Nadal News 2.0

Rattie

Rattie

Legend
Beulah Jesus said:
Fair points(y)

As long as he's healthy I'm not too worried about Rafa loss. He will take a lot of lessons learnt from the 3 matches and come back better. Hopefully he is able to fix them before RG. From his comments doing very well at RG is his personal goal so I know he will be fine!!
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As he’s often said, tennis players have to have regular matches to be in form. His clay prep was ruined because of his rib and Madrid is not his favoured tournament, so he’s playing himself into form and using the least ideal place to do it. He played his three matches and that will help him going forward. He didn’t sound disappointed, just pragmatic. In a way I’m glad he didn’t win and have to battle Djokovic who’s had a head start and is now back in form for just a semi match. Now he can recover and play Rome rested and with his goal still on target.
 
weakera

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
Rattie said:
As he’s often said, tennis players have to have regular matches to be in form. His clay prep was ruined because of his rib and Madrid is not his favoured tournament, so he’s playing himself into form and using the least ideal place to do it. He played his three matches and that will help him going forward. He didn’t sound disappointed, just pragmatic. In a way I’m glad he didn’t win and have to battle Djokovic who’s had a head start and is now back in form for just a semi match. Now he can recover and play Rome rested and with his goal still on target.
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Yeah he finished QF in three of the last four years at Madrid. Business hasn't picked up yet and Rafa sounded measured and confident about the time left to round into shape.
 
WildRevolver

WildRevolver

Hall of Fame
weakera said:
Rafa had considered returning two weeks ago in Portugal

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1522624065323909120
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I think the current reality is the best outcome for Rafa. Had he won IW and didn't experience the rib injury, he'd have played MC, Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome before RG and we saw what happened last year--his body can't hold up. While the 2020 Clay season (two matches at Rome and all of RG) wasn't ideal, you can't argue with the fact he was absolutely peaking by the RG semi. Hoping for something similar here.
 
clayqueen

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
I'm off on holiday on Thursday 12th May until Monday 16th May so I'm going to miss most of Rome. However, if Rafa does well, I will be very happy even if I'm not able to watch it live; if he doesn't, then it will be good to have some distraction.
 
Cupcake

Cupcake

Hall of Fame
clayqueen said:
I'm off on holiday on Thursday 12th May until Monday 16th May so I'm going to miss most of Rome. However, if Rafa does well, I will be very happy even if I'm not able to watch it live; if he doesn't, then it will be good to have some distraction.
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You're going on holiday and will miss Rafa in Rome??? Sounds like warped priorities to me, lol. ;)

Have fun. :cool:
 
clayqueen

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
Cupcake said:
You're going on holiday and will miss Rafa in Rome??? Sounds like warped priorities to me, lol. ;)

Have fun. :cool:
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Unfortunately, it's not my call. It's a family affair. I can't not go because I want to watch Rafa play in Rome. One of those awkward times. I may be able to catch some matches if I have access to Wifi.
 
octobrina10

octobrina10

Talk Tennis Guru
Rome Masters 1000

May 8, 2022
The 1st practice session

Rafa is already practicing in Rome! He is accompanied by Francisco Roig, Marc Lopez and his physiotherapist Rafael Maymo.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1523226489113948160

Was live:

Listen to the crowd when Rafa arrives:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1148984312561568
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=589073265536075

And the crowd goes wild!
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1523240353566162945
Sport_ready-for-tennis-smiley-emoticon_mysmiley.net.gif
 
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WildRevolver

WildRevolver

Hall of Fame
If Rafa exits Rome early, his RG path could be the most difficult ever, as he is at risk of falling to #5 or #6. There is a possibility (though a smaller one) that he could face Djokovic in the QFs and Alcaraz in the SFs. That would be brutal. Especially since, now that RG has lights, they'd put any non-Finals matchup against Djokovic in the evening, which favors Novak considerably.
 
Rattie

Rattie

Legend
WildRevolver said:
If Rafa exits Rome early, his RG path could be the most difficult ever, as he is at risk of falling to #5 or #6. There is a possibility (though a smaller one) that he could face Djokovic in the QFs and Alcaraz in the SFs. That would be brutal. Especially since, now that RG has lights, they'd put any non-Finals matchup against Djokovic in the evening, which favors Novak considerably.
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I try not to think too much about it. He was ranked #6 in AO and look what happened there. He often seems to get tough draws but they can and do play out differently to what is expected.
 
