Nadal News 2.0

[Amritia]

Seems like he will be well rested....However he said lockdown wasn’t great for him - lots of aches and pains....I thought lockdown would be brilliant in terms of resting the body/getting rid of niggles but it doesn’t appear so....He didnt get into many details but looks like it didn’t go fantastically well for him....

Tbh it is to be expected; when an athlete doesn't do their normal activity (it's not like he could even do light training sessions during lockdown) for months, when they com back there will be a greater risk of minor injuries.
The key thing is to have a schedule that doesn't have breaks that are too long, but doesn't overplay either. Fingers crossed he finds that balance.

 

[irishnadalfan1983]

I found that worrying, too. I know that underestimating Rafa's future chances bc of his body is basically a meme at this point and he's proven us wrong many times, but he'll be 35 at RG next year. There's a lot of talk about him taking the next 2-3 RG and I agree that he could as long as his body holds up but it's not a given that it does. Just want him to be able to play and retire on his own terms, not something he's forced into like what we're seeing with Murray.

Agree completely - predicting stuff for 2/3 years away is ridiculous for me....He may not win any more slams....He is only one bad injury away from nearing the end...He is the favourite for RG 8/9 months away but that is it...Hopefully he stays healthy and fit but 35 as you say ain’t too far away

 

[octobrina10]

Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre in the Mexican Caribbean

Rafa talks about competing in Mexico and his Tennis Centre there (the video was published today):

The RN Tennis Centre is located in Costa Mujeres, about 30 minutes drive away from the city of Cancun on the northeast coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, in the resort complex containing two beachfront resorts (Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa and TRS Coral Hotel) that are adjacent to each other. The tennis courts are available for hotel guests and local people of all ages and levels.
The resort complex belongs to Palladium Hotel Group, a Spanish hotel chain owned by Rafa's longtime business partners. Rafa hinted in his interview in January this year that he's part owner of the complex. Rafa inaugurated the Tennis Centre and attended the Grand Opening Party of the resort complex in February 2019.

Vamos Rafa!

 

[octobrina10]

The French Open

A few belated pictures taken on Sunday after Rafa won the tournament and the following morning.

Group hugs with his sister, wife and mom:

Double high five with his dad and a hug from his mom:

A kiss from his supportive wife:

Hugs from his team:

He is all smiles at the hotel on Monday morning after lifting the RG trophy for the 13th time on Sunday:

Photos via RNKOTFB and RHFB

Vamos Rafa!

 

[USO]

Do you all think he will play Paris and WTF?

 

[Nadal_King]

Do you all think he will play Paris and WTF?

I seriously hope he does

 

[Rabin]

Do you all think he will play Paris and WTF?

Just don't want him to slip into #3 for AO. He can gain points in Paris, right? With Djokovic not playing it, he could even sneak the title if he gets a nice draw.

 

[DSH]

I go back and forth debating what would be more important for Rafa's career and legacy, winning a second AO or a fifth USO, to tie him with Sampras and Federer.

I personally would like a second AO simply because he has been so unlucky in Melbourne. We know that would give him something no other man has achieved in the open era, but a fifth USO may be more important, then again a 14th RG would make him even more ridiculous of a player at RG as if 13 wasn't enough we could say "Nadal has as many RG as Sampras has total slams" lol just for that utter brag of a phrase a 14th RG would be insane, not that 13 is utter ridiculous.

What slam would you guys like for our boy to win next year the most?

DCGS
14 RG
3SS
5 US Open

Is too much to ask?

 

[Beckerserve]

I go back and forth debating what would be more important for Rafa's career and legacy, winning a second AO or a fifth USO, to tie him with Sampras and Federer.

I personally would like a second AO simply because he has been so unlucky in Melbourne. We know that would give him something no other man has achieved in the open era, but a fifth USO may be more important, then again a 14th RG would make him even more ridiculous of a player at RG as if 13 wasn't enough we could say "Nadal has as many RG as Sampras has total slams" lol just for that utter brag of a phrase a 14th RG would be insane, not that 13 is utter ridiculous.

What slam would you guys like for our boy to win next year the most?

