Rafael Nadal has opened up on his prolonged title drought at the Australian Open since 2009. In one of his epic clashes with long-time foe Roger Federer, the Spaniard won in five fiercely-fought sets in a final that stretched well past midnight. It was a contest that lasted 4 hours and 23 minutes, only a few ticks shy of the marathon 2008 Wimbledon final featuring these two greats [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Wimbledon_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men%27s_singles_final], which spanned 4 hours and 48 minutes. RAFAEL NADAL REVEALS INJURING HIS BACK DURING THE 2014 FINAL LOSS TO STAN WAWRINKA Speaking at a press conference ahead of this year’s Australian Open [https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/tennis/australian-open/], Nadal said he can’t quite find a reason why he hasn’t won the event since 2009. Rafael Nadal [https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1197314715.jpg]Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball during the quarterfinals of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jason Heidrich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) The Spaniard, who is currently level with Federer [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/roger-federer] for the most number of Grand Slam titles, at 20 apiece, said that he came close to lifting the trophy once again in 2014. Nadal [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/rafael-nadal] reached the final at the Melbourne Park that year before going down to Swiss Stan Wawrinka [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/stan-wawrinka/] in a four-setter. NADAL SAYS HE ALSO HAD CHANCES IN 2012 AND 2017 He revealed that he suffered a back injury during the title showdown in 2014, which eventually hurt his prospects of lifting his second Australian Open title. However, he did remind the media crew that “nobody in the history of the Open Era won twice in every single event”. “I don’t find a real reason. I think I had a big chance in 2014. I got injured during the match, in the back. It was a tough one,” Nadal said. [https://www.essentiallysports.com/rafael-nadal-atp-tennis-news-relive-rafael-nadals-top-shots-on-tour-in-2020/] He said he also had good chances in 2012 and 2017 to win the championship but somehow contrived to lose. There’s a big question mark around Nadal’s chances at Melbourne Park this year as he is battling a sore back. He pulled out of Spain’s campaign at the ATP Cup, citing a stiff back and it led to frenzied speculation on whether he will be fit to compete in the Australian Open. Despite missing Nadal’s services, Spain reached the semi-finals of the ATP Cup before losing to Spain. 

Rafael Nadal says he has no real reason why he hasn't been able to win the
Australian Open since his victory over Roger Federer in 2009

Priyabrata Chowdhury is a tennis author for EssentiallySports. He has been a
print journalist for a decade, producing news pages for leading national dailies
such as the Hindustan Times and The New Indian Express. His passion for sports
eventually drove him to tennis writing. From covering live matches to writing
features or reports on all that’s happening in the world of tennis, he is mining
his interest in the sport to strive for writing excellence. When he is not busy
writing about tennis, he likes to read, watch his favorite shows and films on
Netflix or other streaming platforms, or catch Roger Federer in action.

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Priyabrata Chowdhury

Nitto ATP World Tour Finals - Day Seven

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“Don’t Find a Real Reason”: Rafael Nadal Opens up on Not Winning His Second
Australian Open Title

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<h2><strong>Australian Open: Latest News, Results and Records</strong></h2>
The Australian Open is the youngest of all the Grand Slams, having first started in 1905.

The tournament holds the record for the highest attendance at a Grand Slam event, where 743,667 people attended during the 2018 edition of the Australian Open. It also has the honor of being the first Grand Slam tournament to feature indoor play during wet weather or extreme heat.

There are three main courts, the Rod Laver Arena, the Melbourne Arena and the Margaret Court Arena. Aside from that, they have courts 7 to 15 and even court 19 and 20. The tournament first became open to all from 1969 onwards, a year after the remaining 3 did so.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-136876 size-full" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/ao-4.jpg" alt="" width="3000" height="2000" />
<h2><strong>Records</strong></h2>
<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/novak-djokovic/">Novak Djokovic</a> is the most successful player of the Australian Open in the Open era. The Serbian star has clinched eight Australian Open titles.

In the women's side of the game, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/serena-williams/">Serena Williams</a> is the most successful player with seven titles to her credit. Again, this was set in the Open era. Overall, Williams is still four behind tennis legend Margaret Court.

The youngest winner in the men's singles game was Australian player Ken Rosewall. Meanwhile, on the women's side, it was Martina Hingis. The players were 18 years, 2 months and 16 years, 4 months old respectively.

