Australian Open - The life and times of Rafa Nadal

Eurosport - Sun, 01 Feb 18:03:00 2009

Factbox on Rafael Nadal, who won his first Australian Open title with a 7-5 3-6 7-6 3-6 6-2 victory over Roger Federer.

TENNIS 2009 Nadal - 0

MAKING HIS NAME

* Born in Manacor, Majorca, June 3, 1986. His uncle Miguel Angel Nadal enjoyed a long and successful career as a professional footballer, notably for Barcelona and Spain.

* Turned professional in 2001

SIX GRAND SLAM TITLES

* French Open 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008; Wimbledon 2008; Australian Open 2009

* Became first man since Swede Mats Wilander in 1982 to win the French Open title on debut with a four-set victory over Argentine Mariano Puerta in June 2005.

* A year later, won his second successive French Open title with victory over Federer in the final. Became the first Spanish man to reach the Wimbledon final (losing to Federer) since Manuel Santana won the title in 1966.

* In 2007, became first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win hat-trick of French Open titles.

* The following year matched Borg record of four successive French Open titles (1978 to 1981) to make it 28 wins from 28 at Roland Garros.

* Later in 2008 beat then world number one and defending champion Federer to win his first Wimbledon title. The final was described by some pundits as the greatest tennis match ever.

* In 2009, beat Federer in the final in Melbourne to become the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open in another classic five-set showdown.

OTHER MILESTONES

* Won his first ATP title in Sopot, Poland in August 2004. Later that year beat Andy Roddick to help Spain overcome the United States in Davis Cup final.

* Lost to Igor Andreev in the quarter-finals of the Valencia Open in April 2005 but from then on, won a record 81 consecutive matches on clay before the streak came to an end in Hamburg in May 2007 at the hands of Federer.

* Ended Federer's 4-1/2-year reign as world number one in August, 2008.

* Won gold medal in men's singles at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 16 of 16

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  1. do you know that rafa also has a picture on 89 porn sites?

    From r_barakat95, on Tue 24 Feb 10:44AM

  2. Great Rafa all the ebst for the year, be strong believe in yourself you can do it
    best of luck hope you win the 4in onje year
    a fan

    From cato899, on Wed 4 Feb 12:48AM

  3. Ah, now I understand why Wilander hates him so much.

    From guzman r, on Mon 2 Feb 7:10PM

  4. Great to watch such quick and crafty tennis from two men who don't just rely on slamming in ace after ace to win a match. Also good that they can play such an important match, and remain so courteous and sportsmanlike, both during and after the match. Federer is having a bad patch, but he'll be back. Nadal is magnificent, but he'll have his stumbles as well. Neither player is invincible, but watching their high-class tennis rivalry will make fascinating viewing, hopefully for many years to come.

    From Jan, on Mon 2 Feb 6:29PM

  5. Hopefully rafa can do the unthinkable...win the grandslam (all 4) in one calendar year! That would be something to watch for our generation.
    He sure has made tennis a much more interesting sport compared to just a few years back when only the BIG serve and volleyers could play. Hope to see a lot more years of this great tennis ace. Vamos Rafa!

    From mark_meu, on Mon 2 Feb 5:55PM

  6. For all we care, in not more than three years time Nadal may be ready to raise the stake higher than the current 14 that is being targeted by Federer. I see him winning at least two more this year (The French Open and one of Wimbledon/US Open). If Federer wins Wimbledon, which I see him winning to equal Sampras' record, then Nadal will strive to complete the haul of the Grand Slams by winning the US Open. This guy just likes to be challenged and given an obstacle to scale over. For now, I don't see anybody dethroning him at Roland Garros for the next 3 years. Once Federer is able to surpass Sampras record, I think he'll want to call it quit to avert further blow to his psyche by this man - Nadal.

    From yomia, on Mon 2 Feb 4:22PM

  7. He iz a LEGEND. Shows it on all surfaces. Federer should not have been the one being consoled by a younger person, where I come from he would have been made to feel ashamed for the rest of his life.

    From Wen, on Mon 2 Feb 3:59PM

  8. rafa is indeed a figter.u made me love tennis.no doubt u will reign long cos u are cool headed and focoused like glorious federer in his days.vamos rafa

    From igholaw, on Mon 2 Feb 12:15PM

  9. a legend in the making, only time will tell if he is the best ever but for me he has made the best possible start of those who are classed as the best ever. hopefully his body holds up under the immense strain he puts on it and destiny will be fulfilled. for his fans he already is the best ever it would be just so sweet if it was unanimous. long live the man child long live the king of tennis.

    From ralph, on Mon 2 Feb 7:30AM

  10. i dont often get lost for words but this boy is something special... he is the best at the momemt .. but i really belive that he will be the greatest tennis player.i can only say your are amazing...

    From Manuel, on Sun 1 Feb 11:55PM

  11. already as great as federer if not greater for the fact that he's won on all surfaces. Also the fact that he has a 13-6 winnin record over the 'greatest', surely actually makes nadal GREATER! i mean come on! If there was some1 around 3, 4 or 5 years ago that could play like nadal, federer would NOT be on 13 slams right now. For nadal to be winning these events with the likes of murray, djokovic and federer playin, players that are so ridiculously better than those playing a few years ago, is something special, and a greater feat than what federer achieved. But dont get me wrong, fed has been excellent, but it's about time rafa is put up there with the greatest of all time!

    From rickiegill10, on Sun 1 Feb 10:18PM

  12. A good start by Rafa. I only hope he'll be consistent as the year rolls by.

    Sam, Lagos, Nigeria

    From samuelmelifonwu, on Sun 1 Feb 9:01PM

  13. at 22!

    this already makes him a living legend....damn

    the question who is the best player ever....can only be answered when his career is done

    coz clearly if u say Roger.......then guyz will ask you how about the man who made him CRY

    From hosmakus, on Sun 1 Feb 8:24PM

  14. at 22!

    this already makes him a living legend....damn

    the question who is the best player ever....can only be answered when his career is done

    coz clearly if u say Roger.......then guyz will ask you how about the man who made him CRY

    From hosmakus, on Sun 1 Feb 8:23PM

  15. you forgot to mention that he was the first man since Borg to win both Wimbledon and Roland Garros in the same season

    From Bali, Maha, on Sun 1 Feb 7:22PM

  16. Not Bad, more to come...Forza Nadal...

    From First L, on Sun 1 Feb 6:36PM
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