I know Nadal has never prioritised the AO. His season training block is april-september which Uncle Toni admitted years. Hard call between FO and USO. To have record USO wins would put Nadal greatest of all time at 2 of 4 Majors but winning another FO resonates more globally and if he matched Sampras career at one Major that would be just God like.
As Rafa starts overwhelming favourite For FO anD USO if fit we probably get both.

 

[Beckerserve]

Just don't want him to slip into #3 for AO. He can gain points in Paris, right? With Djokovic not playing it, he could even sneak the title if he gets a nice draw.

Being no3 makes no difference. If he makes SF at AO he wins the event. He is head and shoulders the best player in the world and has been since 2017.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Rafa's WTF was epic last year.

 

[octobrina10]

Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor
Rafa Nadal Sports Centre in Manacor
The RN Academy is part of the RN Sports Centre

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Rafa's sports centre shines pink:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1318228799746723841

Wikipedia: "Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure....A variety of events around the world are organized in October, including walks and runs, and the pink illumination of landmark buildings."

Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

to Rafa's sports centre.

 

[NADALalot]

Rafa's WTF was epic last year.

I agree, Nadal was the only player to beat Tsitsipas, and also beat Medvdev with pure mental strength.

 

[Rabin]

Being no3 makes no difference. If he makes SF at AO he wins the event. He is head and shoulders the best player in the world and has been since 2017.

Well, he's made the semis six times and only won it once, so I can't say I share your confidence. He can definitely win it but he would probably need someone else to take out Djokovic for him.

 

[Beckerserve]

Well, he's made the semis six times and only won it once, so I can't say I share your confidence. He can definitely win it but he would probably need someone else to take out Djokovic for him.

Not on current form. I said it for a while now. Way Djokovic plays nowadays is a god send for Nadal. He goes big a lot earlier than he used to and Nadal loves being the counter puncher.
He has come unstuck v Djokovic when he was forcing the pace.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Not on current form. I said it for a while now. Way Djokovic plays nowadays is a god send for Nadal. He goes big a lot earlier than he used to and Nadal loves being the counter puncher.
He has come unstuck v Djokovic when he was forcing the pace.

Djokovic would still get him in 4 tops at the AO lol. Nadal needs someone to take him out.

 

[Beckerserve]

Djokovic would still get him in 4 tops at the AO lol. Nadal needs someone to take him out.

Ill bet you a fried chicken with onion rings. If they meet at AO i think Nadal will take it.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Ill bet you a fried chicken with onion rings. If they meet at AO i think Nadal will take it.

Can he? I sure do believe he can. Will he? Nah, Djokovic is too comfortable there. A fish in water. As I said this week though, I think Novak is due an early upset

 

[Beckerserve]

Can he? I sure do believe he can. Will he? Nah, Djokovic is too comfortable there. A fish in water. As I said this week though, I think Novak is due an early upset

You make me put weight on with your GIfs!!
Lets hope AO happens..some on here saying it may be cancelled which i find odd.

 

[DSH]

 

[DSH]

 

[DSH]

 

[MichaelNadal]

Nadal losing to Dibaego in Rome was probably the best thing that could have happened to him. It woke him up, for one thing, and second, it may have completely changed the dynamic if he lost to Novak in Rome. Their last clay match being 2019 Rome helped a ton. Rafa said post match, he watched Rome 2018 highlights as a reference for his plan.

 

[DSH]

 

[MichaelNadal]

It's sooo weird how young Nick looked Wimby 14

 

[octobrina10]

It's sooo weird how young Nick looked Wimby 14

This thread is not a place to talk about that idiot.

 

[pedro94]

This thread is not a place to talk about that idiot.

Seriously, why are you so angry and petty?? He only made an observation for god's sake, calm down..

 

[kevaninho]

Seems like he will be well rested....However he said lockdown wasn’t great for him - lots of aches and pains....I thought lockdown would be brilliant in terms of resting the body/getting rid of niggles but it doesn’t appear so....He didnt get into many details but looks like it didn’t go fantastically well for him....

This is normal for athletes.
I know martial artists, footballers etc who have developed knee , ankle, hip, shoulder pains that they never had before lockdown.

Its strange but the human body is like that.

Ive experienced things like this myself with extended breaks from sport. Yet when training constantly, the body is fine.

 

[kevaninho]

He looks remarkably relaxed. Almost like a "mission accomplished" sense of satisfaction.

