❧❧❧ Whatever you can do or dream, you can BEGIN IT. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Goethe ❧❧❧
❧❧❧ You were born whole, not broken. Sandra Hammel ❧❧❧
Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina is congratulated by Rafael Nadal of Spain after their match during the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup at Uniprix Stadium August 14, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina during the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup at Uniprix Stadium August 14, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty
Results Montreal Rogers Cup 2009
Juan Martin DEL POTRO (ARG) defeated Rafael NADAL (ESP)
Rafael Nadal of Spain acknowledges the crowd after defeating Philipp Petzschner of Germany during the Rogers Cup at Uniprix Stadium August 13, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
Round 3
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America
Rafa serving during the Rogers Cup at Uniprix Stadium August 13, 2009 in Montreal, Canada. Round 3 Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to David Ferrer of Spain during the Rogers Cup at Uniprix Stadium August 12, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
Round 2
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to David Ferrer of Spain during the Rogers Cup at Uniprix Stadium August 12, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
Round 2
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America
U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the Medal of Freedom to tennis champion Billie Jean King during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House August 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama presented the medal, the highest civilian honor in the United States, to 16 recipients during the ceremony.
August 11, 2009 Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America
Rafa Montreal's Rogers Cup Round 3 August 13, 2009 Photo credit: AP
Rafa Montreal's Rogers Cup Round 3 August 13, 2009 Photo credit: AP
Rafa Montreal's Rogers Cup Round 3 August 13, 2009 Photo credit: AP
Rafa Montreal's Rogers Cup Round 3 August 13, 2009 Photo credit: Getty Images
Rafa Montreal's Rogers Cup Round 3 August 13, 2009 Photo credit: AFP
Rafa Round 2 with fellow countrymen David Ferrer Ferrer withdrew in the first set at score 4- 3 Rafa in the lead Photo credit: AP
Rafa Round 2 with fellow countrymen David Ferrer Ferrer withdrew in the first set at score 4- 3 Rafa in the lead Photo credit: AP
Press interview after David Ferrer vs. Rafael Nadal Montreal Round 2 match
THE MODERATOR:Questions, please.
Q.Little shorter than you might have liked today?
RAFAEL NADAL:Yeah, I never expect this, this bad thing for David, so I just I can say sorry to him and just wish him the very fast recovery to be ready for Cincinnati.
So, yeah, I know it's tough to have to go out and have to go out of court, so yeah, just sorry for him. And for me, it was nice have a victory like this, and I say before I here to improve every day, to enjoy every game, every point.Just like this, I going to have chances to be ready as fast as possible.
Q.How did you feel playing the match after such a long time?
RAFAEL NADAL:Sure, a little bit strange, no?The first movements is tough and hard to move well and to feel confident when you are touching the ball.
But, you know, that's the normal thing.I have to I must be happy, because I didn't play terrible.And the next round, I have another chance tomorrow to continuing to improve.Every match, every game is important to feel better for me.
Q.How are your knees?
RAFAEL NADAL:Yeah, was okay.Need more days to have real test, but it was okay.
Q.Did you find the doubles matches helped you?
RAFAEL NADAL:Sure, the doubles is important or the two matches of doubles was important matches for me to start, to compete, no?Always these matches help me.
Q. You're saying that you like to learn more and more every day and you're always trying to improve.It's something to watch you on the court because we see if you're practicing, learning a new skill like, for example, last year your serve on grass or your backhand changing maybe a little bit.The coach was telling me he saw a difference at the Australian Open.For the different surfaces you're always improving a lot on the court, but I feel like the challenges you've gone through in the last couple months are all challenges off the court.Do you see that as just another part of tennis, another element that you have to learn to prepare for dealing with injury, dealing with setbacks that you're not used to facing?
RAFAEL NADAL:(Through translation.)
No, you know, the calendar is tough, and you don't have a lot of choices, no? For me, you can learn because the career always every year is an experience and you can learn about everything, but I think when you play, if not the one or the second who play more matches the last five years, it's normal to have some problems.
Q.What I'm saying is you see injury as just another part of tennis the same way a forehand is.Do you see setbacks off the court?Tennis is a very allencompassing game.
THE MODERATOR:What is the question?
Q.Do you see injury, coming back from injury, as just another part of the game, just like...
RAFAEL NADAL:Everybody, when you injury, you have to come back.What I can say?Is a normal thing of sports, so that's it
Q.Andy Roddick said the courts are very slow and the ball was moving slow.You felt that?
RAFAEL NADAL:The court was very slow?
Q.Yeah, the court was very slow.
RAFAEL NADAL:No, I didn't think so, no, no.
No, I don't know.He's coming from Washington, no?So the feeling for the players always depends.If the week before you play in a faster place and next week you play in a little bit of slower place, you feel like it's very slow.And if you're playing in a slow place and the next week you play in a little bit faster, you feel like it's very fast.So it's always depends on the last feeling you had.
I think the court is not very fast and not very slow.I think it's between.
Q.What was the feeling of walking out on a court for a real match again after all that time?
RAFAEL NADAL:Yeah, it's always a pleasure to come back, and the feeling well, only happen one month and a half; it's not three years outside of tennis.That's the true, no?
Sure, it's happy to come back here and playing another time.But the feeling is normal, like always.I feel well when I go on court all the time, and today wasn't an exception.
Sure, when you have a few time outside of competition, when you come back it's a little bit more exciting.