With regard to the oldest players, Rosewall bagged this crown at the aged 37 years and 2 months. However, if <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/roger-federer/">Roger Federer</a> wins the Australian Open, he could overtake Rosewall. In the women's side of the game, Thelma Long was the oldest winner at 35 years and 8 months.
<h2>Australian Open 2021 Plans</h2>
The two Grand Slams held after the Australian Open 2020 saw major changes than usual. The <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/us-open-2020/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">US Open 2020</a> and <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/french-open-2020/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">French Open 2020</a> were held inside a bio-secure bubble on account of the complications arising due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The US Open 2020 was held behind closed doors, while the French Open 2020 saw just 1000 spectators allowed inside the Roland Garros fields.

Australian Open organizers are planning to allow 50 percent of the seats to be filled by fans. This is subject to government clearance. They also <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/that-wont-happen-australian-open-2021-proposes-to-relax-strict-quarantine-measures/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">plan</a> on introducing relaxations on a lot of the quarantine restrictions the players had in Paris and New York.

While the 14-day quarantine will be there on arrival at Melbourne Park, there is expected to be some freedom for players and their team members.

Australian Open 2021 is expected to be held from January 18-31, 2021.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-99443" src="http://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Australian_Open_logo.svg_.png" alt="" width="1280" height="458" />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Edition</b></td>
<td>108th
Open Era (52nd)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Current Prize Money</b></td>
<td>$4.5 million (men's and women's champion)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Number of Entries (Main Draw)</strong></td>
<td>128</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Current Champions</b></td>
<td><strong>Men's Si</strong><strong style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">ngles</strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;"> - Novak Djokovic</span>

<strong>Women's Singles</strong> - Sofia Kenin

<strong>Men's Doubles</strong> - Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury

<strong>Women's Doubles</strong> - Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic

<strong>Mixed Doubles</strong> - Barbora Krejčíková/Nikola Mektic</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Most Titles</b></td>
<td><strong>Men's Singles</strong> - Novak Djokovic (8)

<strong>Women's Singles</strong> - Margaret Court (11)

<strong>Men's Doubles</strong> - Adrian Quist (10)

<strong>Women's Doubles</strong> - Thelma Coyne Long (12)

<strong>Mixed Doubles</strong> - Harry Hopman, Colin Long, Daphne Akhurst Cozens, Nell Hall Hopman, Nancye Wynne Bolton, Thelma Coyne Long (4)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Australian Open

Australian Open: Latest News, Results and Records The Australian Open is the youngest of all the Grand Slams, having first started in 1905. The tournament holds the record for the highest attendance at a Grand Slam event, where 743,667 people attended during the 2018 edition of the Australian Open. It also has the honor of being the first Grand Slam tournament to feature indoor play during wet weather or extreme heat. There are three main courts, the Rod Laver Arena, the Melbourne Arena and the Margaret Court Arena. Aside from that, they have courts 7 to 15 and even court 19 and 20. The tournament first became open to all from 1969 onwards, a year after the remaining 3 did so. Records Novak Djokovic is the most successful player of the Australian Open in the Open era. The Serbian star has clinched eight Australian Open titles. In the women&#8217;s side of the game, Serena Williams is the most successful player with seven titles to her credit. Again, this was set in the Open era. Overall, Williams is still four behind tennis legend Margaret Court. The youngest winner in the men&#8217;s singles game was Australian player Ken Rosewall. Meanwhile, on the women&#8217;s side, it was Martina Hingis. The players were 18 years, 2 months and 16 years, 4 months old respectively. With regard to the oldest players, Rosewall bagged this crown at the aged 37 years and 2 months. However, if Roger Federer wins the Australian Open, he could overtake Rosewall. In the women&#8217;s side of the game, Thelma Long was the oldest winner at 35 years and 8 months. Australian Open 2021 Plans The two Grand Slams held after the Australian Open 2020 saw major changes than usual. The US Open 2020 and French Open 2020 were held inside a bio-secure bubble on account of the complications arising due to the coronavirus pandemic. The US Open 2020 was held behind closed doors, while the French Open 2020 saw just 1000 spectators allowed inside the Roland Garros fields. Australian Open organizers are planning to allow 50 percent of the seats to be filled by fans. This is subject to government clearance. They also plan on introducing relaxations on a lot of the quarantine restrictions the players had in Paris and New York. While the 14-day quarantine will be there on arrival at Melbourne Park, there is expected to be some freedom for players and their team members. Australian Open 2021 is expected to be held from January 18-31, 2021.   Edition 108th Open Era (52nd)  Current Prize Money $4.5 million (men&#8217;s and women&#8217;s champion)  Number of Entries (Main Draw) 128  Current Champions Men&#8217;s Singles &#8211; Novak Djokovic Women&#8217;s Singles &#8211; Sofia Kenin Men&#8217;s Doubles &#8211; Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury Women&#8217;s Doubles &#8211; Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic Mixed Doubles &#8211; Barbora Krejčíková/Nikola Mektic  Most Titles Men&#8217;s Singles &#8211; Novak Djokovic (8) Women&#8217;s Singles &#8211; Margaret Court (11) Men&#8217;s Doubles &#8211; Adrian Quist (10) Women&#8217;s Doubles &#8211; Thelma Coyne Long (12) Mixed Doubles &#8211; Harry Hopman, Colin Long, Daphne Akhurst Cozens, Nell Hall Hopman, Nancye Wynne Bolton, Thelma Coyne Long (4)

