Rafael Nadal facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

"Nadal" redirects here. For other people, see Nadal (surname).

Quick facts for kids
Rafael Nadal

Nadal in 2024

Full name

Rafael Nadal Parera

Country (sports)

Spain

Residence

Manacor, Mallorca, Spain

Born

3 June 1986 (age 39)
Manacor, Mallorca, Spain

Height

1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)

Turned pro

2001

Retired

19 November 2024

Plays

Left-handed (two-handed backhand)

Prize money

US $134,946,100

2nd all-time in earnings

Singles

Career record

1080–228 (82.6%)

Career titles

92 (5th in the Open Era)

Highest ranking

No. 1 (18 August 2008)

Grand Slam singles results

Australian Open

W (2009, 2022)

French Open

W (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022)

Wimbledon

W (2008, 2010)

US Open

W (2010, 2013, 2017, 2019)

Other tournaments

Tour Finals

F (2010, 2013)

Olympic Games

W (2008)

Doubles

Career record

142–77 (64.8%)

Career titles

Highest ranking

No. 26 (8 August 2005)

Grand Slam doubles results

Australian Open

3R (2004, 2005)

Wimbledon

2R (2005)

US Open

SF (2004)

Other doubles tournaments

Olympic Games

W (2016)

Team competitions

Davis Cup

W (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2019)

Signature

Medal record


Representing Spain
Olympic Games
Gold	2008 Beijing	Singles
Gold	2016 Rio de Janeiro	Doubles

Rafael Nadal Parera (born on June 3, 1986) is a Spanish former professional tennis player. He was ranked the world No. 1 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for 209 weeks. He also finished as the year-end No. 1 five times.

Nadal won 92 singles titles on the ATP Tour. This includes 22 major titles, like a record 14 French Open wins. He also won 36 Masters titles and an Olympic gold medal. Nadal is one of only three men to achieve the career Golden Slam in singles. This means winning all four major tournaments and an Olympic gold medal. His 81 wins in a row on clay courts are the longest streak in the Open Era.

For almost 20 years, Nadal was a top player in men's tennis. He played alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who are known as the Big Three. Early in his career, Nadal became one of the most successful teenagers in ATP Tour history. He reached world No. 2 and won 16 titles before he turned 20. This included his first Grand Slam title at the 2005 French Open.

Nadal became world No. 1 for the first time in 2008. He beat Federer in a famous Wimbledon final. This was his first major win away from clay courts. He then won an Olympic singles gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. By winning the 2010 US Open final, Nadal became the youngest man in the Open Era to achieve the Career Grand Slam at age 24. He was also the first man to win majors on three different surfaces in the same year.

Nadal won Grand Slam singles titles for 10 years in a row, from 2005 to 2014. He also had a four-year winning streak from 2017 to 2020. Nadal won 11 doubles titles, including an Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He broke the record for most Grand Slam men's singles titles at the 2022 Australian Open. He became one of only four men to complete the double career Grand Slam in singles. He finished his career with 22 Grand Slam singles titles. Nadal retired from the sport after playing for Spain in the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.

Nadal is a left-handed player. One of his biggest strengths was his forehand, which he hit with a lot of topspin. He was often among the best players at returning serves and winning break points. His game was especially good on clay courts. 63 of his 92 singles titles were won on clay. Nadal won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award five times. He was also the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year in 2011 and 2021. Time magazine named Nadal one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022. He won two Olympic gold medals for Spain and helped his country win five Davis Cup titles. Nadal also opened a tennis academy in Mallorca and helps many charities.

Early Life and Tennis Beginnings
Junior Career Highlights
Becoming a Professional Player
Rise to Stardom
Famous Rivalries
- Nadal vs. Federer
- Nadal vs. Djokovic
Nadal's Legacy
Player Profile
Off the Court
Personal Life
Career Statistics
Records
- All-Time Tournament Records
- Open Era Records
Professional Awards
Images for kids

Early Life and Tennis Beginnings

Rafael Nadal Parera was born on June 3, 1986, in Manacor, on the island of Mallorca, Spain. His father, Sebastián, is a businessman. His mother, Ana María, used to own a perfume shop. Nadal has a younger sister named María Isabel.

One of his uncles, Miguel Ángel Nadal, was a professional footballer. He played for famous teams like FC Barcelona. Another uncle, Toni Nadal, was a tennis coach. He introduced Rafael to tennis when he was just three years old.

Nadal started playing tennis at the Manacor Tennis Club. Toni worked there as a coach. Rafael loved football and often played it with friends. But he started playing tennis more often when he was five. Toni quickly saw that his nephew had a lot of talent and passion for the sport. Toni was a tough coach. He made Nadal pick up balls and sweep the courts. Nadal later said he sometimes cried after lessons.

