Rafael Nadal: The Comeback Kid

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal, 2010

Rafael Nadal has been off the tennis circuit since June 2012 when he lost in the second round at Wimbledon. A significant knee injury was the problem but this week he’s back on court in Chile and his fans will be hoping he can come back from injury to compete against the top players.

Nadal, Rafa to his fans, is one of the world’s greatest tennis players. He won his 1st Grand Slam (aged 19) at the French Open in 2005 and he’s notched up 11 Grand Slams, including an all-time record of 7 French Open titles, earning him the nickname ‘The King of Clay’.

Nadal v. Federer 2008

Spring 2008 – spring 2009 was an incredibly successful year for Rafa, memorably beating Roger Federer at Wimbledon 2008, adding Olympic Gold to his victory tally and ascending to the world no. 1 position. He was, however, unable to defend his Wimbledon title in 2009, when he suffered a similar knee injury. He came back from injury relatively slowly but in 2010 he won a further 3 Grand Slams

Nadal v. Djokovic 2012

His winning streak only came to a halt in 2011 due to another tennis player in his prime, Novak Djokovic. The Australian Open final in 2012 between the two men was an epic 5 set battle that lasted 5 hours 53 minutes, the longest Grand Slam final ever.

Let’s take a look at Rafa’s chart to see what the astrology can reveal about this amazing tennis player.

Rafael Nadal astrology chart
Rafael Nadal (Rafa), b. June 3 1986, 7:15pm, Manacor, Spain

Natal Potential

Like Djokovic and many tennis players before him, Rafa is a Sun Gemini. His Midheaven (success point) is 1 Virgo, so his career planet is Mercury in Gemini. Mercury rules the hands and is at home in Gemini, where it’s quick and dexterous, perfect for nipping around a tennis court with your racquet in hand. Mercury is in a T-square opposite Uranus and square Jupiter. These three planets working together suggest flashes of brilliance and a ‘bristling energy’.

Rafa’s Ascendant is Scorpio, intense and focused, and his ruling planet is Mars in Capricorn, again strong. Mars, the competitive planet, is exalted in Capricorn and fittingly Nadal is a physical tennis player with an attacking style. A fellow astrologer, Maxi, noted that ‘if Rafa had been born in antiquity he would have been a Roman gladiator’ which is probably true.

The natal potential to be a successful tennis player is there but what about the injuries? Saturn rules bones and the knees and is in the 1st house of physicality and Saturn opposes Rafa’s Sun, the source of vitality, which debilitates the energy of the Sun. The 6th house of health has the Moon exalted in Taurus on its cusp but the Moon is also in a difficult opposition to Pluto, the wipe-out planet. Mars is the natal 6th house ruler so there’s strength in the chart but also potential weakness.

Astrological Timing

June 2012, when Rafa suffered his latest injury, was marred by a double whammy of astrological toughies. Firstly, Saturn, planet of limitation squared his natal Mars, the planet which rules his health, on June 10th and July 10th, as Saturn turned direct in the heavens on June 25th at 22 Libra 46. Secondly, there was a lunar eclipse on June 4th at 14 Sagittarius 14, opposite Rafa’s natal Sun/Chiron conjunction. Eclipses often pinpoint turnaround moments and signal dramatic change.

Saturn remains dominant in Rafa’s chart in 2013 as there’s another lunar eclipse conjunct Rafa’s natal Saturn on May 25th, plus Saturn has moved in to Scorpio conjunct his natal Pluto. There is a similar pattern to last year as Saturn turns direct on July 8th at 4 Scorpio 49 and conjuncts Rafa’s Pluto on June 23rd and July 22nd.

However, this time around Jupiter, planet of good fortune and prizes, is active in Rafa’s chart. It’s exactly conjunct his Sun in Gemini on April 6th and conjunct his career planet Mercury in Gemini on June 10th. This looks promising and his best chance of winning another Grand Slam must come at the French Open or Wimbledon 2013, but up against the more difficult astrology it’s going to be a huge ask for Rafa to return to his former glory.

The Comeback Kid?