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Rafael Nadal says he has no real reason why he hasn't been able to win the Australian Open since his victory over Roger Federer in 2009

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"Don’t Find a Real Reason": Rafael Nadal Opens up on Not Winning His Second Australian Open Title

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The first Grand Slam of the year, Australian Open 2021, will begin on the hard courts of Melbourne. It will be the 109th edition of the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific.
<h2>Where will the Australian Open be held?</h2>
Known as the 'happy slam' the Australian Open 2021 will be held at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. It is played on cushion acrylic hard courts and is organized by Tennis Australia.

[caption id="attachment_456877" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-456877" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-506383362.jpg" alt="Australian Open 2021/tennis" width="1920" height="1280" /> A general view of Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park on in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2>When will the Australian Open 2021 be held?</h2>
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Australian Open was delayed. It is yearly played during last weeks of January, but this year it will be held from the 8th of February to the 21st of February.
<h2>What is different at the Australian Open 2021?</h2>
The Australian Open 2021 is very different because of the coronavirus pandemic. The major change is in the qualifying rounds that will now be played outside Australia. The women's qualifying event will take place in Doha, Qatar whereas the men's qualifying event will take place in Dubai, UAE. The Junior Australian Open tournament has been postponed.

Coming to the spectators, the organizers of the Australian Open are confident of holding 50% of the spectator count of the Grand Slam. The 2020 Australian Open had a record spectator count of 812,000 people.

Prior to the Grand Slam, players will be quarantined under strict protocols for 14 days.
<h2>Australian Open 2021 defending champions</h2>
World No.1 Novak Djokovic is the defending champion in men's singles. He is the record holder for most Australian Open titles.

[caption id="attachment_430578" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-430578" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1203948447.jpg" alt="Dominic Thiem and Novak Djokovic" width="1920" height="1280" /> 2020 Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic. (Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images)[/caption]

American ace Sofia Kenin is the defending champion in women's singles. She won her first Grand Slam in Melbourne last year.

The duo of Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury are the defending men's doubles champions from 2020. And Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic are the defending women’s doubles champions.

Barbora Krejčíková and Nikola Mektić are the defending mixed doubles champions in the 2021 Australian Open.

[caption id="attachment_482816" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-482816" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1203337700.jpg" alt="Sofia Kenin - Australian Open" width="1920" height="1280" /> 2020 Australian Open women's singles champion Sofia Kenin. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2>Australian Open 2021 Prize Money</h2>
Despite the coronavirus pandemic hiccup, the organizers have managed to carry forward the same prize money of $71.5 million from the 2020 edition.
<h2>Australian Open 2021 Schedule</h2>
The Australian Open 2021 will begin on 8th February. It will have both day and night sessions. The day sessions will begin at 11 am EST. And the night sessions begin on 7 pm EST.
<h2>Which channels are showing the Australian Open?</h2>
Africa: bein sports, Eurosport, SuperSport

Central Asia: Eurosport, Sony Six

Middle East: bein sports, Eurosport

Indian Subcontinent: Sony Six

China: CCTV, iQIYI, Guangdong TV, Great Sports Channel (Shanghai), Fox Sports.

