Rafael Nadal profile

Rafael Nadal is a Spanish professional tennis player famous for being one of the best ever to play on clay courts. He is a three-time French Open singles winner (from 2005 to 2007), and a two-time singles runner-up at Wimbledon (2006-07).

Nadal, ranked World No. 2 as of February 11, 2008, has won all 21 matches played at the French Open. In fact Nadal is well known for defeating 12-time Grand Slam singles winner Roger Federer at the French in 2005, 2006, and 2007, so far denying Federer a career Grand Slam.

From April 2005 to May 2007, Nadal won a record 81 straight clay court matches before being losing to Federer in the 2007 Hamburg Masters final. This is the longest winning streak among male players on a single surface in the open era.

The Spanish left-hander became first player since 1973 to finish No. 2 for three consecutive years in history of ATP Rankings. He has ranked No. 2 every week since July 25, 2005.

With his latest victory at the Roland Garros he became the first player since Bjorn Borg (1978-1981) to win at least three consecutive titles at the French Open. Nadal also became first Spaniard to reach the final at All England Club (Wimbledon) in back-to-back years.

He became the youngest player in history of the Sony Ericsson Open to reach the final in Miami.

In 2007 he captured six titles in nice finals including victories at the Monte Carlo Masters, the Open Seat in Barcelona, Spain and the Rome Masters for the third time in his career.

Birthday: June 3, 1986
Birthplace: Mallorca, Spain
Residence: Mallorca, Spain
Pro: since 2001