I’m sure I’m not the only one who would love to see Rafael Nadal back competing against the top 3, Djokovic, Murray and Federer and any rising stars. If he is to make a comeback, there’s no doubt he’s going to have to pace himself and grab his moments of glory when he can. How he progresses in the next few months will determine whether he’s going to win another Grand Slam but from an astrological perspective, it looks as if he has a mountain to climb.

In September 2013, Nadal will experience his 1st progressed lunar return, when the progressed Moon comes full circle and returns to the place it was when you were born. He’ll be 27 and as the Moon is on the 6th cusp ruling his health, he could make a decision about his tennis career on or around this time. There’s a lot riding on this next season of Grand Slam tennis and his ability to fight his way back to the top in the competitive world of men’s tennis. I know many of us will be wishing him well.

[photo from flickr.com]

 

57 thoughts on “Rafael Nadal: The Comeback Kid”

  1. Hi Sally,

    Thanks.

    However it is left open ended. I didnt decipher what exactly to make of it? Will he win any more slams? What do you forecast him ending at? How many slams more, this year?

    1. Thank you for your comment and I have updated my blog slightly. I suspect the limiting astrology is going to outweigh the promising astrology and make his comeback difficult. However, as an astrologer I feel it’s important to say that an astrological prediction that focuses solely on a person’s natal chart needs to be in context. So much depends on Nadal himself and if he were a client, I would be discussing the options with him in an astrology consultation. It is a completely different prediction when I look at the chart that reflects the start of an event and I’m then looking at what the astrology can tell me about the likely outcome of the event. It’s by using this chart and relating the players’ natal charts back to it that I make my prediction. So your questions are too specific and my intention with such a blog post is to enable readers to see Nadal’s natal chart, to find out Nadal’s astrology for the year ahead and make up their own mind what that tells them. We will soon find out how Nadal responds to this new challenge in his life. I hope the clarification is helpful.

  2. Hi Sally,

    Thanks.

    However it is left open ended. I didnt decipher what exactly to make of it? Will he win any more slams? What do you forecast him ending at? How many slams more, this year?

  3. “he could make a decision about his tennis career on or around this time” – Are you suggesting he may retire from tennis?

    1. That is up to Nadal. What I’m saying is that one of the planets that rules his health comes full circle this autumn and it’s the perfect time for him to consider his future. This will no doubt depend on whether he manages to remain injury-free throughout the coming season and how he feels emotionally.

    2. Please god let this come true-he has destroyed the game. A ball basher with the grace of a bull. Pity he is back but his past decisions may come back to haunt him. He wants to rush around like a raging bull, let him suffer the consequences.

      1. hi RIPTENNIS!!! I was wondering whether to approve your comment but in the spirit of free speech, I have decided to publish it. Whatever your thoughts on Nadal’s style of play, I can’t condone ill will. Nadal has brought passion, excitement and incredible talent to the world of tennis and it would be wonderful if he can recapture his former glory this coming season. Personally, I wish him all the best.

  4. “he could make a decision about his tennis career on or around this time” – Are you suggesting he may retire from tennis?

    1. That is up to Nadal. What I’m saying is that one of the planets that rules his health comes full circle this autumn and it’s the perfect time for him to consider his future. This will no doubt depend on whether he manages to remain injury-free throughout the coming season and how he feels emotionally.

    2. Please god let this come true-he has destroyed the game. A ball basher with the grace of a bull. Pity he is back but his past decisions may come back to haunt him. He wants to rush around like a raging bull, let him suffer the consequences.

      1. hi RIPTENNIS!!! I was wondering whether to approve your comment but in the spirit of free speech, I have decided to publish it. Whatever your thoughts on Nadal’s style of play, I can’t condone ill will. Nadal has brought passion, excitement and incredible talent to the world of tennis and it would be wonderful if he can recapture his former glory this coming season. Personally, I wish him all the best.

  5. This astrologer thinks Nadal will make a stunning comeback.

    http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/column_octozone-rafael-nadal-will-make-a-stunning-comeback_1785645

    Octozone: Rafael Nadal will make a stunning comeback

    Rafael Nadal is only on a temporary exile as the ‘King of clay’ will be back to reclaim his crown. Nadal will silence his detractors with a stunning comeback.