Japan: NHK, WOWOW

Southeast Asia: Fox Sports

Australia: Nine

New Zealand: Sky

Europe (all territories): Eurosport,

Europe (local): SRG SSR, RTVS.SK, ServusTV

Latin America and Caribbean: ESPN International

Canada: TSN, RDS

USA: ESPN, Tennis Channel

Australian Open 2021

The first Grand Slam of the year, Australian Open 2021, will begin on the hard courts of Melbourne. It will be the 109th edition of the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific. Where will the Australian Open be held? Known as the &#8216;happy slam&#8217; the Australian Open 2021 will be held at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. It is played on cushion acrylic hard courts and is organized by Tennis Australia. A general view of Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park on in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images) When will the Australian Open 2021 be held? Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Australian Open was delayed. It is yearly played during last weeks of January, but this year it will be held from the 8th of February to the 21st of February. What is different at the Australian Open 2021? The Australian Open 2021 is very different because of the coronavirus pandemic. The major change is in the qualifying rounds that will now be played outside Australia. The women&#8217;s qualifying event will take place in Doha, Qatar whereas the men&#8217;s qualifying event will take place in Dubai, UAE. The Junior Australian Open tournament has been postponed. Coming to the spectators, the organizers of the Australian Open are confident of holding 50% of the spectator count of the Grand Slam. The 2020 Australian Open had a record spectator count of 812,000 people. Prior to the Grand Slam, players will be quarantined under strict protocols for 14 days. Australian Open 2021 defending champions World No.1 Novak Djokovic is the defending champion in men&#8217;s singles. He is the record holder for most Australian Open titles. 2020 Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic. (Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images) American ace Sofia Kenin is the defending champion in women&#8217;s singles. She won her first Grand Slam in Melbourne last year. The duo of Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury are the defending men&#8217;s doubles champions from 2020. And Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic are the defending women’s doubles champions. Barbora Krejčíková and Nikola Mektić are the defending mixed doubles champions in the 2021 Australian Open. 2020 Australian Open women&#8217;s singles champion Sofia Kenin. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Australian Open 2021 Prize Money Despite the coronavirus pandemic hiccup, the organizers have managed to carry forward the same prize money of $71.5 million from the 2020 edition. Australian Open 2021 Schedule The Australian Open 2021 will begin on 8th February. It will have both day and night sessions. The day sessions will begin at 11 am EST. And the night sessions begin on 7 pm EST. Which channels are showing the Australian Open? Africa: bein sports, Eurosport, SuperSport Central Asia: Eurosport, Sony Six Middle East: bein sports, Eurosport Indian Subcontinent: Sony Six China: CCTV, iQIYI, Guangdong TV, Great Sports Channel (Shanghai), Fox Sports. Japan: NHK, WOWOW Southeast Asia: Fox Sports Australia: Nine New Zealand: Sky Europe (all territories): Eurosport, Europe (local): SRG SSR, RTVS.SK, ServusTV Latin America and Caribbean: ESPN International Canada: TSN, RDS USA: ESPN, Tennis Channel