At age eight, Nadal won an under-12 regional tennis championship. He was also a promising football player. This win made Toni train Nadal even more. Toni noticed Nadal used a two-handed forehand. He encouraged him to play left-handed. This gave Nadal a natural advantage in tennis. It was hard to change, but Toni helped him practice until he got used to it.

Junior Career Highlights

Nadal won the Spanish junior championships in 1997 and 1998. In 1998, at age 12, he reached the final of the U14 Spanish championship. This was a rare achievement. Later that year, Nadal won the U12 Junior Masters in Stuttgart. He beat future world No. 5 Kevin Anderson in the final.

In 1998, Nadal played outside Spain for the first time. He won the Open Super 12, a big U12 tournament. He beat Jamie Murray in the final. This win helped Nadal decide to focus on tennis. His father also told him to choose between football and tennis so his schoolwork wouldn't suffer. Nadal chose tennis.

In 1999, Nadal played on the U14 ETA Junior Tour. He won the Tim Essonne tournament. In 2000, Nadal was very successful on the U14 circuit. He won Les Petits As and the European Junior Masters. On his 14th birthday, he won the Sport Goofy Trophy. He also won the U14 Spanish championships. As part of the Spanish national team, Nadal won the 2000 ITF World Junior Championship for players under 14.

Nadal was offered a tennis scholarship in Barcelona. But his family decided he should stay home. His uncle Toni believed he could become a great athlete from home. Nadal practiced with former World No. 1 Carlos Moyá in Palma. Moyá later became Nadal's mentor.

Becoming a Professional Player

2001–2002: Starting Out

Nadal became a professional tennis player at the start of 2001, when he was 14. He reached the semi-finals of the junior singles event at Wimbledon. He also helped Spain win the Junior Davis Cup.

In May 2001, he beat former Grand Slam champion Pat Cash in a clay-court exhibition match. Nadal played his first professional main draw match in September 2001. He got his first professional win at a Challenger tournament in Seville. He beat Israel Matos Gil and earned his first ATP points. He finished 2001 ranked No. 811 in the world.

In 2002, Nadal, then ranked No. 762, played in an ATP event on his home island of Mallorca. He won his first ATP match by defeating No. 81 Ramón Delgado. This made him one of the youngest players to win an ATP match before age 16. He won six Futures events later that year. Nadal finished 2002 ranked No. 199.

2003: First ATP Title and Top 50

Nadal continued to improve in 2003. He reached several Challenger finals and won one in Barletta. He qualified for his second ATP event, the Monte Carlo Masters. There, he beat the 2002 French Open champion Albert Costa, who was ranked No. 7. This was his first win against a top-10 player. He then entered the world's top 100.

Nadal injured his elbow and missed the French Open. But he qualified for Wimbledon. In his first major main draw, he reached the third round. He was the youngest man to do so since Boris Becker in 1984.

At Umag, Nadal won his first ATP title (in doubles) with Álex López Morón. He then won another Challenger title in Segovia. This helped him enter the top 50. He also won the ATP Newcomer of the Year Award. Nadal finished 2003 ranked No. 49.

2004: Davis Cup Victory

Nadal won his second doubles title at the Chennai Open. He reached his first ATP singles final in Auckland but lost. At the Australian Open, he lost to former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt.

Nadal faced No. 1 Roger Federer for the first time at the Miami Open. Nadal won in straight sets. He then suffered a stress fracture in his left ankle. This injury made him miss three months of play, including the French Open and Wimbledon.

He won his first ATP singles title at the Prokom Open. In the 2004 Davis Cup final, 18-year-old Nadal beat world No. 2 Andy Roddick. This helped Spain win the title against the United States. He became the youngest player to win a singles match in a Davis Cup final for a winning nation. Nadal finished the year ranked No. 51.

Rise to Stardom

2005: First Major Title

Nadal at the 2009 Australian Open

Nadal started 2005 by winning a doubles title. At the 2005 Australian Open, he lost in the fourth round. Two months later, he reached the final of the 2005 Miami Masters, but lost to No. 1 Roger Federer.

He was amazing during the spring clay-court season. He won 24 singles matches in a row. He won the Torneo Conde de Godó in Barcelona. This put him in the top 10 for the first time. He then beat Guillermo Coria in the finals of the 2005 Monte Carlo Masters and the 2005 Italian Open. These wins made him world No. 5.

On his 19th birthday, Nadal beat Federer in the French Open semi-finals. He then defeated Mariano Puerta in the final. He became the second man to win the French Open on his first try. He was also the first male teenager to win a major singles title since Pete Sampras in 1990. His ranking went up to No. 3.

Nadal's 24-match winning streak ended on grass at Halle. He then lost in the second round of 2005 Wimbledon. After Wimbledon, Nadal won 16 matches in a row and three tournaments. He won his first hardcourt title at the Canada Masters, beating Andre Agassi in the final. This brought his ranking to No. 2, where he stayed for the next three years behind Roger Federer.

