Rafael Nadal

A page and forum to discuss all things Rafael Nadal.

Nadal 5

Current ranking: 14

Last result: Australian Open second round (lost to Mackenzie McDonald)

Next tournament: Roland Garros

33 Comments on Rafael Nadal

  3. Sampras thinks Nadal is the favourite for Aus open ,closely followed by djokovic.

    Translation from italian:

    “Djokovic and Nadal will be the protagonists of the most important challenges of the next season. Federer can still have their say and the same goes for Murray. But at the moment the first two of the world are head and shoulders above all others. ”

    Regarding the ‘favorite’ of the Australian Open, Sampras said: “Much depends on the boards and on the physical condition of both. To win will be more in the form of the two, the one who will have that bit of extra energy to face the best match the long and arduous. Djokovic has certainly possibilities, but Nadal is in an excellent condition, it will be really hard to beat. ”

    “In their rivalry, it is not to have a right or wrong side better. Rafa and Novak have a game very similar and both right now are in great shape, both physically and mentally. To make a difference, often, are the little things. When both play well, wins the one who is able to stay focused longer and hold trade long. During the final of the U.S. Open, for example, Rafa was certainly a plus.’m not sure if Novak was mentally tired, but in that case a detail has made ​​a big difference. ”

    Sampras then focuses on Nadal: “I love watching him play, his attitude on the field is the best I’ve ever seen. E ‘always optimistic, never lost heart and even when he is in trouble recovers very quickly. His mental approach and his game together make a winning combination. It ‘a great example for all young players. ” “Rafa has had to work hard to get back into shape after the injury, but from the point of view of tennis I would not have surprised. Rather, it is amazing how he managed to regain confidence.’m sure you will get some important results even in 2014. And the same goes for Novak, it’s a great fighter and I really admire his mental strength as well. “

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  5. It’s nice to read those comments from Sampras. I am pleased that he has acknowledged Rafa’s greatest asset – his incomparable mental strength and will to win.

    It’s a privilege to watch him compete.

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  6. So Rafa will face David tomorrow in Abu Dhabi. David beat Stan 7/5 6/1. David just steamrolled over Stan in the 2nd set, playing very aggressively at or inside the baseline.

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  7. I was at the presses of both RAfa and NLe today. Rafa was first and I was able to ask him 2 questions and help him out when he couldn’t remember where else he’d. Beaten Novak this year apart from MOntreal and the USO. Can you believe it?

    These are the 2 questions I asked him:

    Do you think you have proved to your critics that you are as good on h/c as anyone else?

    Will you dominate poker when you retire?

    Rafa looked so imposing with lots of charisma and looked very cheerful.

    I was late For Djoker’s pressed because I had to go and get Rafa’s autograph.

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  10. Rafa was asked whether he thought Djoker has appointed BB as his head coach, to train him ito play more at the net and Rafa said you can’t change your style at the age of 26; someone else asked why Rafa thinks he has had the same coach for his whole career when other players change coaches all the time and he aid that it’s like blaming someone else for losing, that it’s down to you whether you win or lose.

    I missed most of Nole’s presser but I think it was all about BB and I asked him if he’s appointed BB because he is a good poker player and he said he doesn’t play poker because he doesn’t like gambling!!!!!!!! and he knows that Rafa is now the poker champion (smiles).

    Most of the questions to Andy were to do with his back and his come back. I asked him at his post match presser if he thinks the season is too long and compact to allow their body to recover. He said he doesn’t mind the eleven months season but he thinks there should be more flexibility, that players get penalized and lose their ranking when they take time off because of injury.

    Andy didn’t play too badly. It was clear that he was a bit slow getting to the balls but I’m sure that will come.

    It was manic during the autograph signing. The place was heaving when Rafa appeared and the end of his session Djoker took over and when Rafa was leaving a lot of the crowd followed him until he disappeared into the Media Centre.

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    • Thanks @nadline! Great that Rafa has such avid fans. Will you be in Doha, per chance? Your on site takes are much more informative compared to what we get from some paid journos.

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      • Yes I will be in Doha. I am a bit green atm, but I’m learning the ropes. I missed the first set of the Djoker/Tsonga match because I was at Rafa’s presser. I didn’t go to either P/M presser for Tsonga or Nole because they never say exactly when it’s going to be so we have to hang around in the press room just waiting and it was getting late.

