Rafael “Rafa” Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player. He is thought of as the greatest clay-court player in history, and because of his success on the surface, he has been titled “The King of Clay”. Nadal’s unique style of play has established him as one of the greatest players in tennis history.
Rafa was born June 3, 1986 in Mallorca, Spain to Sebastián Nadal and Ana María Parera. When he was three years old, his uncle, Toni Nadal, a former professional tennis player, recognized he had a natural talent for tennis and introduced him to the sport. At age eight, Nadal won a twelve and under regional tennis championship and his uncle decided to intensify his training and he encouraged him to play left handed. At the time, he had been playing both soccer and tennis, but when his uncle intensified his training, Nadal’s father made him choose between soccer and tennis so he could have more time to focus on school. Nadal chose tennis and his tennis career began. …show more content…
Then when he was fourteen, the Spanish tennis federation requested that he leave Mallorca and move to Barcelona to continue his tennis training. His family turned down the request because they were afraid it would affect his education and also because his father believed that he didn’t need to travel to be a good athlete; he could do it from home. Nadal’s father was right and under the training of his uncle, Rafa turned pro when he was fifteen. At the age of seventeen he beat Roger Federer to become the youngest player to ever reach the third round of Wimbledon, which is one of the four grand slams. Then two years later he played in the French Open, another grand slam, for the first time and won the tournament. He won the same tournament every year for the next three years and at the end of his run, he was named ATP newcomer of the
Rafa was born June 3, 1986 in Mallorca, Spain to Sebastián Nadal and Ana María Parera. When he was three years old, his uncle, Toni Nadal, a former professional tennis player, recognized he had a natural talent for tennis and introduced him to the sport. At age eight, Nadal won a twelve and under regional tennis championship and his uncle decided to intensify his training and he encouraged him to play left handed. At the time, he had been playing both soccer and tennis, but when his uncle intensified his training, Nadal’s father made him choose between soccer and tennis so he could have more time to focus on school. Nadal chose tennis and his tennis career began. …show more content…
Then when he was fourteen, the Spanish tennis federation requested that he leave Mallorca and move to Barcelona to continue his tennis training. His family turned down the request because they were afraid it would affect his education and also because his father believed that he didn’t need to travel to be a good athlete; he could do it from home. Nadal’s father was right and under the training of his uncle, Rafa turned pro when he was fifteen. At the age of seventeen he beat Roger Federer to become the youngest player to ever reach the third round of Wimbledon, which is one of the four grand slams. Then two years later he played in the French Open, another grand slam, for the first time and won the tournament. He won the same tournament every year for the next three years and at the end of his run, he was named ATP newcomer of the