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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

RAFAEL NADAL IS KING OF THE HILL, TOP OF THE LIST, "A", NUMBER ONE IN OLD NEW YORK ~ NEW YORK, NEW YORK

CONGRATULATIONS RAFA!!
CAREER GRAND SLAM WINNER!!


Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates with the championship trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win the men's singles final on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images North America

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New York, New York sung by Frank Sinatra
Uploaded by urseaux

Lyrics
New York, New York  Start spreading the news,
I’m leaving today I want to be a part of it -
New York, New York

These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it -
New York, New York
I wanna wake up in a city, that doesn’t sleep
And find I’m King of the Hill -
Top of the Heap

These little town blues, are melting away
I’ll make a brand new start of it -
in old New York
If I can make it there,
I’ll make it anywhere
It’s up to you - New York, New York
New York, New York
I want to wake up in a city, that never sleeps
And find I’m a Number One,
Top of the List,
King of the Hill "A", Number One

These little town blues, are melting away
I’m gonna make a brand new start of it - in old New York
And if I can make it there, I’m gonna make it anywhere
It up to you - New York, New York
New York
Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with the championship trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win the men's singles final on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with the championship trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win the men's singles final on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with the championship trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win the men's singles final on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America

GREAT PICTURES WITH THE US OPEN 2010 CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY
Rafael Nadal

More GREAT pictures with Rafa holding the US Open 2010 Championship Trophy

Great picture with Rafa and Novak after the Final Match

US OPEN 2010

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Rafa Nadal defeats Novak Djokovic
6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
Monday, September 13, 2010
~ a day late due to rain on Sunday ~
The second set had a 2 hour rain delay at 4-4, 30-30 Djokovic serving

The Tennis Channel
re-airing Men's Final US Open 2010 match

Wednesday, September 15, 2010
8:00 p.m. - 11:oo p.m. USA EST/EDT


Rafa is only one of three tennis players
to win an Olympic Gold Medal and a Career Grand_Slam
The three players are
Andre Agassi, Stefi Graf and Rafael Nadal

Rafa is the first player since 1969 (Rod Laver)
to win the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year


The four Grand Slam tournaments, also called the Majors,[1] are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, played in that order. Both the Australian Open and the US Open are played on hard courts, while the French Open is played on clay, and Wimbledon is played on grass. Source wikipedia Grand_Slam


Career Grand Slam

Winning all four Grand Slam tournaments during a career is termed a Career Grand Slam. Seven men and nine women have accomplished this in singles play, but only four men (Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal) and five women (Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, and Serena Williams) have done so since the beginning of the open era

Source wikipedia Grand_Slam

Men's Singles

Rafa won the French Open in the years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010. He won Wimbledon in years 2008 and 2010. He didn't play Wimbledon in 2009.

~ For More Records ~

wikipedia Grand_Slam

tennis-x.com/stats/tennis records

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win the men's singles final on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America



Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win the men's singles final on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win the men's singles final on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain falls to his knees in celebration of his win over Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their men's singles final on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win the men's singles final on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain rolls on the ground in celebration of his win over Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their men's singles final on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain wipes his face while playing against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain wipes his face with a towel during his men's singles final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts while playing against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts while playing against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts while playing against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts while playing against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts while playing against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts while playing against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts while playing against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts while playing against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images North America


Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts while playing against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on while playing against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts while playing against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain looks to return a shot against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men's singles final match on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal of Spain rolls on the ground in celebration of defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win the men's singles final on day fifteen of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America


WAY TO GO, RAFA!

AS THE US OPEN 2010 WEBSITE SAYS...

IT MUST BE LOVE


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posted by ilovemylife @ 8:00 PM   0 Comments

Saturday, May 23, 2009

MAY 24 - JUNE 7, 2009 IN PARIS - FINGERS CROSSED FOR RAFA




Ana Ivanovic and Rafael Nadal assists in the drawing May 22, 2009 in Paris.


Rafa's Roland Garros '09 outfit




Defending champions of The French Open
Ana Ivanovic and Rafa Nadal

Photo credits - except for those watermarked as Corbis - are unknown.
My apologies to the photographer(s).