In September, he won the China Open. In October, he won his fourth Masters title of the year at the 2005 Madrid Masters. A foot injury stopped him from playing in the year-ending Tennis Masters Cup. Nadal won 11 titles that year, breaking a record for teenagers. He was named ATP Most Improved Player of the Year.

2006: Second French Open Title

Nadal missed the Australian Open due to a foot injury. In February, he beat Roger Federer in the final of the Dubai Open. This ended Federer's 56-match winning streak on hard courts.

Nadal with the Coupe des Mousquetaires after winning the French Open in 2006.

Nadal beat Federer again in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters. He also won the Barcelona final. He won the Italian Open by beating Federer in a long final. This match is seen as the start of their rivalry. Nadal then broke a 29-year record for consecutive clay-court wins by beating Robin Söderling at the French Open. He beat Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, which was their first meeting. Nadal won the final against Federer, becoming the first player to beat Federer in a major final.

At Wimbledon, Nadal reached his first final. Federer won the final and his fourth Wimbledon title in a row. Nadal finished the year ranked No. 2 for the second year in a row.

2007: Third French Open Title

At the Australian Open, Nadal lost in the quarterfinals. He won Indian Wells by beating Novak Djokovic in the final.

He won titles at Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome. He then lost to Roger Federer in the final of Hamburg. This defeat ended his amazing 81-match winning streak on clay, which is a male Open Era record. He quickly bounced back at the French Open. He didn't lose a set on his way to the final, where he beat Federer again. This made him one of only two men to win three French Open titles in a row.

Nadal was beaten by Federer in a five-set final at Wimbledon. This was Federer's first five-set match at Wimbledon since 2001. Nadal finished the year ranked No. 2 again.

2008: Two Majors, Olympic Gold, and World No. 1

Nadal reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time. He lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

At Monte Carlo, Nadal beat Federer in the final for the third year in a row. He became the first player to win four titles there in a row. He also won his fourth title in a row at Barcelona. Nadal won his first Masters Hamburg title, beating Federer again. He then won the French Open. He became the fifth man in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam without losing a set. He beat Federer in the final for the third year in a row, losing only four games. This was Nadal's fourth French title in a row, matching Björn Borg's record.

Nadal faced Federer in the final of Wimbledon for the third time. Nadal had won his first grass-court title at Queen's before Wimbledon. They played the longest final in Wimbledon history at 4 hours and 48 minutes. Nadal won the fifth set 9–7 in near-darkness. Many call this the greatest Wimbledon final ever.

By winning Wimbledon, Nadal became the third man in the Open Era to win both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year. He also ended Federer's streak of five Wimbledon titles in a row. Nadal then won his second Canada Masters title. At the Beijing Olympics, he beat Fernando González in the final to win a gold medal. With this win, Nadal became the world No. 1 on August 18, ending Federer's four-and-a-half-year reign.

At the US Open, Nadal was the top seed for the first time at a major. He lost in the semi-finals to Andy Murray. Nadal helped Spain win the Davis Cup semi-finals. He finished the year as No. 1, the first Spaniard to do so in the Open Era.

2009: Australian Open and Davis Cup Titles

At the Australian Open, Nadal won his first five matches without losing a set. He then beat Fernando Verdasco in a very long semi-final match. Nadal beat Federer in a five-set final. This was their first meeting in a hard-court major. Nadal won his first hard-court major singles title and was the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open.

Nadal won his 13th Masters tournament at Indian Wells. At Monte Carlo, Nadal beat Djokovic in the final. He won a record fifth singles title in a row there. He also won Barcelona and the Italian Open. In the semi-finals of the Madrid Open, Nadal saved three match points to beat Djokovic. This match was the longest three-set singles match on the ATP Tour at the time. Nadal lost the final to Roger Federer. This was Nadal's first loss on clay in 33 matches.

At the French Open, Nadal broke Björn Borg's record of 28 consecutive wins at the tournament. But his winning streak ended when he was upset by Robin Söderling in the fourth round. This was Nadal's first loss at the French Open. Nadal missed Wimbledon due to knee problems. He dropped to No. 2 behind Federer. In December, Nadal helped Spain win its fourth Davis Cup title.

2010: Majors on All Surfaces and Career Golden Slam

Nadal won Monte Carlo, his first title in 11 months. He became the first player in the Open Era to win the same tournament six years in a row. He then won the Italian Open and Madrid. He became the first man to win all three clay-court Masters 1000 titles. He also broke Andre Agassi's record for most Masters titles. He moved back to No. 2 in the rankings.

At the French Open, Nadal beat Söderling in the final to win his fifth French Open. He won the title without losing a set for the second time. Nadal regained the world No. 1 ranking from Federer.

