Rafael Nadal is READY to play AUSTRALIA OPEN 2013, prize increased to $30 million

1

15_ounce

Guest
Craig Tiley confirmed this.

What a mind game by Rafa's camp. First they said they're not sure, now Rafa said he will play AO 2013.

ALSO, the prize money is increased by AUD 4 million, to become AUD 30 million.

http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/Aussie-Open-prize-money-increases-to-A30-million-100112

Aussie Open prize money increases to A$30 million
The Associated Press, Melbourne, Australia | Sports | Tue, October 02 2012, 11:32 AM
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Australian Open organizers have increased prize money to a record Australian dollars 30 million ($31.1 million) for the first tennis major of 2013 in response to player concerns about compensation at Grand Slam tournaments.

Tournament director Craig Tiley said the A$4 million ($4.15 million) increase, announced Tuesday, was the largest from one year to the next in the tournament's history.

The move followed reports that some players were considering bypassing the tournament if prize money was not increased, particularly for losers in the early rounds.

Tiley said "we're proud of the fact we've gone to record prize money. We are supporting the lower-ranked players in their quest for compensation."

Tiley said Rafael Nadal had contacted him to confirm he plans to play in the tournament, despite recent injuries.
 

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
Good job Raffer! :) No point wasting any more opportunities at your age. The window is closing so time to make your best effort before things get worse. Nadal/Djokovic semifinal sounds good.:)
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
Good job Raffer! :) No point wasting any more opportunities at your age. The window is closing so time to make your best effort before things get worse. Nadal/Djokovic semifinal sounds good.:)

His age? He's almost 5 years younger than Federer, and only dropped one set at Roland Garros this year! Will be a long long time before you see the end of Rafa. Imagine how long it will take for him to struggle at Roland Garros....an eternity. Even though he wants to be a professional golfter, his competitive instincts will make it very hard to turn his back on tennis (especially the gimme title of Roland Garros). And he knows he can play professional golf long after his 30s.
2012-09-03T094430Z_1_CBRE8820R2E00_RTROPTP_2_OLY-TENN-NADAL.JPG
 
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sbengte

G.O.A.T.
His age? He's almost 5 years younger than Federer, and only dropped one set at Roland Garros this year! Will be a long long time before you see the end of Rafa. Imagine how long it will take for him to struggle at Roland Garros....an eternity. Even though he wants to be a professional golfter, his competitive instincts will make it very hard to turn his back on tennis (especially the gimme title of Roland Garros). And he knows he can play professional golf long after his 30s.

And then Nadal will go on to become the only human in world history to win the US Open in tennis and golf.
 

tennis_pro

Bionic Poster
LOL, not reading news about Nadal's alleged comeback unless I see him on the entry list of any ATP tournament.
 

Sentinel

Bionic Poster
Your title makes it look like they increased the prize money when they heard Rafa was ready to play.
 

CMM

Legend
What a mind game by Rafa's camp. First they said they're not sure, now Rafa said he will play AO 2013.

The article says he plans to play, which is exactly what he said a couple of day ago. That doesn't mean he's 100% sure and since he hasn't even started to practice on court yet, you can't say "he's ready to play".
 

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
The article says he plans to play, which is exactly what he said a couple of day ago. That doesn't mean he's 100% sure and since he hasn't even started to practice on court yet, you can't say "he's ready to play".

Please! They have known exactly all along when Nadal would play.
 

CMM

Legend
Please! They have known exactly all along when Nadal would play.
Yes, he said a long time ago that the plan is to start the season in good condition, but this doesn't mean it's 100% sure it's going to happen.
Sometimes things don't work out as planned but I guess he's got plenty of time...
 

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
Yes, he said a long time ago that the plan is to start the season in good condition, but this doesn't mean it's 100% sure it's going to happen.
Sometimes things don't work out as planned but I guess he's got plenty of time...

I have a feeling he will be just fine for the AO.
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
Rafael Nadal is set to make his long-awaited return to tennis at an Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament in December.

Organisers of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship said on Tuesday in a statement that Nadal is set to join a field including Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and David Ferrer.

The tournament runs from Dec. 27-29.

Nadal hasn't played since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in June. He is recovering from a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee.

Nadal said last month he had no timetable for his return and the 11-time Grand Slam champion hopes to play in the Australian Open in January.

Look out Laver, the only man capable of the Calendar Year Grand Slam has returned.
 

VPhuc tennis fan

Professional
Boy, what do they do with all this money? Just amazing when I look around and see how many ordinary people are found w/o jobs? Just a digression...
Does Rosol play?
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
I actually agreed with you lol but the timing is a bit fishy!

The timing of Rafa's comeback is fishy? I don't get you people. He's returning at the end of december instead of the indoor season. It's the only obvious thing to do. He's had a torn patella, so clearly he's not going to rush that and jeopardize the Australian Open all for the meaningless indoor season.
 

RF20Lennon

Legend
The timing of Rafa's comeback is fishy? I don't get you people. He's returning at the end of december instead of the indoor season. It's the only obvious thing to do. He's had a torn patella, so clearly he's not going to rush that and jeopardize the Australian Open all for the meaningless indoor season.

