Rafael Nadal Profile

Spanish player Rafael Nadal Without a doubt the finest clay court player of his generation, Rafael Nadal is destined to begin every French Open tournament as a favourite in the betting markets. Sheer resilience and determination are Nadal’s biggest weapons on clay, and few have the tenacity to grind down an in-form Nadal on this surface.

Rafael Nadal Bio

Rafael Nadal was born on the 3rd of June 1986 in Mallorca, Spain. The Spaniard was born into a family with a strong sporting heritage, including uncles who played professional tennis and professional football.

It was Nadal’s tennis-playing uncle, Toni, who positioned himself as Nadal’s mentor, introducing his nephew to the game at the age of three. Despite not training at a top academy, or winning a junior grand slam, Nadal made rapid progress up the ranks, and cracked the ATP top 50 by the age of 17.

Rafael Nadal Playing Style

Rafael Nadal’s successful playing style relies more on mental toughness and determination than specific technical strengths. The Spaniard possesses a solid all round game, including a powerful and accurate first serve.

Nadal tends to favour a baseline game, which allows him to unleash his excellent top-spin heavy forehand shots. He also has excellent mobility around the court, which allows him to rescue rallies that he appears destined to lose. Nadal employs the full Western-grip forehand grip.

Rafael Nadal Achievements

Rafael Nadal’s biggest achievements have come at the French Open, where he has been virtually unbeatable whilst fully fit. The Spaniard has also won grand slams on clay and grass, beating arch-rival Roger Federer in both the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals. In addition, Nadal has claimed a string of Masters series title wins, notably in clay court events.

Rafael Nadal French Open Form

Rafael Nadal appears to have shaken off the poor form that bedeviled him following his knee surgery in 2009. The Spaniard is back to his best on clay, and won both the Monte Carlo and Rome Masters series clay-court events in 2010, suggesting that he is back to his formidable best on the surface.

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