Of the top guys, Nadal was the player who coped the best with the very shocking and unexpected situation this year and did it while not exposing his team to any problems or risks.

I found that, in his celebration at the match end.

He usually falls to the dirt in ecstasy, but he was calm and just gave a big smile.

Remarkable , considering everyone thought he would buckle going for 20, and he was seemingly unflavoured by most.

One of a kind athlete , and person.

 

[octobrina10]

Paris Masters 1000

According to MARCA, a Spanish national daily sports newspaper, Rafa is going to play in Paris:

Rafa Nadal buscará la victoria 1.000 en el Masters 1.000 de París-Bercy

Rafael Nadal no sabía a la conclusión de Roland Garros cuál iba a ser su hoja de ruta hasta finales de curso. En su cabeza estaba la duda de si volver a jugar esta temporada o rese

www.marca.com

Vamos Rafa!

 

[Amritia]

Paris Masters 1000

According to MARCA, a Spanish national daily sports newspaper, Rafa is going to play in Paris:

Rafa Nadal buscará la victoria 1.000 en el Masters 1.000 de París-Bercy

Rafael Nadal no sabía a la conclusión de Roland Garros cuál iba a ser su hoja de ruta hasta finales de curso. En su cabeza estaba la duda de si volver a jugar esta temporada o rese

www.marca.com

Vamos Rafa!

Great news if true! I can't read Spanish, does the source seem reliable?

 

[octobrina10]

Great news if true! I can't read Spanish, does the source seem reliable?

MARCA is correct most of the times.

 

[octobrina10]

Practice in Mallorca

October 20, 2020

Rafa returned to practice for the first time since the French Open.

He confirms he is getting ready for the Paris Masters:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1318525934702559233

 

[Sabrina]

Big opportunity for him to collect another missing trophy.

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

I think he will win Bercy. He could also get WTF while riding on the confidence

 

[weakera]

Great news. It would have been sad if he stopped play until January.

 

[irishnadalfan1983]

This is normal for athletes.
I know martial artists, footballers etc who have developed knee , ankle, hip, shoulder pains that they never had before lockdown.

Its strange but the human body is like that.

Ive experienced things like this myself with extended breaks from sport. Yet when training constantly, the body is fine.

I hear you and don’t disagree....However I think some of this may have been psychological...Normally he comes back from a “break” full of energy, all fresh, etc....Lockdown has affected people in different ways - I get the feeling from what Moya said also he was simply quite fed up/demotivated/sad also...

Anyway good to see it looks like he will play Paris and WTF...Should not be too harsh on the knees/body to play 2 HC events at end of season...

 

[clayqueen]

Well, he's made the semis six times and only won it once, so I can't say I share your confidence. He can definitely win it but he would probably need someone else to take out Djokovic for him.

Don't think so. Nadal vs Djokovic.


Djokovic won't want to play Rafa any time soon because of the beating he got at RG. Someone is going to shout out - that was on clay! But that didn't stop everyone making Djokovic the prohibitive fovourite.

 

[Nadal's Universe]

There are more to gain by playing Paris and WTF:

Winning maiden Paris and WTF
Protecting the Number 2 ranking/seeding comes AO
Honing his Indoor HC game in prep for AO, in case played under the roof
Most important is facing Novak in SF or F of WTF and see where his HC game vs him. Also, if Rafa can apply his STRATEGIES/TACTICS in RG in HC

Whether Rafa loses again, he will enough time to adjust his game just in case they meet in the AO finals nest year.

 

[irishnadalfan1983]

There are more to gain by playing Paris and WTF:

Winning maiden Paris and WTF
Protecting the Number 2 ranking/seeding comes AO
Honing his Indoor HC game in prep for AO, in case played under the roof
Most important is facing Novak in SF or F of WTF and see where his HC game vs him. Also, if Rafa can apply his STRATEGIES/TACTICS in RG in HC

Whether Rafa loses again, he will enough time to adjust his game just in case they meet in the AO finals nest year.

Good points....Totally confused with race/rankings right now but would indeed like to be second seed for AO....Don’t think he has any chance of winning WTF but good for his mental health/motivation to play...

 

[DSH]

Good points....Totally confused with race/rankings right now but would indeed like to be second seed for AO....Don’t think he has any chance of winning WTF but good for his mental health/motivation to play...

