Rafael Nadal
If there is one tennis player that will inspire many by his
professionalism and commitment to achieve in his career, it is Rafael
Nadal. He is a professional tennis player who has taken the tennis world
by storm, leaving many still not yet certain they are not dreaming.
Rafael Nadal has risen to number two in the world with breathe taking
wins on clay-courts, for consecutive 60 strikes, over the past five
years.
Rafael Nadal was born in the year 1986 on 3rd June in Manacor in
Mallorca. His parents were Sebastian and Ana Maria. His sporting
background started early with his uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, being a
former Barcelona F.C footballer. Between the years 1986 and 2001, Rafael
Nadal rose to professional tennis player with one of his strong points
being brilliant left hand play in spite of him being born a right
handed.
Since Rafael Nadal rise in 2001, his professionalism has been
progressing since then. In the year 2002, being only 15 years of age,
Rafael Nadal won his first ATP match against Ramon Delgado thereby
becoming the 9th player of Opera Era to win the match before hitting 16
years. His breaking of records continued where in the year 2003, one
year after his latter record break, he became the second youngest tennis
player to get ranked in the 100 top single players and earned the ATP
Newcomer of the year.
At the age of 16, Rafael Nadal became one of the youngest tennis players
to reach the third round in Spanish championship. This was second to
Boris Becker who had reached this stage in 1984 being only 16 years of
age. Rafael Nadal attained this in the July of 2003. He however lost to
Lopez.
Rafael Nadal improved through the years. Sharpening his skills and
taking his losses as his motivators and by 2005, he was ranked number 5.
He was the second youngest tennis player to be ranked in the top ten
after Andrei Medvedev who had the position in 1993. he won two tiles in
this seasons of ATP Masters Series held in Monte Carlo and another in
Rome. He was able to swimmingly win the two with streaks of 25
consecutive matches.
Other than his being among the youngest tennis player to achieve many
levels, Rafael Nadal became the 4th youngest to achieve in Roland Garros
champion held by Opera Era where he defeated Mariano Puerta of Argentina
in the finals. He was also the 7th winner of the Grand Slam at first
appearance as well as being the 1st teenager to win this award of Grand
Slam since its winning by Pete Sampras who won it in 1990 US Open at the
age of 19.
During his peak years, Rafael Nadal had a great rivalry with
Federer where it reached its climax
in 2006. Nadal beat Federer 4 times
once in 4th March 2006 in Dubai then again in Monte Carlo Masters then
at finals in Rome and finally at finals in French Open. Their rivalry
continues and Rafael Nadal still vows to retain his title over
Federer.
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