Rafael Nadal Biography – Set Worlds “Youngest” Tennis Records

Rafa is the nick name of Rafael Nadal Parera, a young man who has the world of tennis wowed by his fast rise to success. After entering the professional tennis arena at the tender age of just 15 years he has enjoyed a magnificent run of wins. This short Rafael Nadal biography is a brief look at what he has achieved in the few years he has played this widely loved spectator sport.

Rafa is now ranked as the second best singles tennis player world-wide. He has had sixty consecutive tennis wins on the clay-courts and as winning streaks go, this is quite remarkable.

Born in Manacor, Mallorca on June 3rd 1986, he has professional sports in his genetic make-up. His uncle was also only 15 years old when he started playing professional football. Miguel Angel Nadal played for F. C. Barcelona for many years.

This young man was also only the tender age of 15 when he won his first ATP in Mallorca. The person he played to win this title was Ramon Delgado, and this win ensured that Rafa became the 9th player in an ATP during the “Open” era to win the Championship before he was 16 years of age. The following year he was ranked in the top 100 best tennis players in the world and was the second youngest player to achieve this remarkable feat.

He debuted at Wimbledon aged 16 and made his way into the 3rd round. Since Boris Becker also did this, Rafa was the youngest player to reach the 3rd round at Wimbledon. By the year 2005, Rafael Nadal was ranked the world’s 5th best singles tennis player and this also made him a “youngest” record.

He is perhaps best known for being the winner of the French Open on four consecutive occasions. Pete Sampras won the US Open aged 19 and Rafa was the first teenager to achieve this again. He is also the arch opponent of Roger Federer, fourth youngest Roland Garros champion, as well as the 7th player in the history of the Grand Slam era to win one of these competitions on their first appearance.