Rafael Nadal is a professional tennis player from Spain who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He is often referred to as the 'King of Clay' due to his dominance on the surface, and he has won a record 12 French Open titles. He is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist and has won 19 Grand Slam singles titles, making him the second most successful male player in the Open Era. He is affectionately known as 'Rafa' by his fans, and is widely considered to be a tennis ace.