Rafael Nadal Parera (born 3 June 1986, Manacor, Mallorca, Spain) is a former Spanish tennis player who emerged in the early 21st century as one of the game’s leading competitors, especially noted for his performance on clay. Nadal grew up in a sports-minded family; his uncle Miguel Angel Nadal was a professional association football (soccer) player who competed in the 2002 World Cup. Rafael began playing tennis at age four, guided by another uncle, Toni Nadal, who remained his coach on the professional tour. In his early years, Nadal (who wrote with his right hand) played left-handed tennis with both a two-handed forehand and backhand. When he was 12, however, his uncle encouraged him to adopt a more conventional left-handed style. Nadal stuck with his two-handed backhand but switched to what became his signature one-handed forehand, the stroke that was credited with lifting him into the sport’s upper echelons. Nadal retired from the sport on 19 November 2024, after the conclusion the Netherlands vs Spain match in the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.

Filmography

• Volver
• 2024Nadal: King of Paris
• 2024¡Qué suerte hemos tenido!
• 2021Seve: Artist, Fighter, Legend
• 2020Nadal visto por Nadal — Rafael Nadal
• 2020Wimbledon, 2019 Official Film
• La resistencia — Invitado

Appearances as themselves (45)

• 2026Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter — Self
• Rafa — Self
• 2026The Match That Changed Tennis — Self
• Carlos Alcaraz: My Way — Self
• 2025Rafael Nadal, sur la Terre du Roi — Self
• 2024Federer: Twelve Final Days — Self
• Guga por Kuerten — Self
• 2024NBC's Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony in IMAX — Self - Torchbearer
• 2024Nasty — Self - Winner of 22 Grand Slam Singles Titles
• 2024Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony — Self (torchbearer)
• 2024Roland Garros - 40 ans d'exploits — Self
• 2024The Netflix Slam — Self
• 20232022 Wimbledon Official Film — Self
• 2023Del Potro, el último match point — Self
• 2023Nadal/Djokovic : Duel à Roland-Garros — Self
• 2022McEnroe — Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Rafa Nadal Academy — Self
• 2021Rio Open: 7 Anos de Conquistas — Self (archive footage)
• 2021Roland-Garros: Building the Legend — Self
• 2020Break Point: A Davis Cup Story — Self
• 2020¿Qué hacías el 11 de julio de 2010? — Self
• 2019Roger Federer - 20 ans de Grass — Self
• 2018Strokes of Genius — Self
• 2018Wimbledon 2018 - Official Film Review — Self
• You Quiz on the Block — Self
• Emigratis — Self
• 2016Red Clay Heroes — Self
• 2016Serena — Self
• Late Night with Seth Meyers — Self - Guest
• 2014Roland Garros — Self
• 2014Wimbledon The Official Film 2014 — Self
• MasterChef Junior — Self - Guest
• 2013Wimbledon The Official Film 2013 — Self
• 2012Wimbledon - Official film 2012 — Self
• 2011Wimbledon 2011 Official Film — Self
• 2010Wimbledon 2010 Official Film — Self
• 2009Wimbledon Official Film 2009 — Self
• 2008Wimbledon - Official film 2007 — Self
• 2008Wimbledon 2008 Official Film — Self
• Robinson Report — Self
• 2007Zidane, un destin d'exception — Self
• El hormiguero — Self - Guest
• 2006Wimbledon 2006 Official Film — Self
• 2005Wimbledon 2005 Official Film — Self
• 60 Minutes — Self - Tennis Player