Who co-wrote Rafael Nadal's 2011 autobiography 'Rafa'?

John Carlin co-wrote Rafael Nadal’s 2011 autobiography, Rafa.

Carlin is a British-born journalist and writer who has worked extensively in Spain and became known for international reporting and sports-related writing. For Rafa, he collaborated with Nadal to shape the player’s memories into a first-person memoir, rather than writing a conventional detached biography.

Published in 2011, the book covers Nadal’s childhood in Mallorca, his development under the guidance of his uncle Toni, his breakthrough on clay, and the mental and physical demands of elite tennis. It also discusses the people around Nadal, including his family, coaches and rivals, and describes the routines behind his success.

The title is often confused with journalists who wrote about Nadal rather than with the book’s credited collaborator. Paul Hayward, Jon Wertheim and Simon Kuper have all written significant tennis journalism, but John Carlin is the named co-writer of Rafa. The autobiography appeared during Nadal’s peak years, shortly after he had won his first Wimbledon and US Open titles.