RAFAEL NADAL - the best Spanish tennis player of all time
Starting out at the age of three and coached by his uncle Toni, Rafa started with both a two-handed forehand and backhand, however, by the time he was 12 he had adopted a more conventional left-handed style. During his career Nadal has won nine Grand Slam singles titles, and became the first player to win five French Open titles in six years. Noboby in thehistory of tennis has won more French titles than Nadal.
His heavy topspin, unmatched fitness and his physicality, speed, determination and ability to maintain maximum intensity are probably his greatest assets. The king of clay is known to religiously observe a number of rituals before going on court. Before each match, Rafa has a cold shower, listens to music though his earphones, puts the grips on the six rackets he takes out to court, wets his hair before putting on his bandana, exercises vigorously, and checks that both socks are at the same height, amongst other rituals. He always has two bottles of water with him courtside, and he takes a sip from one bottle of water and then one from the other, before lining them up in front of the chair to his left, one neatly behind the other. He then takes a good few minutes before coming out for the coin toss, sweeps the baseline and the service line with his feet, and notably bounces the ball for up to a minute (on one occasion he bounced the ball 76 times!) before each serve. Nadal explains that these rituals help him concentrate and order his surroundings.
There have been many great rivalries in tennis, and Rafa Nadal and Federer's is up there with them. What is certain is that when they play each other they both push their abilities to the limits and beyond...
(Australian Open, 2009; French Open, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012; Wimbledon, 2008, 2010; US Open, 2010).
ARANTXA SÁNCHEZ VICARIO was the first ever Spaniard to be ranked number one in the world
The feisty Catalana burst onto the scene in spectacular fashion when she beat the seemingly invincible Stefi Graf at the French Open final in 1989 at the record-breaking age of 17. Of her victory at the French Open she has written: "The 16th of June 1989 is a date that I will never forget. Can you imagine the feeling of having the whole crowd on their feet shocked by the victory of a young girl just 17 years of age over the unceasing Steffi Graf applauding and chanting the name of Spain? To win the French Open at that age is like touching the sky, but to achieve this by beating the world number one goes beyond the wildest dreams of any tennis player." Arantxa went on became one of the most prolific women's Grand Slam title holders in history, with four singles, six women`s doubles, and four mixed doubles titles. She was also the first Spanish woman to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Arantxa retired from the professional tour in 1997 and has recently written released her controversial memoirs in which she revealed that her parents controlled all the money she earned during her tennis career (45 million Euros). They left her with no money and massive debts to the Spanish Inland Revenue. She does not talk to any of her family members, including her brother Emilio.
(Won: French Open, 1989, 1994, 1998; US Open, 1994)
MANUEL SANTANA was the first sportsman to lift Europe from the depressive throes of the post-war period
While Europe was still vividly seen as deprived and depressed by the rest of the world in the period immediately following the Second World War, in 1965 Santana led Spain to 4-1 victory over the United States in the Davis Cup, won the US Open and a year later triumphed over Ralston at the Wimbledon final. After this hugely significant victory in London, General Franco awarded Santana the Orden de Isabel la Católica. At the time many people thought that Santana was a Francoist, but as he explains: “My father was a victim of reprisals after the war finished and was imprisoned for 6 years. I remember that I was around 8 years old and we used to go and visit him once a month but neither he, who died very young when I was 12 years old, nor my mother talked to me about that." Whatever the controversy, Santana inspired many tennis players and the popularity of the sport lead to the establishment of many tennis courts around the Spain.
(Won: French Open, 1961, 1964); Wimbledon (1966), US Open, 1965).
