50 Fun Facts About Rafael Nadal

On which Spanish island was Rafael Nadal born?

His hometown is Manacor, where his uncle Toni coached at the local tennis club.

How many French Open singles titles did Nadal win?

It is a record for any single tournament, men's or women's.

How many Grand Slam singles titles did Nadal win in total?

Only Novak Djokovic, with 24, has more among men.

Which uncle introduced Nadal to tennis at age three and coached him until 2017?

Toni made the young Rafa pick up the balls and sweep the courts after group sessions.

Nadal's uncle Miguel Ángel played which sport professionally?

He played for Mallorca, Barcelona and Spain, and got young Rafa a photo with Ronaldo in the Barça dressing room.

Although he plays tennis left-handed, which hand does Nadal favour for everything else?

Toni encouraged him to play left-handed after studying his two-handed forehand.

How old was Nadal when he won his first major, the 2005 French Open?

He beat Roger Federer in the semi-final on his 19th birthday, then Mariano Puerta in the final.

Whom did Nadal beat in the 2005 French Open final?

It made him only the second man to win the French Open on his first attempt.

Nadal's 81 consecutive wins on clay ended in 2007 at which tournament?

Federer ended the record streak in the final; Nadal won the French Open a fortnight later.

Where did Nadal and Federer play the 2007 'Battle of Surfaces' on a half-grass, half-clay court?

The exhibition was squeezed in between the Barcelona and Rome tournaments.

What was the fifth-set score when Nadal won the 2008 Wimbledon final in near darkness?

At 4 hours 48 minutes it was then the longest Wimbledon final by time on court.

Nadal first became world No. 1 in August 2008 after winning which event?

The gold medal ended Federer's record four-and-a-half-year reign at the top.

Whom did Nadal defeat in the 2008 Olympic singles final?

Nadal was the first Spaniard to finish a year as No. 1 in the Open Era.

Who ended Nadal's 31-match French Open win streak in the 2009 fourth round?

It was his first loss at Roland Garros; he lost only three more times there in his career.

Nadal completed his career Grand Slam by beating Djokovic in the final of which event?

At 24 he was then the youngest man in the Open Era to win all four majors.

In 2010 Nadal became the first man to win majors on how many different surfaces in one year?

He took the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, the first to do so since Rod Laver in 1969.

How long did the 2012 Australian Open final between Nadal and Djokovic last?

It remains the longest Grand Slam final by duration and the longest match of both men's careers.

Nadal publicly criticised which surface change at the 2012 Madrid Open?

He lost there to Fernando Verdasco, a player he had beaten 13 times in a row.

Who beat Nadal in the first round of Wimbledon 2013, his first first-round loss at a major?

A year earlier Rosol had beaten him in the second round.

Nadal won his 10th French Open, 'La Décima', in 2017 by beating whom in the final?

He dropped only 35 games in seven matches, the second-fewest by any man on the way to a major.

Who beat Nadal 13–15 in the fifth set at Wimbledon 2017?

The Luxembourger had also beaten him at Wimbledon in 2005.

Nadal's 14th French Open title in 2022 came against which finalist?

At 36 he became the then-oldest French Open champion.

From what position did Nadal come back to beat Daniil Medvedev in the 2022 Australian Open final?

The win gave him a record-breaking 21st men's major title.

What was Nadal's final career win–loss record at the French Open?

The fourth loss came to Alexander Zverev in the first round in 2024.

What was Nadal's head-to-head record against Roger Federer?

He led 14–2 on clay and 10–4 in Grand Slam matches.

How many times did Nadal and Djokovic meet, an Open Era record?

Djokovic led 31–29 overall, but Nadal led 20–9 on clay and 11–7 at Grand Slams.

For how many weeks was Nadal ranked world No. 1?

He finished five seasons as year-end No. 1, with a record 11-year gap between his first and last.

How many ATP singles titles did Nadal win in his career?

Sixty-three of them came on clay, another Open Era record.

With whom did Nadal win Olympic doubles gold at Rio 2016?

He became the second man in the Open Era with gold in both singles and doubles.

How many Davis Cup titles did Nadal help Spain win?

His Davis Cup singles record was 29–1 when Spain won the 2019 Finals.

Which three men have completed the career Golden Slam in singles?

Nadal alone has the career Grand Slam plus Olympic gold in both singles and doubles.

For how many consecutive weeks was Nadal in the ATP top 10, a record?

The streak ran from April 2005 to March 2023.

Which racquet brand did Nadal use throughout his career?

His rackets were always strung at 55 lb whatever the surface.

Which car maker has sponsored Nadal since 2006?

He appeared in the company's campaigns as a global ambassador.

Which luxury watchmaker developed an ultra-light wristwatch with Nadal in 2010?

He wore the watch while playing.

In which Spanish football club did Nadal buy a 10% stake in 2010?

He bought in during 2010 and turned down the vice-presidency.

Which Spanish giant does Nadal support?

His family briefly backed Barça while uncle Miguel Ángel played there.

Who co-wrote Nadal's 2011 autobiography 'Rafa'?

In it he admitted fearing his uncle Toni's solo practice sessions as a boy.

Which singer's 2010 video 'Gypsy' featured Nadal?

He also popped up in RedOne's 'Don't You Need Somebody' in 2016.

What title did King Felipe VI give Nadal in 2025?

It entitles him to the style 'The Most Illustrious', though his other honours rank higher.

Where was Nadal's 2021 statue unveiled?

Spanish sculptor Jordi Díez Fernández made it.

What is 128036 Rafaelnadal?

It was discovered in 2003 and named in his honour.

Which Japanese anime did a young Nadal rush home from school to watch?

CNN later dubbed him 'the Dragon Ball of tennis'.

What rare chronic disorder of the left foot was Nadal diagnosed with at 19?

He needed anaesthetic injections to win the 2022 French Open.

What did ball kids famously restore for Nadal during a 2015 Australian Open match?

He always lines the bottles up with labels facing the court.

At which Balearic castle did Nadal marry María Francisca Perelló in 2019?

Perelló now directs the Fundación Rafa Nadal.

Whom did Nadal hire as coach in December 2016, bringing a more offensive style?

Nadal had practised with the former No. 1 in Palma as a 12-year-old.

Which tournament did Nadal win an Open Era record eight consecutive times from 2005 to 2012?

Djokovic ended the run in the 2013 final.

How many Masters 1000 titles did Nadal win?

He was the first man to sweep all three clay Masters in a single year, in 2010.

Against whom did Nadal play his last professional match at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals?

Spain lost to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals in Málaga.