No one likes being runners up and especially not for five years on the trot!! When the world pictures you as runners up for five consecutive years, there’s an unstoppable craving to swap the image. No one knows this sentiment better than Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal.

For five consecutive years, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal was defeated by reigning world champion, Rodger Federer. Every time, Nadal embraced a racket, within a few seconds he knew what the tournament had in store for him. A very special feeling, whispers to him, the measures of his opponent and that drives him to victory or defeat. After years of feeling low, when he knew this was the match that would alter the way the world perceives him. There was nothing stopping him…..OctanMen, online men’s sports magazine, introduces you to the man.

The Nadal story is not about one man’s conquest. But, about four men – Rafael’s father Sebastian, his two uncles – Toni and Miguel, and himself, who coached each other and carved their way to victory. Tale began, when three year old Rafal fell in love with football. Burgeoning passion for the game got divided when nation level tennis player Toni enticed him to the joys of tennis. Alongside football, tennis became a new attraction and he would practice both sports with equal eagerness to win. ‘I carried on playing football as well as tennis, but slowly played more and more tennis with my uncle,” But I still preferred football. That was my real love when I was a young boy,’ recalls Nadal.