Rafael Nadal will play qualifier Marcos Daniel of Brazil in Round 1
Rafa won't play Sunday, May 24, 2009 - probably on Monday, the 25th. The Order of Play (OoP) is posted on the Roland Garros website the night before the matches to be played the upcoming day.

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Rafa practicing in Paris May 22, 2009
Uploaded by luneworld

Rafa's blog posts will be found at http://timesonline.typepad.com/rafael_nadal/

Email questions to Rafa at rafa@timesonline.co.uk

Draws Roland Garros

Day 1 Roland Garros schedule

TV Schedule Roland Garros

Paris time is 6 hours ahead of USA EST/DST
My sidebar has Spain time. It is the same time in Paris.

LIVE STREAMING

I don't know where we can catch the live streaming yet, but when I know I will update this post with that information.

Listed to show Roland Garros Sunday May 24, 2009 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

at http://myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=&part=sports&discipline=tennis

You can also try the following:

http://www.tsn.ca/broadcast/schedule/?channel=tsn&date=05-23-2009&tz=0

http://myp2p.eu/index.php?part=sports

http://www.tsn.ca/tennis/

http://www.channelsurfing.net

http://www.atdhe.net/index.html



PHOTO CONTEST by Babolat "My Tennis Wins with Babolat"
From May 24 to July 15, 2009

Take a picture of yourself biting your tennis racket and email it to
mordstaraquette@babolat.com

The prizes are pictured above.

View the pictures at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/babolatvs

Rafa will select the ten winners. Note in your email that you belong to the forum sponsored by Babolat.


Waiting For Rafa

By Gaby Wood
Photographed by Bruce Weber

Source:
http://www.nadalnews.com/2009/05/22/waiting-for-rafa/comment-page-1/

After fighting his way to tenniss number-one spot, Rafael Nadal is discovering in his own time that it can be lonely at the top.

Vamos Rafa! The crowd roars as a dashing floodlit figure serves an ace. It is round one of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, a tournament sometimes referred to as the fifth Grand Slam. After the player beats his opponent, he stops by the camera that has been broadcasting his actions in real time and signs the lens with a Sharpie. All that is left is his autograph, a grand flourish blown up on vast screens across the stadium.

The Spanish tennis sensation Rafael Nadal has been described as swashbuckling more often than Errol Flynn. You might think this is a mere national stereotype, but the 23-year-old Majorcans dynamic, unorthodox style, his combination of brutal efficiency and unearthly stamina, and the dastardly aim of his forehand have all led his matches to be described, even in Spain, as duels.

He is also, as might befit an old-world swordsman, gracious in victory. When he won the Australian Open final against Roger Federer in February, cementing his prowess on all three Grand Slam surfaces (not to mention his status as the number-one player in the world), he stood by uncomfortably as Federer wept at the microphone. After Nadal put his arm around the Swiss champions shoulder and Federer returned to the mike, emboldened, to congratulate him, Nadal apologized for winning and called Federer one of the best players in history.

So it is with great curiosity that I go down to Miami to meet Rafa, as he is affectionately known. I am intrigued to see who is behind the animal on the court and the young gentleman on the podium.

My first close-up glimpse of him comes at a press conference after that first match, in which he neatly dispatches Teimuraz Gabashvili, 6-2, 6-2. As expected, Nadal is sweet and rather awkward, answering questions modestly in English and Spanish. He enjoys the support of Latinos here, he says. The only thing thats tough about having so many fans, he explains, is that he cant sign autographs for everyone, and hed like to.

Then hes asked if he prefers to play in the day or at night. This is met with a pure, straight-faced statement of the obvious: I prefer to play well.

Afterward, his ever-present publicist, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, introduces me to him in preparation for our interview. Nadal shakes my hand, pats me on the shoulder, and says, Encantado. He is relaxed, charming, and, at six foot one, taller than I expected. Little do I know that this is the last time I will speak to him for the next five days.

Courtly appeal (Photo by Bruce Weber)

Courtly appeal (Photo by Bruce Weber)

One of the reasons its hard to get close to Nadal, I soon discover, is that he is fiercely protected by his team, mostly made up of family members. His uncle and coach, the former profession tennis player Toni Nadal, rarely leaves his side; the same goes for his father, Sebastian; and then there is his uncle Miquel Angel Nadal, a famously aggressive soccer player who is still known as the Best of Barcelona. When they are together, they speak Mallorquin, a brash, fast, guttural language that is an obscure dialect of Catalan.

