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

74 Comments on Rafael Nadal

  1. I don’t know if this interview was conducted in English or in Spanish which has been very well translated.

    Either way it demonstrates Rafa’s ability to analyse and then articulate his strengths as well as the weaknesses. And what’s more he has the confidence to openly discuss his game in such a frank manner for all to read.

    It makes such a refreshing change from the customary doublespeak that passes so often passes as an interview. Andy Murray, once famous for his mumbled monosyllabic answers, is another of the top players not afraid to to give a frank ‘warts and all’ assessment of his game.

    Reply

  10. I guess Cheryl and Ricky were federazzi too.

    “Congratulations, French crowd – you win the award for Most Classless Fans. Well done!”

    “If what you say were true and nadal were so unlikeable, he would be booed where ever he went. Just the opposite is true however. He is a rockstar everywhere else. The French hate him because he keeps winning their event. period.”
    ^^^^ THAT. Great point by C-Muzz.
    RickyDimon, 5/25/11 8:22 AM

    http://www.tennistalk.com/en/blog/Cheryl_Murray/20110524/I've_given_up_on_the_French_crowd

    #GoodOldDays

    Reply

  12. The RG crowd was made up of many different fans, many Rafans but mostly pretentious French fans who fawned over Federer, i.e., Federazzi).

    I base this on my own observations of Nadal being disrespected vs. Soderling and Isner to name two obvious examples and countless articles (e.g. Cheryl’s) and quotes from Rafa and Uncle Toni.

    Dispute it all you want. I won’t make excuses for their boorish behaviour towards the GOAT.

    This year was quite a welcome departure (as I’ve already said).

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  13. Everything is going according to plan. Spain have just been shredded 5-1 by the Dutch in Brazil. Total humiliation. So, guess who will be called upon to restore Spanish honour: RAFA!!

    Wimby, be very afraid……………….

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    • Has not he lost 3 straight matches on grass to total nobodies? Maybe if they give him Berdych in the first round. But they can’t.

      Reply

    • ritb, that crossed my mind whilst I was watching Spain being rolled over by the Dutch. Spain must be thinking ‘just as well we have Rafael Nadal’, who poses the greatest challenge in world sport on Phillipe Chartrier.

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    • Spain got demolished by Netherlands but it does not mean they will not go through…Spain will bounce back…I think they will have easy wins over Australia and Chile and will only get better from now on…sounds familiar? 🙂

      Reply

      • Well, yes. 🙂

        Spain also lost their 1st match in 2010 and ended up as champions. Yesterday, they were playing like novices and Casillas looked stunned he kept leaving the goal post trying to save the ball from midfield.

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      • I think there is jealousy out there about Spain’s sporting success, especially from some European nations. The way the twitterverse is carrying on about the Spain loss to Holland anyone would think Spain were eliminated. Unseemly glee. Uncle Toni’s observations, in another context, are apt. I paraphrase:

        “I think some European nations don’t like it when a Spaniard wins,” he added. “Wanting someone to lose is a slightly conceited way of amusing yourself. They show the stupidity of people who think themselves superior.”

        Yes, it was a humiliation but hardly the end of Spain’s campaign. As for the Dutch, they caught the Spaniards napping, well done to them but they would be well-served to remember: it’s early days yet.

        Actually this loss may serve the Spaniards well, as some sort of rude awakening. Unfortunately for them, they appear destined to end up 2nd in their Group, which means they will then have to play Brazil, who are all but guaranteed to finish top in theirs. FIFA want Brazil to win the tournament so Spain will be knocked out I am afraid.

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  14. augusta and I are on the same page regarding the sentiments of the French towards Rafa. It is clear that ;The ‘French’ love Rafa judging by the warm and affectionate way he is celebrated by the establishment and the media in France, much more than he is in the UK, where he is also very popular. The fact that there are bitter Fedfans amongst the spectators who behave in an obnoxious way to the greatest player of this era, shouldn’t cloud our judgement.

    During the FO tournament, Rafa is constantly featured on French media in many ways celebrating his greatness at RG. I don’t understand why anyone would want to ignore all the evidence just for the satisfaction of saying the French hate Rafa. So they cheered Sod on, but who was doing the cheering and booing? You can’t blame the French for the behaviour of an international audience.

    Reply

    • That’s two of you then. Enough to start a club.

      When I refer to the French in this context as I have explained before, I refer to the RG crowd. The same crowd criticized by Nadal and Uncle T. Maybe the three of us can start our own club.

      Reply

      • hawkeye63 (at 10:43 pm)
        —When I refer to the French in this context as I have explained before, I refer to the RG crowd. The same crowd criticized by Nadal and Uncle T.—

        Uncle Toni made a mistake – the French crowd and the Federazzi aren’t synonyms.

        Again: how long are you going to promote the aggressive behavior of the Federazzi that took place 5 years ago!

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      • @augusta08, I don’t recall Uncle T apologizing for his words or saying he was mistaken. This is your opinion, no, that he was mistaken?

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      • rafaisthebest ( at 8:15 am),

        U.Toni can’t say that the legionaries of the Federazzi booed, because he can’t prove this. He obviously don’t have enough time to read the Internet forums to come to that conclusion.