No no not that the fact that he announced is right after the Aussie increased its prize money
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
No no not that the fact that he announced is right after the Aussie increased its prize money

I'm glad Rafa resigned from the ATP Player Council. Hope they all boycott the Australian Open. The Australian Open only needs Rafa. He is tennis (as Talk Tennis has proven recently).
 

Crisstti

Legend
No no not that the fact that he announced is right after the Aussie increased its prize money

But has he made an announcement?. It was the tournament director who said Rafa told him he plans to play, and I don't think we know when he contact him.

I'm glad Rafa resigned from the ATP Player Council. Hope they all boycott the Australian Open. The Australian Open only needs Rafa. He is tennis (as Talk Tennis has proven recently).

If there would be a boycott, Rafa would probably take part in it, whether he is in the council or not.
 

Vcore89

Talk Tennis Guru
Proves one thing, he's given up on winning at least one World Tour Finals!

Otherwise, his resume would've been complete.

Just add more and more RGs and claim some big bucks (obviously he is going to go deep into most of each tournaments anyways) at all the other GSes.
 

WhiskeyEE

G.O.A.T.
Proves one thing, he's given up on winning at least one World Tour Finals!

Otherwise, his resume would've been complete.

Just add more and more RGs and claim some big bucks (obviously he is going to go deep into most of each tournaments anyways) at all the other GSes.

he's trying to avoid losing to the big 3 on surfaces that favour them. it's the only way he can preserve his legacy. count on him to duck the big 3 for years to come.
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
But has he made an announcement?. It was the tournament director who said Rafa told him he plans to play, and I don't think we know when he contact him.



If there would be a boycott, Rafa would probably take part in it, whether he is in the council or not.

Incorrect. Rafa has already committed to the Australian Open. And guess what? The Player's Council haven't decided on whether they'll play or not. Rafa doesn't care about the Player's Council. He doesn't attend their meetings, and has no connection with them.
 

ledwix

Hall of Fame
I hope the money increase was mostly for the lesser players. Extra prize money for top players who make every semi is pretty irrelevant to their lives but would make a massive difference to dozens of other earners.
 

namelessone

Legend
he's trying to avoid losing to the big 3 on surfaces that favour them. it's the only way he can preserve his legacy. count on him to duck the big 3 for years to come.

Yeah, Nadal has been great at ducking players on their best surfaces.

Nadal has met Fed 4 times in WTF(indoors) and lost everytime. Nice ducking job there.Ditto for grass in WB 2006 and 2007.

Nadal has met Djokovic on Djoko's best surface(HC) 16 times, lost 11 times. Again, pretty bad job at ducking.

For Nadal-Murray, Rafa has met Andy on HC 11 times, Nadal leading 6-5.

Boy, that Nadal is sure good at preserving his legacy.

It's not in Nadal's best interest to duck anyone. If he wants to remain relevant on tour he has to face the top guys head on. Look at what Djokovic did to him in 2011 and yet Nadal came back to reclaim clay next year and nearly beat him in AO as well.
 
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veritech

Hall of Fame
I'm glad Rafa resigned from the ATP Player Council. Hope they all boycott the Australian Open. The Australian Open only needs Rafa. He is tennis (as Talk Tennis has proven recently).

you should make a thread with a poll and ask talk tennis "who is tennis." i wonder who would win...
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
you should make a thread with a poll and ask talk tennis "who is tennis." i wonder who would win...

A large portion of words uttered about Rafa are by federer fans. They will never admit it (so forget your poll idea) but Rafa means more to them than Federer. When Rafa doesn't play, they talk about him far more than when he plays. His absence has made that clear. He is front, back and center of their minds.
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
Imagine if federer was absent for a year, Rafa fans wouldn't be interested in Federer's recovery or future, and would focus on their own player - Rafa.
 
Imagine if federer was absent for a year, Rafa fans wouldn't be interested in Federer's recovery or future, and would focus on their own player - Rafa.

Who said we want rafa back. The threads created mostly that 'i miss rafa' are after Feds quarterfinal USO exit and everyone wants to see some thrilling finals, so that is the reason, the so called fed fans wanted him back :twisted:
 

Crisstti

Legend
Incorrect. Rafa has already committed to the Australian Open. And guess what? The Player's Council haven't decided on whether they'll play or not. Rafa doesn't care about the Player's Council. He doesn't attend their meetings, and has no connection with them.

He's simply said he plans to play.

What do you mean he doesn't attend the meetings?.
 

tennis_pro

Bionic Poster
Imagine if federer was absent for a year, Rafa fans wouldn't be interested in Federer's recovery or future, and would focus on their own player - Rafa.

Do you think that Federer fans care how Nadal's recovery is going? I don't as long as he's out of the game. Would be fun if he dropped out of the rankings as well.
 

Vcore89

Talk Tennis Guru
I hope the money increase was mostly for the lesser players. Extra prize money for top players who make every semi is pretty irrelevant to their lives but would make a massive difference to dozens of other earners.

Good thing indeed for the first rounders who has to shell out for hotel, airfare and various expenses. Only those who gets to being in the top 20s consistently can afford a better life as a professional.
 

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
Imagine if federer was absent for a year, Rafa fans wouldn't be interested in Federer's recovery or future, and would focus on their own player - Rafa.

They'd be hoping and praying for Roger's return so he could stop Djokovic to help Nadal win tournaments off clay. :lol:
 
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