Rafael Nadal is Spain’s most famous tennis player.

Rafael Nadal Parera, a young boy from the Mallorcan village of Manacor was born on June 3, 1986. He is still living there 39 years later.

He may be the greatest tennis player to have ever existed.

With 209 weeks as the world’s number one, and having won 22 of the ‘big four’ titles (including 14 French Open wins – something no-one else has ever done), as well as 36 Masters titles and two Olympic gold medals, Rafael Nadal can justifiably claim to be ‘special’.

The globetrotter never left Manacor in a very significant sense.

Rafa won his first major tennis title in 2005, when he was just 19 years old. By 2008, he became the number one player in the world.

He won his first Wimbledon championship that year, beating Federer. In 2010 he achieved the Grand Slam – winning the Australian, French and American Opens, as well as Wimbledon – all in the same season.

It was also the first time in history that a man won major titles in three different surfaces all in one year.

In each season from 2005 to 2014 and again between 2017 and 2021, he has won the majors. In addition, he won the Olympic Gold Medal in Beijing Games (2008).

Rafa’s modesty and love for his hometown are what set him apart from other stars. Modesty – in 2022, “Time” Magazine named him one of the planet’s 100 most influential people, but if you ever watch his behaviour at Davis Cup matches – a team event – you will see him on the side lines, when not playing, cheering-on each of his teammates.

How many ‘stars’ do that?

A writer said: “He doesn’t brag about his record. He refuses to denigrate rivals. And he stays after matches or practices to sign autographs with fans.”

And as for Manacor, Rafa shrugs off all questions about his wealth – “My brother deals with my money,” he says.

That’s what I mean.

Nadal is not interested in living in New York or London. He would rather stay in Manacor.

His father Sebastián is a local businessman and he has an uncle who played soccer for Spain. Toni is Rafa’s other uncle. He was Rafa’s tennis coach as a youngster. Toni is currently the tennis director for the Nadal Academy.

They are often seen together in a family restaurant.

It’s because of this that he is unlike any other Spanish Hero. You know the Spanish. Family is their top priority.

Rafa has been loyal to Manacor, his extended family. While Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas moved to Los Angeles to learn English and to live with their families, Rafa Nadal remained in Manacor.

Rafa has made an attempt at English – you can’t be prominent in your field without having to give interviews to American TV stations – but Rafa’s ‘street’ English is full of grammatical errors.

As if he were saying, “I must do this but my heart is not in it.” I’m Spanish.”

To see his tennis academy, anyone who doubted Manacor’s commitment will be able to confirm it.

In November 2007, he launched the ‘Fundación Rafa Nadal’, with a view to building a Tennis Centre.

Rafa had to balance his sports development with a conventional education as a child. Rafa says both were affected by his busy schedule.

The Academy is a reflection of his desire to ensure that future generations are raised in a balanced environment.

Nadal invested his personal millions into the project. The Manacor complex offers a combination of sport and academics education since 2016.

It has been so successful that there are now branches all over the globe.

He may be in the twilight of his playing career, but with his reputation pristine, and young Carlos Alcaráz stepping into his shoes, Rafa has nothing to regret or to worry about.

So join us in wishing Happy Birthday to a special – because he’s so very typical – Spanish hero!