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

45 Comments on Rafael Nadal

  6. I meant to post this here on the rafa thread (also my wife zeroed in on rafa’s superstitious behaviour…. such as trying to keep his family (sister and mother) safe)…

    yesterday over lunch long chat with my wife (with the psych background) telling her more of rafa’s peculiars over the years and the increased number of pre and during match rituals and other stuff. Clearly anxiety and ocd and it is the expected way for it to get worse over time, especially when not treated, alas.

    If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, smells like a duck.. you might think I am criticising our dear boy from the island but far from… just getting clarity of what it is that is ailing him… no shame on him in that… just wish he would get the appropriate pro help that anyone in his place needs and deserves.

    Reply

      • my wife has professional training and experience in the field

        regardless, even if I didn`t discuss it with a professional in the field, we are all intelligent people with plenty of life experience and we don`t need to be professionals to see what is rather obvious

        not only experts have carefully arrived at insights and opinions

        Reply

      • chloro, armchair bots shouldn’t be taken seriously.

        My sig other is a professional psychologist and agrees that Rafa is likely dealing with OCD/anxiety disorder.

        Some think this is a criticism but a disease is not a criticism.

        Reply

    • Chloro,

      I agree with you. I have felt for some time that this was all mental. I think Rafa’s performance at Stuttgart does show that it was mental. I think the pressure on Rafa just coming back from another long layoff and then having to defend his points, especially in the clay season, was too much for him.

      The core game is still there. His serving was great throughout Stuttgart, he was playing so much more aggressive, hitting his groundstrokes from right on the baseline and then moving into the court to close it out with a great volley. It seems like some of the pressure has been lifted from his shoulders. That doesn’t mean that his troubles are behind him.

      I do think you are right that he might benefit from a good sports psychologist. This is not a criticism of Rafa. It’s just being honest and real. He has been struggling. I don’t want to see that. I want to see Rafa enjoying himself and doing well.

      I think your thoughts come from a good place and I appreciate that. 🙂

      Reply

  9. This is before the final but good to read this from Rafa 🙂

    “I am feeling well. After the French Open it was important to get right back on the court and practice for many hours to stay positive and have my best tennis coming back. To be honest I really don’t care about the expectations coming from outside. I have been on the tour for 13 years now. I don’t care about what people think or say, I focus on myself and that is all that matters”

    “The first three months and a half of the season have been not very good. I couldn’t find myself on the court. I was playing feeling nervous. Now I am starting to feel better. I already started playing better in Monte Carlo and Rome, and now I am playing well in Stuttgart too. I haven’t forgotten how to play tennis. To me every success counts and of course it is great to be in the final here on grass”

    Reply

  10. vamosrafa,

    These comments sound very familiar. I think that when I was reading on VB, I happened to come across these comments.

    It is great to hear Rafa’s thoughts. I love that he said that he doesn’t care what people think, about anyone’s expectations! Good for him! He doesn’t have to prove anything.

    I really thought it was interesting to read his thoughts on how things have gone this year. Something was wrong. He was nervous. That is all in the mind. So he feels that now he is more comfortable, has more calm on the court.

    I am really happy that Rafa has come through his troubles with such a good mind set!

    Reply

  12. Re rafaisthebest says:
    June 14, 2015 at 6:18 pm – Djokovic Thread

    Yes, at the presentation the tournament director said he couldn’t believe they had Rafa there (or words to that effect) doing a fist pump. Everyone knows Rafa is the biggest star in tennis today.

    Reply

  13. From Rafa’s press conference after the final:
    Tennis TourTalk, June 14, 2015:
    ¤¤ “Today I had some good points in the tie-break of the first set and I capitalized on my chance in the second. If your serve is good, you can win on grass even without playing your best. During the entire week my service worked well, especially in the important moments. This gave me the advantage in certain moments. That’s what helps to feel better on the court. In general, it has been a positive week for me,” Nadal was satisfied with his performance.
    “It is an important week for me, claiming a title on grass after a long time. My knees are healthy and I am able to play good tennis the last couple of months. I am very happy to be back with the trophy in my hands. That’s confidence and extra energy,” Nadal told after lifting his first trophy on grass since winning in Wimbledon in 2010 and added that he is leaving for Queens on tonight. “I am not talking about Wimbledon right now. I am hoping for another good week in Queens now.”
    …
    The world number ten received not only a prize money of € 104,600 but also 250 ATP ranking points as well as a brand new Mercedes AMG GTS.
    “It’s a great car. It’s an extra value for the players getting such a beautiful car. Nonetheless, I have KIA in my heart. They have sponsored me since I am 17-years-old and we will have five more wonderful years,” Nadal told with a smile and added. “I also need to change the colour. That is too much for me,” he laughed. ¤¤

    http://www.tennis-tourtalk.com/?p=2796

    Reply

    • From the same article:
      Tennis TourTalk, June 14, 2015:
      ¤¤ “For the last four days of the week, the tickets have been sold out. 53,800 spectators attended the tournament during the week. This is a new record for us,” announced tournament director Edwin Weindorfer, who has organized the event in Stuttgart since 2007.
      “Of course, it is not possible to pay a player like Rafael Nadal only with sold tickets but it is our intention to have a strategic partnership with him. There is no other player, who characterized this event like him. He is a two-time champion and we are positive that he will return to Stuttgart next year. ¤¤

      Reply

    • “If your serve is good, you can win on grass even without playing your best.”

      Says the guy who KNOWS tennis………..tee hee hee hee!.

      Reply

    • Always felt the serve was the key to Rafa’s game, hope he carries the Stuttgart momentum through to Queens and Wimby……

      Reply

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