Nadal played last years wimby final with a broken foot.

[The Dark Knight]

I don't know if this was posted before..but apparently Nadal played Wimbledon with a broken foot:

VANQUISHED finalist Rafael Nadal played the Wimbledon final with a fractured left foot which is expected to him out of the game for six weeks.

Apart form losing his Wimbledon crown the Spainard lost his world No1 ranking to  Novak Djokovic who carried all before him on Centre Court in their four set final.

Djokovic’s win crowned what has to be the best six months of tennis by anyone, anywhere, at any time.

The 24-year-old, who learnt the game on the slopes near his parents' pizza restaurant in Belgrade - they wanted him to become a skier – is a man possessed. The force is with him.

Although The Times has learnt that Nadal had a hairline fracture in the left foot that he hurt against Juan Martin del Potro in the fourth round and may not play for six more weeks, he put up no excuses for his defeat, his third in five Wimbledon finals.

This was unashamedly Djokovic's day, one he described as "beautiful". It comes at the end of many beautiful days, for he has been beaten only once in 51 matches since leading his nation to their inaugural Davis Cup triumph on home soil in December.

His lone defeat was by Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the French Open last month.

Djokovic said last month that his ambition was to become the best player in the world and his dream was to win Wimbledon - both have happened in 24 hours. “I am never going to forget this,” he said.

“We all know about the careers of Federer and Nadal, we don't need to spend those words again, they have been the dominant players in the world over the last five years. They always came up with their best tennis when it mattered most.

“It is a process for me of learning, of developing, just finding a way mentally to overcome the pressures and the expectations you have. I always believed I had the quality to beat those guys, to win the majors and the mental approach had to be positive. There is no other way.

“This success makes you rewind to the old days. You come back to your childhood and remember what you've been through to get to this stage. I guess that's necessary in order for you to fight for what you want to achieve.”

As ever with Nadal, he accepted defeat with humility and honesty, although he was hurting inside.

The 25-year-old would have won his eleventh grand slam and moved to within five of Federer's total of 16 had he won. Now he has to accept that he is second best in ranking terms again.

“We can analyse that my game is not bothering him,” Nadal said.  “We have to find how I can bother him. I did in the past. He's in the best moment of his career. I am in one of the best moments of my career, but still not enough for him. I have to play longer. I have to play more aggressively. I have to have less mistakes.

“Seriously, I lost because I am playing against the best player of the moment, the best player of the world tomorrow (Tuesday), and I am the second. And when you play against these players and they are playing unbelievably, the normal thing is (to) lose. That's what happened the last few times.”

Nadal added that fathoming out a plan to beat Djokovic is now his priority.

“Even last year when I was winning three grand-slams, I knew my level was not for ever,” he said.

“Probably the level of Novak today is not for ever. I'm going to be here fighting all the time, waiting for my moment to beat him.”

Nadal had already decided that he would not play in the Davis Cup World Group second-round tie away to the United States in Texas this week, but if he has to take six weeks off, he will have little practice on hard courts before he opens his US Open title defence next month.

The Times

[edberg505]

He also played with an acute appendicitis, a tension pneumothorax, the bird flu, and SARS! That guy is a super trooper.

[The Dark Knight]

Never mind.


.

[veritech]

excellent trolling by nadal.

[The Dark Knight]

Nadal beat Mardy Fish in the quarterfinals and will face Andy Murray in the semifinals. "I have pain on the foot. I cannot run in perfect conditions without [putting my foot to sleep]. It’s strange for me. [But with] the anesthetic, I don't feel nothing, I don't feel the pain."


That's just stupid....pain tells you something is wrong and to stop doing it. Your brain is sending you a message. I'm afraid he will cause permanent damage.

[BreakPoint]

I heard that Nadal even played that Wimbledon final left-handed even though he's a right-hander.

Well no wonder he lost.

[SQA333]

Nadal has played tennis all his career with a broken brain too.

No wonder why his knees are killing him now, thanks to his wise decision making over the years.

[The Dark Knight]

Rod Laver:


“But at the same time, I look at Rafael Nadal and what he’s done to win seven French Open titles and Wimbledon.

“Being able to play with somewhat of a suspect knee, his way of motoring around the court and tracking shots down is quite uncanny.

“They’re very close. Are they great champions and do they have equal abilities? I’d say ‘yes’, they’re pretty much equal.”

[Tony48]

Is there a link for this? The article is oddly-worded

[RF20Lennon]

yeah he did didnt he take treatment for that in the del potro match?? seriously this guy doesnt seem to care for his body!! Take breaks when needed!