If the Williams sisters grew up playing on the gang-ridden tarmac of L.A., Nadal was groomed to be great on the earth of Majorca. (Although, there was a time when the Spanish newspaper El Mundo wondered rhetorically whether there might be a Planet Nadal, a place where babies dont play with dolls but rackets, muscle grows before bone, courage before speech.)

When he was a little boy, his uncle Toni told his now-agent Carlos Costa, I have a six-year-old nephew whos going to be a very good player. It was six years before Costa finally saw Nadal play. He was twelve, and the qualities you saw in him then were strength of character, tenacity; he was a winner and a fighter. And in his head, there was a real desire to be number one. Cost took him on when Nadal turned fifteen.

Since then Nadal has racked up so many records, its almost hard to keep count. Long acknowledged as the kind of Clay, he posses the longest single-surface winning streak in the Open era. (His lock on the French Open recently prompted Roger Federer to say, I dont think the clay has been my problem. My problem has been Rafa con clay.) Since winning their history-making five-set Wimbledon match last year, Nadal has seem nearly untouchable. And in February, he became the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open, prompting speculation that he will win four Grand Slams in a single year, a feat not accomplished since Rod Laver did it in 1969. As Costa says, Every year he wants more. Every year he trains more. He doesnt impose limits on himself. If you look at the Rafa of three years ago and Rafa as he is now, theres been a huge evolution in his tennis.

Part of Nadals resolve seems to stem from the rigor of his training. Even though he is naturally right-handed, he was taught early on to play with his left hand, a technique that has tormented many of his opponents. Toni Nadal denies that there was anything tactical in this: He always played with both hands. The only thing I encouraged was to play with one hand, and he had more strength in his left.

Nadal can play so strongly at times that one is tempted to think of him as a force of nature in Australian, when other players were dropping out because of the heat; in Indian Well, California, when the wind made the final almost unsustainable. Recently, a tennis researcher in San Francisco used video-capture technology to measure Nadals topspin: It was found to rotate at an average of 3,200 times a minute (Federers rotates 2,700 times, and Agassis 1,900) a feat that seems superhuman. When he was young, I always made him play with bad balls, Toni Nadal explains. The court wasnt always in great condition all of that, even playing badly, helps you develop. Rafael called me before the final in Indian Wells. I said, Hows it going? He said, Terrible. Because of the wind. I said, Well, all the better for you, no? Because Rafa is used to playing when things arent going well. (Sometimes it seems like Nadal pushes himself or is pushed too hard. Fans have expressed concern that he is risking injury, although he and his team deny this.)

Along with the tough training came tough love. In terms of shots, hes not a phenomenon, but hes not completely useless, either, Toni Nadal says. If he had Federers gifts, I might have chosen a different style, but I like this intense strong style he has.

Toni points out that his nephew was raised to put up with things. If when youre young, youre permitted to do anything, then when youre older you can cause all kinds of damage. If, on the other hand, when youre small youre never allowed so much as throw a racquet on the ground, then its much easier to tolerate things. Rafael has always been a very disciplined player. Sometimes, if he feels like doing one thing but knows that another is the right thing to do, he can take it.

Before I can think about whats coming out of my mouth, I say, God. Poor him. Toni seems amused. Not at all, he replies. Hes won a few times, you know.

This pose looks natural, right? (Photo by Bruce Weber)

This pose looks natural, right? (Photo by Bruce Weber)

The next morning, Im supposed to meet Nadal for our interview, but Benito puts me off. At lunchtime, I go to watch Nadal play Frederico Gil, who at number 70, is the highest ranked Portuguese player in history. (Its a very small country, is Gils routine response to this statistic.)

Rafa starts slow; he makes a surprising number of unforced errors; during breaks, his left knee jobs uncontrollably. There is a beautiful rally, at the end of which Gil puts a ball straight past him. The next time Rafa gets ready to serve, hes given a time violation. Hes taking too long, thinking too much its excruciating.