At Wimbledon, Nadal beat Tomáš Berdych in the final to win his second Wimbledon title and eighth major title. At the US Open, Nadal reached his first final without losing a set. He then beat Novak Djokovic to complete his first Career Grand Slam. He also became the second male player after Andre Agassi to complete a Career Golden Slam. He was the first man to win majors on clay, grass, and hard courts in the same year. Nadal's victory also made him the year-end No. 1 ranking for 2010.

Nadal won the Japan Open. He won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for the first time. At the ATP Finals, Nadal reached the final but lost to Roger Federer. Nadal called 2010 his best year.

2011: Sixth French Open and Davis Cup

Nadal at the 2011 Australian Open.

At the Australian Open, Nadal lost in the quarterfinals due to a hamstring injury. He reached the finals at Indian Wells and Miami, losing to Novak Djokovic both times.

Nadal won Monte Carlo and his sixth Barcelona title. He then lost to Novak Djokovic in the finals of the Italian Open and Madrid Open. This ended his 37-match winning streak on clay. However, Nadal kept his No. 1 ranking and won his sixth French Open title by defeating Roger Federer.

At Wimbledon, Nadal faced Novak Djokovic in the final. Djokovic won, and he replaced Nadal as the world No. 1. This was Nadal's first loss at Wimbledon since the 2007 final. In the Davis Cup final in December, he helped Spain win the title.

2012: Seventh French Open Title

At the Australian Open, Nadal won his semi-final against Roger Federer. He then faced Novak Djokovic in the final. He lost in a five-set match that lasted almost six hours. It was the longest Grand Slam final ever. Nadal called it "one of the toughest moments in my career."

At Monte Carlo, Nadal won the title without losing a set. He became the first man in the Open Era to win the same tournament eight times in a row. He beat No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the final. Nadal then won his seventh title in eight years at Barcelona. He beat Djokovic in a close final at the Italian Open.

At the French Open, Nadal won his semi-final against Ferrer. He then faced Novak Djokovic in the final again. Nadal won in four sets. He became the most successful male player at the French Open with seven titles, passing Björn Borg.

At Wimbledon, Nadal was upset in the second round by Lukáš Rosol. This was his earliest Grand Slam exit since 2005. Nadal ended his season early due to knee problems. He finished 2012 ranked No. 4.

2013: Two Majors and Return to No. 1

Nadal serving at the Indian Wells Open in 2013.

Nadal missed the Australian Open due to a stomach virus. He dropped out of the ATP Top 4 for the first time since 2005. He returned in Chile and won the Brasil Open and Acapulco.

At Indian Wells, he won the title, beating Roger Federer, Tomáš Berdych, and Juan Martín del Potro. He then won his eighth title at Barcelona. Nadal won Madrid and his seventh title at the Italian Open. These wins raised his ranking to No. 4.

Nadal won the French Open. He beat Novak Djokovic in the semi-final and David Ferrer in the final. He broke the record for most match wins in the tournament with his 59th victory. Nadal became the first man to win any major eight times. His semi-final against Djokovic was a classic five-set match. However, Nadal then lost his first-round match at Wimbledon. This was his first loss in the first round of a major.

In August, Nadal won the Montreal and his 26th Masters title in Cincinnati. He won his fourth hard court title of the year at the US Open. He beat Djokovic in the final to achieve the "Summer Slam." This meant he won three big tournaments in a row. He became only the third player to do this. This win also gave him the most prize money ever earned by a male tennis player at one tournament.

In October, he reached the final of the China Open and regained the No. 1 ranking. In November, at the ATP Finals, he secured the year-end No. 1 ranking.

2014: Ninth French Open Title and Injuries

At the Qatar Open, Nadal won the title. At the Australian Open, he reached his third final but lost to Stanislas Wawrinka due to a back injury. He won the Rio Open. He reached the final of the Miami Masters, losing to Novak Djokovic.

Nadal won his 27th Masters title at Madrid. Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic in the French Open final to win his ninth French Open title and fifth in a row. Nadal tied Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam wins. At the Wimbledon Championships, he was upset by teenager Nick Kyrgios. Nadal then missed the American tournaments due to a wrist injury. He ended his season early for appendix surgery.

2015: Challenges and Ranking Drop

At the Australian Open, Nadal lost in the quarterfinals. He won his 46th clay-court title at the Argentina Open. He lost in the final of Madrid to Andy Murray. This caused him to drop out of the top five for the first time since 2005.

Nadal lost to Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the French Open. This ended his streak of 39 wins in Paris. Nadal then won the 2015 Mercedes Cup, his first grass court title since 2010. He lost in the second round of Wimbledon. In the third round of the 2015 US Open, Nadal lost despite being two sets up. This was the first year since 2004 that Nadal did not reach a Grand Slam quarter-final.

2016: Olympic Doubles Gold

Nadal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Nadal lost to Djokovic in the final in Doha. At the Australian Open, Nadal lost in the first round. In April, he won his 28th Masters title in Monte Carlo. He won his ninth title in Barcelona.

