History of Rafael Nadal in Timeline
Rafael Nadal is a retired Spanish professional tennis player, widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. He held the world No. 1 ranking for 209 weeks and finished five years as the top-ranked player. Nadal has won 92 ATP Tour-level singles titles, including a record-breaking 22 major titles, 36 Masters titles, and an Olympic gold medal. He is among the few to achieve a career Golden Slam in singles. His dominance on clay is highlighted by an Open Era record of 81 consecutive wins on the surface.
1914: Anthony Wilding's Fourth Consecutive Monte Carlo Title
In 1914, Anthony Wilding won his fourth consecutive title at Monte Carlo.
1966: First Spanish man since Manuel Santana to reach Wimbledon final
In 1966, Manuel Santana reached the Wimbledon final as the first Spanish man.
1969: Rod Laver's Achievements
In 1969, Rod Laver won French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open in the same year.
1983: Broke Mats Wilander's record
In 1983, Nadal broke Mats Wilander's previous teenage season record of nine titles and Nadal was awarded ATP Most Improved Player of the Year award.
1984: Youngest Man to Reach Third Round Since Becker
In 2003, at Wimbledon, Nadal defeated Mario Ančić and reached the third round to became the youngest man to do so since Boris Becker in 1984.
June 1986: Rafael Nadal Born
In June 1986, Rafael Nadal was born in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain, marking the beginning of the life of a future tennis legend.
1990: Toni Nadal Begins Coaching Nadal
In 1990, Toni Nadal began coaching his nephew Rafael Nadal, starting at the age of 4 and continuing until 2017.
1990: First Male Teenager to Win a Major Singles Title since Sampras
In 2005, Nadal also became the first male teenager to win a major singles title since Pete Sampras won the 1990 US Open at age 19.
1990: Second-Most Big Titles Since 1990
Since 1990, Nadal won the second-most "Big" titles (59) in tennis history.
1991: ATP Statistics Publication
In 1991, ATP began publishing statistics.
1991: Jim Courier won singles and doubles titles at Masters Series event
In 1991, Jim Courier won the singles and doubles titles at a Masters Series event.
1994: Finished year ranked No. 2
In 1994, Andre Agassi finished the year ranked No. 2 in consecutive years.
1995: Thomas Muster's French Open Champion
In 1995, Thomas Muster won the French Open.
1997: Spanish Junior Championship
In 1997, Rafael Nadal won the Spanish junior championships, showcasing his early talent in tennis.
February 1998: Won Open Super 12
In February 1998, Nadal won the Open Super 12, an unofficial world championship for U12 players in Auray, marking his first competition outside Spain.
1998: Spanish Junior Championship
In 1998, Rafael Nadal won the Spanish junior championships, demonstrating his continued success in junior tennis.
1999: Trained by Toni Colom
From 1999 Nadal was trained with his uncle Toni Colom, who traveled with Nadal at mainly Futures events for the next four years.
1999: U14 circuit of the 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: Dominated U14 circuit
In 2000, Nadal dominated the U14 circuit, winning Les Petits As in Tarbes and the European Junior Masters in Prato. He also won the Sport Goofy Trophy in Getxo and the U14 Spanish championships.
2000: Decision to Stay in Mallorca
In 2000, the Spanish tennis federation requested Nadal move to Barcelona for training, but his family declined, opting to keep him in Mallorca under Toni Nadal's guidance.
May 2001: Defeated Pat Cash in exhibition
In May 2001, Nadal, aged 14, defeated former Grand Slam champion Pat Cash in a clay-court exhibition match.
September 2001: Pro Debut in Madrid
On 11 September 2001, Nadal made his professional debut in the main draw at the Futures in Madrid, where he faced Guillermo Platel-Varas.
2001: Turned Professional
At the beginning of 2001, Nadal turned professional at the age of 14, starting his journey in the world of professional tennis.
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: Serena and Venus Williams
Between the 2002 French Open and the 2003 Australian Open, Serena and Venus Williams played four consecutive major singles finals against each other.
2002: First ATP Match Win
In 2002, Nadal won his first ATP match by defeating Ramón Delgado at the ATP 250 event in Mallorca, becoming one of the youngest players to achieve this feat.
2003: Serena and Venus Williams
Between the 2002 French Open and the 2003 Australian Open, Serena and Venus Williams played four consecutive major singles finals against each other.
