Director: Zach Heinzerling
Cast: Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moyá, Toni Nadal, Rafael Maymó, Sebastian Nadal
Rafa is a 2026 American documentary series directed by Zach Heinzerling, offering an intimate portrait of Rafael Nadal — one of the most celebrated tennis players in history — as he fights back from serious injury to reclaim his place among the sport's elite.
What is Rafa about?
The series pulls back the curtain on the private world of Rafael Nadal, tracing the difficult years when recurring injuries threatened to end his professional career. Through exclusive access to training sessions, family moments, and personal archives never before seen by the public, viewers witness the physical and emotional toll of elite sport at the highest level. Alongside his coaching team and closest family members, Nadal navigates the long road of rehabilitation and the psychological weight of uncertainty — all while the question of whether he can truly return to competitive tennis in 2024 remains unanswered. The story is as much about resilience and identity as it is about sport.
Cast & crew
Director Zach Heinzerling brings a documentary filmmaker's precision to the project, granting the camera rare proximity to Nadal's inner circle. Rafael Nadal himself is the central subject, while longtime coach Carlos Moyá, uncle and former coach Toni Nadal, physiotherapist Rafael Maymó, father Sebastian Nadal, and mother Ana María Parera all appear, as do tennis legend John McEnroe and sports journalist Jon Wertheim.
Context & significance
Tennis has a devoted following among Iranians at home and across the diaspora, and Rafael Nadal's career has attracted passionate fans throughout the Persian-speaking world. For diaspora viewers who grew up watching Grand Slam matches on satellite TV, this series offers something rare — a glimpse behind the champion's composed public face into the doubt, discipline, and family bonds that sustained him. The documentary is available on K-Time with Persian dubbing, making it fully accessible without language barriers for Farsi-speaking viewers of all ages.
Where & how to watch
Rafa is available to stream on K-Time with Persian dubbing and Persian subtitles. Watch on the web, on your TV, or on your phone — no extra download required, no VPN needed, and no geo-blocking. Start your subscription and cancel anytime.