Rafael
Nadal:
King of
Clay

Jun 3, 1986: Rafael Nadal
Parera born in Manacor, Mallorca,
into close-knit sports-oriented family

1990: Displaying natural aptitude
for sport, including beloved football,
Nadal begins playing tennis under
tutelage of uncle, Toni
Nadal (inset)

1994: First
under-12s title,
aged just 8.
Toni encourages
Nadal to focus
on tennis, and
adapt playing
style to signature
left-handed forehand

Nadal in action
in 2000

1997-2000
Wins singles
and doubles titles
on Spanish and
European junior
tour, at multiple
age groups

2002: ATP
debut in Mallorca.
Beating Ramón
Delgado in
straight sets

2003: Grand Slam debut at
Wimbledon – becomes youngest
man to reach third round since 1984.
Finishes season in Top 50

Nadal celebrates
first Davis Cup
title – wins five
overall

2004: Beats World No.1 Roger
Federer in first of 40 head-to-head
matches – Nadal leads 24-16.
Wins Davis Cup with Spain

2005: First
Grand Slam title
at Roland Garros
– only second man
to lift trophy on
debut. Ends year
with 11 titles, most
in single season
for teenager in
ATP history

2006: Retains Roland Garros title
defeating Federer in final, building
prestige as dominant force on clay

2007: Titles in Monte-Carlo,
Barcelona and Rome extend epic
winning streak on clay to 81 matches
– record on single surface

2008: Ascends to World No.1
after fourth Roland Garros title, 
dramatic five-set triumph in fading
light at Wimbledon and gold medal
in singles at Beijing Olympics

2009: Australian Open title.
Surprise early exit in Paris as
Robin Söderling ends dominance

2010: Clinches career Grand
Slam by winning U.S. Open
2012: Breaks Björn Borg’s
(left) 31-year record in taking
seventh Roland Garros crown

2011: Rivalry with Novak Djokovic
intensifies – pair clash in six finals,
with Serb winning each encounter.
Djokovic leads head-to-head 31-29.

2013: Remarkable comeback
from injury, winning ten titles in
stellar year – including 13th Grand
Slam – to reclaim World No.1 ranking

2015: Lacks confidence on
return from wrist injury and
appendicitis. Fails to win major
for first time since 2004, busting
39-match unbeaten streak in Paris

2016: Wins gold
medal in doubles
at Rio Olympics

2017
Remarkable
resurgence with
“La Décima” at
Roland Garros
and third U.S.
Open crown.
Returns to
World No.1

2019: Secures record for most
singles titles at individual Grand Slam
with 12th Paris trophy – surpassing
tally of Margaret Court (11 titles
at Australian Open)

Oct 2019: Marries
long-term partner
Mery “Xisca”
Perelló (right),
pair welcome their
first child in 2022

2020: Wins 1,000th ATP Tour
match – fourth player to achieve feat

2022: Claims
22nd Grand Slam
to edge ahead of
rivals Federer (20)
and Djokovic.
Serbian later
eclipses mark with
record 24th title
in 2023

2023: Announces break from
tour to recover from injuries –
drops out of Top 100

2024: Suffers first round defeat
at beloved Roland Garros – returning
for final au revoir, playing doubles with
Carlos Alcaraz at Paris Olympics

Nov 2024: Emotional farewell
tournament set to be Davis Cup
Finals on home soil in Malaga –
marking end of superlative
career for tenacious icon
of men’s tennis

Rivals: Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic

Sources: Reuters, AP, ATP, BBC
Pictures: Getty Images
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