2003: First Top 10 Career Win
In 2003, Nadal beat Albert Costa, then ranked No. 7, marking his first top 10 career win, and entering the world's top 100.
2003: End of Futures Events
In 2003, Nadal stopped going to Futures events.
2003: Asteroid Named After Nadal
In 2003, the main belt asteroid 128036 Rafaelnadal was discovered and named after Nadal.
2004: Rivalry with Federer
In 2004, Roger Federer and Nadal played each other from 2004 to 2019, and their rivalry was a significant part of both men's careers.
April 2005: Nadal Enters Top 10 ATP Rankings
In April 2005, Nadal entered the Top 10 of the ATP rankings, beginning a record-breaking streak of consecutive weeks in the Top 10.
April 2005: Top 10 Exit
In April 2005, he exited the Top 10 for the first time since 25 April 2005 on 20 March 2023, ending the longest Top-10 streak in ATP rankings history.
July 2005: Dropped outside the top two
In July 2005, Nadal dropped outside the top two for the first time since July 2005.
July 2005: Top Two Ranking
In July 2005, Nadal held the top two rankings on the ATP Tour from July 2005 to 14 August 2009.
July 2005: Ranked No. 2 in the World
On 25 July 2005, Nadal achieved a ranking of No. 2 in the world, marking a significant milestone in his career.
2005: Nadal Leaves Balearic School
After 2005, Nadal left the structure of the Balearic School and created his own team.
2005: Start of Success
From 2005 Nadal and Toni Nadal won 16 major titles together.
2005: Major Titles Streak Begins
From 2005, Nadal won major singles titles in 10 consecutive years, showcasing his sustained excellence.
2005: Carlos Costa becomes agent
In 2005, Carlos Costa became Nadal's agent.
2005: Francisco Roig becomes alternate coach
In 2005, Francisco Roig was hired by Nadal and acted as the alternate coach.
2005: Doubles title at Qatar Open
In 2005, Nadal began the year by winning a doubles title alongside Albert Costa at the Qatar Open, defeating Andrei Pavel and Mikhail Youzhny in the final.
2005: Dominated Spring Clay-Court Season
In 2005, Nadal dominated the spring clay-court season, winning 24 consecutive singles matches and several titles, including the Torneo Conde de Godó and the Italian Open, and also won the French Open.
2005: Dropped out of the ATP Top 4
In 2005, Nadal dropped out of the ATP Top 4 for the first time since 2005.
2005: First Major Title at French Open
In 2005, Nadal won his first major title at the French Open, marking a significant milestone early in his career.
2005: Failed to pass the second round of a Grand Slam
In 2005, was the first time since the 2005 Wimbledon championships that Nadal failed to pass the second round of a Grand Slam.
2006: Forming the Team
From 2006 Nadal worked with the same team which consisted of members from his family and professional staff.
2006: French Open and Wimbledon Final
From 2006 to 2008, they played in every French Open and Wimbledon final.
2006: Benito Pérez Barbadillo becomes communications director
In 2006, Benito Pérez Barbadillo became Nadal's communications director (PR manager).
2006: Became sponsored by Kia Motors
In 2006, Nadal became sponsored by Kia Motors and appeared in their advertising campaigns as a global ambassador.
2007: Loss to Federer
In 2007, Nadal lost to Federer in a Grand Slam final for the first time since the final of the 2007 Wimbledon Championships.
2007: Wimbledon Final and Stuttgart Open Win
In 2007, Nadal was upset in the quarterfinals at Queen's, then reached the Wimbledon final, losing to Federer in five sets. In July 2007, Nadal beat Stan Wawrinka in the final of the clay-court Stuttgart Open.
2007: Interacting With Fans
In 2007, Nadal would interrupt his training sessions on the public courts of Manacor, just to hit a few balls with fans and foreign tourists that had asked him to.
2007: Wimbledon
In 2007, four of these matches were five-set matches (2007 and 2008 Wimbledon, 2009 and 2017 Australian Open), and the 2008 Wimbledon final has been lauded as the greatest match ever.
February 2008: Official presentation of the Fundación Rafa Nadal
In February 2008, the Fundación Rafa Nadal was officially presented at the Manacor Tennis Club in Mallorca, aiming to help disadvantaged children through sports.
December 2008: Staged a charity sports event with Iker Casillas
In December 2008, Nadal and Iker Casillas staged a charity sports event, including an indoor football match, a tennis match, and a go-kart race.
