Rafael Nadal Parera

Birth date: June 3, 1986

Place of Birth:

Spain, Manacor (Mallorca)

Plays: Left-handed

Titles won:
SINGLES CAREER TITLES (18):
Grand Slam (2):
Roland Garros 2005, 2006
Master Series (6):
Monte-Carlo 2005, 2006
Roma 2005, 2006
Montreal 2005
Madrid 2005
International Series (4):
Sopot 2004
Costa Do Sauipe 2005
Bastad 2005
Beijing 2005
International Series Gold (5):
Acapulco 2005
Barcelona 2005, 2006
Stuttgart 2005
Dubai 2006
Others (1):
Davis Cup 2004
DOUBLES CAREER TITLES (3):
International Series (3):
Umag 2003
Chennai 2004
Doha 2005

Career highlights:
2001- Reached 2nd RD at Seville Challenger at age 15.
2002- Won first ATP match at Mallorca (15 yrs., 10 mons.), defeating Ramon Delgado... Became ninth player in Open Era to win an ATP match before his 16th birthday... Played mostly Futures events and compiled an outstanding 37-3 match record, winning six titles in his native country... En route to winning four straight Futures titles, compiled a 20-match winning streak.
2003- Enjoyed a breakthrough season, finishing in Top 50 for first time after impressive results on both ATP and Challenger circuits. Compiled 19-5 match record in Challenger play in first three months of season, winning one title and reaching finals in three other tournaments... Missed Roland Garros after injuring elbow during practice. Returned to make Wimbledon debut and became youngest player at 17 to reach 3rd RD since 16-year-old Becker in 1984. Made US Open debut and reached 2nd RD (l. to El Aynaoui). In doubles, captured first career ATP title in Umag (w/Lopez Moron). Compiled 11-6 record on clay courts, 1-2 on hard, and 2-1 on grass.
2004- The young Spaniard broke through to win his first career ATP title and help lead his native country to Davis Cup final (vs. U.S.). In 1st RD Davis Cup tie vs. Czech Republic, won fifth and decisive rubber over Stepanek and later in year clinched SF victory by defeating France's Clement in fourth rubber. In between his Davis Cup heroics, played well by reaching QF in Dubai, 4th RD at NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami (d. No. 1 Federer) and QF in Estoril where he suffered a left ankle injury (stress fracture in ankle joint) on Apr. 15 in his three-set win over Gasquet. Returned almost three months later on July 6 in Bastad and advanced to QF (l. to Gaudio). Biggest week of season came in August in Sopot where he captured his first ATP title (d. Acasuso). Went 4-5 rest of year. In doubles, captured title in Chennai and reached SF at US Open. Also played in three Davis Cup doubles ties (w/Robredo) and went 1-2. Led ATP circuit with best first serve percentage (70 percent). Compiled a 13-3 record on clay, 14-10 on hard and 2-4 on carpet. Earned a career-high $447,758.

Greatest moments: -

Official Website: www.vamosrafael.com

Other interesting information: Full name is Rafael Nadal Parera... Nicknamed "Rafa" by his countrymen... Began playing tennis at age five with his uncle Toni... Comes from same area (Mallorca) as countryman Carlos Moya... The city of Manacor is second-biggest on island of Mallorca... Considers clay his favorite surface... His other uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, is a professional soccer player with stints at FC Barcelona, Real Mallorca and Spanish national team, which competed in 2002 World Cup... Often hits with Moya when two are in Mallorca... Reached Spanish Championships in July 2003 (l. to Lopez)... Has a 2-3 career Davis Cup record (1-1 in singles) in three ties.