BIO
Full name is Rafael Nadal Parera, nicknamed “Rafa”
Began playing tennis at age 4 with his uncle ToniPlays left-handed but writes right-handed. Used to play with 2-handed forehand and backhand before his uncle made him change at age 9 or 10 to a 1-handed forehand
Father, Sebastian, is a business partner with 2 brothers of a restaurant, Sa Punta, and owner of a glass and windows company, Vidres Mallorca; mother, Ana Maria; has 1 younger sister, Maria Isabel
Comes from same island (Mallorca) as Carlos Moya. The city of Manacor is second-biggest in Mallorca
His other uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, is a former professional football player with stints on FC Barcelona, Real Mallorca and Spanish national team that competed in 1994, ’98 and ’02 World Cups
Founded the Rafa Nadal Foundation in ’08 and was presented with ATP Aces for Charity grant in 2011. As part of his Foundation, in Oct. ‘10, opened the Rafael Nadal Tennis School in Anantpur, India, which hosts tournaments, as well as laying equal emphasis on education and tennis training. Learn more about his Foundation: www.fundacionrafanadal.org
Will open THE RAFA NADAL ACADEMY by Movistar in Mallorca in May 2016. It is a high-performance training academy that combines high-level tennis and education with open or supervised residency schemes in weekly, monthly or annual programs. For more information, please visit www.rafanadalacademy.com
Attended Spain’s winning World Cup final match in South Africa on July 11, 2010 (1 week after winning Wimbledon)
Appeared in Shakira’s music video for the song Gipsy
Biography “Rafa”, written with John Carlin, published in 2011
Elected to ATP Player Council from June 2010-June 2012
Won ATP No. 1 award 3 times (2008, ’10, ’13), Comeback Player of Year in ‘13, Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in ’11 for his contributions through the Rafa Nadal Foundation, Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award in ’10, Most Improved Player in ’05, ATP Newcomer of the Year in ’03
Recipient of Prince of Asturias Award in ’08, ESPY’s Best Male International Athlete Award in ’08, BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year Award in ’10, L’Equipe Champion of Champions Award in ’10 and ’13, “Legend Award” for 75th anniversary of Spanish sports daily Marca in November ’13
Honoured by Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, with the “Medalla de Oro al Trabajo” (Gold Medal for Merit in Work) in May ’15, one of the top civilian honours in Spain
Honoured by Paris Mayor, Anne Hidalgo, with “Grand Vermeil” medal in May ’15, the highest distinction from Paris
Received an honorary doctoral degree, “Doctor Honoris Causa”, from the European University of Madrid
Fitness trainer and physiotherapist is Rafael Maymo, also travels part of season with former ATP pro Francisco Roig
Read More: Rafael Nadal Profile