Australian Open 2021 Archives

Australian Open 2021 Archives - EssentiallySports

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal: 2024 Net Worth, Stats, Salary, wife and more Who is Rafael Nadal?Â  Rafael Nadal is undoubtedly one of the best tennis players of all time. The Spaniard, along withÂ Novak DjokovicÂ andÂ Roger Federer,Â forms the famed triumvirate of the &#8216;Big Three&#8217; in tennis. Another accolade that Rafa has to his name is the title, &#8220;King of Clay&#8221;. Rafael Nadal&#8217;s family includes his parents Sebastian Nadal and Maria Parera, his sister Maria Isabel, and his uncles Toni Nadal and Miguel Angel Nadal Homar. Rafael Nadalâ€™s Early LifeÂ  Rafael Nadal Parera was born on June 3, 1986, to parents Ana Maria Parera Femenias and Sebastian Nadal Homar in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain. His father is a successful businessman who owns the restaurant Sa Punta, the glass and window company, Vidres Mallorca, and three insurance companies. Mara Parera was a trader who was in the business of selling perfumes. However, she left her job and became a homemaker soon after Nadal was born. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has a younger sister, MarÃ­a Isabel Nadal. Tennis &#8211; Wimbledon &#8211; All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain &#8211; July 2, 2022 Spain&#8217;s Rafael Nadal reacts during his third round match against Italy&#8217;s Lorenzo Sonego REUTERS/Matthew Childs When Nadal was three years old, his uncle and tennis coach, Toni Nadal, introduced him to the sport and worked with him from 2005 to 2017. Toni saw in his nephew a natural talent and believed that Rafa should put effort into the racket sport. At the age of 8, Nadal was playing both soccer and tennis. In the racket sport, he transitioned to a left-handed forehand when encouraged by his uncle, despite being right-hand dominant. Toni Nadal also intensified his nephew&#8217;s training at this age. At 12, he was still playing tennis and soccer. In tennis, he won the European and Spanish championships. However, his schoolwork saw a significant drop due to both sports, so his father made him choose one sport. Rafa chose tennis and has pursued it ever since. Rafael Nadalâ€™s Wife and Children Rafael Nadal married his long-time girlfriend, Maria Francisca &#8220;Xisca&#8221; Perello, on October 19, 2019. The two have been in a relationship since 2005 and Xisca is an insurance worker and is also the current director of the Rafael Nadal Foundation. One can only rarely find Xisca in Rafael Nadal&#8217;s box during his matches. She is a private person and doesn&#8217;t like the world to get to know much about her. Xisca feels that her presence would disrupt the Spaniard&#8217;s focus. Rafael Nadal met his wife, Mery &#8220;Xisxa&#8221; Perell in 2005. While there is no confirmed news, some reports suggest that they met through family friends. However, details about their life together are seldom found online as they prefer to keep a low profile. Nadal and Perell announced they were going to have a child together in June 2022. When he eventually graced the world, the couple decided to name him Rafael Nadal Jr. Rafael Nadalâ€™s Net Worth 2024 (Update) As of early 2024, Rafael Nadal&#8217;s estimated net worth is $200 million. About all-time tennis prize money earned, he is ranked No. 2 after an exceptionally successful career. South Korea&#8217;s second-largest automobile manufacturer, Kia, has been sponsoring him as its global ambassador since 2006. Apart from Kia,Â American clothing and footwear company Nike also sponsors Nadal. Spanish biscuits and bakery manufacturer, Quely also made him its international ambassador in 2010. Nadal sports a luxury watch from Richard Mille as part of an endorsement deal. Rafael Nadal&#8217;s watch is one of the most premium watches out there, with a hefty $725,000 value. Read More: Indian Wells 2024: Rafael Nadal Receives the GOAT Tag Alongside a Special Message From Hollywood Icon Ben Stiller His other endorsement partners are Santander, Emporio Armani, Babolat, Heliocare, Telefonica, Banco Sabadell, Tommy Hilfiger, Mapfre, and more. He has a sumptuous car collection and a luxurious home in Mallorca, Spain. Nadal also has expensive villas in Porto Cristo in Spain &amp; the Dominican Republic. He likes to spend his holidays in his villas and luxurious yachts. He has also opened the Rafael Nadal Academy in his hometown in Spain, Kuwait, and Mexico. His logo is one of the most renowned logos in the world, with a stylized version of a bull. Rafael Nadalâ€™s Career &amp; Record The tennis icon from Spain dismantled the likes of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in several Grand Slam finals over the past couple of decades. By winning the 2020 French Open title, Nadal equaled Roger Federer&#8217;s record of the most Grand Slam titles at 20. A year later, in 2021, Novak