You would think that an early-round match for the worlds number-one tennis player would be plain sailing, but watching Nadal, you feel the risk in every point. He plays as if he is fighting for his life. He gives 100 percent in every match, from the first round right up to the last, Costa says. Others are relaxed at first, and tension kicks in later, whereas Rafa plays tensely from day one.

Nadal pulls out a victory, but it doesnt come easily, 7-5, 6-3. In the press box, old-hand tennis reporters are muttering, Oh, yeah, hes burned.

Afterward I watch Rafa hanging around outside the locker room in a black T-shirt and khaki-colored tennis shorts, his just showered hair falling in his face, his full frame a little hunched, like a teenagers. A very small blonde person in a Panama hat and shades comes through the corridor to great him, accompanied by a film crew. She turns out to be Shakira, a friend and fan. They pose for photos, but as soon as the rock star leaves, Rafa returns to his sulky posture. It is as if he can already envision the lead story from The Miami Herald: Sometimes the best player in the world doesnt look like the best player in the world.

The following day, Benito calls. Hes embarrassed. Rafa played badly and is not feeling up to meeting today. He promises it will happen first thing the next morning.

Instead I make my way over to the practice court. Rafa is shirtless, sweat streaming down his front, the deep thwacking sound of his inhuman forehand filling everyones ears. When he leaves the court, Im behind him, which means that for once I get his view of the crowd. They gather wildly in his face; he dips his chin and plows through like a gentle bull, signing and walking, signing and walking, passing the results of his ambulatory autographs over his shoulder a hat, a ball, a picture without a backward glance. Behind him, the recipients fall into chaos, screaming. It occurs to me that whether shielded by his entourage or lost in the crowd, Nadal is always in his own world, just out of reach.

That night, Rafa has a late, long match against Stanislas Wawrinka (the other Swiss), and again the buzz is about how off his game is. He wins, of course, but that appears to be beside the point. By now I realize that hes not just putting me off on a whim. He literally cant take his eye off the ball. In a way, his refusal to meet says far more about how he feels than he will probably ever reveal in words.

Golden (Photo by Bruce Weber)

Golden (Photo by Bruce Weber)

Its my fifth day in Miami, am I am supposed to finally meet Nadal at midday. Just before lunchtime, Benito calls to reschedule. Rafa will meet me at four. I am skeptical. Benito, who is missing four fingers on his right hand, says the interview will definitely happen at four, or he will cut off the fingers on the other hand. How sweet, I think. Then I wonder how he lost his fingers in the first place.

But sure enough, just after 4:00 P.M., Benito and Carlos bring Rafa to me outside the players lounge. This time he makes no eye contact and offers no greeting. We walk upstairs, Nadal silent, eyes downcast. Benito and Carlos direct us to a couple of white leather sofas and leave. Nadal shoots me a small, shy smile, then gets distracted by the live match playing on a TV screen in front of us: Djokovic vs. Tsonga. He winces a little with the corners of his mouth (at what, I dont know: Ive missed the shot), then looks back at me open, perhaps, to a question.

We talk about what he likes to do when hes not on court. I learn that in his time off, Nadal goes home to Manacor, the town of 35,000 inhabitants where he still lives with his parents and younger sister or to his familys summerhouse, ten kilometers away in Porto Cristo. His friends are still the people hes known since he was four of five. He goes fishing, he plays golf, he goes to the movies; he has a girlfriend, a student in Majorca whose privacy he guards diligently. (Though she sometimes comes to his matches, he explains, Just because Im known for tennis doesnt mean I have to be known for anything else.) While other players have their own jets, he flies commercial. He does not know how much money he has, and doesnt appear to spend it. At home, hes not known as the world number one; hes known as Rafalet.

I ask him about his tics arranging the water bottles in a particular order, not stepping on the lines when he walks out onto the court. They are not really superstitions, he says. Theyre just part of his larger pre-match ritual. Hell sleep between seven and nine hours, then have a plate of pasta for breakfast. If hes eating three hours or more before a match, hell add some chicken or fish. Just beforehand, he always has a cold shower; then his physio, Rafael Maymo, helps him put on all his tape (at the moment his fingers are taped as well as his knees). After Nadal prepares the handles of his rackets, he listens to music on his iPod everything from Julio Iglesias to Bon Jovi and keeps to himself.

