after Boris Becker in 1985 ) ever to win a singles match in a Davis Cup final.

First French Open title and record streak on clay (2005-2007)

The year 2005 brought Nadal with eleven tournament victories the final breakthrough, as many have him in a season since then no longer able ( of Dec. 2011). He celebrated the greatest success at the French Open: he was the first player since Mats Wilander in 1982, who won on his debut in Paris. In the semifinals, he defeated on his nineteenth birthday Federer 6:3, 4:6, 6:4 and 6:3. With his final victory over Mariano Puerta Nadal was 19 years and 2 days also the youngest winner of a Grand Slam tournament since Pete Sampras ( U.S. Open 1990). At Wimbledon, he had, however, plug in an early defeat, as number four of the seedings he lost in round two to the Luxembourg Gilles Muller. In Montreal, he won a three-set victory over Andre Agassi his first title on hard court. At the U.S. Open, he was beaten again in the third round ( against James Blake ). Eight of his eleven titles won Nadal on his favorite surface, its annual accounts on sand had 50 victories with two defeats, where he remained 36 matches without a win until the end. Nadal was it the most successful clay court player since Thomas Muster - the Austrians had brought it in 1995 to 65 wins and just two defeats. Nadal finished the year as the first teenager since Boris Becker in 1986 to second in the world rankings.

2006 Nadal won five tournaments, four of them against Federer: Dubai, Monte Carlo, Rome and the French Open. His fifth title of the year he won in Barcelona against Tommy Robredo. With the final in Rome he remained on sand 53 games in a row undefeated - so he set the record of Guillermo Vilas in 1973. By winning the title at the French Open Nadal had won 60 consecutive wins on clay. Then he showed greatly improved on grass. As the first Spaniard since winning the title of his compatriot Manuel Santana in 1966, he reached the final at Wimbledon. The renewed duel with Federer won this time the Swiss. For Nadal, it was the first final defeat after 14 wins in a row. At the end of the year he still reached the semifinals of the Tennis Masters Cup and ended the year again to second place in the world rankings.

In 2007, he reached the quarter- finals of the Australian Open, but was defeated Fernando Gonzalez in three sets. At the Masters tournament in Indian Wells Nadal then won the first tournament victory since the French Open last year. At the Masters tournament in Miami he was defeated Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, he still had to defeat in the final of Indian Wells. In Monte Carlo and Rome, he was able to defend his title from last year, so he was undefeated on clay now been 78 games. In the semifinals of Rome he set the previous record John McEnroe of 75 wins in a series on a plaque. Even at a tournament in Hamburg, Nadal reached the final, but lost after 81 successes on clay against Roger Federer. In Paris with another victory over Federer he managed a hat-trick at the French Open. Also in Wimbledon, there was a rematch of last year's finale, which in turn won Federer. After a defeat in the second round of the U.S. Open against David Ferrer Nadal still reached the final of the Paris Masters against David Nalbandian and the semifinals of the Tennis Masters Cup against Federer.

Olympic champion and world number (2008-2010)

At season's beginning in 2008 he made the semi-finals at the Australian Open and Indian Wells as well as the entry into the final in Miami. With a victory over Federer to Nadal in Monte Carlo secured his fourth consecutive title. Also in doubles with Tommy Robredo, he won the final, the fourth doubles title of his professional career. Nadal was then with his victory in Hamburg only the third tennis player to win all three Masters tournaments on clay in a year. At the French Open without dropping a set of his fourth triumph succeeded in a row, thus equaling Björn Borg's open- era record. In only 107 -minute finale, the shortest since 1980, he defeated Federer clearly with 6:1, 6:3 and 6:0.

Also in Wimbledon it came as in the past two years again for the finale between him and Federer. In one of the most dramatic matches in tennis history, the Spaniard won with 6:4, 6:4, 6:7, 6:7 and 9:7. It was the longest final in the men's singles in the over 130 -year history of this tournament. John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg, who had until then in 1980 the most significant Wimbledon finals disputed and pursued the match live spoke later of the best game they have ever seen.

