12 Things you didn’t know about Rafael Nadal.

Born in Manacor, Spain on the 3^rd day of June 1986 and now aged 33, Rafael “Rafa” Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player currently ranked world No. 2 in men’s singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals. He won 19 singles grand slams. He stands at 1.85 m height and weighs 85 kgs. In 2019 he got married to Maria Francisca Perello. Here are 12 things you didn’t know about Rafa.

1. The Big Four.

Rafa belongs to the male tennis big four. The once dominant big four consists of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. Rafa had certainly been more dominant against the Big four than his nemesis, Roger Federer during the initial years. Roger has a 46.4%  Win-loss record whereas Rafa boasts a 66-50 (56.9%), the same as Novak Djokovic (78-59).

2. His talent has been evident from childhood. 

Nadal won an Under-12 regional tennis championship when he was only 8-years-old. When Nadal was 12, he won the Spanish and European tennis titles. The Spanish Tennis Federation had requested Nadal to move to Barcelona to continue his training in tennis. Nadal was 15 when he started playing tennis professionally. In 2002, at the age of 16, Nadal reached the semifinals of the Boy’s Singles tournament at Wimbledon. He became the youngest man to reach the third round at Wimbledon after beating Roger Federer. He was only 17 at that time. At 19, Nadal played his career’s first French Open and won it. It was a feat which had not been accomplished in Paris over the last 20 years at that time

3.  At the age of 12, Nadal chose to pursue a career in tennis over football. 

Rafa’s love of tennis trumped his love of football. So he chose to pursue a career in tennis over football at the age of 12. Thanks again to his uncle Tony for helping coach him to a decision that would affect the rest of his life. It would prove to not only be incredibly wise, but also ultimately more rewarding. 

4.  Nadal defeated Federer at the 2008 Wimbledon. 

In 2008, Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer at Wimbledon, in a display that many say was the best match of tennis ever played. This epic win was the force he needed to free himself from the mental prison he struggled to escape after losing at Wimbledon to Federer when the two met back in 2006 – 2007. Federer is one of the most successful tennis champion of all times, check out 11 things you didn’t know about Rodger Federer

5. Nadal has a current net worth of around 180 million dollars. 

Rafa’s current net worth is around 180 million, making him the highest paid tennis star in the world, along with a $5.5 million yearly salary. He collects another $26 million in endorsements and royalties from the likes of Nike, Armani and Hilfiger, among others, and is the proud owner of one of just 50 watches crafted by Rashard mill, valued at around 825,000. By wearing it to the French Open, he made himself one of the game’s more opulent players. 

6.  Destructive divorce.

In 2009, Nadal’s parents separated after the 2009 Australian Open. Although devastated by the announcement, Rafa kept winning and building momentum in the following months but his enthusiasm for competition declined. These were the main factors attributed to his first ever loss at the French Open that same year to Robin Söderling of Sweden. All This, coupled with his aching knees led him to pull out of Wimbledon, hoping to give himself the time needed for a complete recovery, both emotionally and physically. 

7.  Rafa defended his uncle for being accused of being sexist. 

In 2014 Rothko’s uncle Tony Nadal, got the attention of a certain Miss Leon by questioning her appointment on the basis that the Davis Cup Captain should have a background in men’s tennis. Gala Leone was appointed as Spain’s first female Davis Cup captain. This appointment earned her and the Spanish Tennis Federation a fair share of complaints from some of the leaked participants, Miss Leo fired back with charges of gender bias and it was Even labeled as sexist by some of Spain’s politicians and media outlets. This struck a deep chord with Rafa who came to his uncle’s defense, arguing that this isn’t about sexism, but rather about populism, noting the way in which the matter was being spun. 

8. Could he be a sexist like his uncle Tony?

Nadal criticizes the league for awarding equal prize money to both female and male competitors.He goes on to make his point by drawing a comparison between male modeling and female modeling, noting the extreme disparity in earnings. The doll also believes that money should follow viewership, and since Men’s Tennis commands a much larger audience than women’s, he says it should be reflected in the amounts that are awarded. 

9. Nadal purchased a customized yacht worth $3.5 million.

Nadal purchased a customized yacht worth upwards of three and a half million at the Cannes yachting festival back in September 2015. In 2018, Nadal withdrew from the US Open semi finals due to a knee injury. 

10. His left arm is substantially bigger than his right. 

Nadal is renowned for the power of his left handed tennis style. However, as a result of the imbalance between how frequently he uses each arm, the muscles have developed significantly differently. The diameter of Ralph his left arm, as measured around the largest part of his bicep is a hole four centimeters larger than his right.

11. Nadal became the first player male or female to amass 400 plus match wins on both hard and clay courts. 

Rafael Nadal has amassed over 400 wins on both hard and clay courts, becoming the first player in history to achieve that feat male or female with a combined 825 wins. This astonishing milestone may finally put to rest the decade long debate concerning Nadal’s efficacy on different court surfaces.

12. In 2008, Rafael Nadal launched the Rafael Nadal Foundation.

He launched the Rafael Nadal Foundation, with the mission of offering some of the world’s most vulnerable youth a chance to succeed. The primary focus is on personal development and social integration, and the foundation aims to use education and sport as a vehicle for the most socially marginalized and disadvantaged youngsters. The foundation offers resources and infrastructure as a means to help them transcend their current conditions and raise their standard of living. Rafael Nadal’s foundation has recently donated laptops to underprivileged students in Spain so that they can attend remote classes during the lockdown.