Rafael Nadal: Court Conquistador

Teen idol Rafael Nadal stormed through the French Open. He could be the game's next great star

Trailing 4-5 in the fourth set of this year's French Open final, Rafael Nadal, the swashbuckling Spanish teenager, was caught back on his heels, stranded a good 10 ft. behind the baseline. Sensing Nadal's predicament, his opponent, Mariano Puerta of Argentina, finessed a pretty drop shot just over the net, a sure winner. But Nadal, locks flopping, ran in from somewhere outside Madrid to return the chip. Puerta bashed the ball straight back at Nadal's legs, but Nadal blocked back another miracle that Puerta couldn't handle. Set tied. Nadal leaped high into the air, fist pumping, letting out a joyous scream....

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