In a quiet moment malimeda has been trawling through youtube to find videos from Rafa's childhood years. Here is a selection. Toddler Rafa with his uncle Miguel Angel after a football match. I notice he started the tongue in the corner of the mouth thing pretty early in his life. ![]() Screencap by MAC
Playing tennis and football in Mallorca. Whipping the racket round his ear also started early. ![]() Screencap by MAC Although, in those days, football as a career wasn't entirely ruled out. ![]() Screencap by MAC Rafa aged 12 in Barcelona. Less movement of the eyebrow in after match interviews but still evident. ![]() Screencap by MAC Not hugely impressed with the runner up trophy. ![]() Screencap by MAC Rafa aged 13 losing the match to Richard Gasquet at Les Petit As at Tarbes, France in 1999. (Note that in the ten times they've played each other since joining the main ATP tour, Rafa has never lost to Gasquet.) Even back then he was shaking hands with the crowd. ![]() Screencap by MAC Training with Uncle Toni. Were Nike already sponsoring him? ![]() Screencap by MAC Rafa at 16, winning the final against Pastorino at the ITF Futures Tournament in Vigo, Spain in August 2002. The interview technique was already good...(Q: And the tournament you'd like to win the most? A: Wimbledon, but it's difficult and I need to work a lot.) ![]() Screencap by MAC ...but the fist pump needed work. ![]() Screencap by MAC Rafa's first participation in Monte Carlo back in 2003 - winning match point against Albert Costa in round two followed by his post match interview. Pleased with the win. ![]() Screencap by MAC Loving the haircut. ![]() Screencap by MAC Rafa at 17, winning match point against Lee Childs at his first Wimbledon in 2003. A celebration. ![]() Screencap by MAC Letting the hair grow. ![]() Screencap by MAC Rafa at 16, being asked to list all of his biggest junior results so far. He goes on and on (champion of Spain, champion of Europe, junior DC champion playing both singles & doubles, semifinalist at Wimbledon...), to end up with "And I can't remember any more." The interviewer quips, "Perhaps because there are no more tournaments left!" ![]() Screencap by MAC |