Status: The #3 seed at the 2009 U.S. Open.
Height: 6-1 Weight: 188
DOB: June 3, 1986 In: Manacor, Mallorca, Spain.
Inspiration: “”For me it’s very easy. I always have one person in front of me, better than me in everything. So when I look at Roger in front of me all the time – better forehand, better backhand, better serve. I believe that’s the truth.”
Childhood Heroes: “I don’t know, I don’t have.”
Hobbies/Interests: “I like fishing. Not actual fishing — I like the peace and quiet of being at sea. It’s different. I like (to) stay with my friends. Go to beach. Go to cinema. Soccer. Play golf.”
Nicknames: Rafa, The Raging Bull.
Favorite Movies: Gladiator, Titanic.
Musical Tastes: “Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, David Brisbal — Spanish singer I listen to a lot. Mana — he’s Mexican.”
Early Tennis Memory: “Four hours — practice one or two times a week.”
Favorite Meal: “Olives, steak, pasta, fish.”
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Frosted Flakes in hot chocolate.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
Pre-Match Feeling: “I play with incredible motivation. A little bit nervous, but good.”
First Job: “Tennis.”
First Car: “Kia Sportage.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “The three most important moments in my career probably was first Roland Garros – well maybe the first Davis Cup – first Roland Garros, and first Wimbledon. And later Olympics.”
Most Painful Moment: “I don’t know. When I stay injured three months (stress fracture in left ankle joint in 2004). Missed Monte Carlo, Rome, Hamburg, Paris (Roland Garros), Wimbledon.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “I have all the Spanish players. And I have good relations with all players. Carlos Moya. I know him for so long. I know him very well. He’s very sharp. He’s a great person even outside the game of tennis. A great guy. One of the best players in the world. I get along very well with Carlos.”
Funniest Players Encountered: “I don’t know.”
Toughest Competitors: “All the players, they is playing good. And I think the best player now is Federer. But all players good. Hewitt. Blake.”
Favorite Tournament(s): “I like many of them. I cannot name one.”
Childhood Dream: “I like a lot the futbol, the soccer. But I like my first dream is any one day I can do the No. 1 in tennis.”
Favorite Athletes To Watch: “Ronaldo. Thierry Henry. Frank Lampard. Zidane. Ronaldino. FC Barcelona is a club I have supported for a long time. (Basketball?) Pau Gasol — he’s playing in Memphis. (Tennis?) Federer — he plays very nice. He can do all the shots. I like him. And Hewitt. Because I like the mentality.”
Favorite Vacation Spot: “In Mallorca.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “Hmmm. I don’t know because I have a lot moments funny and a lot of moments good.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “For me is good. The good persons.”
Topics: Breakfast Cereal, Childhood Heroes, David Brisbal, Greatest Sports, Hobbies Interests, Hot Chocolate, Kia Sportage, Left Ankle, Manacor Mallorca Spain, Musical Tastes, Painful Moment, Pasta Fish, Rafael Nadal, Raging Bull, Roland Garros, Spanish Players, Spanish Singer, Sports Moment, Stress Fracture, Tennis Friends
Biofile with Rafael Nadal