Interviewee: Rafael Nadal
Interviewer: Chris Fowler
Date: March 17, 2009

Rafael “Rafa” Nadal Parera quickly became an accomplished tennis player. His meteoric ascent to the World Number 1 position has made him one of sports’ most recognizable Spaniards. Dubbed as one of the best players on the clay courts, he boasts of 60 winning matches in a row.

A native of Manacor, Spain, Rafael Nadal was born on June 3, 1986 to Sebastian and Ana Maria Nadal. He learned to play tennis when he was four, under the tutelage of his uncle Toni Nadal.

In 2001, a 15-year old Rafael Nadal went pro, winning his first Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) game. He became only the ninth person below 16 to win a match in ATP’s Open history.

Rafa Nadal made his Wimbledon debut the following year. Only 16, he advanced as far as the 3rd round, the furthest for his age since Boris Becker in 1984. On the same year, he played victoriously in his first ATP doubles game.

ATP then crowned Nadal as 2003’s Best Newcomer. Within two years, he became World No. 5, the youngest to crack ATP’s top 10 since 1993. He additionally became the youngest player to take the Grand Slam since Pete Sampras did the same in the 1990 US Open.

En route to becoming number one, Rafael Nadal had to unseat Roger Federer from his perch. The two formed one of the most heated rivalries in tennis’ Open Era.

Rafael Nadal first defeated Federer at the Idea Prokom Open in 2004. Next year, he came closer to Federer as World No. 2. He did this on the strength of nine singles victories, including one as the fourth youngest winner at Roland Garros.

Federer endured even more lashings from Rafael Nadal in 2006. Federer lost to him in, among others, the Monte Carlo Masters and Rome Masters. In 2007, Rafael Nadal continued his winning streak, but Federer triumphantly retaliated at the Wimbledon.

Finally, in July 2008, Rafael Nadal spirited away the Wimbledon crown from Federer. On top of this, he became the singles victor at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. In effect, Rafael Nadal surfaced as World Number 1.