In a tournament that brought together the best tennis talents under 14 from across Europe, Rafael stood out as a dominant force. His run to the final was nothing short of exemplary, displaying a maturity and competitive spirit well beyond his years.

The Final Triumph

In the final match, Rafael faced Dutch player Lorens Dreiver. Despite the pressure of such a major game, he remained composed and determined. The final score—6-1, 3-6, 6-2—reflected his superiority and his ability to bounce back strongly in the third set after losing momentum in the second. His semifinal victory was also notable, defeating Austria’s Moritz Freitag in a match that served as revenge for a previous loss in the Wimbledon U14 final.

Winning the U14 European Championship confirms Rafael’s status as one of tennis’s brightest emerging talents globally. His natural skill, combined with relentless work and dedication, has set him up for a promising future.

Beginnings on the Court

“I started tennis because of my dad. He first took me to a court when I was two years old. I just wanted to keep playing over and over again. I kept asking him to take me back to play. We’d rally, and I always wanted to win,” Rafael said in an interview with Tennis Europe.

The moment he realized he wanted to pursue tennis professionally came at age 10 after winning the Greek National Championship. Although he also played basketball and initially wanted to continue both, he quickly saw that tennis was his stronger suit and chose to focus solely on it. He began competing in Greek tournaments at age 6 or 7, and by 10, he had entered the international scene, playing Tennis Europe events and later venturing to tournaments in the U.S.

Transitioning from U12 to U14 brought new challenges. “The second set is usually completely different,” he explained. “In U12, you win the first set, and often the other kid gives up or thinks it’s already over. But in U14, no one gives up. Everyone wants to win. Everyone fights.”

Balancing Tennis and School

Rafael embraced the challenge of balancing sports and academics. “When I turned 12, I left traditional Greek school so I could travel and play tennis. I try to keep up with online schooling as much as I can. Between matches, I go back to the hotel, do my schoolwork, and stay focused on tennis,” he shared.

His daily routine is intense: wake up at 7 a.m., gym from 8–9, tennis until 10:30, schoolwork from 11 to 1, lunch, and then back to the academy at 3 for more tennis and fitness. “After training, I try to hit a few more serves—it’s really important for me to serve well. Then I head home and go to sleep,” he said. Outside of tennis, he doesn’t have much time for hobbies, although he occasionally plays basketball with his father for fun.

Favorite Player and Style

When asked about his tennis idol, Rafael said, “I’d say Carlos Alcaraz. He plays aggressively, uses the drop shot, and I try to use drop shots like him. He fights, he’s fast. I think we have a similar style. I like trying to play like him.”

After being crowned Greek Champion twice in the U10 category and once in U12, Rafael moved abroad for better training and competitive opportunities—first to the Netherlands, then to Cyprus, most recently training at the academy run by Marcos Baghdatis. He has also received invitations from the prestigious Mouratoglou Tennis Academy.

Living Abroad and Career Milestones

A key chapter in his development came when he lived in the Netherlands for two years around the age of 7.5. There, he attended public school, learned the language, and maintained the No. 1 spot in the U10 category.

Looking ahead, Rafael’s team is considering further training at academies abroad, while continuing the partnership with Baghdatis.

He has already made a mark in major junior tournaments like Les Petits As and the Junior Orange Bowl, where he placed third in December 2024. At IMG Future Stars, held in Greece since 2022, he reached the semifinals in the first year and the final the next.

His record in Tennis Europe events is equally impressive. In just two years, Rafael has reached 31 finals across singles and doubles, winning 21 titles. In 2025 alone—despite often playing against older competitors—he has already won seven singles tournaments.

Tsitsipas: “I Hope I Get to Play With Him!”

Stefanos Tsitsipas recently spoke about Rafael’s performance at Wimbledon:
“He’s very impressive, and I’m looking forward to seeing him at the ATP level. I hope I get the chance to play alongside him in the Davis Cup. He has huge potential. He seems really dedicated and focused on what he does. I’m proud that we have an athlete like him from Greece—I don’t think he’ll just be good, I believe he’ll be truly great.”

As for the advice he’d give Rafael:
“One thing I’ve learned over the years is that there were moments when I felt the need to achieve everything quickly, within a specific timeline. I’d advise him not to rush. Focus on daily improvement, because it’s easy to ‘boom’ early and assume that success will just keep coming. Talent matters, but dedication and love for the sport often make the difference.”