        Reply

  15. So folks, let us play a game. If you were to answer the below 7 questions what would your answer be? Give reasons for your answers 🙂

    A) If Rafa were to win only 1 slam now on, which would you choose?

    B) If Rafa were to win only 2 slams now on, which would you choose?

    C) If Rafa were to win only 3 slams now on, which would you choose?

    D) If there is 1 title outside slams you want Rafa to win , which would you choose?

    E) If there is 1 Masters you want Rafa to win, which would you choose?

    F) Would you choose Rafa gives it all , pushes his body to the limit to win more huge titles and plays for next 2 years and retires in 2016 or he plays for next 5 years and wins at a relaxed pace (2 non slam titles per year like Fed)

    G) Tricky one..Choose …Rafa retiring with positive H2H vs Nole (I am not mentioning any other top player as they are all far behind in H2H) Vs Rafa winning all 9 Masters atleast once. You can choose only 1, not both 🙂

    My answers. Don’t get influenced by my answers 🙂

    A) Obviously AO 2015 for the double career slam

    B) This is tricky for sure. I am confused between him winning 1 more RG to make it 10 RG(double digit) and winning 1 more non clay slam to make it 9-7 clay-non clay, a balanced mix. However I will go for AO 2015, RG 2015 as double digit in a single slam would stand the record for ages whereas balanced clay-non clay is more for arguments online 🙂

    C) Wimby 2014, AO 2015, RG 2015

    D) I am tied between WTF 2014 and Rip Olympics Gold 2016. It would be nice to have him win atleast 1 WTF as he has been in finals twice before. However 1 more Olympic Gold will be huge too and it can give him a shot at having double career Gold slam (2 of each slam + 2 Olympic Golds)

    E) Miami 2015. He has been in 4 finals, time to get 1 title atleast 🙂

    F) My answer, push body to the limit and rake up more titles and retire in 2016 still at the top and then go and enjoy your life away from all the tour pressure and travel rather than just keep playing for the sake of it.

    G. I would go for all 9 Masters as it will again be a record 🙂

    Reply

    • Sanju,

      I enjoyed reading your little questionnaire! I actually agree with you on all the questions. I am also torn about WTF or Rio Olympics gold 2016.

      Good read! 🙂

      Reply

      • For me there is no contest. To be a double Gold Medallist is an achievement that will be remembered forever way beyond the tennis world. The WTF is transitory. It’s only in significance is as a weapon in the GOAT war because it is the missing title on Rafa’s c.v. So what.

        Ask Davydenko which he would have preferred to win.

        Reply

    • Double olympics gold would be awesome, esp for having attended only two olympic games… if he does attend in 2016… when, as it happens, the tennis will be played on claycourt

      one more slam? RG 10, no question. 9 is a great deal further than 7 at a single slam, 10 makes it even more a record for the ages

      two more slams? torn between RG 11 and double career slam

      If Rafa wins no more slams outside RG (although I think he will at least one or two)… knees permitting. … he already has 5 non-claycourt slams 2 on grass, 3 on hardcourt, and a career slam. and many other non-claycourt titles. Therefore as far as I’m concerned no one can honestly label Rafa as a claycourt specialist. No more slams are needed to have that stand.

      The tough question is the one pitting two desirables, one to maintain the positive H2H with Novak… I think I’d pick the positive H2H over almost anything else. The collective H2H against virtually all ATP players and esp all high ranked ones is … well, very impressive.

      Reply

      • in 2016 Federer will, in all likelihood, be making one last attempt to win an Olympic Gold to add to his Silver in singles and Gold in doubles.

        He has failed in four attempts so far.
        2000 lost to Tommy Haas in SF and to Pasquale in the Bronze play off.
        2004 lost to Berdych in R2
        2008 lost to James Blake in QF
        2012 lost to Andy Murray in final

        Djokovic has also missed out on Gold at two Olympics but has a bronze medal to his name.
        2008 lost to Rafa in SF but beat James Blake in the Bronze play off.
        2012 lost to Andy Murray in SF and to del Potro in the Bronze play off.

        As Chloro says, this underlines Rafa’s achievement winning Gold at his first (and to date only) appearance at the Olympics.

        Reply

  17. Andy Murray his best man? Shocked

    I thought he has more close pals in Serbia..what is the point of making 1 of your rivals your best man..Beats me

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  20. Sean Randall:

    “1. All Hail Rafael Nadal Nadal
    This was to be the year of Nadal’s downfall, at least that’s what I thought. And for much of the season that’s what it looked like. Missing the footwork, the forehand firepower and his confidence, Nadal finally looked human entering the French Open. But boy did that that change in a hurry.

    Nadal won his jaw-dropping ninth French Open losing just TWO sets. And he did it punishing three of his main rivals David Ferrer, Andy Murray and Sunday Novak Djokovic in succession to close it out.

    There’s little else to say but the guy is the greatest of all time on clay. It’s not even close.

    Ferrer and Murray both basically threw in the towel while Djokovic was throwing up! Just imagine if this was Nadal from 2008? Geez, someone would have died.

    And henceforth regardless of his form going into the event, as long as Nadal’s in the draw it’s simple a fool’s game to bet against him. Lesson learned.”

    Wonders will never cease.

    Reply

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