Rafael Nadal Parera

Born: June 3, 1986 in Manacor (Mallorca)
Height: 1.85 m
Plays: Left-handed (two-handed backhand)

September 11, 2001, popularly known as 9/11, is a memorable date for the Western world, especially the United States, due to a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives. Interestingly, it also marks a special moment in Nadal’s tennis career. On that day in Madrid, a 15-year-old boy with a fringe, then known as Nadal-Parera played his first professional match at the Futures level. Facing Guillermo Platel, a compatriot seven years his senior who never won a Challenger-level match, Nadal lost in dramatic fashion an opportunity to enter the ATP ranking: 6-2, 5-7, 2-6, squandering an astonishing number of 13 match points. It was a heart-breaking start for the promising youngster from the largest Balearic Island.
Earlier that year, Nadal’s talent had begun to draw attention. In May, during an exhibition in Mallorca, he stepped in for his mentor, Carlos Moyá, and defeated former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash, who had only retired a few years before. Despite this impressive feat, the loss to Platel reflected Nadal’s initial struggles with mental toughness. Over the next few years, his early career was marked by several missed opportunities. Already after his first 24 main-level events he had lost three matches wasting multiple match points, at one occasion he couldn’t have closed a set leading 5:1, succumbed three matches “0-3” losing two tie-breaks, and twice was defeated despite leading 5:2* in deciding third sets.
At age 18.2, Nadal claimed his first ATP title in a Polish seaside city of Sopot, though the competition wasn’t particularly fierce. Months earlier, he had shocked the tennis world by defeating Roger Federer 6-3, 6-3 in Key Biscayne, signalling his enormous potential. However, his inconsistency in clutch situations remained a concern. A turning point came during the Davis Cup ’04 final. Representing Spain against the United States, Nadal faced Andy Roddick in front of a record crowd of 27,200. Roddick, then a top player and tie-break ruler, had crushed Nadal earlier that year at the US Open. Yet Nadal rose to the occasion, winning in four long sets, with the pivotal third ‘tie-break’ set featuring 20 deuces in nine games. Moyá, who had mentored Nadal, remarked: “He’s the kind of guy who thrives in these kinds of matches. I really trust him.” This win elevated Nadal’s confidence and accelerated his development. Spain claimed the trophy for the second time in four years (for the first time in 2000 when 14-year-old Nadal was a flag bearer), and Nadal was a national hero even though he didn’t win a clincher. He would help Spain to win the Davis Cup a few more times, the most satisfied moment probably came in 2011 as he clinched the tie against Juan Martín del Potro after a rubber on super slow clay where the serve didn’t really mean anything.
In 2005, holding a black-yellow Babolat racquet, wearing sleeveless shirt Nike and excessively long shorts (he stuck to these two brands throughout his career), he won back-to-back titles for the first time (Costa do Sauípe, Acapulco) before losing the Miami final to Federer, despite being close to beat the best player in straight sets again! After that unfortunate final, Nadal began showcasing his dominance on clay, capturing titles in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome in quick succession. His Roman victory, following an epic battle against Guillermo Coria, cemented his status as the inevitable clay-court king. [ He went two years without a loss on this surface before Federer ended his 81-match winning streak in Hamburg ’07 ] By May 2005, he rose from world No. 51 to No. 5 within five months, becoming the first debutant to enter the French Open as a favorite. Living up to expectations, Nadal won Roland Garros without dropping two sets to any opponent, beating Federer in the semifinals turning 19, and drugged Mariano Puerta in the final two days later. It was clear that Nadal had emerged as Federer’s most formidable rival, surpassing other top players like Lleyton Hewitt, Marat Safin and Roddick. No other 18-year-old boy reached such a high level of play since the second half of 1980s, when Boris Becker, Michael Chang and Andre Agassi took advantage of rapid advances in tennis racquet technology. Nadal was undoubtedly a novelty, exhibiting lateral movement behind the baseline and passion to fight not seen before.