[Zarfot Z]

Another thread aimed at derailing Novak's superb 2011 season.

Moving on.

[Russeljones]

Originally Posted by Zarfot Z

Another thread aimed at derailing Novak's superb 2011 season.

Moving on.

I suggest you follow your own sage advice It's nearing the 2013 season, how could he derail a season already past?

PS: I agree though The Door Knob's threads fail big time.

[tennis_pro]

What a warrior.

[furryballs]

how do you run on a numb foot?

[sdont]

Did he break his foot on HC? Those evil hardcourts.

[Gorecki]

he also played all his finals on "FOB"....

full of bologna...

[vive le beau jeu !]

Originally Posted by Gorecki

he also played all his finals on "FOB"....

Originally Posted by edberg505

He also played with an acute appendicitis, a tension pneumothorax, the bird flu, and SARS! That guy is a super trooper.

the rusty peak injured golden bull is such a warrior !

Originally Posted by The Dark Knight

I don't know if this was posted before..but apparently Nadal played Wimbledon with a broken foot:

VANQUISHED finalist Rafael Nadal played the Wimbledon final with a fractured left foot which is expected to him out of the game for six weeks.

Apart form losing his Wimbledon crown the Spainard lost his world No1 ranking to  Novak Djokovic who carried all before him on Centre Court in their four set final.

Djokovic’s win crowned what has to be the best six months of tennis by anyone, anywhere, at any time.

The 24-year-old, who learnt the game on the slopes near his parents' pizza restaurant in Belgrade - they wanted him to become a skier – is a man possessed. The force is with him.

Although The Times has learnt that Nadal had a hairline fracture in the left foot that he hurt against Juan Martin del Potro in the fourth round and may not play for six more weeks, he put up no excuses for his defeat, his third in five Wimbledon finals.

This was unashamedly Djokovic's day, one he described as "beautiful". It comes at the end of many beautiful days, for he has been beaten only once in 51 matches since leading his nation to their inaugural Davis Cup triumph on home soil in December.

His lone defeat was by Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the French Open last month.

Djokovic said last month that his ambition was to become the best player in the world and his dream was to win Wimbledon - both have happened in 24 hours. “I am never going to forget this,” he said.

“We all know about the careers of Federer and Nadal, we don't need to spend those words again, they have been the dominant players in the world over the last five years. They always came up with their best tennis when it mattered most.

“It is a process for me of learning, of developing, just finding a way mentally to overcome the pressures and the expectations you have. I always believed I had the quality to beat those guys, to win the majors and the mental approach had to be positive. There is no other way.

“This success makes you rewind to the old days. You come back to your childhood and remember what you've been through to get to this stage. I guess that's necessary in order for you to fight for what you want to achieve.”

As ever with Nadal, he accepted defeat with humility and honesty, although he was hurting inside.

The 25-year-old would have won his eleventh grand slam and moved to within five of Federer's total of 16 had he won. Now he has to accept that he is second best in ranking terms again.

“We can analyse that my game is not bothering him,” Nadal said.  “We have to find how I can bother him. I did in the past. He's in the best moment of his career. I am in one of the best moments of my career, but still not enough for him. I have to play longer. I have to play more aggressively. I have to have less mistakes.

“Seriously, I lost because I am playing against the best player of the moment, the best player of the world tomorrow (Tuesday), and I am the second. And when you play against these players and they are playing unbelievably, the normal thing is (to) lose. That's what happened the last few times.”

Nadal added that fathoming out a plan to beat Djokovic is now his priority.

“Even last year when I was winning three grand-slams, I knew my level was not for ever,” he said.

“Probably the level of Novak today is not for ever. I'm going to be here fighting all the time, waiting for my moment to beat him.”

Nadal had already decided that he would not play in the Davis Cup World Group second-round tie away to the United States in Texas this week, but if he has to take six weeks off, he will have little practice on hard courts before he opens his US Open title defence next month.

The Times

what a beast... only chairs and frying pans can defeat him.

[NDFM]

Djokovic won Wimbledon last year fair and square, TDK there is no need to create excuses for nadal, he knows he lost to the better player in the match fair and square. I watched the match and the only problem nadal had really was novak's level of play in the 1st, 2nd and 4th set there wasn't much he could do really but except that the "normal thing was to lose" (going by nadal's words). Plus he had some numbing injections (after the 4th round) so his foot didn't bother him at all for the remainder of the tournament

[amx13]

I'm pretty sure Nadal broke his foot on purpose just to level the playing field, such a warrior!

[RF20Lennon]

He did get treatment for his feet against delpo so obviously it was bothering him but MRI scans revealed nothing serious