Q.Can you give an example of how hardcourts are tougher on your body than maybe clay courts or grass courts?
RAFAEL NADAL:Well, let's talk about the same, no?I say 200,000 times, yeah, the hardcourt is tougher for the body than the grass and clay.No doubt of that.I think nobody have a doubt of that.That's it.
Q.Were you trying to be a little careful today, or were you going all the way on your body?
RAFAEL NADAL:I tried.I tried everything, put my 100%, but when you come back from an injury, it's difficult to move well the first match.You have more matches to get the confidence of the movements, on the feeling of the ball, so I need more time.
Q. Is it a positive first match? Is it a positive first test?
RAFAEL NADAL: Anything gonna be everything gonna be positive. Only bad thing can be is if I have another time problems with the knees, but the rest of the things, everything is positive, no? Every match, every point. Because everything is helping me to be ready as soon as possible when I return to my level.
Right now I'm probably not at my best level, but everything is important. If I lose tomorrow and if I have a match, is it going to be interesting for me to have more hours on court?
Q. You struggled with your first serve. Are you a little bit disappointed about that?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, it's it's normal. The feeling, it's different now because I practice during the afternoon and the ball was faster than right now, the night. The ball was bigger.
No, I didn't I was serving really well, all the day, practicing. The first day, first match, a little bit nervous. At the same time, David is a big returner.
At the same time, I want to push a little bit more than usual. After, when I had the 3All, the match from 32 to 33, I have some serves slow. I was serving 190, 195, 200, and in this game, I had some serve, 175, so that's give me more confidence, no?
Q. Can you just talk about your next opponent.
RAFAEL NADAL: He's a very aggressive player, no? Very good serve, very good forehand.
Today he had very good win against Robredo. Yeah, sure, every match going to be very difficult for me.
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............................................. In Spanish Round 2 report Uploaded by vamosrafelnadal
I am only doing this post because I saw Rafa wearing sleeveless in Montreal. I am sick and should be elsewhere right now in a lateral position. We can only hope for the singles match to bare the Rafa arms, as well. But, word is that we will be disappointed.
Fans worldwide are gleeful at the sight of Rafa on court
AND
Rafa Sleeveless in Montreal
I can tell Rafa is back because of the number of hits on my blog posts with Rafa as the subject over the last day and a half.
Rafa and Francisco lost to 7th seeded team Max Mirnyi (BLR) and Andy Ram (ISR) Tuesday, August 11, 2009 6-4, 3-6, 8-10
Rafa is scheduled to play his first singles match Wednesday evening, August 12, 2009 David Ferrer is his opponent. The first evening match on Court Central Time: not before 7:00 p.m. EDT
Spain's Rafael Nadal, left, and doubles partner Francisco Roig (41 years old), also from Spain, congratulate each other during their match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Dusan Vemic at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament in Montreal
Monday, August 10, 2009 Photo credit: AP
7-5 6-4 in under one hour and 10 minutes
Doubles Match Montreal, Monday, Aug.10, 2009
Photo credit: AP
Doubles Match Montreal, Monday, Aug.10, 2009
Photo credit: AP
Rafael Nadal and Francisco Roig Spain versus Novak Djokovic and Dusan Vemic of Serbia during the Rogers Cup at Uniprix Stadium August 10, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
Photo credits of above two: Matthew Stockman of Getty Images North America
Rogers Cup website http://www.rogerscup.com/men/english/home.php I find the Rogers Cup website user-unfriendly. The Wednesday (August 12) order of play isn't posted there and it is Wednesday in 10 minutes as I post this updated comment.
Defending Rogers Cup champion Rafael Nadal reflects on return from injury as he makes his first appearance since Roland Garros this week at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Montreal. Uploaded by ATPWorldTour Rafael Nadal play his first competitive match Monday, August 10, 2009 in the doubles competition. The Australian Open champ and his doubles partner, Francisco Roig are schedulled to play fourth in the BN Court against Novak Djokovic and Dusan Vemic.
Rafa has a bye in the singles in Montreal - the Rogers Cup. He will play either Davie Ferrer or Viktor Troicki in round two. He isn't scheduled for Tuesday, so I am thinking maybe Wednesday, August 12, 2009, is when Rafa will play.
I love my life. I love where I live. And I am passionate about my passions. I love to dance. Necessary to live: music, piano, singing, writing, acting, painting.
I have been fighting for and supporting the arts all my adult life. Since 2004, I have been working with other activists to end the Darfur genocide.
I have traveled to Europe many times since my early twenties. Places I have been: many USA states including Hawaii, Montreal, Canada, Barbados, France, Spain, Luxembourg, England, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Germany - and have wonderful memories.
My last trip was in May - June 2013 to Spain.
I would like to travel to Europe and Kyoto, Japan.
I love the southwest where I have visited Hopi, Navajo, Zia and San Idlefonso potters.
Life is exciting and I intend to live it full-out to the end.
B.S. and M.M., both in music
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Khartoum, Sudan Stop Genocide Time
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RAFA NADAL -BRING BACK LONG PANTS - SLEEVELESS TOPS
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Darfur - The Abandoned Genocide - a video by Sandra Hammel
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Genocide is not only a word,
it is crying of the whole human race.
There is nothing redeeming about being silent
when speaking up is the humane thing to do.
The honor and integrity of the human race is at stake.