At the tournament of Cincinnati Nadal lost his semi-final though, but since Federer was eliminated already in the second round, Nadal was able to oust him on 18 August 2008 from the top of world rankings. Federer had been up to that time 237 weeks continuously at the top. On August 17, 2008, Nadal picked at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing with a win over Chile's Fernando Gonzalez the gold medal. At the U.S. Open he reached the semifinals for the first time then, but was defeated Andy Murray. The final Masters tournament of the year in Paris, he had to stop in the quarterfinals and cancel all other tournaments because of a knee injury.

On February 1, 2009 Nadal succeeded at the Australian Open against Roger Federer, the first Grand Slam tournament victory on hard court. It was his sixth Grand Slam title and the 13th victory in the 19th match against Federer - at the same time but also the first individual victory of a Spaniard at the Australian Open. In the rest of the season he also won in Barcelona, his fifth success in series there. On the other hand, he retired in the second round of the French Open surprising against the Sweden 's Robin Soderling. It was his first defeat at Roland Garros at all. Due to injury, Nadal did not occur in Wimbledon and had to Federer's triumph there that left the lead in the ATP rankings again - Nadal had stood until July 5, 2009, a total 46 weeks to position 1. After his injury, he was only at the Rogers Cup back to the start, where he was stopped in the quarterfinals of Juan Martín del Potro. Against these same opponents, he also lost the semifinals of the U.S. Open and finished the season for the fourth time in second place.

At the Australian Open 2010, he had to break in the third set because of a knee injury as defending his quarter-final match against eventual finalists Andy Murray. In April it in Monte Carlo, the sixth success was achieved in series. In Rome, he managed to defend the title and in Madrid the 18th title in a tournament the Masters Series. So Nadal took over the top spot in these statistics before Andre Agassi, who brought it there on 17 results. The French Open he won - again without dropping a set - for the fifth time. He defeated Robin Soderling in the finals and took over after he was dropped in between for a few weeks at No. 4, again the lead in the world rankings. On 4 July, Nadal secured his second Wimbledon title when he defeated the Czechs Tomáš Berdych in three sets in the final. At the U.S. Open he reached for the first time then the final, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in four sets. Throughout the course of the tournament Nadal was from only five service games and was 24 years of age, the seventh and youngest player ever to have won all four Grand Slam titles.

Six final defeats against Djokovic, replaced as world number (2011)

The year began with Nadal for the ATP tournament in Doha, where he lost the semi-final against Nikolay Davydenko. With a tournament victory at the Australian Open, he could have won the first player after Rod Laver all four Grand Slam titles. In the quarterfinals, but he had to admit defeat his friend David Ferrer. After he suffered a thigh injury in the first set, he lost the match in three sets. In his comeback Nadal could be reached the finals in Indian Wells and Miami, but both finals ended in defeat against Djokovic. His first title of the year, Nadal won in Monte Carlo, where he Ferrer this time defeating in the final; It was his seventh success there in series. A week later he again managed to prevail against Ferrer and win his sixth title at the ATP tournament in Barcelona. Nadal also won in early June for the sixth time the finals of the French Open. He defeated Federer again ( in 3:40 hours with 7:5, 7:6, 5:7 and 6:1) and moved to coincide with the Swedish record winner Bjorn Borg, who triumphed in Paris six times.