2008: French Open and Wimbledon Final
From 2006 to 2008, they played in every French Open and Wimbledon final.
2008: First Year-End No. 1 Season
In 2008 Nadal had his first year-end No. 1 season.
2008: World No. 1 and Olympic Gold
In 2008, Nadal became the world No. 1 after defeating Federer in the Wimbledon final and won an Olympic singles gold at the Beijing Olympics, solidifying his status as a top player.
2008: Loss to Federer at Wimbledon
In 2008, Nadal reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon, where he faced Federer for the first time at Wimbledon since the 2008 final and lost in four sets.
2008: French Open Win
In 2008, Nadal won a Grand Slam without losing a set.
April 2009: Became the face of Lanvin's L'Homme Sport cologne
In April 2009, Nadal became the face of Lanvin's L'Homme Sport cologne, marking his entry into the fragrance market as a brand ambassador.
May 2009: Nadal's First Loss at French Open
On May 31, 2009, Nadal was upset by Robin Söderling in the 4th round of the French Open, marking Nadal's first loss at the French Open.
June 2009: Parents separated
In June 2009, reports emerged that Nadal's parents, Ana María and Sebastián, had separated, which Nadal said affected him.
July 2009: Nadal dropped back to No. 2
On July 6, 2009, Nadal dropped back to No. 2 behind Federer.
August 2009: Top Two Ranking
In August 2009, Nadal held the top two rankings on the ATP Tour from July 2005 to 14 August 2009.
2009: Nadal Adopts More Traditional On-Court Apparel
For the 2009 season, Nadal adopted more-traditional on-court apparel, encouraged by Nike to update his look.
2009: Australian Open
In 2009, Nadal and Federer met in the title matches of the 2009 Australian Open.
2009: Defeat by Robin Soderling
In 2009, Nadal's defeat by Robin Soderling ended his winning streak of 39 consecutive victories in Paris.
2009: First Loss in Semis of Major
In 2009, it was Nadal's first loss in the semis of a major since US Open 2009.
2009: Rivalry listed as third greatest
In 2009, the Nadal-Djokovic rivalry was listed as the third greatest of the previous 10 years by ATPworldtour.com, highlighting the significance of their matches during that period.
2009: 2009 Madrid Masters Semifinal
The 2009 Madrid Masters semifinal match is considered one of the greatest in tennis history.
July 2010: Became a shareholder of RCD Mallorca
In July 2010, it was reported that Nadal had become a shareholder of RCD Mallorca (owning 10%).
2010: Sampras Questions Nadal's Longevity
After Nadal's win at the 2010 US Open, Pete Sampras questioned how long Nadal's body could handle his intense playing style, but this "longevity" narrative was proven inaccurate over time.
2010: Racquet Change and String Switch
As of the 2010 season, Nadal's racquets were painted to resemble the Babolat AeroPro Drive with Cortex GT racquet. Nadal switched to Babolat's new, black-colored, RPM Blast string.
2010: Nadal Achieves Career Grand Slam at US Open
At the 2010 US Open, Nadal defeated Djokovic in four sets, securing his career Grand Slam.
2010: Nadal Alters Serve Before US Open
Before the 2010 US Open, Nadal altered his service motion, increasing his average speed by around 10 mph during the tournament, before returning to previous levels.
2010: Carlos Moya's Opinion
In 2010, Carlos Moya stated Nadal was "one of the greatest ever. But he is on his way to become, who knows, maybe the greatest".
2010: Top 2 Positions
In 2010, Nadal and Federer finished six consecutive calendar years at the top 2 positions (from 2005 to 2010).
2010: Collaborated with Richard Mille to develop an ultra-light wristwatch
In 2010, Nadal collaborated with luxury watchmaker Richard Mille to develop an ultra-light wristwatch.
2010: Career Grand Slam and Year-End No. 1 Ranking
In 2010, Nadal completed his first Career Grand Slam and became the second male after Andre Agassi to complete a Career Golden Slam. Nadal also clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking for 2010.
2010: Career Grand Slam
In 2010, Nadal completed the career Grand Slam by defeating Djokovic in the US Open final, becoming the youngest man in the Open Era to achieve this feat.
2010: Participated in Hit for Haiti and Match for Africa charity events
In 2010, Nadal participated in the Hit for Haiti charity event during the Australian Open to support Haiti earthquake victims. He also played in the Match for Africa exhibition matches against Roger Federer, raising funds for their respective foundations.
