He was born on June 3rd, 1986 in Manacor, Majorca (in the Mediterranean Ocean off the coast of Spain) with the name Rafael Nadal Parera. When he was just 4 years of age, he had penchant for both football and tennis, but eventually opted tennis and ever since has been coached by his uncle Toni, who is himself a former tennis player.

His early success, especially in regional tournaments and then the Spanish and European tennis titles at the mere age of 12 were signs of his future potential. In April 2001, when he was just 14 years and 10 months, Nadal won his first ATP match and then two challenger titles in the next year brought him into the league of world’s top 100 players.

At age 16, Rafa made his first Wimbledon appearance in 2003 and became the youngest player to reach the third round since Boris Baker in 1984 [Baker, the German, is a six time Grand Slam singles champion and an Olympic gold medalist]. However, his first notable success came at the 2004 Miami Masters, in which he defeated one of the greatest Roger Federer in their first head-to-head.

By beating the then World No.2 Andy Roddick in 2004 final of Davis Cup, Nadal earned the title for Spain over the United States with a 3-2 win. In his first (2005) Australian Open, Rafa lost in the fourth round, but reached the final of Miami Masters in the same year. It was the 2005 French Open, when the Spaniard first defeated Federer in the semifinal and ultimately went on to winning the title.

The year 2006 was quite significant for Nadal, opening with a major victory in the final of Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open on March 4 by defeating Roger Federer. He then defeated the Swiss thrice more in the same year, including at the final of Monte Carlo Masters and the Masters Series in Rome. However, it was the French Open where he defeated Federer in a Grand Slam for the very first time, taking the rivalry to the next level.

Nadal again won the French Open in 2007 defeating Federer but lost to the rival at the Wimbledon in a five-set final. The year 2008 was another testimony of his rising superiority in tennis circuit when he again overpowered Roger in the third consecutive French Open and then the Wimbledon in an epic run. With this, he became the second Spaniard to win the Wimbledon after Manuel Santana in 1966.

The Spaniard, in continuation of his winning streak, won the 2008 Beijing Olympics Gold Medal and then the US Open. In the following year, he registered a victory over Federer in the hard court Grand Slam, thereby becoming the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open. Despite playing and winning major events on three different surfaces, he is still regarded as one of the best on clay.

However, hardly anyone in Spain admits to being too old to play football! Especially on the beach!

There are three main divisions in Spain. In the Primera Division there are 18 teams, in the Segunda Division A there are 20 teams and in the Segunda Division B there are 80. The third division consists of 20 regional groups. After this come all the thousands of local and workplace clubs-more of these later- and we mustn’t forget the booming Superliga Femenina!

So who are the main teams and where do they play? The two most popular and successful teams have to be Real Madrid and Barcelona (Barca). These are the ones most kids will fight to death with their friends over and obviously, the two who make the most out of merchandising! Think Man United and Chelsea! However we must not forget Real Betis and Valencia.

These teams play in all the main competitions and have huge stadiums with very high attendance but are also followed very enthusiastically in bars all over Spain. If a big match is on don’t expect to be able to relax in your local bar-the noise is phenomenal and often all the seats are rearranged around the screen. The waiters will also be watching so service may be a little slow!

Just as in England supporters clubs exist in virtually every big town for the main teams. These clubs, called Peñas, have their own premises –obviously with bars, and often have their own casetas (large marquees with bars and dance areas) at ferias.

The Spanish national team has big names familiar to all of us-think Raul (real Madrid) Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid), Casillas the brilliant goal keeper(portero) from Real Madrid, Villa from Valencia and not forgetting Reyes who plays for Arsenal and Alonso and Garcia who play for Liverpool!

Aragones has been the manager since 2004 and there aren’t too many complaints at the moment! The main Spanish championship is the Supercopa España but obviously watch out for UEFA and Eurocopa matches as well. First qualifying matches for the Eurocopa start in August (so much for football being a winter game!)

But it’s at the local level that the Spanish obsession with football can be really seen. Most villages have a complicated selection of teams which play in the local leagues.

The boys start of in pre-benjamines (4-8 years), move up to benjamines and alevines (8-12) move up to infantiles (12-14) then cadetes (14-16) then finally, before reaching the adult team, play in the juveniles between 16 and 18.

As you can appreciate safety is very important and all clubs play by FIFA rules. Most weekends in almost all towns and villages you can see coaches turning up and disgorging crowds of excited boys from a neighbouring town ready to do battle! Local matches are well attended and the club house (sede) is open with the bar of course!

Cycling is avidly watched on the TV and every town has its cycling club –some which are so elite they have a waiting list and an approval period of membership.

Spain has produced some world champion cyclists over the years and in the Tour de France several winners-notably Miguel Indurain. He acquired the famous yellow jersey and managed to be the overall winner in the years 1991 right through to 1995.

He also won the Giro de Italia in 92 and 93 and obtained various medals in the world championships in 91, 93 and 95. He retired after a wonderful career in the late nineties and was an inspiration for hundreds of thousands of little boys who are still dedicated cyclists today. Cycling gets you like that!

However the one major championship that, bizarrely, he didn’t win WAS the Vuelta a España. This prestigious race started in 1935 and with its 14 stages covers over 3000 kilometres of some of the most demanding territory.

Despite several hiccups during the Civil and Second World War the race now attracts the worlds top cyclists. Spain won between 2000 and 2004 (with Roberto Heras and Angel Casero) but Germany has had several successful years. The race starts in a different area each year and last year Malaga had the honour.

However last years race was marred by the inevitable drug scandals, right at the end, with unfortunate wrangling about who was the real winner!

Other recent tragedies in Spanish Cycling include the recent ghastly accident of Isaac Galvez who died after falling- following a collision with another rider in a race in Belgium. Galvez was a 33 year old Catalan and held a current World Championship title.

Cycling safety is however, taken very seriously in Spain. Children are taken through their cycling and road safety at school in “educación vial” lessons run by the Police –very similar to our Cycling proficiency. Helmets must be worn on all main roads and inter-urban roads and cyclists are not allowed on the motorways-in theory that is as you still see the odd few nutters battling it out with the lorries travelling past them at 100 kpm!

The amounts of dedicated cycle tracks are increasing constantly and most coastal towns have cycle tracks along their Paseo Maritimo. One very long and beautiful track to be opened very shortly will run from Sotogrande on the coast over the mountains to Castellar and along the river valley to San Roque. This will be about 40 kilometres of fantastic safe cycling and so will be suitable for children and novices as well!

Spain is ideal for cycling holidays and tours. Most regional trains, including those from the Malaga and Algeciras ends of the coast will take bikes and buses have no problem with them as long as there is room! Cheap hostels and hotels abound around here-very good for the budget cycle tourist and of course the weather in spring and autumn is ideal for cycling.

Many organised cycling holidays exist where your bike is moved on for you ready for the next’s day’s cycle and you don’t have to organise anything.

Finally, as previously mentioned, every small town has a cycle club and club house and local and regional competitions abound. Often these are very well attended by the public and roads are shut of for the occasion and a party atmosphere prevails-in true Spanish style.