Djokovic also joined Federer and Nadal when he won his 20th major title at Wimbledon by defeating Matteo Berrettini in the final. The 2022 season saw Nadal emerging triumphant in the tally of major titles as he won the Australian Open and the French Open, bringing his total up to 22. Djokovic tied his record this year after winning the Australian Open. So far, the Spaniard has won 14 French Opens, two Australian Open, two Wimbledon Championships, and four US Open titles. Tennis &#8211; French Open &#8211; Roland Garros, Paris, France &#8211; June 5, 2022 Spain&#8217;s Rafael Nadal celebrates with trophy after winning the men&#8217;s singles final against Norway&#8217;s Casper Ruud REUTERS/Benoit Tessier The King of Clay has also clinched a gold medal at the Summer Olympics. In 2008, Nadal defeated Fernando Gonzalez with a score of 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 in the final to win his only medal at the Olympics. Along with his impressive wins, Nadal has set many records that will likely be untouched for a few more decades. He is the only player to have won 112 matches in one Grand Slam. He has only lost to two players in Roland Garros, Robin Sterling and Novak Djokovic. The Spaniard is the only player to have maintained a stance in the top 10 for 912 weeks. Rafael Nadalâ€™s Academy Considered one of the leading sports centers in the world for tennis, the Rafa Nadal Academy wasÂ launched in the year 2016 in Manacor, Spain. The academy was built to provide high-class facilities to aspiring tennis enthusiasts who want to make it big on the big stage. The inaugural event for the academy was attended by Nadal&#8217;s good friend Roger Federer and other tennis stars. Three years after its initial setup, the academy got permission for expansion. Cities like Mexico and Greece now have the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre. Rafael Nadalâ€™s Partnerships and Endorsements Nadal has endorsement deals and brand partnerships galore, the most profitable of which seems to be with Nike. Nike and Rafael Nadal have been collaborators since the Spanish player&#8217;s inception, and the renowned brand has helped him achieve a number of his characteristic appearances. The Raging Bull trademark, which is featured on a variety of gear items available for public purchase in addition to custom-made clothes for Rafael Nadal, is owned by Nike. Although the Raging Bull sign is commonly regarded as Rafael Nadal&#8217;s logo, Nike is the company that owns the trademark. The now-famous Raging Bull emblem was initially observed on Rafael Nadal in 2013. It was typically shown most clearly on his right breast, with the Nike logo covering his left. Despite his modesty, Nike values their relationship with Rafael Nadal greatly and pays him around $10 million annually. In addition, Santander, Emporio Armani, Babolat, Heliocare, Telefonica, Banco Sabadell, Tommy Hilfiger, Mapfre, and upscale wristwatch Richard Mille are among Nadal&#8217;s sponsors. According to the most recent estimations, Rafael Nadal&#8217;s net worth is roughly $220 million, with the majority of his income coming from prize money won on the ATP Tour. Since way back in 2006, he has represented South Korean automaker Kia as a brand ambassador. Rafael Nadalâ€™s Stats Rafa has been a shining star ever since he turned professional. He played his first ATP match on April 29, 2002. At the age of 15 years and 330 days, Nadal became one of the youngest players to win their debut ATP match. He faced Ramon Delgado and triumphed in straight sets of 6-4, 6-4. Ever since then, he has become one of the best in the sport. He would go on to not only face his major rival Roger Federer in their first match-up but also win against the Swiss Maestro. They met in the 2004 Miami Masters and set the tone for their rivalry, as he ended up with the upper hand in their head-to-head. Nadal has won 24 out of their 40 matches. He met his other major rival, Novak Djokovic, in 2006 at Roland Garros and won their first match as well. He has won 29 of their 59 matches. Read more &#8211; â€˜Itâ€™s Humiliating to Get Injuries??â€™ â€“ Former Serena Williamsâ€™ Coach Joins Andy Roddick to Stand Firmly Behind 36-Year-Old Rafael Nadal Following aÂ MessyÂ Headline At the French Open 2022, Nadal clinched the 22nd Grand Slam singles title of his career. In November 2020, Nadal became the only player to stay in the top 10 of the ATP rankings for 790 consecutive weeks. He broke Jimmy Connors&#8217; record in the process. Rafael Nadal also won a record 14th French Open title in Paris in 2022. Nadal has claimed 36 Masters 1000 titles, with Novak Djokovic leading that record with 38 titles. The Spaniard has made an appearance in 30 Grand Slam finals, second only to Federer and Djokovic&#8217;s record of 31 finals. The 2008 Wimbledon final between? Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are widely regarded as one of the most iconic tennis matches in the history of the sport. Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic: Head-to-Head after 2021 One of the most intense rivalries on the ATP tour, Nadal and Djokovic, always ensure to put their best foot forward while playing against each other, irrespective of the venue. The duo met a couple of times in 2021, with Nadal winning their match-up in Rome Finals while Djokovic won the most important French Open semi-final contest and later went on to win the title. Nadal exacted revenge in the 2022 version, as he ousted his archrival in the quarterfinals of the French Open. It paved the way for the &#8216;King of Clay&#8217; to clinch his record 14th Roland Garros title. Rafael Nadalâ€™s French Open dominance Having familiarized himself with red dirt during his initial days, Nadal mastered the surface and even developed his game initially to suit the clay. The Spaniard likes to stay on the point by pushing the opponent from corner to corner and there is no better surface than clay to do that. Coming to Nadal&#8217;s French Open record, he has amassed a total of 14 titles in Paris, the highest by any player on tour. The Spaniard&#8217;s first French Open crown came in 2005 when he surprised top-seed Federer in the semis. By winning the title, Nadal became the second male player after Mats Wilander to win the French Open on the first attempt. Rafael Nadalâ€™s injuries and retirement Although Rafa is a force to be reckoned with, his career has been riddled with injuries ever since he first turned pro. His first injury in 2003 made him miss his first Roland Garros, his only recorded French Open absence. Some of his most serious injuries came in 2012 and 2021, which forced him to miss several Masters and even Grand Slam events. Moreover, when Nadal lost for the first time in the French Open in 2009, ending a four-year streak, a knee injury played a crucial role in it. In 2012, he suffered a tear in a tendon in his left knee, which forced him off the tour for seven months and also became a reason for him to miss the US Open and the Australian Open of the following year. In 2021, Nadal started the season with severe back pain and then experienced more injuries in the following months. He missed Wimbledon and the US Open and even many Master&#8217;s 1000 tournaments. However, he still managed to win the Italian Open. Tennis &#8211; French Open &#8211; Roland Garros, Paris, France &#8211; June 5, 2022 Spain&#8217;s Rafael Nadal during the warm up before the men&#8217;s singles final against Norway&#8217;s Casper Ruud REUTERS/Yves Herman This year, Nadal, unfortunately, crashed out of the Australian Open in the second round. The bad news increased when Rafa was unable to return to the Tour. He missed the entire clay season and is set to miss the rest of the 2023 season. Since he has undergone injuries almost every year in his active years, Nadal&#8217;s advancing age has made it difficult for him to recover from his latest injury. In a recent press conference, the Spaniard shocked the tennis realm by announcing that the 2024 season will probably be his last on the ATP Tour. Rafael Nadalâ€™s Charity and Foundation Considered one of the leading sports centers in the world for tennis, the Rafa Nadal Academy was launched in the year 2016 in Manacor, Spain. The academy was built to provide high-class facilities to aspiring tennis players who want to make it on the big stage. The inaugural event for the academy was attended by Nadal&#8217;s good friend and former rival Roger Federer, and other tennis stars.Â Nadal&#8217;s academy even pays an ode to the Fedal rivalry. Three years after its initial setup, the academy got permission for expansion. Cities like Mexico and Greece now have the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre. Projects undertaken by the foundation include the Rafa Nadal Foundation Center in Spain. The Spaniard has even gone global with the Anantapur Education Center in India. He has also launched various scholarships to aid socially disadvantaged youth. Rafael Nadalâ€™s Social Media Accounts  Instagram  rafaelnadal   Twitter Rafa Nadal  Facebook Rafa Nadal  Website rafaelnadal.com    Personal Information:  Full Name Rafael Nadal  Popular Name Rafa, King of Clay, El Nino  Date Of Birth 3 June 1986  Birth Place Manacor, Spain  Age 37Â years  Height 1.85Â m  Weight 85Â kg  Parents Father Sebastian Nadal Homar &amp; Mother Ana Maria Parera Femenias  Siblings Sister &#8211; Maria Isabel NadalÂ (Maribel)  Nationality Spanish  Ethnicity Spanish  Net Worth $220 Million  Spouse Maria Francisca Perello  Relationship/Marital Status Married  Children One boy &#8211; Rafael Nadal Jr.  Profession Tennis player

“Don’t Find a Real Reason”: Rafael Nadal Opens up on Not Winning His Second Australian Open Title

Rafael Nadal reveals injuring his back during the 2014 final loss to Stan Wawrinka

Nadal says he also had chances in 2012 and 2017