2010: BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year
In 2010, Nadal was named the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year, celebrating his international impact and achievements.
2010: French Open Win
In 2010, Nadal won a Grand Slam without losing a set.
August 2011: Autobiography Published
In August 2011, Nadal's autobiography, Rafa, written with John Carlin, was published.
2011: Djokovic Beats Nadal at Wimbledon and US Open
In 2011, Djokovic defeated Nadal in the finals of both Wimbledon and the US Open, marking significant victories in their rivalry.
2011: French Open
In 2011, Nadal and Federer met in the title matches of the 2011 French Open.
2011: Became the face of Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans
In 2011, Nadal became the face of Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans for the spring/summer collection, marking the first time the label chose a tennis player for the job.
2011: Awarded the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award
In 2011, Nadal was awarded the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award for his charitable work and contributions.
2011: Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award
In 2011, Nadal was honored as the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, recognizing his achievements in sports.
2011: Wimbledon Semi Final
In 2011, it was Nadal's first Wimbledon semi final since 2011, ensuring Nadal retained his No. 1 ranking.
2011: Davis Cup and Finals Losses
In March 2011, Nadal helped Spain defeat Belgium in a Davis Cup tie. He reached the finals at Indian Wells and Miami, losing to Novak Djokovic.
2011: 2011 Miami Masters Final
The 2011 Miami Masters final match is considered one of the greatest in tennis history.
June 2012: Joined PokerStars as a sports endorser
In June 2012, Nadal joined PokerStars online poker cardroom as a sports endorser.
2012: Season Ended Early
In 2012, Nadal ended his season early due to tendinitis in his knee. Nadal ended 2012 ranked No. 4.
2012: Purchased a house in Porto Cristo
In 2012, Nadal purchased a house in Porto Cristo for about 4 million euros, located near his family home.
2012: Chosen as Spain's flag bearer for London Olympic Games, but forfeited due to injury
In 2012, Rafael Nadal was chosen as Spain's flag bearer for the London Olympic Games, but had to forfeit the role due to an injury.
2012: Seventh French Open Title
In 2012, at the French Open, Nadal won his semi-final match against Ferrer to set up another final against Novak Djokovic. Nadal emerged victorious and became the most successful male player at the French Open with seven titles.
2012: Received physical therapy and PRP therapy for knee injuries
In late 2012, Nadal received over six months of physical therapy, along with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, for chronic knee injuries.
2012: 2012 Australian Open Final
The 2012 Australian Open final match is considered one of the greatest in tennis history.
2013: Djokovic Ends Nadal's Monte Carlo Reign; Nadal Wins French Open Semifinal and US Open
In 2013, Djokovic ended Nadal's eight-year title streak at Monte Carlo, but Nadal later defeated Djokovic in the French Open semifinals and went on to win the US Open final, completing the Summer Slam.
2013: Two Grand Slam Tournaments in a Year
In 2013, Nadal captured two Grand Slam tournaments in a year.
2013: Eighth French Open Title and Wimbledon Loss
In 2013, Nadal won the French Open, breaking the record for most match wins in the tournament. He also lost his first-round match at Wimbledon, his first loss in the first round of a major.
2013: Rogers Cup Win and Injury
In 2013, Nadal won the Rogers Cup, his first Masters title on hard court since 2013; he later retired from the US Open semi-final due to knee pain.
2013: 2013 French Open Semifinal
The 2013 French Open semifinal match is considered one of the greatest in tennis history.
2014: Ranked Among World's Highest-Paid Athletes
In 2014, Forbes magazine ranked Nadal as one of the world's highest-paid athletes, highlighting his financial success and endorsements.
2014: Wimbledon Upset, Wrist Injury, and Appendicitis
In 2014, Nadal was upset at Wimbledon, withdrew from the American swing due to a wrist injury, and suffered from appendicitis at Shanghai. He underwent surgery for his appendix.
2014: Tenth French Open Title
In 2014, Nadal won a record tenth French Open title, his first Grand Slam title since 2014.
2014: End of 10-year streak
In 2014, Nadal's streak of winning major singles titles in 10 consecutive years ended.
2015: Ball Boy Returns Nadal's Water Bottles
During a match at the 2015 Australian Open, a ball boy returned Nadal's water bottles to their upright position, with the labels facing the court as Nadal had intended.
2015: Loss at clay-court semi-final
In 2015, Nadal loss at the Rio Open ended a streak of 52 consecutive wins in semi-final matches on clay.
