Rafa is the nick name of Rafael Nadal Parera, a young man who has the world of tennis wowed by his fast rise to success. After entering the professional tennis arena at the tender age of just 15 years he has enjoyed a magnificent run of wins. This short Rafael Nadal biography is a brief look at what he has achieved in the few years he has played this widely loved spectator sport.
Reaching the pinnacle of his success as the number two tennis player in the world seems to have come very easily to Rafael Nadal. His clay-court performance has seen sixty consecutive wins, which is a magnificent achievement.
Born in Manacor, Mallorca on June 3rd 1986, he has professional sports in his genetic make-up. His uncle was also only 15 years old when he started playing professional football. Miguel Angel Nadal played for F. C. Barcelona for many years.
What is interesting about Rafael Nadal is that like his uncle he was only 15 years of age when he won his first ATP match. This took place in Majorca and he won against Ramon Delgado. This feat made him the 9th player of the “Open” era to win in an ATP match before he was 16. Only a year later he was the 2nd youngest ranked singles player to feature in the top 100 tennis players in the world.
He debuted at Wimbledon aged 16 and made his way into the 3rd round. Since Boris Becker also did this, Rafa was the youngest player to reach the 3rd round at Wimbledon. By the year 2005, Rafael Nadal was ranked the world’s 5th best singles tennis player and this also made him a “youngest” record.
He is perhaps best known for being the winner of the French Open on four consecutive occasions. Pete Sampras won the US Open aged 19 and Rafa was the first teenager to achieve this again. He is also the arch opponent of Roger Federer, fourth youngest Roland Garros champion, as well as the 7th player in the history of the Grand Slam era to win one of these competitions on their first appearance.
Find more on biography of Rafael Nadal and Rafa Nadal.
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