Known by many simply as “Rafa,” Rafael Nadal is one of the top-ranked tennis players in the world today. His strengths are numerous and can easily be compared to greats like Pete Sampras and John McEnroe. His weaknesses are few, and at only 23-years-old, Nadal is in prime position to be one of the all-time greats before he retires.

His only competition in the sport today is Roger Federer, perhaps the player to go down as the greatest ever. However, Nadal has been fine-tuning his game, and in recent tournaments, especially on clay, Rafael is even money against the living legend.

Rafael Nadal was born June 3, 1986, in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain. Some say Nadal's sporting prowess is genetic, as his uncle was a top footballer for FC Barcelona. Nadal is known as somewhat of a freak. Naturally right-handed, the tennis star grew up playing left-handed, defying logic.

By the time he was 15, Rafael was one of the most promising juniors in the world. Instead of wasting time on the junior circuit, Nadal immediately entered into the pro ranks and made a big splash.

In early 2002, still only 15, Rafael won his first ATP match, defeating Ramon Delgado in Majorca. This win was historic, making Nadal only the ninth player to ever win an ATP event before their 16th birthday. Although a lot of young tennis stars bust onto the scene and then fade into obscurity just as quickly, Nadal was a different type of monster altogether.

In 2003, one short year later, Nadal became the youngest player to ever be ranked in the top 100 in men's tennis, breaking the record previously held by his rival Roger Federer. He also earned the title of ATP Newcomer of the Year.

Nadal wouldn't win Wimbledon right away, but he did make a big impression. At 16, he tied Boris Becker as the youngest player to reach the third round of play. That same year, Nadal reached the Spanish championships but lost a heartbreaker to a well-rounded and more practiced Lopez.

In 2005, Nadal won an impressive streak of 25 matches and was ranked as number 5 in the world. He won two ATP Master Series events as well, Monte Carlo and Rome.

It was clear that Nadal was one of the top players in the world, well ahead of America's Andy Roddick, and only a step behind Roger Federer. Nadal's saving grace was that he was younger than the other stars and had much room to grow, whereas the competition were all slowing down. Nadal cemented his place in the tennis world with a Grand Slam victory, becoming the first teenager to do so since Pete Sampras in 1990.

Over the past few years, Rafael Nadal has gained momentum and is now considered on equal footing with Federer. On clay courts, Nadal owns Roger, defeating him habitually; but on grass, it's a different story, with Nadal's percentage significantly dropping. Nadal won the 2008 Olympic gold medal in men's singles, and held the world's number one ranking from August 2008 to July 2009. He has six Grand Slam titles to his credit and is the only player in history to simultaneously hold Grand Slam titles on grass, clay and hardcourt.