Why?
There is no player who will be present in London that is unbeatable!

Sorry, but I do not share your pessimism at all and Nadal would not play there if he did not believe in his chances of winning that tournament although it is true that he is not the favorite in those conditions but he always seeks to create opportunities for success wherever he is.

 

[kevaninho]

Don't think so. Nadal vs Djokovic.


Djokovic won't want to play Rafa any time soon because of the beating he got at RG. Someone is going to shout out - that was on clay! But that didn't stop everyone making Djokovic the prohibitive fovourite.

People also have short memories of the ATP cup this year.

After a weak start, Rafa was able to go with Djokovic, and match him, only losing the 2nd set by a tie-break.

He CAN beat him off of clay, I agree.

 

[irishnadalfan1983]

Why?
There is no player who will be present in London that is unbeatable!

Sorry, but I do not share your pessimism at all and Nadal would not play there if he did not believe in his chances of winning that tournament although it is true that he is not the favorite in those conditions but he always seeks to create opportunities for success wherever he is.

I just suppose I mean I would put others ahead of him as being favourite like Nole in particular....DELIGHTED to see him playing Paris and WTF regardless of results....

 

[Amritia]

Happy that Nadal is playing Paris too because that also shows he's confident in his body holding up. Was bit worried with the stories from lockdown.

 

[ElChivoEspañol]

It is now or never for Rafa to win Paris MS1000. No Djokovic and he's as fresh as he's EVER been.

I believe Nadal has never been as successful on indoor as he is on outdoor is not for lack of talent (lol imagine subscribing to this theory when talking about Nadal), but because by the time the indoor season rolls out he's running on fumes from cleaning the clay swing and usually running deep/ winning at the NA HC season. That and he's cursed knees that can't take the beating of playing HC, on top of adding low bounce on indoor, from Canada to London. Just too much for someone that's been suffering from patellar tendonitis for 15+ years.

With that said. It is now or never.

 

[clayqueen]

People also have short memories of the ATP cup this year.

After a weak start, Rafa was able to go with Djokovic, and match him, only losing the 2nd set by a tie-break.

He CAN beat him off of clay, I agree.

So far as the ATP Cup was concerned, the Spanish team had jet lag flying across Australia from Perth to Brisbane for the final leg with no time to adjust to a different time zone. Djokovic only had to go from Sydney.

Rafa made his feelings known.

 

[octobrina10]

Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor
Rafa Nadal Sports Centre in Manacor
The RN Academy is part of the RN Sports Centre
Rafa Nadal Foundation

Two Spanish Goya-Award-winning people, an actor and a singer, born with a disability, visited Rafa's academy and his foundation's centre in Palma, where they talked to Maria Francisca, Rafa's wife & director of his foundation.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1318864987910250497

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1318864146289598464

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1318923151028461571

The visit will be shown on RTVE's (Spanish Radio and Television Corporation) channel La 1 on Friday. It's Spain's third most watched TV channel.


Wikipedia: "The Goya Awards are Spain's main national annual film awards....The award itself is a small bronze bust of Francisco Goya...The awards are currently delivered in 28 categories."

Goya Awards - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[DSH]

So far as the ATP Cup was concerned, the Spanish team had jet lag flying across Australia from Perth to Brisbane for the final leg with no time to adjust to a different time zone. Djokovic only had to go from Sydney.

Rafa made his feelings known.

He paid the price of this a couple of weeks later in Melbourne.

 

[aditya123]

He paid the price of this a couple of weeks later in Melbourne.

Nadal should have skipped the Atp cup. He won the Davis cup so no reason he should have played it, Djokovic had a reason not to skip and at the end it was a success for him and a disappointment and fatigue issues for Nadal

 

[DSH]

Nadal should have skipped the Atp cup. He won the Davis cup so no reason he should have played it, Djokovic had a reason not to skip and at the end it was a success for him and a disappointment and fatigue issues for Nadal

I still can not believe how he lost 3 TB to Thiem!

If he would have won the first set, he would have gone to the semifinals and I think he would also have defeated Zverev.
Anyway, Nadal being the first seed in Australia was the worst possible opponent in the quarterfinals, something that I consider illogical sometimes when the 1 faces the 5 in that instance, instead of playing against the 8th or the 7th, if that makes more sense somehow.