Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal in full Rafael Nadal Parera byname Rafa Nadal born June 3 1986 Manacor Mallorca Spain Spanish tennis player who emerged in the early 21st century as one of the games leading competitors especially noted for his performance on clay Nadal grew up in a sportsminded family his uncle Miguel Angel Nadal was a professional association football soccer player who competed in the 2002 World Cup Rafael began playing tennis at age four guided by another uncle Toni Nadal who remained his coach on the professional tour In his early years Nadal who wrote with his right hand played lefthanded tennis with both a twohanded forehand and backhand When he was 12 however his uncle encouraged him to adopt a more conventional lefthanded style Nadal stuck with his twohanded backhand but switched to what became his signature onehanded forehand the stroke that was credited with lifting him into the sports upper echelons