Ronald Atkin
Wimbledon.com
13 June, 2005
Less than three months ago the prospect of Rafael Nadal's name being added to the list of competitors at The Championships would not have attracted undue interest. Just another of the Spanish Armada who flood the world's tournaments, clay court kings every one.
Then the youngster from Mallorca, who turned 19 earlier this month, embarked on a sensational run which carried him up to third in the rankings and to the forefront of attention.
Having won the Brazil and Mexican Opens back-to-back in February, Nadal returned to Europe for a run of 25 matches on clay which encompassed victories in the Masters Series tournaments of Monte Carlo and Rome, the Seat Godo championships in Barcelona and, most triumphantly of all, Grand Slam success at the French Open on his debut there.
Nadal celebrated his 19th birthday in rousing style by defeating the Wimbledon champion and world number one, Roger Federer, in the Roland Garros semi-finals before going on to overcome Mariano Puerta in the final.
Immediately after becoming French champion, Nadal surprised many by insisting that the Grand Slam he wants to win above all is Wimbledon.
"I want to do well on grass because it is a very special surface, so different to all the others. Also Wimbledon is the world's most important tournament. Not many players from Spain have done well there, so that is an extra motivation for me."
In fact only one Spaniard, Manuel Santana in 1966, has ever won the men's title, which puts into perspective the size of the challenge Nadal has set for himself.
If the tennis Nadal plays is of the full throttle variety, undertaken at maximum speed and guaranteed to appeal to fans of every age, his choice of attire is certain to appeal to British youngsters just as it already has done to their contemporaries in Europe.
With his long, dark hair held in place by a wide bandana, a sleeveless shirt and calf-length trousers which have been likened to pirates' clothing, a matador's suit or (in America) clam-digging gear, Nadal is certain to become the sport's latest fashion icon with the colours appropriately toned down in accordance with Wimbledon regulations.
The common perception is that this will be Nadal's Wimbledon debut. In fact, he competed here two years ago, just after his 17th birthday, and reached the third round by defeating Mario Ancic (a semi-finalist in 2004) and then Britain's Lee Childs.
Last year the youngster known throughout Spain as "Rafa" missed Wimbledon because of a stress fracture of the left ankle which sidelined him for most of the summer, but he is eager to renew acquaintance with the hallowed turf of the All England Club.
Despite the dizzying speed of his ascent to stardom, Nadal remains an unassuming and likeable young man. This is a tribute to the family team which surrounds, advises and protects him. Rafael lives at the family home in Manacor, a house looking out onto the town's massive 18th century church.
He is coached by his uncle, Toni, and his fitness trainer is another uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, a former distinguished Spanish international footballer who spent nine seasons with Barcelona.
His father, Sebastian, is a successful businessman with a window and double-glazing company, and his ability to cover the costs of having his son trained at home in Mallorca rather than going to a national training centre on the mainland, maintained that close family connection which has proved to vital to his success.
After his Paris triumph, a weary Nadal went straight to Halle in Germany for the grass-court tournament as part of his Wimbledon preparation and, unsurprisingly, subsided to his first defeat in two and a half months, losing to Alexander Waske of Germany.
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