Rattie

Rattie

Legend
Watching that video reminded me that one of the things I like most about Rafa, is his atttude. Always mature, balanced, unassuming, pragmatic and positive. He has characteristics that are admirable, to the extent that they are commented upon constantly by his contemporaries, his rivals, his peers and those who cross his path on a casual basis. He’s a genuinely nice person (although no one is perfect) and some fans of other players on here seem obsessed with spending their days ridiculing and insulting him, which only serves to make me think it’s because he makes them feel their favourite is in comparison, lacking the same qualities.
 
clayqueen

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
Rattie said:
Watching that video reminded me that one of the things I like most about Rafa, is his atttude. Always mature, balanced, unassuming, pragmatic and positive. He has characteristics that are admirable, to the extent that they are commented upon constantly by his contemporaries, his rivals, his peers and those who cross his path on a casual basis. He’s a genuinely nice person (although no one is perfect) and some fans of other players on here seem obsessed with spending their days ridiculing and insulting him, which only serves to make me think it’s because he makes them feel their favourite is in comparison, lacking the same qualities.
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Spot on.

I remember the first time I got a media pass for Abu Dhabi through another tennis forum. I was apprehensive that seeing Rafa up close for the first time would dampen the image I had of him, but he exceeded all my expectations in every way. He is a lot taller than he looks on screen, very tanned, polite, and good looking. I saw him in Abu Dhabi last year and he still looks amazing.

I've been lucky enough to ask him questions and he answers every question looking directly as the person who asked it. It's unreal.
 
Rattie

Rattie

Legend
clayqueen said:
Spot on.

I remember the first time I got a media pass for Abu Dhabi through another tennis forum. I was apprehensive that seeing Rafa up close for the first time would dampen the image I had of him, but he exceeded all my expectations in every way. He is a lot taller than he looks on screen, very tanned, polite, and good looking. I saw him in Abu Dhabi last year and he still looks amazing.

I've been lucky enough to ask him questions and he answers every question looking directly as the person who asked it. It's unreal.
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Wow, lucky you! I’ve seen him on court at Wimbledon, though obviously not as close up as you have. I wasn’t sitting far from the service line so got a good view and agree he is taller than he seems on screen and definitely good looking.
I‘ve noticed that he always listens attentively to questions and gives comprehensive answers, as you experienced. He always seems so patient….something I’m not lol.
 
octobrina10

octobrina10

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

Richard Branson spent time at Rafa’s sports centre/academy.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1524064124937904131

Pictured on the balcony of the new indoor facility:
WhatsApp_Image_2022-04-22_at_11.21.30_AM.jpeg


Richard Branson (an excerpt from the Virgin homesite, published on 10 May 2022):
¤¤ Enjoyed the great privilege of spending time with Rafa Nadal whilst I was in Mallorca recently. While we were visiting the beautiful Virgin Limited Edition resort Son Bunyola (more on that soon), Rafa was kind enough to ask us to visit his incredible tennis academy. ...

Rafa was deep into preparations for the current Masters tournaments, building up to the French Open he has dominated for so long. But he was good enough to give us a few hours to sit and chat about what is going on in the world – and of course share some of his tennis wisdom. I’m still looking to improve!

We laughed reminiscing about the last time we shared a court, at the Necker Cup. Rafa had such a great sense of humour about the laid-back nature of our tournament. At one point our dog Sumo ran onto the court and interrupted his serve - that doesn't happen at Wimbledon!
I was in a charity match against Jimmy Buffett, who turned it into a doubles match and got world number one doubles player Mike Bryan as his partner. At the last minute, I roped in Rafa as my partner – and we scraped home for the victory. Jimmy still owes us a charity concert, which I will hold him to! ¤¤

Visiting Rafa Nadal in Mallorca | Virgin

Enjoyed the great privilege of spending time with Rafa Nadal whilst I was in Mallorca recently.
www.virgin.com www.virgin.com
:)

Rafa played in the Necker Cup in December 2013. It’s a charity tennis event that is held annually on Richard Branson’s private Necker Island.
rafaelnadalfans.com

Rafael Nadal @ Necker Cup 2013

Visit the post for more.
rafaelnadalfans.com rafaelnadalfans.com
 
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TennisFan3

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
clayqueen said:
Spot on.

I remember the first time I got a media pass for Abu Dhabi through another tennis forum. I was apprehensive that seeing Rafa up close for the first time would dampen the image I had of him, but he exceeded all my expectations in every way. He is a lot taller than he looks on screen, very tanned, polite, and good looking. I saw him in Abu Dhabi last year and he still looks amazing.

I've been lucky enough to ask him questions and he answers every question looking directly as the person who asked it. It's unreal.
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I've seen Nadal up close thrice in practice sessions in Cincy and IW. He looks a lot leaner in person and very athletic. Nowhere near as big as he seems on TV.
His forehand is also unreal. It's just impossible to understand it on TV. You have to see it on a practice court from both angles to experience the spin and explosion on court. It's just insane. Also he smiles a lot in practice which is cool and seems friendly unlike some other top players.
 
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