INJURED RAFAEL NADAL DISREPECTED ~ TOP TENNIS PLAYERS ARE NOT MACHINES

Above Pictures: Rafael Nadal in Round 3
Rafael Nadal d Gael Monfils October 30, 2008
Photo credits: Watermarked Abaca Press

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Pictures in slideshow: Rafael Nadal in Round 3
Rafael Nadal d Gael Monfils October 30, 2008
Photo credits: Mary from The Forum www.rafaelnadal.com

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Rafael Nadal Quarter Final in Paris October 31, 2008
Rafa withdrew with too much pain in right knee even after taking antiflammatory medication prior to match
with score 6-1
Nikolay Davydenko moves on to Semi-Final match

The photos in the slideshows are not in order because photo bucket wouldn't allow me to rearrange them today.

Photo credits: Getty, Mary of The Forum at www.rafaelnadal.com, ATP website and unknown

Rafa also was scheduled to play doubles after the single match today. But his injury didn't permit that match to be played.

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Rafa with the press following withdrawing from quarter final match with right knee injury
Uploaded by RafaNadalLive

This is from Rafael Nadal's website ~ www.rafaelnadal.com ~ home page

NOVEMBER 01 | 2008

RAFA RETIRES FROM PARIS

Friday, October 31st

Rafa Nadal's participation in the Paris Masters has come to an end after the world number one retired with a knee injury in his Paris Masters quarter-final against Russian Nikolay Davydenko.

The tournament trainer massaged Rafa's right knee and thigh at the change of ends when he was 4-1 down. Sadly, the massage didn't really do much for him and he was forced to make sad decision after losing the first set 6-1.

¨I have some pain on my right knee. I had it already when the tournament started, but yesterday it got worse and had more pain¨

"Today when I woke up I felt it a lot. I tried to practice but I was in pain. I went to the doctor and the he gave me some antiinflammatories"

"I didn't have power in the right leg to play the backhand. When I push with the right leg i never felt well the knee. The pain I feel is an acute pain. I couldn't play like this. I am never going to win a match like this, right?'

"I feel sorry for the tournament, for sure. For everyone it's tough to lose and for a tournament to have both me and Federer retire is not good news. I know it is not easy for the tournament but we tried our best all the time and we tried our best in every tournament we go to."

"You know how tough is the season and how long, a lot of the matches under our belt. I think the ATP and everybody will have to think about these things and analyze what's happening at the end of every season. Like this it's very difficult to have big players for a long time. For the last four years I was fine. Hopefully it will be also like this this year."

Rafa will undergo some tests in the next couple of days and in principle will be traveling to Shanghai on Tuesday, arriving on Wednesday. It will all depend on the results of these tests. He might delay his arrival to Thursday. We will keep you posted. End of borrowed text

My thoughts on the booing of Rafael Nadal as he walked off the court with his injury today:

No excuses for bad behavior.

If you care more about the game of tennis than the player(s),
then you would watch number 500 play number 501 with the same interest
as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and the other top players. If a person comes to a match that Rafa is playing, then you come to see Rafa.

To boo or whistle at a player with a prohibitive injury is wrong. There is no rationale that makes it acceptable. If you care about a sport or a player, you would be concerned. Not behave like narcissists.

We have people with bad behavior in every country. I am sure there were plenty of people there who care about Rafa and want only that his injury is not serious.

It was sad to see, though. Very low point to see human beings behave like fools.

I saw the whole medical time-out on the ATP live online and heard the English being spoken by Rafa and the physio men. Rafa had taken medication that morning for the pain and they could offer Rafa nothing more. I believe it is Rafa's knee as he was pointing to it. The man who gave Rafa a massage told the chair umpire that Rafa was ready to stop immediately so the umpire should give him a time-out for the massage to see if Rafa would continue to play.

Only have concern for Rafa and his health. He gives so much. Rafa doesn't owe anyone his health.

With family and friends, Rafa will get the love he needs. Too bad a number of the fans had to add insult to injury.

I like many of Rafa's fans will stand by Rafa through the glory and beyond.

A Tribute to Rafa at Bercy
Uploaded by iteclem51