Tennis Betting - Famous Players
Rafael Nadal
| Full name: Rafael Nadal Nickname:Rafa, Gladiator, The King of Clay, El Toro (The Bull) Date of Birth: June 3rd, 1986 ATP Current Ranking: 1st Nationality: Spaniard Residence: Manacor, Majorca, Spain Career Tiles: 32 Singles, 5 Doubles Career Prize Money: US$ 22,162,597 Game Style: Left-handed; two-handed backhand. Fast mobility on court. Great return. Profesional Career Titles: Grand Slams: 6 • French Open 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 • Wimbledon 2008 • Australian Open 2009 ATP Masters Series/ WT 1000: 15 • Monte Carlo 2005, '06, '07, '08, '09 • Rome, Italy 2005, '06, '07, '09 • Canada 2005, 2008 • Madrid, Spain 2005 • Indian Wells 2007, 2009 • Hamburg, Germany 2008 ATP World Tour 500: 8 • Acapulco, México 2005 • Barcelona, Spain 2005, '06, '07, '08 • Stuttgart, Germany 2005, 2007 • Dubiai, UAE 2006 ATP World Tour 250: 5 • Sopot. Poland 2004 • Costa do Sauípe, Brasil 2005 • Båstad, Sweden 2005 • Beijing, China 2005 • London/Queen's Club 2008 Olympic Games: 1 • Beijing, China 2008 - Gold Medal |
Nadal began playing tennis at age four with his uncle Toni, who is his long-time coach. In 2002 Rafa played his only junior Grand Slam event at Wimbledon and reached the semi-finals.
Rafael is the star of Spanish tennis with two Grand Slam titles to his name. The year 2006 was a record breaking year for Rafael Nadal as he captured 22 of his first 25 matches in the first 4 months of the year. He had 4 wins over the world No.1 Roger Federer in Dubai, ATP Master Series Monte-Carlo; a 5 hour long marathon victory at ATP Masters Rome and his best of the year which saw him beat Federer in the final of the French Open.
He also took the clay court winning total to 60 when he retained his French Open title in June 2006 . Nadal lost his 81 straight unbeatened victories to Roger Federer during the Hamburg Open in 2007.
Then in July 2006 Nadal surprised the tennis world by reaching the Wimbledon final at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Nadal made his game work on grass and cut an impress figure at The Championships succumbing Roger Federer in the final.
Rafa’s consistency through the rest of the year and the five titles he picked up throughout 2006 allowed him to qualify for the year end Masters Cup in Shanghai where he reached the semi finals, becoming the first player since Agassi in 1994-95 to finish season No. 2 in back-to-back years!
Accomplishments:
- From April 2005 to May 2007, Nadal conquered the record of 81 consecutive unbeaten matches on clay court.
- Rafa claimed his 17th title and his second Grand Slam trophy at the 2006 Roland Garros.
- Received the Laureus World Sports Award for Newcomer of the year in 2006.
- Rafa was named ATP most improved Player of the Year in 2005
- He was awarded the European ATP Player of The Year in 2005
- Rafa qualified for the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai in 2005, becoming the youngest player since Andrei Medvedev at the circuit finale.
- He claimed his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in Paris
- At 19 years, 1 month and 22 days, he has become the third teenager in history since 1973 to reach the No.2 position in the INDESIT ATP Entry Ranking
- His 2005 wins include one Grand Slam – French Open; four Masters Series titles - Monte Carlo, Monaco (clay), Rome, Italy (clay), Montreal, Canada (hard), Madrid , Spain (hard-indoor); and six ATP titles - Costa do Sauipe, Brazil; Acapulco, Mexico, Barcelona, Spain, Bastad, Sweden, Stuttgart, Germany and Beijing, China.
- He became the second youngest Master Series winner and the youngest winner in Monte Carlo since Mats Wilander in 1963.
- He became the youngest player in history of the Nasdaq-100 Open to reach the final in Miami.
- He now has 17 career titles
- He also became the youngest player in history to win the Davis Cup on his first try, helping Spain to victory in the final in Seville in 2005.