At the French Open, Nadal had to withdraw due to a left wrist injury. This injury also forced him to miss Wimbledon. At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Nadal won his 800th career match. Partnering Marc López, he won the gold medal in men's doubles. This made Nadal the second man in the Open Era to win gold medals in both singles and doubles. Nadal lost the bronze medal match in singles. At the US Open, Nadal lost in the fourth round. This was the first year since 2004 that Nadal failed to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final.

2017: La Décima, Third US Open, and Year-End No. 1

At the Australian Open, Nadal reached his first Grand Slam final since 2014. He lost to Roger Federer in five sets. Nadal then won his 29th Masters title in Monte Carlo. This was his tenth title there, a record for any player at a single tournament in the Open Era. Nadal won Barcelona for the tenth time. At Madrid, he beat Dominic Thiem to tie Novak Djokovic's record of 30 Masters titles.

Nadal beat Stan Wawrinka to win a record tenth French Open title. This was his first Grand Slam title since 2014. Nadal won every set in the tournament, losing only 35 games in seven matches. This was the second-fewest games lost by any male player winning a major in the Open Era. This achievement was called "La Décima" (the tenth). Nadal also moved to second on the all-time major singles titles list with 15.

Nadal lost in the fourth round at Wimbledon. In August, he became the ATP No. 1 again. Nadal won his third US Open title, beating Kevin Anderson in the final. This was the first time Nadal won two Grand Slams in a year since 2013. Nadal also won the China Open. In September 2017, Nadal and Garbiñe Muguruza made Spain the first country in 14 years to have both the men's and women's No. 1 players at the same time.

Nadal secured the year-end No. 1 ranking after the Paris Masters. He became year-end No. 1 for the fourth time in his career.

2018: 11th French Open and Monte Carlo Titles

Nadal serving at the 2018 US Open.

At the Australian Open, Nadal retired in his quarterfinal match due to a hip injury. He regained the No. 1 ranking in April. Nadal won his 11th Monte Carlo title without losing a set. He won his 11th title in Barcelona. He became the first player in the Open Era to win 400 matches on both clay and hard courts.

At Madrid, he broke John McEnroe's record of 49 straight sets won on a single surface. Nadal lost in the quarterfinals, ending his 21-match and 50-set winning streaks on clay. Federer then became world No. 1 again. At Rome, Nadal won his eighth title and regained the No. 1 spot.

At the French Open, Nadal won his 17th Grand Slam title. He tied Margaret Court's record for singles titles at a Grand Slam event. Nadal lost only one set at the event, beating Dominic Thiem in the final. At Wimbledon, Nadal reached the semi-finals. He faced Novak Djokovic in a very long match that lasted over five hours. Djokovic won.

He won the Rogers Cup, his 33rd Masters title. At US Open, Nadal retired in his semi-final match due to knee pain. He withdrew from the Paris Masters due to an abdominal injury. Novak Djokovic then became world No. 1.

2019: Fourth French-US Title Double and Year-End No. 1

Nadal at the 2019 ATP Finals in London.

At the Australian Open, Nadal reached his fifth final without losing a set. He lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets. He then had a hip injury.

He won his first tournament of the year at Rome, beating Djokovic in the final. At the French Open, Nadal beat Roger Federer on his way to the final. He won against Thiem to claim his record-extending twelfth French Open title. He broke Margaret Court's record for singles titles won at the same major.

At Wimbledon, he reached the semi-finals, where he lost to Federer. At the Rogers Cup, he beat Fabio Fognini to pass Roger Federer's record of 378 Masters tournament victories. He won the final against Daniil Medvedev. At the US Open, Nadal lost only one set on his way to the final. He beat Medvedev in five sets to win his fourth US Open title and 19th major title.

At the ATP Finals, Nadal won two matches but did not reach the semi-finals. Nadal secured the year-end No. 1 ranking when Djokovic was also eliminated. This was Nadal's fifth time as the year-end No. 1 player. He became the oldest person to finish as the year-end No. 1. At the 2019 Davis Cup Finals, Nadal helped Spain win its sixth Davis Cup title.

2020: 13th French Open Title

At the ATP Cup, Nadal helped Spain reach the final but lost to Serbia. At the Australian Open, Nadal lost in the quarterfinals to Dominic Thiem. Nadal won his third Mexican Open title.

Nadal won his 13th French Open, beating Novak Djokovic in the final. He won his 20th Grand Slam title, matching Roger Federer's record. This was also his 100th win at the tournament. It was the fourth time he won a Grand Slam without losing a set.

At the Paris Masters, Nadal won his 1,000th victory on the ATP Tour. He became the fourth man in the Open Era to reach this milestone. He lost in the semi-finals. Nadal reached his 790th week in a row as a top-ten player, breaking Jimmy Connors' record. At the ATP Finals, Nadal reached the semi-finals but lost to Daniil Medvedev.

