Career Timeline of Rafael Nadal: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Rafael Nadal built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Rafael Nadal, a Spanish former professional tennis player, achieved the world No. 1 ranking for 209 weeks and finished as the year-end No. 1 five times. He secured 92 ATP Tour-level singles titles, encompassing 22 major titles, 36 Masters titles, and an Olympic gold medal. Nadal is one of only three men to achieve a career Golden Slam in singles. His 81 consecutive wins on clay represents the longest single-surface win streak in the Open Era, marking him as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1914: Anthony Wilding wins Monte Carlo

In 1914, Anthony Wilding became the first player to win four consecutive titles at Monte Carlo.

1966: Manuel Santana at Wimbledon Final

In 1966, Manuel Santana became the first Spanish man to reach the Wimbledon final.

1969: Rod Laver wins majors

In 1969, Rod Laver became the first to win French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same year.

1990: Coached by Toni Nadal

From 1990, Rafael Nadal was coached by his uncle Toni Nadal, who focused on developing an all-round aggressive game.

1991: Jim Courier wins singles and doubles at Masters Series

In 1991, Jim Courier won the singles and doubles titles at a Masters Series event.

1994: Andre Agassi ranked No. 2

In 1994, Andre Agassi finished the year ranked No. 2.

1997: Spanish Junior Championships

In 1997, Nadal won the Spanish junior championships, beating Ricardo Villacorta.

February 1998: Open Super 12 Win

In February 1998, Nadal competed outside Spain for the first time and won the Open Super 12, an unofficial world championship for U12 players in Auray, beating Jamie Murray in the final. This victory helped him decide to focus on tennis.

1998: Spanish Junior Championships

In 1998, Nadal won the Spanish junior championships, beating Marcel Granollers.

1999: ETA Junior Tour

In 1999, the 12-year-old Nadal was playing in the U14 circuit of the ETA Junior Tour (now the Tennis Europe Junior Tour), winning the Tim Essonne, and finishing the year at No. 69.

2000: Domination of U14 Circuit

In 2000, Nadal dominated the U14 circuit, winning Les Petits As in Tarbes, beating Julien Gely in the final, and the European Junior Masters in Prato. He also won the Sport Goofy Trophy and the U14 Spanish championships, and the ITF World Junior Championship.

May 2001: Exhibition Match Win

In May 2001, aged 14, Nadal defeated former Grand Slam tournament champion Pat Cash in a clay-court exhibition match.

September 2001: Pro Debut

On 11 September 2001, Nadal made his pro debut in the main draw at the Futures in Madrid, losing to Guillermo Platel-Varas. He received a wild card into the main draw of the Challenger in Seville, where he claimed his first pro win against Israel Matos Gil.

2001: Turned Professional

At the beginning of 2001, Nadal turned professional at the age of 14. He reached the semi-finals of the junior singles event at Wimbledon and helped Spain defeat the US in the final of the Junior Davis Cup.

2001: Federer's First Five-Set Match at Wimbledon Since 2001

In 2001, Roger Federer played his first five-set match at Wimbledon since 2001.

2002: First ATP Win

In 2002, Nadal, ranked No. 762, received a wild card to the ATP 250 event on his home island of Mallorca. On April 29, Nadal won his first ATP match by defeating No. 81 Ramón Delgado, becoming the ninth player in the Open Era to do so before the age of 16. He reached the semi-finals at junior Wimbledon and won six Futures events from July to December. Nadal ended 2002 as the world No. 199.

2002: Serena and Venus Williams Consecutive Major Finals

In 2002, Serena and Venus Williams started a streak of four consecutive major singles finals against each other, ending at the 2003 Australian Open.

2003: Serena and Venus Williams Consecutive Major Finals

In 2003, Serena and Venus Williams ended a streak of four consecutive major singles finals against each other that started at the 2002 French Open.

2003: Ascent in Early 2003

In early 2003, Nadal reached the finals of Challengers at Hamburg, Cherbourg and Cagliari, and winning at Barletta. He scored a total of 19 Challenger wins in the first three months of the season and found himself inside the Top 150. In 2003, he then qualified for his second career ATP event, the Monte Carlo Masters, where he beat Albert Costa. Nadal entered the world's top 100.

2004: Davis Cup Victory

In the 2004 Davis Cup final, 18-year-old Nadal beat world No. 2 Andy Roddick on clay in Spain, helping his nation clinch the title over the United States. He became the youngest player to register a singles victory in a Davis Cup final for a winning nation. Nadal finished the year ranked No. 51.

April 2005: Consecutive Top 10 ATP Ranking

From April 2005, Rafael Nadal appeared in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings consecutively for a record-breaking 912 weeks.

July 2005: First Time Outside Top Two Since July 2005

After losing in the quarterfinals to del Potro at Montreal, Nadal dropped outside the top two for the first time since July 2005.

July 2005: Ascension to No. 2 in ATP Rankings

In July 2005, Rafael Nadal ascended to the No. 2 ranking on the ATP Tour.

