Rafael Nadal Parera, nicknamed “Rafa,” is one of Spain’s greatest sporting imports. The Spanish superstar is one of the most recognizable names in tennis and his achievements and dominance of the game have left many in the sport with nothing but praise for the Spaniard. Nadal holds several tennis records and has been ranked number one male tennis player for a long time in his career. He is currently ranked number 2 in the men’s singles tennis rankings, but he has a clear shot at regaining the top before the end of the season.
Family: mother, father and sister Maria Isabel
Nadal is 33 years old as he was born on 3rd June 1986 to his father Sebastian Nadal and his mother Ana Maria Parera in Mallorca, Spain. He has a younger sister called Maria Isabel. Nadal weighs around 187lbs (85kg). His height is 6ft and 1 inch which is around 185cm. Nadal was introduced to the sport of tennis at 3 years of age by his uncle Toni Nadal, a former professional tennis player himself. Nadal won several junior titles before eventually turning pro at 15 years of age in 2001.
Who is Rafael Nadal’s sister Maria Isabel (Maribel). PICTURES
Career achievements
At 19 years of age, Nadal won the French Open famously referred to as the Roland-Garros. This was the first time Nadal had competed in the event which he has gone on to win a record 12 times with his most recent victory coming in June 2019. This is one of Nadal favorite tournaments and his dominance on the clay playing surface has earned him the nickname “King of Clay.” In 2008, Nadal was ranked number 1 in men’s tennis singles for the first time after a dominant year in which he won the French Open, defeated arch-rival Roger Federer in one of the longest Wimbledon final in history, won the gold medal in the Beijing Olympics, and had a winning streak of 32 unbeaten matches.. To date, Nadal has won 18 Grand Slam titles in his outstanding career. He is also one of two men to complete the Golden Slam which is winning the all four major Grand Slam titles as well as the Olympic gold medal. The other being former American tennis player Andre Agassi.
Net worth and Philanthropy
Nadal has earned around $110 million dollars in prize money alone. He has a net worth of $180 million. In 2019, he was ranked number 37 in Forbes’s Magazine list of the world’s highest-paid athlete’s earnings. Nadal is one of the biggest draws in tennis and can command an appearance fee of up to $1million. He also has some endorsements with some of the biggest companies in the world such as KIA motors. Nadal is also a philanthropist and through the Rafa Nadal Foundation. He is involved in charity works in Spain, India, and Mexico where he has built schools and donated facilities in those countries.
Long-term girlfriend Xisca Perello
Nadal is currently engaged to his long-term girlfriend Xisca Perello. The couple has been together since 2005. They are reported to be engaged in May this year while on holiday in Rome. Xisca is serving as a director on the Rafael Nadal Foundation. The couple is rumored to get married later this year. Nadal will be in action on Sunday as he seeks to win his 19th Grand Slam title in the final of the US Open against Russian Daniil Medvedev.
Nadal at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2019
Ranked no.2, Nadal has a 46-6 win-loss record in 2019. Rafael is playing at the moment at the U.S. Open where he beat John Millman 6-3 6-2 6-2, Thanasi Kokkinakis w/o, Hyeon Chung 6-3 6-4 6-2, Marin Cilic 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-2, Diego Sebastian Schwartzman 6-4 7-5 6-2 and Matteo Berrettini 7-66 6-4 6-1.
Nadal will compete against Medvedev in the final. The head to head is 1-0 for Nadal. The last time that they fought against each other, Nadal won 6-3 6-0 in the final in Montreal in 11th August 2019.
Rafael conquered 3 titles in 2019 in Rome, at the French Open and in Montreal. Rafael was the finalist at the Australian Open.
The Spaniard won 83 titles in his career: 19 on hard courts, 59 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Rafael Nadal |
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