Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera (born 3 June 1986) is a former World No. 1 Spanish professional tennis player, currently ranked #3. Nadal has won six Grand Slam singles titles, and the 2008 Olympic gold medal in singles. Nadal was ranked World Number #1 from 18 August 2008 to 5 July 2009. In 2009, he became the first player to simultaneously hold Grand Slam titles on clay, grass, and hardcourt. His success on clay has earned him the nickname The King of Clay.
Nadal was ranked World No. 2, behind Roger Federer for a record 160 weeks before earning the top spot. He has subsequently lost this position again to Federer following the Swiss player's triumph at the 2009 Madrid Masters (where Federer beat him in the final), French Open and Wimbledon. In 2008, he was given the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports, in recognition of his achievements in tennis.
Nadal generally plays an aggressive behind-the-baseline game founded on heavy topspin groundstrokes, consistency, speedy footwork, and tenacious court coverage. Known for his athleticism and speed around the court, Nadal is a capable defender who hits well on the run, constructing winning plays from seemingly defensive positions. He also plays very fine dropshots, which work especially well because his heavy topspin often forces opponents to the back of the court. Nadal is primarily a baseliner and seldom volleys but when Nadal does come to the net he is a capable volleyer.
Nadal and Federer have been playing against each other since 2004, and this rivalry is a significant part of both men's careers:
* They are the only men in the open era who have played each other in 7 Grand Slam finals, with Nadal winning 5 of the 7 finals. Three of these 5 wins were on Nadal's best surface (clay), and he has beaten Federer twice in non-clay major finals: Wimbledon 2008 and the Australian Open 2009.
* Their 2008 Wimbledon final has been lauded as the greatest match of all time by many long-time tennis critics.
* Many critics consider their rivalry to be the greatest in tennis history.
* Nine of Nadal's 13 wins over Federer have come on clay courts, Nadal's best surface. Nadal leads their overall head-to-head series 13-7 (Nadal leads 9-2 on clay, Federer leads 2-1 on grass, nobody leads (3-3) on hard courts).
Caroline Wozniacki (July 11, 1990) is a Danish tennis player. She achieved her career-high singles ranking of World No. 8 on August 3, 2009. She is the only Danish woman currently in the Top 300 on the WTA Tour. Wozniacki is the daughter of Polish parents, father Piotr and mother Anna. Piotr Wozniacki acts as her coach.
Asked about her hobbies, she told, "I like handball (it's very popular in Europe), soccer, swimming, playing the piano, and all kinds of different things. She speaks fluent Danish, Polish, and English, and understands Russian.
On her 19th birthday she lost in the final of the Swedish Open 7–5, 6–4 to Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain. In her first hard-court tournament in preparation for the US Open, after receiving a bye in the first round of the LA Women's Tennis Championships she lost in the second round to Sorana Cîrstea 1–6, 6–4, 7–6(5). At the Cincinnati Masters, Wozniacki advanced to the quarterfinals, falling to Elena Dementieva 6–2, 6–1. In Toronto she lost in the second round to Zheng Jie 7–5, 6–3. She then went to defend her title at the Pilot Pen Tennis in New Haven. In the first round she had her first ever double bagel win, 6–0, 6–0 over Edina Gallovits in 41 minutes. In the final of the tournament she beat Russian challenger Elena Vesnina 6–2, 6–4 to win her third title of the season.
Wozniacki is the 9th seed at the US Open. She easily won her first three matches, 6–4, 6–1 over Galina Voskoboeva, 6–1, 6–0 over Petra Martić, and 6–3, 6–2 over her doubles partner Sorana Cîrstea. In the fourth round against reigning French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, Wozniacki rallied from 3–1 down in the third set to win 2–6, 7–6(5), 7–6(3). She defeated giant-killer Melanie Oudin 6–2, 6–2 in the quarterfinals, and followed that up with a 6-3 6-3 win over fellow 19-year old Yanina Wickmayer in the semifinals. She is the first Danish woman to reach a Grand Slam final, where she will face unseeded Kim Clijsters. The runner-up showing will allow her to reach a career high ranking of No. 6, and if she wins the title she will rise to No. 4 in the world.