At Wimbledon, Nadal lost for the fifth time this year a final against Djokovic. The Serb had replaced already by reaching the final, Nadal as world number one. In the preparation tournaments to the U.S. Open Nadal offered more expedient services and retired in Montreal and Cincinnati from each early. At the U.S. Open, he then rose from round to round. Finally it came to the new edition of the previous year final against Djokovic, but with the better end for the Serbs, who won also the sixth meeting of the season for themselves. In September he moved to two commanding victories against the French Tsonga and Gasquet with Spain in a Davis Cup final. In October Nadal suffered more defeats, as he lost to Andy Murray in Tokyo and later against Florian Mayer in straight sets at the Masters in Shanghai. Also, the season finale, he did not reach his old form and was eliminated after losing to Federer and Tsonga from an early stage. In the Davis Cup final in early December against the team of Argentina, he helped the Spanish team with his successes against Juan Monaco and Juan Martin Del Potro to victory and finished as the year 2011 still successfully.

Eight consecutive title in Monte Carlo and seventh title in Paris (2012 )

At his season-opener in Doha Nadal moved into the semi-finals, but lost in straight sets against Gaël Monfils. At the first Grand Slam tournament of the year he met in the final of the Australian Open again on Djokovic, who won in five sets 7:5, 4:6, 2:6, 7:6, 5:7. With a playing time of five hours and 53 minutes it was not only the longest match of the tournament's history, but also the longest final in the history of the Grand Slam tournaments. Nadal lost so such a finale for the third consecutive year and was another, even negative record.

In the subsequent Masters Series in Indian Wells and Miami, he reached the semi-finals respectively. In Indian Wells, he lost to Federer though, but was able to secure the title in the doubles competition with his compatriot Marc Lopez. This was after 2010 his second title in Indian Wells and his eighth double success overall. In Miami, he had to cancel due to a knee injury, the semi-final match against Andy Murray. Then he stood at the Masters of Monte Carlo for the first time back on the court and could be back to the finals, where he again faced the world number one Djokovic. After last seven lost finals Nadal kept time with 6:3, 6:1 the upper hand and won in Monte Carlo his eighth title in a row - the first player in the Open Era at the same tournament. Also, for the seventh time he won shortly after the ATP tournament in Barcelona, where he defeated for the fourth time (after 2008, 2009 and 2011) in the final David Ferrer.

After switching off in the second round of the Masters tournament in Madrid, Nadal lost No. 2 in the world ranking to Federer, who won the tournament ( Nadal was the last time out in May 2010 in third place ). During the subsequent tournament in Rome he could strike as in Monte Carlo Djokovic in straight sets. With his sixth overall success in the Italian capital, as well as the 21 tournament victory in a Masters competition, he proceeded again to second place in the world rankings.

At the French Open without dropping a set Nadal moved into the final, where he met for the fourth consecutive time at a Grand Slam final on Djokovic. In the interruptions due to rain over two days discharged match, Nadal prevailed in four sets. He was with his seventh success in Paris - at the same time his 50th individual title - for the sole record winner of the French Open.

On June 28, 2012, he failed at Wimbledon for the first time since 2005 at a Grand Slam tournament in round two. He was subject to in the world rankings 98 places behind him placed Czechs Lukáš Rosol in five sets (7:6, 4:6, 4:6, 6:2, 4:6 ). This ended his ongoing since the French Open 2011 series of five Grand Slam finals in a row, in the world rankings, he slipped back to third place.

In June, the National Olympic Committee of Spain (Comité Olímpico Español) Nadal named as the carrier of the Spanish flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London. On July 19, however, Nadal announced that he will miss out with a knee injury he had sustained in his second-round defeat at Wimbledon, the Olympics. The subsequent Masters tournaments in North America and the U.S. Open Nadal was out due to injury. In September, Nadal announced on his website that he caused could participate in at least two more months not have any competition because of his knee problems. He missed so the China Open, the Masters tournaments in Shanghai and Paris and the Davis Cup semi-final against the United States.

The end of November rose Nadal back into training and said his participation for the tournament in Abu Dhabi. However, a gastro- intestinal virus forced him on December 25, the cancellation and only three days later, he said from the Australian Open.

