Born: June 3, 1986 in Manacor, Majorca
Turned professional: 2002
Grand slam titles: Five (French Open 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008; Wimbledon 2008)


Rafael Nadal


Tennis Journey:
  • Won his first ATP title in Sopot, Poland in August 2004, defeating Argentine Jose Acasuso in the final. Later that year beat Andy Rod**** to help Spain overcome the United States in the Davis Cup final.

  • Lost to Igor Andreev in the quarter-finals of the Valencia Open in April 2005 but from then on, he won a record 81 consecutive matches on clay before the streak came to an end in Hamburg in May 2007.

  • Became first man since Swede Mats Wilander in 1982 to win the French Open title on debut with a four-set victory over Argentine Mariano Puerta in June 2005.

  • A year later, won his second successive French Open title with victory over Federer in the final. Became the first Spanish man to reach the Wimbledon final (losing to Federer) since Manuel Santana won the title in 1966.

  • In 2007, won titles in Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome but was beaten by Federer in Hamburg as his two-year winning streak on clay came to an end.

  • Became the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win a hat-trick of French Open titles, taking his Roland Garros record to 21-0.

  • Becomes the first player since Borg (1978 to 1981) to claim four successive French Open titles, having won his 28 matches on the Paris clay since his debut in 2005.

  • In 2008 beats world number one and defending champion Roger Federer to win his first Wimbledon title.



Nadal with his first Wimbledon trophy