Player Profile: Rafael Nadal

Full name is Rafael Nadal Parera...Nicknamed "Rafa"...Plays left-handed but writes right-handed...Began playing tennis at age four with his uncle Toni, who is his long-time coach...Used to play with two-handed forehand and backhand before his uncle made him change at age nine or 10 to a one-handed forehand...Played his only junior Grand Slam event at Wimbledon in 2002 and reached SF...Father, Sebastian, is a business partner with two brothers of a restaurant, Sa Punta, and owner of a glass and windows company, Vidres Mallorca...Mother, Ana Maria...Has one younger sister Maria Isabel...Comes from same island (Mallorca) as countryman Carlos Moya...The city of Manacor is second-biggest on island of Mallorca.

His other uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, is a former professional soccer player with stints at FC Barcelona, Real Mallorca and Spanish national team, which competed in 2002 World Cup...Also played on two other World Cup teams in 1994 and ’98...Earned ATP Newcomer of Year in 2003, ATP Most Improved Player of Year in 2005 and ATP Player of Year in 2008 and 2010...Reached Spanish Championships in July 2003 (l. to Lopez).

Won Prince of Asturias award in 2008, named for Spain's Crown Prince Felipe...In October 2010, opened the Rafael Nadal Tennis School in Anantpur, India, which hosts district, state and national-level tournaments, as well as lay equal emphasis on the children's education and tennis training...Received 2011 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year for his contributions through the Rafa Nadal Foundation...Coached by his uncle, Toni Nadal, and fitness trainer is Rafael Maymo.

2011 -- The World No. 2 finished in Top 2 for 7th straight year with a 3-7 mark in finals, with all 3 titles coming on clay (Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Roland Garros)…6 of his runner-up showings came to Djokovic...Put together a stretch of reaching 7 straight finals from Indian Wells to Roland Garros (3-4 mark)…Overall advanced to QF or better 14 times in 16 tournaments with his only early exits coming at ATP Masters 1000 Montréal (2nd Rd., l. to Dodig) and ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai (3R l. to F. Mayer)...In Davis Cup, led Spain to title (d. Argentina) by going 6-0 in singles with 2 wins in 1R over Belgium and over France in SF…Clinched title with win over del Potro (also d. Monaco in F)...

Opened year with a SF in Doha (l. to Davydenko) and followed with QF at Australian Open where he injured his left adductor early in match against Ferrer...Returned in March and reached back-to-back finals at ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, falling in 3 sets to Djokovic both times (after winning first set)...

Began clay court circuit with his 7th straight crown at ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo and followed with 6th career title in Barcelona (d. Ferrer in both)...In May, his 37-match clay court winning streak ended with a 75 64 final loss to Djokovic at ATP Masters 1000 Madrid…It was his 3rd streak of 30 or more clay wins (81, 33)…Then lost to Djokovic again in ATP Masters 1000 Rome final...In June, captured his record-tying (w/Bjorn Borg) 6th Roland Garros title (d. Federer) and 10th overall Grand Slam triumph…He improved his career mark to 45-1 in Paris…Has won at least 1 Grand Slam title for 7 straight years...

On grass, reached QF at Queen’s Club (l. to Tsonga) and followed with runner-up at Wimbledon (l. to Djokovic)…It was his 5th final (2-3) at All England Club...His No. 1 reign for 102 total weeks came to an end on July 4 as Djokovic took over (1st held top spot on Aug. 18, 2008 and held it for 46 weeks), then regained No. 1 on June 7, 2010 and held it for 56 weeks...

During summer hard court circuit, lost opening round to Dodig at ATP Masters 1000 Montréal and followed with QF at ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati (l. to Fish)…Fell short of repeat title effort at US Open, losing to Djokovic in 4 sets in final...After defeating France’s No. 15 Gasquet and No. 10 Tsonga without losing serve in Davis Cup SF matches, went to Asia and lost in Tokyo final (l. to Murray) and 3R at ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai (l. to F. Mayer)...At 24y10m, Rafael Nadal was 2nd-youngest to win 500 matches, only behind Bjorn Borg (23y7m)...