ANDRÉS GIMENO is proof that tennis glory is no miracle solution against poverty
Despite winning the French Open in 1972 and 5 other tournaments, and deemed to be one of the world’s top three tennis players of his time, Andrés was recently forced to publicly reveal his delicate situation and request financial help, releasing this statement: “I have found it very difficult to take this step, but I have had no option but to take it. The past 3 years have been very difficult. I have just about managed to get by like many other Spanish families, but what I need now is a little bit of money to pay for the electricity, water and the rent for my flat”. In 2011 both the Spanish and Catalan Tennis Federations organized a tribute to Andrés Gimeno at Palau Blaugrana with the aim of raising funds to help him.
CARLOS MOYÁ became the first Spaniard to reach the number one spot since the ATP rankings were introduced in 1973
Moya earned a lot of respect from players by breaking the Spanish tendency of playing exclusively from the baseline. Rather than stay defensive like most of his Spanish peers, Moya was the first fast, attacking player. In his career, he had the bad luck of counting Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi among his contemporaries, but still managed to hold the No.1 spot in 1999, if only for two weeks. He retired from tennis in 2012 at the age of 34 due to a recurring foot injury and joined the senior circuit. (Won: French Open, 1998).
MANUEL ORANTES is remembered for defeating Jimmy Connors at the 1975 US Open final
He reached the world number 2 ranking in 1973 and amassed a collection of 33 singles titles and 22 doubles titles during his career. In 1974 Orantes lost the French Open final to Bjorn Borg. The follwoing year he won the US Open after saving 5 match points to defeat Guillermo Vilas in the Semi-finals, and going on to beat Connors in the final. He was a member of the Spanish team for 14 years and led Spain to win the Davis Cup in 1978. Manuel Orantes was the fifth Spaniard to be inducted into the International Hall of Fame. The other Spanish inductees are Manuel Alonso, Andrés Gimeno, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Manuel Santana.
CONCHITA MARTÍNEZ famously defeated Martina Navratilova ((6-4, 3-6, 6-3) in one of the greatest tennis matches ever seen at Wimbledon.
She won an impressive total of 33 titles and reached a career-high No. 2 in the world. Conchita was forced to retire from professional tennis in 2006 due to an injury but has been keeping very busy since then. She has played on the veteran circuit, worked as a television commentator, run the Andalucía Tennis Experience and now works for the Australian Tennis Federation as a tennis coach.
SERGI BRUGUERA won the French Open for two consecutive years
Barcelona-born tennis player Bruguera enjoyed his glory days during the early half of the 90s; beating Jim Courier in 1993 and fellow Spaniard Alberto Berasategui in 1994, and claiming the third spot in the ATP World Rankings. Sergi Bruguera retired in 2003 and now runs a tennis academy with his father called “Bruguera Tennis Academy Top Team” near Barcelona, as well as appearing at various tournaments for veteran players. He is also a keen cards player and has gone on to become a professional poker player. In 2008 he joined the International Tennis Hall of Fame. (French Open, 1993, 1994).
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO has just announced his retirement from a hugely successful career
He spent 176 weeks in the top ten ranking, (including several weeks at the No.1 spot), has played in 17 Davis Cup ties for Spain, and won 16 titles, including the French Open in 2003. In the same year Ferrero was also runner-up to Andy Roddick in the US Open final, reaching world No.1 in the process. Ferrero retired in 2012 ranked 111th in the ATP. He claims he will continue to be involved in tennis through the academy he opened in 1995, his 'Foundation Juan Carlos Ferrero' and other projects. He is said to have inspired the latest generation of players, including Rafa Nadal and Ferrer who said "Juan Carlos has been a very important player for Spanish tennis. He was World No. 1, he was the one who won the third point when Spain first won the Davis Cup and opened the way for many more players to follow and more Davis Cup victories of our country. He was and is my best friend on the tour. He's a person that is very close to me and a friend of many friends of mine. He’s a very humble and noble person."
ALEX CORRETJA The two- time French Open finalist assumed the role of Andy Murray’s main coach when the Scot sacked Miles Maclagan in July 2010. But in March 2011 Andy parted company with Alex, briefly employing a part-time coaching team prior to Ivan Lendl’s appointment in December of the same year.
