Player Profile: Rafael Nadal

Category: Prodigy

Background:

Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player currently ranked No. 1 in the world. Nadal has won nine Grand Slam singles titles, the 2008 Olympic gold medal in singles, a record 18 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments and also was part of the Spain Davis Cup team that won the finals in 2004, 2008 and 2009. He completed the career Grand Slam by winning the 2010 US Open. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

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Early Career:

Nadal began playing tennis when he was three-years-old under the guidance of his uncle Toni Nadal. When He was eight-years-old he won his first 12-year regional championship. When he was 14, the Spanish tennis federation requested that he leave Mallorca and move to Barcelona to continue his tennis progression and training. Nadal's family turned down this request, partly because they feared it would hurt his education. However after this, at the age of 15, he defeated former Grand Slam Champion Pat Cash, this set him up for the years to come. 

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Professional Level:

Nadal has won a total of 9 grand slam titles, the 2008 Olympic gold medals, and 18 ATP World Tour Masters. He also has achieved the honor of being the youngest tennis playing male to achieve this. After about 8 years of playing he has only one consistent rival, Roger Federer, who is known by most people as the “one.” Nadal has upped the scale and beat Federer in many exhibitions matches, but has only beat 8 times in an open.

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Playing Style:

Playing style is the type of basics that a certain tennis player, advocates. Nadal is a left-handed player; this means that he has total control of the ball in the tennis court. Nadal, is known as a tiger, he is the most aggressive and athletic player. He is not the most graceful player in the world, however he is the most athletic. He serves as fast as he can play, and he can return serves no matter what the condition is. He is also the only known tennis player who developed a left-handed spin volley. What this means is that he can volley and spin with his left hand. 

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