He wont say what hes trying to improve just now during a tournament, you dont really train to change things, he explains although he confesses that hed like to serve like Karlovic, have Federers forehand at times, or Nalbandians backhand.

I ask him if he is driven more by a desire to win or the fear of losing. The desire to win, he says. He always knows he can lose, even in the first round. For example, tomorrow, Im going out into a difficult match against del Potro, and I know that if I dont play at my highest level Im going to have practically no chance of winning. (This turns out to be prescient: He ends up losing to Juan Martin del Potro the next day in a tense quarterfinal.)

Perhaps paradoxically, Nadal says that being number one has helped to relieve the pressure. I think Im enjoying the game much more now than I was two years ago. Not because Im winning more but because I think Ive taken on board the tension more. Anyway, he adds, Im lucky enough to do what I like for work not everyones that fortunate.

Tennis players, of course, have a remarkably short professional shelf life. As invested as he is in the game, Nadal is already branching out, as the face of Lanvins new cologne LHomme Sport and as a collaborator with Nike on a new line of clothes. He is also in the early stages of establishing a philanthropic foundation, whose stated purpose is to educate underprivileged children all over the world. Id like to help people who dont have enough to live on, he says, then adds, Id like to help everyone I can.

At thirteen, Nadal had to choose between tennis and soccer (he was good at both). He says he doesnt prefer one to the other, but there is something forlorn in his assertion that soccer is more enjoyable because you practice with friends. In tennis, youre always alone, which is more complicated. I far prefer to train with friends than alone, he says. Doesnt everyone?

In the time I speak to Nadal (in Spanish), he is as uncommunicative as his good upbringing will allow; he looks up when he thinks perhaps looking down or away is rude. Questions are met with expressions of very mild alarm shrugs or a knitted brow. I have the impression that conversation is akin to confrontation for him, and that despite his zeal on the court, he doesnt enjoy it.

I wonder aloud if he enjoys competing in others areas of his life.

No! he says, balking at the very thought. Not at all! Id rather lose an argument than get into a long discussion in order to win it.

Why? I ask.

He laughs. It tires me out.

But not in tennis?

No.

Which leads me to ask about his most formidable, most formative rival. If Roger Federer were to stop playing, would Nadas game suffer?

No, he replies. The only thing that affects me is to have played important matches against him Hes one of the greatest tennis players in history, if not the greatest. But the thing that makes you improve isnt any individual its the demands of the sport itself.

I ask how he felt when he saw Federer crying in Australia. Well, a bit odd, no? I didnt really know what to do. I felt sad for him. Those are difficult moments when youre living through them, but over the years they become moments that both he and I will be able to look back on fondly theyre emotional moments.

As for his own vulnerabilities, he admits, with an embarrassed chuckle, Being home alone at night makes me a bit nervous. If Im at home alone I have to sleep on the sofa I cant face going to bed. Im there with the TV on and all the lights on. Im not very brave about anything in life. He smiles, looks down at the floor. In tennis, yes. In everything else, not very.

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Rafa Fan Forums

The Original Forum from Rafa's Website - this forum is now sponsored by Babolat

vamosbrigade.com

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posted by ilovemylife @ 11:02 PM   0 Comments

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

NADAL PLAYS ROUND 2 ON THURSDAY AUGUST 28 IN NEW YORK

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Photos of Rafael Nadal in Round 1
US Open
Nadal d Phau August 25, 2008
7-6(4), 6-3, 7-6(4)
Arthur Ashe Kids Day
and more
Photo credits:
Flicker poster, Getty, Just Jared, ATP website,
Abaca Press, DPPI, AP and unknown sources

Rafa is not scheduled to play Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Rafa will play USA qualifier Ryler De Heart on Thursday in Round 2


Highlights of Rafa's Round 1's Set 1

Highlights of Rafa's Round 1's Set 2

Highlights of Rafa's Round 1's Set 3

I admire Rafa for his down-to-earth, humble and generous spirit with his fans, as well as his competitive spirit on the tennis courts.

