Rafael Nadal Parera (IPA: [rafaˈel naˈðal]) (born June 3, 1986) is a Spanish professional tennis player who has been ranked World No. 1 since August 18, 2008.
Nadal has won five Grand Slam singles titles and the 2008 Olympic gold medal. He has so far captured four consecutive French Opens from 2005 through 2008 and Wimbledon in 2008. As only the second Spaniard to have won Wimbledon, he is also the only man other than Björn Borg to have won four consecutive French Open titles. Adding to this, Nadal is the only tennis player in the history of the modern game to win the French Open, The Queen's Club Championships on grass (beginning the next day), and Wimbledon. He is currently the only winner of an Olympic Gold medal in the men's tennis singles, while being a top-five men's tennis player.
For much of his career, Nadal has had a rivalry with Roger Federer. He was ranked World No. 2 behind Federer for a record 160 weeks before earning the top spot. Nadal has won 12 of their 18 singles matches, including four of their six Grand Slam finals.
Nadal has been especially successful on clay courts. He has a 22–1 record in clay court tournament finalsand is undefeated in 43 best-of-five-set matches on clay. In each of the last four years, he has won both the French Open and two clay court Masters Series tournaments. He also owns the longest single-surface winning streak in the open era, having won 81 consecutive matches on clay from April 2005 to May 2007. As a result, some tennis critics and top players already regard him as the greatest clay-court player of all time.
In 2008, he was given the Prince of Asturias Award for sportsthe longest single-surface winning streak in the open era, having won 81 consecutive matches on clay from April 2005 to May 2007.As a result, some tennis critics and top players already regard him as the greatest clay-court player of all time.
In 2008, he was given the Prince of Asturias Award for sports