The teenager from Mallorca didn’t stop there. Later in 2005, he won two significant hard-court titles in Montreal (outdoors) and Madrid (indoors), defeating several top-20 players. The veteran Agassi, after losing to Nadal in the Canadian Open final, stated: “I’ve never seen anyone move like that on a tennis court.” Nadal’s unparalleled athleticism, anticipation, and ability to hit winners from seemingly impossible positions set him apart. While his style, based on rather soft serving, extreme forehand top-spins, relentless defence and high-energy rallies, led many to believe his career would peak early, Nadal had other plans… He was only 21 years-old when he became arguably the best Spaniard in the Open Era with another two Parisian titles obtained in the finals against Federer (2006 and 2007), surpassing the achievements of Manuel Orantes (the best Spanish player of the 1970s) and Sergi Bruguera (the best of the 1990s). His improved volleying and left-handed slice serve, honed through doubles matches, made him increasingly versatile. He was regularly defeating Federer on clay (Rome ’06 their most exiting match on this surface) but narrowly lost to the Swiss in two Wimbledon finals (2006 and 2007).
Nadal displayed incredible patience and determination, continuously refining all aspects of his game. Over the years, he enhanced his serve, the net game, with his backhand volley being one of the greatest shots in tennis history in my opinion. He adapted his game to faster surfaces, adjusting his court positioning (standing closer to the baseline compared to clay), and developing an effective backhand slice. These adjustments paid off spectacularly in the third consecutive Wimbledon final against Federer. In an almost five-hour epic under fading light, Nadal defeated the Swiss master, overcoming the failure of losing chances to close it out in the third and fourth sets. This victory marked Nadal’s ascent to the summit of the tennis world, and his dedication was soon reflected in the ATP rankings. After claiming the Gold Medal at the Beijing Olympics, Nadal became the world’s best player at 22 years old (ATP awarded ranking points for the Olympics during three editions: Athens ’04, Beijing ’08, and London ’12) what led to the decision to play in shirts with sleeves; his first Grand Slam title in a more classic outfit came at the 2009 Aussie Open (he would win his first US Open title a year later). With these triumphs he exceeded Manuel Santana, the previous greatest Spanish player who’d reigned supreme in the mid-1960s.
More or less at the time Nadal reached the pinnacle, two slightly younger players, Novak Đoković and Andy Murray, began staking their claim among the strict elite. The Spanish left-hander defeated each of them in super tight Bo3 encounters, winning fewer total points (Madrid ’09 and London ’10), establishing his mental edge. The year 2008 marked the birth of the so-called “Big 4” (or “Big 3” without Murray), a rivalry that dominated tennis for eight consecutive years – unprecedented in its consistency. In 2016, this era faced a sudden twist as Nadal and Federer suffered injuries, with the Spaniard dropping to No. 9 and Federer to No. 17. Many believed their reign was over, but both staged incredible comebacks in 2017, reclaiming the top of the sport, meanwhile, ironically Đoković and Murray faced their own struggles with exhaustion and injuries.
In the 2000s, the Federer-Nadal rivalry captivated tennis fans, with Nadal ultimately holding a 24-16 Head-to-Head advantage (despite losing six of their last seven encounters, including their emotional final meeting at Wimbledon ’19). However, the Nadal-Đoković rivalry eventually surpassed it in longevity and competitiveness, stretching across 18 years and three decades. Their competition for historic supremacy began as early as Miami 2007, where Đoković defeated Nadal 6-3, 6-4 avenging two quick defeats, and communicating his intent to disrupt the Federer-Nadal indisputable dominance predicted two years earlier. Ultimately, Đoković edged the Nadal rivalry 31-29 (there was 4:14!), thanks to their final encounter at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the Serb demolished his toughest rival 6-1, 6-4 (briefly losing focus and conceding four games in a row leading 4:0 in the second set).
