An in-depth look at tennis superstar Rafael Nadal's rise to the top of his game Every sport has its superstars, but there is a small, elite group reserved for those who truly transcend their sport. Entering 2014 as the world number one, with 13 Grand Slam titles to his name, Rafael Nadal belongs in this group. Nadal’s tennis journey began at age three in his native Mallorca, and he quickly emerged as a natural, surging into the top 50 of the world rankings by the age of 16. Originally considered a clay-court specialist, he quickly showed he was much more than that. While he continues to make Roland Garros his second home, the Spaniard has also captured the Wimbledon, Australian Open, and US Open crowns, completing the full set of Grand Slams in 2010. From his 2008 marathon against Roger Federer at Wimbledon to his classic semi-final victory against Novak Djokovic at the 2013 French Open, Nadal never disappoints on the big stage. His on-court brilliance is only matched by his off-court humility. And, at 28, there is plenty more to come. So long as he stays clear of the persistent knee injuries that have haunted him, the Spaniard is on pace to finish his career as the greatest player of all-time.