2021: Barcelona and Italian Open Titles, Injury

At the Australian Open, Nadal lost in the quarterfinals to Stefanos Tsitsipas, despite being two sets up. Nadal won a record-extending twelfth Barcelona Open trophy. He saved a championship point in the final. He won a record-extending tenth Italian Open title, beating Novak Djokovic in the final.

At the French Open, he lost in the semi-finals to Novak Djokovic. This was only his third loss ever at the French Open. Nadal ended his 2021 season early due to a left foot injury. His ranking fell to No. 6.

2022: 21st and 22nd Majors, Double Career Grand Slam

In January, Nadal won Melbourne Summer Set 1. He won his second Australian Open title, his 21st major title. He beat Daniil Medvedev in a five-set final, coming back from two sets down. With this win, Nadal passed Djokovic and Federer for the most men's singles major titles. He also became the second man in the Open Era to complete the double Career Grand Slam.

At the Mexican Open, Nadal won the title without losing a set. He extended his winning streak to 15 matches, his best start to a season. At Indian Wells, Nadal reached his fourth final of the year. He had a rib injury and lost in the final.

At the French Open, Nadal recorded his 106th win, becoming the player with the most wins at a single major. He beat Felix Auger Aliassime in a tough five-set match. Nadal met Djokovic for the 59th time in the quarterfinals and won. In the final, he defeated Casper Ruud to win his 14th French Open title and 22nd major title. He became the oldest French Open champion ever.

After treating his foot injury, Nadal returned to Wimbledon. He beat Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinal but had to withdraw due to an abdominal injury. Nadal lost in the fourth round of the US Open. At the Laver Cup, Nadal played doubles with Roger Federer in Roger's final professional match. Nadal finished the year ranked No. 2, becoming the oldest year-end top-2 player in ATP history.

2023–2024: Injuries and Retirement

Nadal lost in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open due to a hip injury. He did not play on tour for the rest of 2023. As a result, he left the Top 10 for the first time since April 2005. This ended his record of 912 consecutive weeks in the Top 10.

Nadal began his 2024 season at the 2024 Brisbane International. He sustained a muscle injury that forced him to miss the Australian Open. He lost in the second round of the Barcelona Open. Nadal reached the fourth round at the Madrid Open. He lost in the first round of the French Open to Alexander Zverev. This brought his final French Open record to 112 wins and 4 losses.

At the 2024 Swedish Open in July, he reached his last career ATP Tour final. He lost to Nuno Borges. Nadal then competed in the Summer Olympics. He was a torch bearer during the opening ceremony. In singles, he lost to Novak Djokovic in their 60th professional meeting. In doubles with Carlos Alcaraz, he reached the quarterfinals.

On October 10, 2024, Nadal announced he would retire after playing for Spain in the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in November. At the Davis Cup Finals, Nadal played his last professional match. After the match, a video was played with highlights and messages from other tennis stars and athletes.

Famous Rivalries

Rafael Nadal had major rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. These rivalries are considered some of the greatest in sports history.

Nadal vs. Federer

Roger Federer and Nadal played each other from 2004 to 2019. They were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 for over four years straight. They are the only pair of men to finish six years in a row in the top 2 rankings.

Nadal and Federer played 40 times. Nadal won 24 matches and Federer won 16. Nadal led in Grand Slam matches (10–4). Nadal was better on clay courts (14–2) and outdoor hard courts (8–6). Federer was better on indoor hard courts (5–1) and grass (3–1).

They played in 24 tournament finals, including nine major finals. From 2006 to 2008, they played in every French Open and Wimbledon final. Nadal won six of these nine finals. Four of their matches went to five sets. The 2008 Wimbledon final is often called the greatest match ever. Nadal was the only player to beat Federer in a major final on all three surfaces: grass, hard court, and clay.

Nadal vs. Djokovic

Novak Djokovic and Nadal met 60 times, more than any other pair in the Open Era. Nadal led 11–7 in Grand Slam events, but Djokovic led 31–29 overall. They played a record 18 Grand Slam matches and nine Grand Slam finals. Nadal led on clay (20–9). Djokovic led on hard courts (20–7). They were tied 2–2 on grass.

In their first Grand Slam final at the 2010 US Open, Nadal beat Djokovic to achieve the career Grand Slam. From 2011 to 2012, they played in four major finals in a row. Djokovic won the first three. The 2012 Australian Open final was the longest Grand Slam final ever, lasting almost six hours. It is still the longest match for both players.

Many of their matches are considered among the greatest in tennis history.

Nadal's Legacy

Rafael Nadal singles-ranking history chart through January 2020

Singles-Ranking-Composite-History-Chart-RogerFederer+RafaelNadal+NovakDjokovic

Singles ranking composite history chart through January 2020 (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic)

Nadal won the second-most major men's singles titles (22) in tennis history. He also won the second-most "Big" titles (59) since 1990. He was in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings for 912 weeks in a row. This is a record.