    He has an extraordinary horoscope with ‘Planet-Z’ in the deepest exaltation in his first house of personality, making him a legend of the game. His weakly-placed Sun is responsible for the long history of injuries but his career is far from over. The current speculations about the stomach bug and his wobbly knees don’t really matter. The Spaniard will make a spectacular comeback in the next few months with some famous victories.

    Saturn would get progressively into deep exaltation in the next two years and Rafa would only grow from strength to strength. He missed the London Olympics and couldn’t defend his title, but he will be back to defend the French Open crown. Despite missing the Australian Open in January 2013, expect the current world No 4 to be in the top three amongst the ‘Fab-four’. In 2014, he would even storm into the top two. The possibility of him reclaiming the No 1 ranking cannot be ruled out either.
    Article continues below the advertisement…

    The only player to win three consecutive Grand Slams in three different surfaces, Nadal will be at it again and win Grand Slams in surfaces other than clay too. The tennis great has a realistic chance of adding at least four more Grand Slams to his tally. However, he would never be able to better Roger Federer’s mark.

    From 2015 onwards, the form of Nadal would plummet and his ageing body will give way too. He would drop the idea of playing at another Olympics and would retire as one of the greatest tennis players ever.

    1. hi Chandra,Thank you for your comment and for the interesting Indian prediction re. Nadal. It’s hard for me to comment on it as I don’t understand what Planet-Z is and in western astrology, Saturn is not in its sign of exaltation. So a different perspective.
      Admittedly Nadal’s astrology looks lovely in a few month’s time when Jupiter conjuncts firstly his Sun and then Mercury, his career planet, in Gemini, and it may be that he has another great year. However, as an astrologer I can’t ignore the fact that last November’s eclipse fell on his Ascendant and Saturn has still to go over his Ascendant next year 2014. The Ascendant/1st house rules physicality so it will be tough for Nadal to remain at his physical peak.

  6. This astrologer thinks Nadal will make a stunning comeback.

    http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/column_octozone-rafael-nadal-will-make-a-stunning-comeback_1785645

    Octozone: Rafael Nadal will make a stunning comeback

    Rafael Nadal is only on a temporary exile as the ‘King of clay’ will be back to reclaim his crown. Nadal will silence his detractors with a stunning comeback.

    He has an extraordinary horoscope with ‘Planet-Z’ in the deepest exaltation in his first house of personality, making him a legend of the game. His weakly-placed Sun is responsible for the long history of injuries but his career is far from over. The current speculations about the stomach bug and his wobbly knees don’t really matter. The Spaniard will make a spectacular comeback in the next few months with some famous victories.

    Saturn would get progressively into deep exaltation in the next two years and Rafa would only grow from strength to strength. He missed the London Olympics and couldn’t defend his title, but he will be back to defend the French Open crown. Despite missing the Australian Open in January 2013, expect the current world No 4 to be in the top three amongst the ‘Fab-four’. In 2014, he would even storm into the top two. The possibility of him reclaiming the No 1 ranking cannot be ruled out either.
    Article continues below the advertisement…

    The only player to win three consecutive Grand Slams in three different surfaces, Nadal will be at it again and win Grand Slams in surfaces other than clay too. The tennis great has a realistic chance of adding at least four more Grand Slams to his tally. However, he would never be able to better Roger Federer’s mark.

    From 2015 onwards, the form of Nadal would plummet and his ageing body will give way too. He would drop the idea of playing at another Olympics and would retire as one of the greatest tennis players ever.

    1. hi Chandra,Thank you for your comment and for the interesting Indian prediction re. Nadal. It’s hard for me to comment on it as I don’t understand what Planet-Z is and in western astrology, Saturn is not in its sign of exaltation. So a different perspective.
      Admittedly Nadal’s astrology looks lovely in a few month’s time when Jupiter conjuncts firstly his Sun and then Mercury, his career planet, in Gemini, and it may be that he has another great year. However, as an astrologer I can’t ignore the fact that last November’s eclipse fell on his Ascendant and Saturn has still to go over his Ascendant next year 2014. The Ascendant/1st house rules physicality so it will be tough for Nadal to remain at his physical peak.

