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Rafa

Written by: Rafael Nadal,John Carlin
Narrated by: Bernardo Cubria,Nicholas Guy Smith
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Publisher's Summary

What makes a champion? What does it take to be the best in the world at your sport? 

Rafael Nadal has the answers. In his memoir, written with award-winning journalist John Carlin, he reveals the secrets of his game and shares the inspiring personal story behind his success. 

It begins in Mallorca, where the tight-knit Nadal family has lived for generations. Coached by his uncle Toni from the age of four and taught humility and respect by his parents, Nadal has managed the uncommon feat of becoming an acclaimed global celebrity while remaining a gracious, hardworking role model for people in all walks of life.

Now he takes us behind the scenes, from winning the Wimbledon 2008 final - described by John McEnroe as "the greatest game of tennis" he had ever seen - to the family problems that brought him low in 2009 and the numerous injuries that have threatened his career.

With candor and intelligence, Nadal brings listeners on his dramatic and triumphant journey, never losing sight of the prize he values above all others: the unity and love of his family. 

From Rafa:

"During a match, you are in a permanent battle to fight back your everyday vulnerabilities, bottle up your human feelings. The more bottled up they are, the greater your chances of winning, so long as you've trained as hard as you play and the gap in talent is not too wide between you and your rival. The gap in talent with Federer existed, but it was not impossibly wide. It was narrow enough, even on his favorite surface in the tournament he played best, for me to know that if I silenced the doubts and fears, and exaggerated hopes, inside my head better than he did, I could beat him. You have to cage yourself in protective armor, turn yourself into a bloodless warrior. It's a kind of self-hypnosis, a game you play, with deadly seriousness, to disguise your own weaknesses from yourself, as well as from your rival."

©2011 Rafael Nadal (P)2020 Hachette Audio

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What listeners say about Rafa

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Awesome to listen to Rafa

Interesting to listen to the behind scenes of the worlds best sportsman and gentleman. Love the honesty he openly shares

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  • Julian Cohen
  • 2020-11-01

Great insights on Nadal's life and on being a #1

I enjoyed and learned tons through out this book.
There are so many ways that show how Nadal is a team player within and individualistic sport. how he thrives to be a good person who also plays tennis.

I strongly recommend this book.

5 people found this helpful

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  • djk
  • 2021-08-11

unbelievable narrator

this book took me almost a month to listen to because I had to take breaks just to mind numbing.
it was like listening to a five-year-old trying to learn to speak English. the narration made the book less enjoyable. you can take me so long to finish I would have asked for a refund

3 people found this helpful

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  • Sharon P.
  • 2022-01-20

Motivational story of a champion

I agree with other reviews that the narration is awful. No emotion or intonation whatsoever so it is difficult to stay engaged when listening to the man who is reading for Rafa.
If you can past that then it’s an interesting and motivating story of how a champion was made. I live tennis so felt the need to keep listening but if I didn’t, it would have been painful to finish.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Robert J. Pansegrau
  • 2023-03-27

I Enjoyed Every Moment of This Book

I’m a huge Rafa fan and this book really expanded my knowledge of this awesome man. He is undeniably one of, if not as I believe the Greatest Tennis Player and Athlete of All Time BUT more importantly, as this book reveals a genuine, nice guy who does not seek celebrity nor feel better than the rest. He is the role model to whom we should all try to be in his belief in the centrality and importance of Family and Humility. This book helps one understand the Complete Rafael Nadal.

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  • santiago
  • 2023-03-27

Great story, horribly narrated

The "Rafa" reader in slow and bad English with "Spanish" accent is really painful, it wasn't necessary

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  • Annette W.
  • 2023-03-20

Raw insight to an impressive life

Love the detail and intimate information Rafa unveils, letting us understand him better. An intriguing life, a good hearted person, unimpressed by fame and fortune, down to earth. Fabulous

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  • EDUARDO DAYAN HARARI
  • 2023-03-04

Great Book, ridiculous narrator!!!!!

Its a great book, great inspiring story… but give me a break!!! Why did you choose someone that CAN’T speak english to narrate this book???!!! I know that the point was to have a narrator with a spanish accent, but this was unbearable. There are plenty of people with spanish accent that know the language, instead you chose someone that clearly struggled.

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  • Rolo Paloma
  • 2023-02-23

Painful Performance

Half the audiobook (the Rafa part, mainly about two matched) is narrated with a very heavy, very slow spoken Spanish accent. Grows very tiresome. Ended up listening at 1.7 speed, not losing a thing. The kind of audiobook you return.

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  • great for paneer
  • 2023-02-18

Great story

The english narrator keeps on pronouncing Nadal’s name incorrectly and it’s really annoying throughout the book.

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  • D Hwang
  • 2023-01-29

Very inspirational story!

Great bio of Nadal and the story behind his thinking and rise.
Also the Spanish accented author was great, he sounded like Nadal himself!