From the time Rafael Nadal was a young man, it was clear that he had a natural gift in athletics. His superior coordination and dexterity have served him well as he has risen through the ranks to become the top-rated tennis player in the world.
Rafael Nadal, known to most as Rafa, was born in Majorca, an island off the coast of Spain, in 1986. His family has always been extremely athletic. When he was a child, Rafa's uncles encouraged him to pursue sports. He participated in football and tennis, showing exceptional skill in both. Rafa enjoyed his sports of choice so much, in fact, that he left little time for anything else in his life.
At the age of 12, Rafa's father made him choose between football and tennis so that he would have enough time to concentrate on his school work. Though it must have been a difficult choice for the young boy, Rafa chose tennis. Luckily for him, Rafa's uncle Toni Nadal was a professional tennis player and coach. Toni had been training Rafael since the age of three and continues to act as his coach even to this day.
The guidance of his uncle may have contributed in part to Rafael Nadal's current overwhelming success in tennis. As a young boy, Rafa was taught by his coach to play left-handed although he is right-handed. Toni Nadal felt that Rafa's backswing would be stronger if it was anchored with his dominant right hand. As a result of this unconventional playing style, Rafa Nadal now has one of the most powerful backhands ever seen in the sport.
Growing up in Majorca, Rafa played mostly on clay courts. He was comfortable with that surface and grew used to it. When he went professional, many critics said that he was not suited to play on other surfaces. Clearly, these critics underestimated the power of Rafael Nadal's drive to improve.
After rigorous training and winning match after match, Rafa now looks as comfortable on hard courts and grass as he does on clay. His techniques only continue to improve over time, and currently he seems nearly unstoppable.
This was most evident in the 2008 Wimbledon final. Rafael Nadal and Swiss tennis star Roger Federer went head-to-head in the latest of a long series of matches between the two rivals.
Federer previously held the title of number one in the world for a record 237 consecutive weeks. Following that match, he was bumped to second place. Nadal, who previously held the number two spot since July 2005, took the top ranking.
As a result of the fierce and long-standing rivalry between Federer and Nadal, tennis has seen an unprecedented jump in popularity. The two young stars have transformed the sport's image in just a few short years. Although tennis has never been a wholly unpopular sport, these two men in the primes of their careers have taken tennis to the level of the 1970's and 80's when Connors, Borg and McEnroe were in their prime.
Rafael Nadal's career has been charmed from the beginning. His family's involvement combined with his natural talent in athletics has helped him to develop a skill that is unrivaled in the world of professional tennis. Only time will tell how long he will hold on to the number one title, but if his past performance is any indication, he will continue to reign as the king of tennis for many matches to come.
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