  7. Hi,

    First of all, I am not Richard Krajicek. I was a fan of his years back. Would you mind doing astrology for Roger Federer for this year and next year. Alot of people are writing him off again. I am quite fed up with people writing him off. Roger is a very strong person. I always believe that he will come back stronger.

    Kind Regards

    1. hi Richard, I did wonder about your name!! My next prediction will be for the French Open in May. It’s getting harder to predict for Roger as so much depends on his physical fitness and mental strength now he’s one of the older men on the tennis circuit. Ideally I would love to have an astrology consultation with Roger but as that’s highly unlikely (!), I will continue to look at who has the best astrology for each tournament and base my predictions on that. Thanks for your comment. Always appreciated.

  8. hi Richard, I did wonder about your name!! My next prediction will be for the French Open in May. It’s getting harder to predict for Roger as so much depends on his physical fitness and mental strength now he’s one of the older men on the tennis circuit. Ideally I would love to have an astrology consultation with Roger but as that’s highly unlikely (!), I will continue to look at who has the best astrology for each tournament and base my predictions on that. Thanks for your comment. Always appreciated.

  9. Admittedly Nadal’s astrology looks lovely in a few month’s time when Jupiter conjuncts firstly his Sun and then Mercury, his career planet, in Gemini, and it may be that he has another great year

    Hi Sally – Is this lovely astrology during June & July when RG/Wimby get played? 🙂 . Frankly its the slams that matter most.

    To RIPTennis – Please god let this come true-he has destroyed the game.Let him suffer the consequences.

    You have the audacity to request God bad for another person? Well I wonder how you dont even fear doing anything like that. Havent you heard that to wish negativity onto others, u first have to absorb enough negativity onto yourself to even harbour those thoughts and it will indeed affect you badly. And lasly have you achieved even 1% of what Rafa has in his life? Go dwell on it 🙂

  10. Admittedly Nadal’s astrology looks lovely in a few month’s time when Jupiter conjuncts firstly his Sun and then Mercury, his career planet, in Gemini, and it may be that he has another great year

    Hi Sally – Is this lovely astrology during June & July when RG/Wimby get played? 🙂 . Frankly its the slams that matter most.

    To RIPTennis – Please god let this come true-he has destroyed the game.Let him suffer the consequences.

    You have the audacity to request God bad for another person? Well I wonder how you dont even fear doing anything like that. Havent you heard that to wish negativity onto others, u first have to absorb enough negativity onto yourself to even harbour those thoughts and it will indeed affect you badly. And lasly have you achieved even 1% of what Rafa has in his life? Go dwell on it 🙂

  11. Nadal just lost his favourite tournament. I’m afraid and Think he is finished. Any predictions for his future? will he be stuck on 11 slams.

  12. Nadal just lost his favourite tournament. I’m afraid and Think he is finished. Any predictions for his future? will he be stuck on 11 slams.

  13. Hi Sally,

    The matches are getting very competitive. It is very difficult to do a casual prediction for the grand slams just looking at the level of each player. Could you please give your insight into Novak’s success .. How are the upcoming slams going to be. I saw, you obtained a new birth time of Novak. Great 🙂

  14. Thanks Sally. Your predictions for Nadal have so far been very accurate.

    I am die hard Rafa fan and I am trusting you to give me some good news. I am hoping Nadal could cross Sampras if not Fedrer.

    From some site some other physic said that Djoko chart is very strong for next 10 year that he could reach 30-40 majors. Thats insane.

    Thanks again.

  15. Thanks Sally. Your predictions for Nadal have so far been very accurate.

    I am die hard Rafa fan and I am trusting you to give me some good news. I am hoping Nadal could cross Sampras if not Fedrer.

    From some site some other physic said that Djoko chart is very strong for next 10 year that he could reach 30-40 majors. Thats insane.

    Thanks again.