Regardless of how their rivalry ended, Nadal’s legacy on clay remains unparalleled. His astounding 14 French Open titles are unlikely to ever be matched. Even as early as 2012, his seventh title was considered extraordinary, surpassing Björn Borg‘s seemingly untouchable six titles (1974-1981). Every additional triumph defied superlatives. Among these, Nadal’s penultimate French Open victory stands out, I believe. Held during the pandemic, the tournament was moved from May to October under cold, damp conditions that slowed the courts. These conditions theoretically worked against Nadal, who always preferred faster clay to maximize his spin-heavy game. Moreover, the absence of spectators created an unusual atmosphere for an animated player accustomed to roaring crowds on Philippe Chatrier. Yet Nadal overcame all obstacles, winning the title without dropping a set. Only the emerging star Jannik Sinner came close to stealing a set, something even the great Đoković couldn’t manage in the disappointing final.
Nadal’s ability to rise from setbacks is legendary. Beyond the injuries that hampered him in 2016, his career hit a significant roadblock in 2012 after a shocking loss to Lukáš Rosol at Wimbledon. Sidelined for seven months due to knee injury, Nadal faced skepticism when he lost to doubles specialist Horacio Zeballos in the Viña del Mar ’13 final. Critics predicted his decline, but Nadal silenced them by dominating the season later that year, winning four big hardcourt titles: Indian Wells, Montreal, Cincinnati, and the US Open.
However, Rosol’s upset at Wimbledon marked a turning point for Nadal’s performance at the most prestigious tournament. Between 2006 and 2011, he played five Wimbledon finals but failed to reach another final thereafter. While he came close in 2018 (losing a thriller in the semifinals), his early exits became more expected following the Rosol match. Between 2012 and 2017, Nadal did not reach even a quarterfinal at Wimbledon. However, in his last three appearances at the tournament (excluding 2020, which was cancelled, and 2021, when he withdrew), he made the semifinals each time; these runs ended against either all-time greats or due to injury. A key factor in this late-career resurgence was the influence of his coach, Moyá, who replaced Nadal’s uncle Toni Nadal in 2017. Under Moyá’s guidance, Nadal developed a more effective serve – critical for faster surfaces – and adjusted his playing style to account for his age, employing a more calculated approach. He became more eager to attack the net, and selective in expending energy, choosing when to push at full intensity and when to conserve it.
In his mid-20s, Nadal was renowned as the most reliable five-set player, boasting a 15-3 record in such matches (in addition to the previously mentioned defeats to Federer, he also lost to Hewitt in five). However, this perception shifted dramatically after his painful loss to Đoković in the unforgettable 2012 Australian Open conclusion – the longest final in history (partly as a result of both champions breaking the rules of maintaining the required pace between points) at nearly six hours. Nadal led 4:2 in the fifth set but ultimately lost, a defeat that left a psychological mark. After this match, his five-set record dropped significantly, with just 7 wins in his 17 following encounters of this type. Particularly concerning for his fans were back-to-back quarterfinal losses in Melbourne to Dominic Thiem (2020) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (2021). Both matches were gruelling four-hour battles in which Nadal lost all tight sets, raising doubts about his ability to perform at his best under the biggest pressure against much younger opponents.
Yet, he defied these doubts with a miraculous 2022 season. At ~36, just months after relying on crutches, the balding Nadal, but true to his headband since his first full ATP season (2003), returned to his peak form, winning two major titles. His Australian Open final against Daniil Medvedev will be particularly indelible; trailing two sets to ‘love’ and *2:3 (0/40), Nadal mounted an extraordinary comeback to win in five sets against ten years younger opponent. Later that year, he defeated Félix Auger-Aliassime – 14 years his junior – in a lopsided five-set battle at Roland Garros, featuring the subtext of facing a player advised by his own uncle, Toni… Nadal went on to claim his 14th French Open title, brutally dominating Casper Ruud in the final. By midyear, Nadal seemed poised to achieve the sport’s ultimate feat: winning all four majors in a calendar year.
