Nationality: ESP (Spain)
Birthdate: June 03, 1986
Birthplace: Manacor, Mallorca
Residence: Manacor, Mallorca
Turned Pro: 2001
Plays: Left-handed
2007 Ranking: 2
Birthdate: June 03, 1986
Birthplace: Manacor, Mallorca
Residence: Manacor, Mallorca
Turned Pro: 2001
Plays: Left-handed
2007 Ranking: 2
- Full name is Rafael Nadal Parera
- Nicknamed “Rafa”
- Father, Sebastian, manages his own restaurant and glass and windows business; mother, Ana Maria, is a housewife; has one younger sister Maria Isabel
- Plays left-handed but writes right-handed
- Began playing tennis at age four with his uncle Toni, who is his long-time coach
- Used to play with two-handed forehand and backhand before his uncle made him change at age nine or 10 to a one-handed forehand
- Played his only junior Grand Slam event at Wimbledon in 2002 and reached SF
- Comes from same island (Mallorca) as countryman Carlos Moya (also a tennis player)
- The city of Manacor is second-biggest on island of Mallorca
- His other uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, is a former professional soccer player with stints at FC Barcelona, Real Mallorca and Spanish national team, which competed in 2002 World Cup. He also played on two other World Cup teams in 1994 and ’98
- Earned ATP Newcomer of Year in 2003 and ATP Most Improved Player of Year in 2005
Reached Spanish Championships in July 2003 (lost to Feliciano Lopez) - Has a 9-5 career Davis Cup record (7-1 in singles) in seven ties and member of winning team in 2004
- Coached by his uncle Toni Nadal.
- Has a girlfriend's name is Xisca Perell