Rafael Nadal's website:
www.rafaelnadal.com

Another website for Rafa's fans:
www.vamosbrigade.com
but not associated officially with Rafa

Rafa is blogging at the US Open
Times Online
And you can ask him a question by emailing him at
sport@timesonline.co.uk
Good Luck on getting selected for an answer.

Here is my second try to get a question answered at the US Open 2008 (he answered a question I sent in last year timesonline.typepad.com/rafael_nadal/us_open_2007) :

Dear Rafa,

What question would you like to answer?! That is the question I would like to ask you.

If you weren't a human being, what animal would you like to be and why?

Oh, and go ahead and be on David Letterman's show. He isn't that good at English himself at times. Ja Ja Ja! Besides, we love to hear you in any language. You speak better English than many of us speak Spanish. VAMOS RAFA!

But first, tell us so we can set our DVRs to record you. ;-)

I wrote to Oprah and requested her to have you on the Oprah show, but much easier to be on David's, as his show is in New York City.

Love to you from the USA, Rafa!

Muchas gracias!

Sandra Hammel
Newport, Rhode Island

Rafa's takes questions from the press:
www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interviews/2008-08-25

US Open.org - DRAW

The TV Schedule for the USA
on the USA channel
11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
and for the night matches 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Online Viewing of the US Open
The USA channel is jumping from court to court and doesn't show us entire matches. You might try the following online link for viewing and see if they stay with Rafa's match. Right now, even they are jumping from court to court though. www.justin.tv/live
This works on both MACs and PCs.

VAMOS RAFA

<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:

www.savedarfur.org

www.darfurolympics.org

GENOCIDE STOPS WITH US

Remember the Darfuri people

Silence Kills

Use Your Freedom to Speak Out Against Genocide



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posted by ilovemylife @ 1:43 AM   0 Comments

Monday, August 25, 2008

WOW PHAU PLAYS WELL - RAFAEL NADAL WINS US OPEN ROUND ONE


RAFAEL NADAL in round one match at the US Open
against German Bjorn Phau
(Phau: pronounced by USA commentators as Pow)
August 25, 2008
Rafa wins 7-6(4), 6-3, 7-6(4)
Photo credit: AP


This is all from memory....so I may be wrong....
If any tennis professional player has reason to be tired, it is Rafael Nadal. He has played more tennis than any other player. He played two extremely difficult matches in Indian Wells as I recall. Then, he played in the Final in Miami. Then he went off to Europe and played in Monte Carlo and won the singles and the doubles. He won in Barcelona, Hamburg, The French Open, Queens, Wimbledon, Toronto, played enough in Cincinnati to go to Number 1 (I think it was the quarter finals) flew to China with a 12 hour time difference and won The Gold Medal in the Olympics, flew back to a time zone 12 hours different and now is in the US Open.

It is amazing to read just the headlines alone of his Round 1 match with Bjorn Phau of August 25. Then I have to remind myself, these writers of words make money from what they "say".

John McEnroe said it all so well in the night time coverage on USA tv channel Monday just before the ceremony to celebrate past winners of the US Open. He put it all in perspective.

There were some Rafa fans very upset that Rafa was going to play in the US Open in a new look. One with sleeves. Well, as it turns out, all the fans' angst about Rafa having some little pieces of fabric on the top of the biceps was a waste of energy and commentary. Rafa came out to play sleeveless.

Between watching the ceremony and the Democratic national convention, I post this. (Great speeches by Ted Kennedy and Craig Robinson and his sister, Michelle Obama.)

So this will have to do for now.

Two above photo credits by Getty/Elsa



Bjorn Phau from the match


Photo credits above: Getty

Fatigue not enough to stop Rafa

Source of the article

Rafael Nadal will never complain about winning in three sets - even if the victory required two tie-breakers against German qualifier Bjorn Phau in the first round of the US Open.

Seeded first in a major for the first time in his career, Nadal began his pursuit of tennis history - he is aiming to become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same season - with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 7-6 (7-4) triumph on Monday.

"To win in three sets is always a good result," Nadal said.

"I had some difficult moments, but that's going to help me in the pressure moments."

Nadal's first pressure moments of the US Open came at the hands of the world's 136th-ranked player.