Return to the world top after seven months of injury (2013 )

On February 5, 2013 Nadal returned after 222 days injury lay back on the tennis court. When Sandplatztunier in Viña del Mar, he took both at the individual as well as the doubles tournament - in a double, he took up with Argentinian Juan Mónaco - part and each came into the final. In the Brasil Open in São Paulo Nadal won on February 17 the final against Argentina's David Nalbandian. It was eight months after the French Open in 2012, his first title win after the injury and his first in 2013.

Also in March was very successful. On March 2, he won the final in Acapulco against his compatriot David Ferrer 6-0, 6-2, without issuing a set in the whole tournament. Also during the subsequent Masters Tournament in Indian Wells Nadal reached the final. Previously, he had defeated in the quarter-finals Roger Federer in the semifinals and Tomáš Berdych. With 4:6, 6:3 and 6:4 in the final he defeated Juan Martín del Potro also and thus won his third title in Indian Wells. In the world rankings, then moved again to David Ferrer over fourth.

In Monte Carlo Nadal reached the ninth consecutive final in the principality, but was defeated after eight tournament victories in the series Serbia's Novak Djokovic with 2:6 and 6:7. As in the previous five tournaments in Barcelona Nadal reached the final. He defeated in the final Nicolás Almagro 6-4, 6-3 and celebrated his eighth tournament victory in Barcelona and already the fourth since his comeback in February. Two weeks later, Nadal won with a 6-2, 6-4 in the final of the Mutua Madrid Open in Stanislas Wawrinka against a total of 23 titles at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament. On the 24th title he celebrated once during the subsequent Masters in Rome. In the final he defeated Federer clearly 6-1 and 6-3; it was his 20th victory in 30 match against Federer.

On June 9, 2013 Nadal won for the eighth time the French Open by defeating Ferrer in three sets 6:2, 6:3 and 6:2. He made so a new record in the " Open Era " with his 8th Grand Slam title at the French Open he reached the most titles at a Grand Slam tournament.

At Wimbledon, Nadal was eliminated in the first round, he was defeated by in the world ranking 130 places behind him Belgians Steve Darcis conducted in three tight sets with 6:7, 6:7 and 4:6. It was the first first round defeat at a Grand Slam tournament in his career. Following succeeded Nadal became the first player since Andy Roddick in the 2003 season to win the Masters two hard court tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati within a week. So he built his hard-court record in the current season at 15-0 and climbed in the world rankings on position two. At the U.S. Open he reached the final with only one set loss. There, he defeated Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 and 6-1 and won so after 2010 the second U.S. Open title of his career and the second Grand Slam of the season.

In October 2013 Rafael Nadal moved to the injury-related task Tomáš Berdych in the semifinals of the tournament in Beijing to the final. With this victory, he secured the first time since July 2011, the world ranking leadership. In the final, he defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets.

Victory in Doha and finals at the Australian Open (2014)

Rafael Nadal made a good start in the new season. In his first start of the tournament in Doha, he reached the final, which he won in three sets against Gaël Monfils. At the Australian Open he also moved one to the final, where he met with Stanislas Wawrinka. This he had to date to defeat in all twelve encounters, but lost in this game with 3:6, 2:6, 6:3 and 3:6.

Play and special features

Nadal's preferred surface is the clay court, where he has gained the most success. For this reason he is also referred to often as a sand king (german king of clay ). Nadal Roger Federer is considered to be particularly strong nerves and has an exceptionally strong ability to anticipate. He forces his opponent to an offensive and risky game.

His playing style is characterized by a powerful and aggressive baseline tennis. Its advantages and backhands he plays with a very strong topspin, he achieved inter alia by means of an extreme forehand grip ( Western grip ) and a strong acceleration of the clubhead. Studies have shown that the ball is in Nadal's forehand strokes rotates at 3,000 to 4,000 revolutions per minute and reach players like Sampras, Agassi and Federer only about 2000 revolutions per minute. Also noteworthy is his extraordinary athleticism, especially his tremendous speed and agility, which allows him to run around even the most difficult balls on the backhand side and use his forehand more variable shock. His two-handed backhand is one of the toughest in professional tennis, Nadal said benefits that his hand in the game, although he is right-handed, which is left. This is due to his uncle and longtime trainer Toni Nadal, who was an early believes that his two-handed backhand benefit from it and open up the possibility of him would, on both sides to develop an extremely strong shock.