July 2005: Reaching No. 2 in the world rankings

In July 2005, Rafael Nadal reached the world No. 2 ranking after winning the Canada Masters, marking the first hardcourt title of his career. He remained at this position for the next three years, trailing behind Roger Federer.

2005: Doubles Title and Australian Open

2005 started with a doubles title alongside Albert Costa at the Qatar Open, defeating Andrei Pavel and Mikhail Youzhny in the final. At the 2005 Australian Open, Nadal lost in the fourth round to Lleyton Hewitt.

2005: Departure from Balearic School

After 2005, Rafael Nadal left the structure of the Balearic School and created his own team.

2005: Major Singles Titles

From 2005 Nadal won major singles titles in 10 consecutive years.

2005: Carlos Costa as Nadal's Agent

From 2005, Carlos Costa served as Rafael Nadal's agent.

2005: Beginning of Major Title Wins with Toni

From 2005, Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal won 16 major titles together.

2005: Domination of Spring Clay-Court Season

In 2005, Nadal dominated the spring clay-court season, winning 24 consecutive singles matches and breaking Andre Agassi's Open Era record for a male teenager. He won the Torneo Conde de Godó in Barcelona, the Monte Carlo Masters, and the Italian Open, raising his ranking to world No. 5. On his 19th birthday, Nadal defeated Federer in the French Open semi-finals and then defeated Mariano Puerta in the final, becoming the second man to win the French Open on his first attempt. His ranking rose to No. 3.

2005: Wins China Open and Madrid Masters

In 2005, Rafael Nadal defeated Guillermo Coria in the final of the China Open in Beijing and won both of his Davis Cup matches against Italy. He also secured his fourth Masters title of the year at the 2005 Madrid Masters against Ivan Ljubičić, marking his biggest indoor title.

2005: First Major Title at French Open

In 2005, Rafael Nadal won his first major title at the French Open, marking him as one of the most successful teenagers in ATP Tour history. He reached No. 2 in the world and secured 16 titles before turning 20.

2005: Clay Record

Since 2005, Rafael Nadal has a clay record of 150-4.

2006: Frequent Final Appearances Begin

From 2006, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer played in every French Open and Wimbledon final for three consecutive years.

2006: Formation of core team

From 2006, Rafael Nadal worked with the same team consisting of family and professional staff.

2006: Hiring of Communications Director

In 2006, Carlos Costa and Nadal's father convinced Benito Pérez Barbadillo to become Nadal's communications director.

2006: Partnership with Kia Motors

Since 2006, Nadal has been sponsored by Kia Motors and appeared in their advertising campaigns as a global ambassador.

November 2007: Launch of Fundación Rafa Nadal

In November 2007, Nadal launched the nonprofit Fundación Rafa Nadal to help disadvantaged children and teenagers through sports. His wife, María Perelló, is the director.

2007: First Defeat Since 2007 Final

At Wimbledon, in the final against Novak Djokovic, the 20-match winning streak ended and marked Nadal's first defeat at Wimbledon since the 2007 final.

2007: Five-Set Match at Wimbledon

In 2007, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer played a five-set match at Wimbledon.

2007: Defeat at the US Open and Knee Injury

In 2007, Rafael Nadal was defeated in the fourth round of the US Open by David Ferrer while dealing with a knee injury. Earlier in July 2007, Nadal beat Stan Wawrinka in the final of the clay-court Stuttgart Open and was a semi-finalist in Montreal before losing his first match at the Cincinnati Open.

December 2008: "Friends of Iker v Friends of Rafa" Charity Sports Event

In December 2008, Nadal and Casillas staged a "Friends of Iker v Friends of Rafa" charity sports event, including an indoor football match, a tennis match, and a go-kart race.

2008: First Wimbledon Win

In 2008, Nadal became the world No. 1 for the first time after defeating Roger Federer in an historic Wimbledon final, which was his first major championship off clay. He also won an Olympic singles gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

May 2009: First Loss at the French Open

On May 31, 2009, Rafael Nadal experienced his first-ever loss at the French Open against Robin Söderling in the fourth round, ending his streak of consecutive victories. This defeat shocked many, as Nadal had been dominant at the tournament.

July 2009: Drops to No. 2 Ranking

On July 6, 2009, Rafael Nadal dropped back to the No. 2 ranking, with Roger Federer reclaiming the top spot.

August 2009: End of Top Two Ranking Streak

In August 2009, the Nadal-Federer duo's streak of holding the top two rankings on the ATP Tour ended.

2009: Australian Open Final Appearance

In 2009, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer met in the title match of the Australian Open.

2010: Service Motion Alteration

Before the 2010 US Open, Rafael Nadal altered his service motion, increasing his average speed.

2010: Career Grand Slam

In 2010, Nadal defeated Djokovic in the US Open final, becoming the youngest man in the Open Era to achieve the career Grand Slam at 24, and the first man to win majors on three different surfaces in the same year.

2010: Charity Events Participation

In 2010, Nadal participated in several charity events including Hit for Haiti during the Australian Open, a charity exhibition during the Indian Wells Open and played against Roger Federer in the Match for Africa exhibitions to raise money for Haiti earthquake victims.