He is the only player in the Open Era with the most clay court titles (63). This includes a record 14 French Open titles, 12 Barcelona Open titles, 11 Monte-Carlo Masters titles, and 10 Italian Open titles. His 14 French Open titles are a record at any single tournament. He holds Open Era records for the longest winning streak on one surface (81 matches on clay) and in sets (50 on clay). Nadal is known as the "King of Clay" because of his amazing dominance on clay courts. Many people think he is the greatest clay-court player ever.

Nadal is one of three men to win the Olympic gold medal and all four majors in singles. This is called a Career Golden Slam. He is the only male player to complete the Career Grand Slam and win an Olympic gold medal in both singles and doubles. He is one of four men to complete the double Career Grand Slam in singles.

Nadal won many awards. He was the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year in 2011 and 2021. He also won the BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year: 2010. He received many honors from Spain. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022.

Former world No. 1 Thomas Muster said, "Rafael Nadal is the best clay-court player ever." Roger Federer said, "I have always had the utmost respect for my friend Rafa as a person and as a champion. I believe we have pushed each other to become better players."

Nadal played a big part in making tennis popular again. This period is called the Golden Age of tennis.

Player Profile

Playing Style

Nadal hitting a forehand.

Nadal usually played an aggressive game from behind the baseline. He used powerful groundstrokes with a lot of topspin. He was very consistent and covered the court well. He was known for his athleticism and speed. Nadal was an excellent defender. He could hit winning shots from difficult positions. He also used very good dropshots. These worked well because his heavy topspin often pushed opponents far back in the court.

Nadal used a special forehand grip. He often finished his swing above his left shoulder. This allowed him to hit shots with more topspin than other players. His shots often landed shorter than the baseline. But the high bounces from his topspin made it hard for opponents to attack them.

Nadal's serve was once seen as a weak point. But he improved it over time. He changed his serving motion before the 2010 US Open. He increased his average speed by about 10 mph. This helped him win more easy points. From 2019 onwards, many experts praised his improved serve.

Nadal was a master on clay courts. But he was also very successful on hard courts. However, Nadal said that playing a lot on hard courts is tiring for players. He often asked for a tennis schedule with fewer hard court tournaments.

Early in his career, some people worried about how long he could play. They thought his strong style might cause injuries. But he showed great strength in coming back from injuries. He was able to play even with physical pain.

Attitude and Behavior

Nadal was known for being humble and down-to-earth. His uncle Toni made sure he stayed that way. Nadal rarely talked about his achievements. He was always respectful of his rivals. He often stayed after matches to sign autographs for fans.

Nadal loved to compete, whether he won or lost. He had a unique way of looking at tennis and life. One writer called him a "model of humility, empathy, and perspective."

Nadal was famous for his on-court rituals. He had specific movements and ways of placing his water bottles. He always waited for his opponent to cross the net. He avoided stepping on the lines. He lined up his drink bottles perfectly, with labels facing out. He said these rituals helped him stay calm in stressful situations.

Before serving, he usually picked three balls, looked at them, and put one back. He would then brush his hair out of his eyes before serving. Some players criticized him for taking too long between points. But Nadal explained his rituals were important for his focus.

Coaching and Team

Nadal's first and most important coach was his uncle Toni Nadal. Toni coached him from age 4 to 31. Toni was a tough coach. He wanted Nadal to develop a strong, all-around game. He also helped Nadal improve his forehand.

When Nadal was 12, he started training at the Balearic Islands training center. He trained there three times a week with his uncle. He also trained with Toni Colom, who traveled with Nadal to many early tournaments. After 2005, Nadal created his own team.

Nadal worked with the same team from 2006 to 2017. This included family members and professional staff. Dr. Ángel Ruiz Cotorro, a doctor, helped him with injuries. Joan Forcades was his fitness expert.

In December 2016, Nadal hired Carlos Moyá as a new coach. Under Moyá, Nadal improved his serve and sometimes used a serve-and-volley tactic. Moyá was also a friend to Nadal.

Off the Court

Homages and Tributes

In April 2017, the main court at the Barcelona Open was named Pista Rafa Nadal. In 2021, the French Open put up a 3-meter tall steel statue of Nadal at Stade Roland Garros.

A main belt asteroid discovered in 2003 was named 128036 Rafaelnadal after him. Nadal was chosen as Spain's flag bearer at the London and Rio Olympic Games. He carried the flag at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Games.

Helping Others

In November 2007, Nadal started the nonprofit Fundación Rafa Nadal. This foundation helps children and teenagers who are not as lucky. It gives them chances through sports. His wife, Maria Perelló, is the director of the foundation.

Nadal has played in many charity events. He helped raise money for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. He also played in the Match for Africa with Roger Federer to raise money for their foundations.

