Rafael Nadal is having a dream 2022 season in every aspect. Earlier this year, he became the first man to lift 21 Grand Slam singles titles. The Spanish legend defeated Daniil Medvedev to lift the Australian Open title. Further, he continued his winning momentum in Grand Slam tournaments, as he prevailed over Casper Ruud in the finals to win the French Open crown. Apart from his success in tennis, it has been a memorable season for Nadal’s boyhood soccer club, Real Madrid. The Spanish giants won the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League titles. Nadal has described how dedicated he is as a fan of Real Madrid. RAFAEL NADAL ON HIS LOVE FOR REAL MADRID The 22-time Grand Slam champion has talked about his love for soccer and watching Real Madrid play in his book, Rafa: My Story. Talking about this, he said, “Football was my passion as a child, and remains so today. I can be at a tournament in Australia or Bangkok, and if there is a big Real Madrid game on TV at five in the morning, I’ll wake up to watch it-even, sometimes, if I have a match on later that day. And I’ll build my day’s training program, if need be, around the timing of the games.” Rafael Nadal at ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-03-20T042459Z_1937857028_MT1USATODAY17935347_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-BNP-PARIBAS-OPEN.jpg]Mar 19, 2022; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Rafael Nadal (ESP) celebrates after defeating Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) in their semifinal match in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports READ MORE: ‘Similar to Facetiming My Gran’ – Rafael Nadal’s Lack of Instagram Knowledge Was Once Hilariously Trolled by Andy Murray [https://www.essentiallysports.com/atp-tennis-news-similar-to-facetiming-my-gran-rafael-nadals-lack-of-instagram-knowledge-was-once-hilariously-trolled-by-andy-murray/] Further, he added, “I’m a fanatic. My godfather remembers when I was four years old, how he would show me pictures of the shields of all the teams in the Spanish first division, and-to his amazement-I’d be able to put a name correctly to all of them.” NADAL ATTENDED THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2022 FINAL Earlier this year, Real Madrid took on Liverpool in the Champions League final. The match was held at the Stade de France in Paris. The final took place at the same time when the French Open was underway. However, it did not prevent Nadal from attending [https://rafaelnadalfans.com/2022/05/28/video-real-madrid-fan-rafael-nadal-attends-the-champions-league-final-in-paris-against-liverpool-2022-photos/] the final to cheer for his boyhood club. The Greatest Comebacks in Tennis [https://www.essentiallysports.com/stories/roger-federer-rafael-nadal-serena-williams-novak-djokovic-juan-martin-del-potro-and-others-in-the-greatest-career-comebacks-in-tennis-wta-atp-news/] Real Madrid eventually went on to win the tournament, beating Liverpool 1-0. 

22-time Grand Slam champion and former World Number 1, Rafael Nadal talks about
his love for soccer and watching Real Madrid play.

Vatsal Shah is a tennis author at EssentiallySports. With a Bachelor's degree in
engineering, he is a die hard fan of tennis and sports in general. He is an
ardent follower of Rafael Nadal and is inspired by his never-say-die attitude.
Currently, Vatsal is pursuing an Executive Post Graduate Diploma in Sports
Management from IIM Rohtak; he also has two years of work experience in
consultancy and project management. Beyond tennis and work, he likes to read
about current affairs and is a hodophile.

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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

Rafael Nadal Says He Wakes Up at 5 AM to Watch Real Madrid Matches Even During Tennis Tournaments

Rafael Nadal on his love for Real Madrid

Nadal attended the UEFA Champions League 2022 final