Rafael Nadal Profile
Once nicknamed the 'king of clay', Rafael Nadal has matured into a world-beating player on all surfaces. While the majority of Nadal's grand slam titles were claimed at the French Open, his victories at Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010, the Australian Open in 2009 and the US Open in 2010 have made him one of just a handful of players in the open era to have won grand slams on all surfaces.
Rafael Nadal is set to be one of the major contenders at the 2011 Australian Open, and stands on the brink of achieving four consecutive Grand Slam victories within the space of 12 months. The Spaniard is at the top of his game, but will face stiff opposition from Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
Nadal is arguably least suited to hard courts, a fact demonstrated by the relatively small number of high profile wins he has taken on the surface. However, the surface in Melbourne favours Nadal's powerful, fast game, and could prove to be the difference between the Spaniard and his top-seeded rivals at the 2011 Australian Open.
Although his tenacious playing style is best suited to clay, Rafael Nadal has several strokes which put tremendous pressure on his opponents, regardless of the playing surface. His signature shot is his two-handed backhand, which is not only reliable, but also a consistent winner. Although his serve is not considered to be one of his greatest assets, it is consistent. Like Federer, he prefers to play from the back of the court.
Rafael Nadal fact file:
- Nadal holds the longest winning streak on a single surface with 81 consecutive clay court wins.
- In 2005 Nadal became only the 7th player to win a Grand Slam on debut, when he won the French Open.
- At the tender age of 19 Nadal became the third teenager to reach the world no. 2 in the ATP rankings.
- Nadal was the first player to force Roger Federer to a fifth set in a Grand Slam final. He would later become the first player to beat Federer in a grand slam tournament.
- Rafael Nadal beat Federer at the "Battle of the Surfaces", an exhibition match played on a half grass, half clay surface in May 2007.
- Nadal's fourth French Open title made him the only player other than legendary Bjorn Borg to win 4 consecutive titles at Roland Garros
- In 2008 won Wimbledon for the first time, crushing the Roger Federer and claiming the world number 1 ranking. He would go on to defeat Federer in the final of the 2009 Australian Open several months later.
- In 2010 Rafael Nadal won his maiden US Open title, completing his career Grand Slam. This was his third conscutive Grand Slam title of the 2010 season.
