Rafael Nadal
P.E. Essay: Rafa Nadal
Rafael Nadal. He is arguably one of the greatest menʼs tennis players to date. He was born as Rafael Nadal Parera in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain, on March 6th, 1986. Nadal began playing tennis at age four with his uncle Toni, who is his long-time coach. He used to play with a two-handed forehand and backhand before his uncle made him change at age nine or 10 to a one-handed forehand. Also, Rafa plays left-handed but writes right-handed. He played his only, and first, junior Grand Slam event at Wimbledon in 2002 and reached the semi-finals. This was an amazing accomplishment for someone who had never played in a tournament setting before. I 2003, Rafa earned the title of Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) newcomer of the year, and shortly after he won ATP most improved player of the year in 2005 and ATP player of the year in 2008. During this time, Nadal reached the Spanish Championships in July 2003, where he eventually lost to Lopez in the finals, and he won the Prince of Asturias award in 2008, named for Spain's Crown Prince Felipe. Nadal has a 14-5 career Davis Cup record for Spain (12-1 in singles) in 10 ties and was a member of its winning team in 2004 and 2008. Rafa’s most recent accomplishment was to win the US Open. This was the only Grand Slam that Rafa had not yet one, until that amazing day on September 12th, 2010. He became only the seventh man in the history to complete a career Grand Slam winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, an the US Open. It was a memorable day for all the tennis fans of Nadal.
Rafael Nadal. He is arguably one of the greatest menʼs tennis players to date. He was born as Rafael Nadal Parera in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain, on March 6th, 1986. Nadal began playing tennis at age four with his uncle Toni, who is his long-time coach. He used to play with a two-handed forehand and backhand before his uncle made him change at age nine or 10 to a one-handed forehand. Also, Rafa plays left-handed but writes right-handed. He played his only, and first, junior Grand Slam event at Wimbledon in 2002 and reached the semi-finals. This was an amazing accomplishment for someone who had never played in a tournament setting before. I 2003, Rafa earned the title of Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) newcomer of the year, and shortly after he won ATP most improved player of the year in 2005 and ATP player of the year in 2008. During this time, Nadal reached the Spanish Championships in July 2003, where he eventually lost to Lopez in the finals, and he won the Prince of Asturias award in 2008, named for Spain's Crown Prince Felipe. Nadal has a 14-5 career Davis Cup record for Spain (12-1 in singles) in 10 ties and was a member of its winning team in 2004 and 2008. Rafa’s most recent accomplishment was to win the US Open. This was the only Grand Slam that Rafa had not yet one, until that amazing day on September 12th, 2010. He became only the seventh man in the history to complete a career Grand Slam winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, an the US Open. It was a memorable day for all the tennis fans of Nadal.