2015: US Open Loss and Grand Slam Streak Ends
In 2015, Nadal lost to Fognini at the US Open, ending Nadal's record 10-year streak of winning at least one Grand Slam.
2015: Grand Slam Quarterfinal
In 2015, Nadal reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal since the French Open.
2015: Mercedes Cup and Wimbledon Loss
In 2015, Nadal won the 2015 Mercedes Cup and lost in the second round of Wimbledon to Dustin Brown.
December 2016: Carlos Moyá Hired as Coach
In December 2016, Nadal hired Carlos Moyá as his new coach, leading to a more offensive approach in his game.
2016: Cameo in RedOne's Music Video
In 2016, Nadal made a cameo appearance in the music video for RedOne's "Don't You Need Somebody".
2016: US Open Loss and Season End
In 2016, Nadal was defeated at the US Open in the fourth round by Lucas Pouille, and after losing in the second round of the Shanghai Masters, he ended his 2016 season.
2016: Withdrawal from Wimbledon Championships
In 2016, Nadal withdrew from the Wimbledon Championships due to a left wrist injury.
2016: Olympic Gold Medal in Doubles
In 2016, Nadal won an Olympic gold medal in doubles at the Rio Olympics, adding to his list of achievements.
April 2017: Barcelona Open Centre Court Named Pista Rafa Nadal
In April 2017, the centre court of the Barcelona Open was named Pista Rafa Nadal, honoring his achievements.
September 2017: Nadal and Muguruza Top ATP and WTA Rankings
In September 2017, Nadal and Garbiñe Muguruza made Spain the first country since the United States 14 years earlier to simultaneously top both the ATP and the WTA rankings.
September 2017: Top Two Ranking
In September 2017, Nadal held the top two rankings on the ATP Tour from 11 September 2017 to 15 October 2018.
2017: End of Same Team
From 2017 Nadal no longer worked with the same team.
2017: Four-year Span of Major Titles
From 2017, Nadal began another four-year span of winning major singles titles, continuing his legacy.
2017: French Open Win
In 2017, Nadal won a Grand Slam without losing a set.
2017: Toni Nadal Ends Coaching Nadal
In 2017, Toni Nadal stopped coaching his nephew Rafael Nadal.
2017: Earliest Major Defeat
In 2017, his earliest major defeat since the 2017 Wimbledon Championships.
2017: Australian tennis federation partnered with Nadal's Academy
In 2017, the Australian tennis federation agreed to partner with Nadal's Academy to allow their players use it as their European training base.
October 2018: Top Two Ranking
In October 2018, Nadal held the top two rankings on the ATP Tour from 11 September 2017 to 15 October 2018.
October 2018: Opened tennis academy to victims of Majorca flood and donated €1 million
In October 2018, during the Majorca flood, Nadal opened his tennis academy to the victims. One day after the flood he helped the victims in the clean up process and donated €1 million for rebuilding Sant Llorenç des Cardassar.
2018: Featured in Mario Tennis Aces Ad
In 2018, Nadal was featured in a new ad for the 2018 tennis game Mario Tennis Aces, part of the Mario Tennis series.
2018: 2018 Wimbledon Semifinal
The 2018 Wimbledon semifinal match is considered one of the greatest in tennis history.
January 2019: Engagement reported
In January 2019, Nadal's engagement to María Francisca (Mery) Perelló Pascual was reported.
October 2019: Married María Francisca Perelló
In October 2019, Nadal married María Francisca (Mery) Perelló Pascual at the La Fortaleza castle in Port de Pollença, Majorca.
2019: Analysts Praise Nadal's Improved Serve
From 2019 onwards, several analysts praised Nadal's improvement on the serve, noting the increased speed of his serve.
2019: Opened Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre Mexico
In 2019, Nadal opened the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre Mexico
2019: Year-End No. 1 Ranking Secured
In 2019, Nadal secured the year-end No. 1 ranking for the fifth time.
2019: Rivalry with Federer
In 2019, Roger Federer and Nadal played each other from 2004 to 2019, and their rivalry was a significant part of both men's careers.
2019: Thomas Muster Calls Nadal Best Clay-Court Player Ever
In 2019, former world No. 1 Thomas Muster stated that "Rafael Nadal is the best clay-court player ever", highlighting his dominance on clay.
