Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Rafael Nadal Parera was born in Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.

By the age of 16, Nadal was ranked in the world's top 50 players.

Nadal has won 12 of his 18 matches against rival Roger Federer, including four of their six Grand Slam finals.

Nadal has won 5 Grand Slam singles titles: 2005, 2006, 2007 French Opens and this year he added the Wimbledon 2008 title to his already impressive win in the 2008 French Open, for the first time.

Rafael Nadal has the longest single-surface winning streak in the open era, on clay, winning 81 consecutive games.

In 2002, he won his first ATP match.

In 2005, he achieved No. 2 World ranking, which he held for 160 consecutive weeks, during which time he won 11 titles.

Nadal will attain the World No. 1 ranking position later this month for the first time in his career.