    1. Hi, I’m not putting a prediction on this time but may write a piece about the astrology. I have had a quick look and if it weren’t for the eclipses zapping key planets in Nadal’s chart, he’s easily the favourite with Jupiter on his success planet, fleet-footed Mercury in Gemini, almost exact on the day of the final. Eclipses can sometimes play out further down the line. Andy Murray has the eclipse on his success planet and it’s counted him out. I shall be watching with interest… best, Sally

        1. No, I think it’s his best chance of winning a final this year and he’s the hot favourite astrologically (Jupiter conjunct Mercury Gemini, his success planet) & in the betting shops. However, you can’t discount 3 eclipses all falling on planets in his chart and this must be the knee injury. Whether his injury will stop his progress at Roland Garros or flare up again further down the line, I don’t know. The eclipses have been and gone (last one May 25th 2013) but they don’t always play out immediately. They tend to have an effect 3-6 months down the line. I hope he wins this one. It would be a major achievement and the first man to win a single tournament 8 times. Thanks, Sally

          1. Agree – If he reaches the final surely he wins it all. Who else has a strong chance to win this year FO. How does the women draw look to you?

    1. Hi, I’m not putting a prediction on this time but may write a piece about the astrology. I have had a quick look and if it weren’t for the eclipses zapping key planets in Nadal’s chart, he’s easily the favourite with Jupiter on his success planet, fleet-footed Mercury in Gemini, almost exact on the day of the final. Eclipses can sometimes play out further down the line. Andy Murray has the eclipse on his success planet and it’s counted him out. I shall be watching with interest… best, Sally

        1. No, I think it’s his best chance of winning a final this year and he’s the hot favourite astrologically (Jupiter conjunct Mercury Gemini, his success planet) & in the betting shops. However, you can’t discount 3 eclipses all falling on planets in his chart and this must be the knee injury. Whether his injury will stop his progress at Roland Garros or flare up again further down the line, I don’t know. The eclipses have been and gone (last one May 25th 2013) but they don’t always play out immediately. They tend to have an effect 3-6 months down the line. I hope he wins this one. It would be a major achievement and the first man to win a single tournament 8 times. Thanks, Sally

          1. Agree – If he reaches the final surely he wins it all. Who else has a strong chance to win this year FO. How does the women draw look to you?

    1. hi, thanks for your comment. Catching up on tennis comments on this post and on Who Will Win The Australian Open Tennis 2013? Nadal has the best astrology if he makes the final but it’s a tough call. Will post a ‘retrodiction’ on the astrology next week and give a heads up for Wimbledon.

    1. hi, thanks for your comment. Catching up on tennis comments on this post and on Who Will Win The Australian Open Tennis 2013? Nadal has the best astrology if he makes the final but it’s a tough call. Will post a ‘retrodiction’ on the astrology next week and give a heads up for Wimbledon.

  16. Hi Sally,

    How are Djokovic’s chances? Can you please tell your observations looking at his chart..

    Thank you

  17. Hi Sally,

    How are Djokovic’s chances? Can you please tell your observations looking at his chart..

    Thank you

  18. Sally as you know Rafa won FO lost MC to Noble but tomorrow they play each other in Semi Finals I’ve studied astrology but know what it comes down to is our free will and choices… my prediction Rafa takes RG#8 also he will be in 2016 Olympics after that I think he will retire if he wants to… because he is a Tiger in Chinese astrology that figures in also, Scorpio ascended look out for the sting!

    1. You were spot on about Rafa winning French Open no. 8. Will be posting a piece on the astrology shortly. Thank you.

      1. How does Federer year looks to you? He is yet to win a title this year and looks out of sorts. can you throw some light on his career?

  19. Sally as you know Rafa won FO lost MC to Noble but tomorrow they play each other in Semi Finals I’ve studied astrology but know what it comes down to is our free will and choices… my prediction Rafa takes RG#8 also he will be in 2016 Olympics after that I think he will retire if he wants to… because he is a Tiger in Chinese astrology that figures in also, Scorpio ascended look out for the sting!

    1. You were spot on about Rafa winning French Open no. 8. Will be posting a piece on the astrology shortly. Thank you.

      1. How does Federer year looks to you? He is yet to win a title this year and looks out of sorts. can you throw some light on his career?

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