2010: Racquet and Strings Changes

In 2010, Nadal's racquets were painted to resemble the Babolat AeroPro Drive with Cortex GT racquet to market the current model sold by Babolat. Also, Nadal switched from Duralast 15L strings to Babolat's new RPM Blast string in 2010.

2010: US Open Victory and Career Grand Slam

In 2010, at the US Open, Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic in four sets, achieving the career Grand Slam.

2010: Partnership with Richard Mille

In 2010, luxury watchmaker Richard Mille announced that they had developed an ultra-light wristwatch in collaboration with Rafael Nadal.

2011: Face of Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans

In 2011, Nadal became the face of Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans for their spring/summer collection, marking the first time the label chose a tennis player for this role.

2011: Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year Award

In 2011, Nadal was awarded the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award. He also supports other charities like City Harvest, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and Small Steps Project.

2011: Consecutive Major Finals

In 2011, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic contested four consecutive major finals, with Djokovic winning at Wimbledon and the US Open.

2011: French Open Final Appearance

In 2011, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer met in the title match of the French Open.

2011: Pushed to Five Sets

In 2011, Rafael Nadal pushed to five sets against John Isner in the first round.

2011: Davis Cup Win and Finals Losses

In March 2011, Rafael Nadal helped Spain defeat Belgium in a Davis Cup tie. He also reached the finals at Indian Wells and Miami, but lost to Novak Djokovic in three sets.

June 2012: Joins PokerStars as Sports Endorser

In June 2012, Nadal joined the group of sports endorsers for the PokerStars online poker cardroom.

2012: Most French Open Titles

In 2012, Rafael Nadal won his seventh French Open title, surpassing Björn Borg to become the most successful male player at the tournament. He lost only three sets during the clay court season.

2013: Rivalry at Monte Carlo and French Open

In 2013, Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal at Monte Carlo, ending Nadal's record streak. Nadal then earned revenge in the French Open semifinals. Later that year, Nadal defeated Djokovic in the US Open final to complete the Summer Slam.

2013: Breaking Records at the French Open

In 2013, Rafael Nadal secured his eighth French Open title, surpassing Guillermo Vilas and Roger Federer's record for the most match wins in the tournament with 59 victories. This marked his eight consecutive final since returning from injury.

2014: Major Singles Titles

In 2014 Nadal won major singles titles in 10 consecutive years.

2014: Davis Cup, China Open, ATP Finals

In 2014, Nadal helped Spain secure a Davis Cup World Group place. In October, he reached the final of the China Open and regained the No. 1 ranking. In November, at the ATP Finals in London, he secured the year-end No. 1.

December 2016: Hiring of Carlos Moyá as Coach

In December 2016, Rafael Nadal hired Carlos Moyá as his coach, leading to a more offensive game style.

2016: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2016, Nadal won an Olympic gold medal at the Rio Olympics. He also won 11 doubles titles during his career.

2017: End of Major Title Wins with Toni

From 2005 to 2017, Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal won 16 major titles together.

2017: Major Singles Titles

From 2017 Nadal won major singles titles in a four-year span.

2017: Australian Open Final Appearance

In 2017, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer met in the title match of the Australian Open.

2017: End of Long-Term Team Collaboration

In 2017, Rafael Nadal ended the long-term collaboration with his core team.

2017: End of Toni Nadal Coaching

In 2017, Toni Nadal stopped coaching Rafael Nadal after coaching him since 1990.

2017: Partnership for the Rafa Nadal Academy

In 2017, the Australian tennis federation agreed to partner with Nadal's Academy, allowing their players to use it as their European training base.

October 2018: Response to Majorca Flood

In October 2018, during the Majorca flood, Nadal opened his tennis academy to victims and personally helped with cleanup efforts. He donated €1 million for rebuilding Sant Llorenç des Cardassar and organized the Olazábal & Nadal charity golf tournament.

2018: Featured in Mario Tennis Aces Ad

In 2018, Rafael Nadal was featured in a new advertisement for the tennis game Mario Tennis Aces.

2019: Improvement on Serve

From 2019, several analysts praised Rafael Nadal's improvement on the serve, noting the increased speed.

2019: Longest Wimbledon Final

In 2019, the Wimbledon final became the longest final in Wimbledon history in terms of time on court, it was later surpassed.

2020: Major Singles Titles

In 2020 Nadal won major singles titles in a four-year span.

2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Efforts

In 2020, to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Nadal joined Pau Gasol and the Red Cross to raise 11 million euros. The Fundación Rafa Nadal pledged to support the Food Bank of Mallorca, aiming to collect 3,000 kg of food.

2021: Rafa Nadal Academy Series on Amazon Prime and Movistar

In 2021, a four-episode series about the Rafa Nadal Academy was aired on Amazon Prime and Movistar and was broadcast in 244 countries.

2022: Australian Open Win

In 2022, Nadal surpassed his joint-record with Djokovic and Federer for the most Grand Slam men's singles titles at the Australian Open, and became one of four men in history to complete the double career Grand Slam in singles.