However, his Wimbledon quarterfinal against Taylor Fritz marked the beginning of the end. Nadal entered the match with a stellar 35-3 season record but suffered an abdominal injury early in the second set. Ignoring his father’s advice to retire, Nadal pushed through in a display of sheer persistence – risking his shots more than usual – he overcame an ambitious but technically limited opponent in a marathon contest. The injury worsened, forcing him to withdraw from the highly anticipated semifinals against refractory Nick Kyrgios, who solidly tested Nadal in their three previous major encounters. [ Nadal was closer to win four Slams in a row in a non-calendar year at the Aussie Open ’11 when he sensationally lost to his compatriot David Ferrer in the quarterfinals ] The Fritz match effectively ended Nadal’s career at the top, as he struggled with injuries (left foot in particular) in the following months, experiencing a steady ranking decline in 2023. Between his shocking second round Australian Open ’23 exit (ousted by American journeyman Mackenzie McDonald) and his return in early 2024, Nadal did not play professionally, marking the longest hiatus of his career.
Nadal announced 2024 would be his final season, hoping to end his career on a high note. Unfortunately for him, low ranking caused exceptionally tough draws in his beloved Paris, French Open and the Olympics saw him departure early, losing to Alexander Zverev (1R) and Đoković (2R), respectively. His last realistic shot at glory came at the Davis Cup Finals in Málaga. However, Spain fell to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, with Nadal losing to an average Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp in spite of several months of preparation for this special occasion. Carlos Alcaraz, Nadal’s unquestionable heir, also struggled under the weight of expectation, failing to secure a crucial doubles victory.
On his retirement day, Nadal with tears in his eyes reflected with humility: “I’m just a good person from a small village in Mallorca. I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to spend these last days as a professional team player. My body has told me it doesn’t want to play tennis anymore, and I have to accept that. I am privileged. I have been able to make my hobbies my profession.”
The first decade of this Century (2000s) belonged to Federer, the 2010s to Đoković. If the tennis gods wanted to be fair, they should have given the legendary Spaniard the edge in Grand Slam titles over the other two greatest players, as he was their most challenging rival during their two separate decades of hegemony. But that did not happen. Even though Nadal surpassed Federer in major titles (22 to 20), he finished two behind Đoković, who also claimed the elusive Olympic gold medal in 2024, basically ending the discussion “¿Who’s the Goat?”. Despite his superiority over Đoković on clay (20-9 Head-to-Head, including 8-2 at the French Open… one five-setter), Nadal ultimately lost the race for the most majors, a reality that likely stings. Another blemish on his otherwise stellar legacy is the absence of a season-ending ATP Finals title (historically known as “Masters”). Nadal reached the finals in 2010 and 2013 but was outclassed both times by his most demanding rivals, simply better than him under the roof. His scheduling-packed with intense hard/clay-court events between March (Indian Wells) and June (French Open) – often left him physically depleted in the latter half of the season, contributing to six missed appearances at the “Masters” event as a Top 10 player.

Career record: 1080-228 [ 312 events ]
Career titles: 92
Highest ranking: 1
Best GS results:
Australian Open
(champion 2009 and 22; runner-up 2012, 14, 17, 19; semifinal 2008; quarterfinal 2007, 10-11, 15, 18, 20-21)
Roland Garros
(champion 2005-08; 10-14; 17-20 and 22; semifinal 2021; quarterfinal 2015)
Wimbledon
(champion 2008 and 10; runner-up 2006-07, 11; semifinal 2018-19 and 22)
US Open
(champion 2010, 13, 17 and 19; runner-up 2011; semifinal 2008-09, 18; quarterfinal 2006)
Davis Cup champion: 2004, 08 (didn’t play the final), 09, 11 and 19
Olympic Gold medallist (Beijing 2008 – singles, Rio 2016 – doubles)
Masters runner-up 2010 and 2013

Year-end rankings 2001-24: 811 – 200 – 49 – 51 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 4 – 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 – 1 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 6 – 2 – 670 – 154