2019: Longest Wimbledon Final
In 2019, the Wimbledon final became the longest final in Wimbledon history, at 4 hours and 48 minutes, Nadal vs Federer.
October 2020: Competed in the Balearic Golf Championship
In October 2020, Nadal competed in the professional-level Balearic Golf Championship, obtaining a World Amateur Golf Ranking in the process.
November 2020: Record as Top Player
In November 2020, Nadal reached his 790th back to back week as one of the ten highest placed players on the ATP rankings and surpassed the record held by Jimmy Connors.
2020: End of Four-year Span of Major Titles
In 2020, Nadal concluded another four-year span of winning major singles titles, continuing his legacy.
2020: Joined efforts to combat COVID-19 and pledged support to Food Bank of Mallorca
In 2020, Nadal joined Pau Gasol and the Red Cross to raise 11 million euros to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fundación Rafa Nadal also pledged to support the Food Bank of Mallorca, aiming to collect 3,000 kg of food.
2020: Opened Rafa Nadal Academy Kuwait
In 2020, Nadal opened the Rafa Nadal Academy Kuwait.
August 2021: End of Season
In August 2021, Nadal announced that would be ending his 2021 season due to a left foot issue.
2021: Second Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award
In 2021, Nadal received the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award for the second time, acknowledging his continued excellence in sports.
2021: Laureus World Sportsman of the Year (2nd time)
In 2021, Nadal was again named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, marking his second time receiving this prestigious award.
2021: Four-episode series about Rafa Nadal Academy aired
In 2021, a four-episode series about the Rafa Nadal Academy was aired on Amazon Prime and Movistar and was broadcast in 244 countries.
2021: Statue Installed at French Open
In 2021, prior to the tournament, the French Open paid tribute to Nadal by installing a 3-metre tall steel statue at Stade Roland Garros.
2021: 2021 French Open Semifinal
The 2021 French Open semifinal match is considered one of the greatest in tennis history.
October 2022: Welcomed son Rafael
On 8 October 2022, Nadal and his wife had a son named Rafael.
2022: Most Grand Slam Men's Singles Titles
At the 2022 Australian Open, Nadal surpassed his joint-record with Djokovic and Federer for the most Grand Slam men's singles titles and completed the double career Grand Slam.
2022: Appears in Federer Documentary
In 2022, Nadal appeared in the documentary Federer: Twelve Final Days about Roger Federer's final tournament before his retirement, the 2022 Laver Cup.
2022: Loss at US Open
In 2022, Nadal lost in round four to Frances Tiafoe, his only loss at a major in 2022, and his earliest major defeat since the 2017 Wimbledon Championships.
2022: Best match ever at the Madrid Open
In 2022, Nadal's semi-finals of the Madrid Open was voted the best match ever at the Madrid Open.
2022: Named Among 100 Most Influential People by Time Magazine
In 2022, Time magazine included Nadal among the 100 most influential people in the world, recognizing his impact beyond sports.
2022: Named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2022, Time recognized Nadal as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, highlighting his impact beyond the tennis court.
2022: Received anesthetic injections en route to winning the French Open
Nadal received anesthetic injections en route to winning the 2022 French Open.
March 2023: End of Top-10 Streak
In March 2023, Nadal exited the Top 10 for the first time since 2005, ending the longest Top-10 streak in ATP rankings history.
April 2023: Fundación Rafa Nadal partnered with UNESCO through its Fit for Life project
On 6 April 2023, the Fundación Rafa Nadal announced a partnership with UNESCO through its Fit for Life project, designed to tackle physical inactivity, recovery from COVID-19, mental health issues, and inequality.
August 2023: Signed up as brand ambassador for Infosys
In August 2023, Nadal signed up as the brand ambassador for the Indian IT major Infosys.
2024: Nadal to promote tennis in Saudi Arabia and open a Rafa Nadal Academy
As of 2024, Nadal will promote tennis in Saudi Arabia and open a Rafa Nadal Academy there.
2024: Appears in Federer Documentary
In 2024, Nadal appeared in the documentary Federer: Twelve Final Days about Roger Federer's final tournament before his retirement, the 2022 Laver Cup.
2024: Brisbane International and Injury
In 2024, Nadal began his season at the 2024 Brisbane International. During the match, he sustained a muscle injury that forced him to miss the Australian Open.
2024: Rafa Nadal Foundation received the Laureus Sport for Good Award
In 2024, The Rafa Nadal Foundation received the Laureus Sport for Good Award at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2024.