        Yesterday we had to walk back to our hotel, which is very close to the Sports Centre, luckily, because all the taxis had gone by the time I came out of Andy’s presser. Public transport in the UAE is sparse, they assume that everyone has a limo and a driver and don’t think of how tourists should get around. There are hardly any foot paths because somehow they don’t think people might want to cross the roads.

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  13. I am not surprised to hear Rafa’s comments about why he has not changed coaches. I think he has a great philosophy about it, that it’s up to the player.

    We had a discussion about Djoker having BB as his new coach and I did say that a player cannot change his style of play. Djoker is a baseline player and that will never change. I don’t think he hired BB for his style of play, but in some way for what he seems to feel is his mental attitude on the court.

    I love hearing Rafa’s thoughts. It’s also nice to see Andy Murray back playing tennis. He just needs some time to get his fitness and form back.

    I am very happy to hear that Uncle Toni has won Coach of the Year poll of Tennis Reporters! It’s good to see him get some recognition.

    Thanks for that info! 🙂

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  14. Is this the first time they have had the ‘Coach of the Year’ award? I don’t seem to remember it in the past. Could it be that whoever proposed did it purely because of the Lende/Murray partnership with Murray winning 2 slams and the Olympic Gold?

    Congratulations to U. Toni. He should have won it long time ago.

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  15. Ferrer was asked what he did differently today to beat Rafa and he said he kept the points short and served well. But he added that Rafa is the best players in the world and he hasn’t been training for very long before coming here whilst he, Ferrer, has been training for a month. He said he is sure Rafa wasn’t playing at his peak today.

    The line judges were terrible. Rafa got a bad call which he mentioned in his presser saying it could have won him the 2nd set. but he says he is very happy with his game and he is working towards OZ.. Rafa missed other BPs which suggests that he is not overly fussed about playing Djokovic just yet.

    The Tsonga/Djoker match was close. Tsonga didn’t play as well as he played against Andy, granted Andy is a bit rusty so that may have made Tsonga look very good but still he served very well yesterday, today not so much. There was only the one break in the entire match.

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      • Rafa hit him with his last ball, a big serve,during the warm-up. I’m not sure where the ball hit him but he crouched down and seemed to be in some pain. It was a ball (boy). He had to leave the court before the match but there was no mention of him in the presser so I guess he’s OK.

        Some people will do anything to get a hug from Rafa.

        Some inside info. Someone asked Rafa at the presser whether he was hungry after the match (I thought he said angry) but he wanted to know what players do immediately after a match. Rafa said he usually has a shower but he forgot his ‘alcohol’ to remove the taping on his finger, at his hotel so he couldn’t have a shower until he got back.

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  16. I should stop being so Rafacentric and take more pics. across the board!!! That’s what you get when you let a fan loose with access to all areas. Lol

    Ricky, I wouldn’t mind you using my real name, you never know, I might even get a Photographer’s pass one day. Lol

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    • This article explains why Rafa didn’t play that well in his first match against Ferrer. Because of the treatment, he wasn’t able to practice. It’s great that Rafa is feeling so good, but the article did say that this may hamper his attempt to win the 2014 AO.

      I hope that Rafa can get some good match play at Doha. A good result would give him some confidence going into the AO.

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  19. apparently, rafa has undergone stem cell therapy and is feeling pain free for the first time in almost two years. WOW ! calendar slam?lol

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    • This is the best news I have heard yet! I guess this is the first time Rafa has undergone stem cell therapy. If this really has resolved the issue with the left knee, then the other players better watch out!

      I don’t like to say calendar slam out loud. It makes me nervous. I get chills just thinking about a Rafa playing without pain after such a long time.

      This is the best news right before the new year!

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  20. You do know what’s going to happen now don’t you? Federer will get stem cell therapy for his back and he’ll play until he is over 50. We’ll never be rid of him now. Thank you modern medicine. (sarcastic)

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    • haha..even though the above comment is sarcastic, it does make us realize how ridiculous the idea of having a single ‘greatest player of all time ‘ is. The benefits modern day players get in terms of advanced medical treatment were unimaginable in the early days of tennis. So, always better to have a ‘best player of a generation’ thing rather than ‘best player of all time’.

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