Rafael Nadal 2014 French Open Quarterfinal Match Worn Sneakers

Nicknamed the “King of Clay,” Rafael Nadal holds 22 Grand Slam titles to date, and 14 French Open Championships, the most by any male player in the history of tennis. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

From Rafa’s 2014 French Open Championship run, these match worn sneakers were photomatched to Nadal’s 2014 French Open Quarterfinal match against fellow Spanish countryman David Ferrer. The win advanced Rafa to the semifinals on his way to his 14th Grand Slam title and 8th French Open victory.

The sneakers feature Rafa’s signature bull logo (a reference to his nickname ‘raging bull’), which can be found on almost all of his tournament gear. The bull is made up of two mirrored lightning bolts creating a bull’s head and on the left heel is the number 8.  

The sneakers are accompanied by a photomatching certificate from MeiGray in regards to the match use.

Going Deeper | Rafael Nadal

Born in Manacor, a Spanish Island of Mallorca, Rafa began playing tennis at the age of three and was coached by his uncle and former professional tennis player, Toni Nadal. 

Rafa turned professional at 15, and at 17 he became the youngest male since Boris Becker to reach the third round of Wimbledon. In 2005, Rafa stepped onto the clay courts of the French Open for the first time. He would go on to defeat Mariano Puerta and claim his first Grand Slam victory, at 19 years old. The victory catapulted him to the ranking of third best men’s tennis player in the world.

Rafa went on to win every French Open for the next three years, marking four consecutive French Open titles (2005-2008). He was subsequently referred to as the “King of Clay”. In 2008, he won both the French Open and Wimbledon against world number one, Roger Federer. That year he also took home the Gold Medal at the Beijing Olympics, earning the coveted number one ranking.

Aside from his 14 French Open titles, Nadal has won the US Open four times, Wimbledon twice, and the Australian Open twice.