His surcharge counted at the beginning of his weaknesses, which is probably also the fact mentioned the left hand in the game was due as right-handed. Over the years he has worked hard to improve his technique, bringing its impact, has evolved from a mere means for the opening of the rally towards one of the best serves with a high percentage point gains with the first serve. Nadal relies not only on speed but on the skillful placing of the ball. His strategy is to play extreme angle as possible and to put his opponent under so much pressure.

Many times Nadal has been criticized for its ritualized movement sequence that takes up specifically before impact a relatively long time. Some opponents feel disturbed in their game rhythm. To his eternal rival Federer publicly criticized him for exceeding the time allowed between points ( 20 s at Grand Slam tournaments and 25 s on the ATP Tour ). His criticism was also committed to combating the referee that would not penalize failure to comply.

One of Nadal's unusual rituals on the tennis court is the use of two bottles of water, from which he drinks in every break and he always will realign with the label in the same direction. He himself describes his many rituals before and during a match is conducive to its concentration and the focus on the game or the individual moves.

Awards and Tributes

2003 ATP Newcomer of the Year
2005: ATP Most Improved Player of the Year
2005: European ATP Player of the Year
2005: Laureus World Sports Awards / Newcomer of the Year
2008: ITF World Champion
2008: ATP Player of the Year
2008: Europe's Sportsman of the Year ( UEPS ) / Federation of European sports journalists
2008, 2010: Europe's Sportsman of the Year (PAP ) / Polska Agencja Prasowa
2010: Spain's Sportsman of the Year
2010: Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award
2010: ITF Player of the Year
2010: International Champion of champions (L' Équipe )
2010: Spain's Sportsman of the Decade ( Marca )
2011: World Sportsman of the Year
2013: Honorary Citizen of Madrid
2014: Honorary doctorate from the University of the Balearic Islands

In June 2008, an asteroid was named after Nadal. The asteroid 2003 from Mallorca Planetarium discovered now bears the name Rafaelnadal 128036.

Other fields of activity

2008 and 2011 he was elected for two years in the ATP Player Council, where he held the position of Vice President in addition to the president Roger Federer. At the beginning of 2011, he was one of the main actors of a group of players who advocated for a smaller number of tournaments and higher prize money. He made also a stir when he doing the behavior Federer as chairman of the players' union (ATP Player Council) criticized and accused him not to stand behind the other players. In March 2012, he joined then - probably due to differences with Federer - from this post back.

In spring 2010, Rafael Nadal made a guest appearance in the music video Gypsy as love partners of the Colombian singer Shakira.

Early 2013 he founded together with his longtime manager Carlos Costa, his own sports marketing firm with which he henceforth represent athletes from various sports such as tennis, golf and football and also wants to organize events.

Current account

Tournament schedule 2014

Tournament Win

(*) Names of the tournament until 2008 Categories: ATP World Tour Masters 1000 = ATP Masters Series ATP World Tour 500 = International Series Gold ATP World Tour 250 = International Series

Current account at major tournaments

Legend: S = tournament victory; F = Finalist inferior; HF, VF, AF = excreted in half, quarter, knockout round; 3R, 2R, 1R = excreted in the 3rd, 2nd, 1st round; RR (Round Robin ) = eliminated in the group stage; B = Bronze Medal; KF ( Small Final ) = inferior in the match for third place; PO ( Playoff) = promotion and relegation round of the Davis Cup; K1, K2, K3, K4 = participation in the Continental Group I, II, III, IV in the Davis Cup.

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