His foundation and academy often help people in Spain. During the Majorca flood in October 2018, Nadal opened his tennis academy to victims. He also helped clean up and donated €1 million to rebuild the affected town.

To help with the COVID-19 pandemic, Nadal and Pau Gasol helped raise 11 million euros for the Red Cross. In 2020, his foundation helped collect food for people in Mallorca. In 2024, the Fundación Rafa Nadal won the Laureus Sport for Good Award. Nadal also supports other charities. He won the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award in 2011.

Sponsors and Businesses

Nadal wearing his signature Nike sleeveless shirt at the French Open in 2007, while holding his Babolat racquet

Nadal was sponsored by Kia Motors since 2006. He was a global ambassador for the company. He was also the face of Lanvin's L'Homme Sport cologne. He worked with luxury watchmaker Richard Mille to create a special lightweight watch.

Nadal was the face of Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans in 2011. In 2012, he became a brand ambassador for PokerStars. He won a charity poker tournament against Brazilian football player Ronaldo in 2014. In 2023, Nadal became a brand ambassador for the Indian IT company Infosys.

Rafa Nadal Sports Centre

Nadal owns and trains at the Rafa Nadal Sports Centre in his hometown of Manacor, Mallorca. The center has the Rafa Nadal Academy. Young tennis players from Spain and other countries train there. Nadal's uncle Toni Nadal is the head of the academy.

A four-episode series about the Rafa Nadal Academy was shown on Amazon Prime. Nadal also has other Rafa Nadal Academy/Centre facilities in Kuwait, Mexico, and Greece. In 2024, Nadal will help promote tennis in Saudi Arabia and open an academy there.

Football and Other Sports

Nadal is a big football fan. His favorite clubs are RCD Mallorca and Real Madrid CF. He supports the Spanish national team. He was allowed into the team's locker room after Spain won the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final. Nadal has done many honorary kick-offs for teams.

In 2010, he became a shareholder of RCD Mallorca. He owned 10% of the club. Nadal also enjoys playing golf and poker.

Personal Life

Family

In 2009, Nadal's parents separated. Nadal later said this was a difficult time for him. He said, "My parents' divorce made an important change in my life. It affected me. After that, I couldn't play Wimbledon, it was tough."

Nadal met his wife, María Francisca (Mery) Perelló Pascual, through his younger sister. They started dating in 2005 and got engaged in 2019. In October 2019, they were married in Mallorca. On October 8, 2022, they had a son named Rafael. Mery Perelló is now the director of the Fundación Rafa Nadal.

Nadal was raised Catholic but now identifies as an agnostic atheist. His native languages are Spanish and Balearic Catalan. He also speaks English.

Home and Hobbies

Nadal bought a house in Porto Cristo, Mallorca, in 2012. He also bought a vacation home in the Dominican Republic.

As a child, he loved watching the Japanese anime Dragon Ball. CNN once called him "the Dragon Ball of tennis." Off the court, his sister said he was "a bit of a scaredy cat." He has a fear of the dark and prefers to sleep with a light on. Nadal is also afraid of deep water, dogs, and thunderstorms. He is nervous about riding a bicycle. Even though he plays tennis left-handed, Nadal is right-handed for most other activities.

Health Challenges

Throughout his career, Nadal had ongoing knee injuries. These injuries made him miss many tournaments. In late 2012, he received special physical therapy.

Nadal has a rare chronic disorder in his left ankle called Mueller-Weiss syndrome. He was diagnosed with it at age 19. He received special injections to help him play and win the 2022 French Open.

Career Statistics

Grand Slam Tournament Performance

Tournament	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	SR	W–L	Win %
Australian Open	A	3R	4R	A	QF	SF	W	QF	QF	F	A	F	QF	1R	F	QF	F	QF	QF	W	2R	A	2 / 18	77–16	83%
French Open	A	A	W	W	W	W	4R	W	W	W	W	W	QF	3R	W	W	W	W	SF	W	A	1R	14 / 19	112–4	97%
Wimbledon	3R	A	2R	F	F	W	A	W	F	2R	1R	4R	2R	A	4R	SF	SF	NH	A	SF	A	A	2 / 15	58–12	83%
US Open	2R	2R	3R	QF	4R	SF	SF	W	F	A	W	A	3R	4R	W	SF	W	A	A	4R	A	A	4 / 16	67–12	85%
Win–loss	3–2	3–2	13–3	17–2	20–3	24–2	15–2	25–1	23–3	14–2	14–1	16–2	11–4	5–2	23–2	21–3	24–2	11–1	9–2	22–1	1–1	0–1	22 / 68	314–44	88%

Rafael Nadal career statistics

Year–End Championships Performance

Tournament	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	SR	W–L	Win %
ATP Finals	Did not qualify				A	SF	SF	A	RR	F	RR	A	F	A	SF	A	RR	A	RR	SF	DNQ	RR	Did not qualify		0 / 11	21–18	54%