"He's a good player," Nadal said of his first-round foe.

"But I helped him a little bit today. I played with a little bit less intensity than the last few months."

Indeed, the Olympic champion was not nearly as sharp as he has been of late, presenting his German opponent with a handful of opportunities - thanks to 35 unforced errors.

The 22-year-old Spaniard dismissed the notion that he may have been looking past a lesser opponent, suggesting fatigue could have been a factor.

"I try to go round to round," Nadal added.

"I'm not thinking any further than the second round right now."

"I'm a little bit more tired than usual. The thing is to try to be good. Mentally and physically, I think I am playing good tennis."

Despite the long trip from Beijing, where he played some of his best tennis at the Olympic Games, Nadal was not willing to attribute his minor fatigue to anything but the normal grind of the professional tour.

"The system is very tough," Nadal said.

"The problem is I played Toronto, Cincinnati, Beijing, then came back here. So, two times in two weeks, I've had 12 hours of jet lag."

>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:

Photo by Reuters

Nadal finally turns back pesky Phau

By Ricky Dimon

Rafael Nadal needs almost three hours to put away qualifier Bjorn Phau. He is joined in the U.S. Open second round by Gael Monfils.

Rafael Nadal d. Bjorn Phau 7-6(4), 6-3, 7-6(4)

Phau was advertised as one of the fastest men in tennis--along with Nadal--and the German qualifier sure lived up to that billing. Much to the delight of a packed house in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Phau made spectacular scramble after spectacular scramble and just would not go away; not even when his game slipped a bit in the first-set tiebreaker or when he got broken at 2-3 in the second. Phau dropped serve again at 4-4 in the third, but broke Nadal for the first time in the match for 5-5. Another tiebreaker was needed to decide things, and once again Nadal's game held up fine under the pressure whereas his opponent could not sustain the same level he had been showing throughout the afternoon. After two hours and 59 minutes, Nadal finally booked his place in the second round. Nadal will have to cut down on his unforced errors (35) as the tournament progresses.

Read the full article

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Round One
Rafael Nadal d Bjorn Phau in the US Open 2008
August 25

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Some of the 1st set in the 1st round US Open August 25, 2008
Nadal d Phau
Uploaded by USOpenFreak2008

Youtube of Rafa's medical time-out in Round 1

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posted by ilovemylife @ 11:09 PM   0 Comments

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

TENNIS OR MORE RAIN DELAY? NADAL AT ROLAND GARROS MAY 28, '08


Nadal and Bellucci May 28, 08 for 2 games before rain delay


Picture from Lali and Chachou








Picture from Lali and Chachou

Rain cuts short French Open play on May 27, Tuesday

5/27/2008

PARIS (AP) -A photo of Maria Sharapova graced the cover of the French Open's official daily program Tuesday, which might be considered false advertising.

That's because the No. 1-ranked woman didn't play a single point, forced by the wet weather to wait instead until at least Day 4 of the tournament to begin her quest to complete a career Grand Slam.


Rafael Nadal played all of two games of his opening match before collecting his things and trundling off center court, the start of his bid for a fourth consecutive title at the clay-court major halted by one of a series of showers.

Only 13 of 72 scheduled matches were completed, and past major champions Amelie Mauresmo and Svetlana Kuznetsova were quite pleased to duck into the second round between drizzles.


Yes, Wimbledon has come to Roland Garros, with rain affecting action on all three days so far and allowing for less than 3 hours of play Tuesday. While the All England Club is constructing a dome over Centre Court ahead of the 2009 championship, the French tennis federation has said it might build a retractable roof by 2012.


``We definitely would like to have that,'' said the 22nd-seeded Mauresmo, a Frenchwoman who overcame nine double-faults and 35 total unforced errors to beat Olga Savchuk 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.


While it's too early in the tournament for too much concern about fitting everything in, players such as Sharapova or Nadal - whose match originally was on Monday's slate before being postponed the first time, and eventually will resume at 1-1 in the first set - already face the prospect of playing on consecutive days if they proceed through the draw.


Then again, Nadal played for seven days in a row last year at Wimbledon, where he reached the final before losing to No. 1 Roger Federer. So don't expect too much sympathy for the second-seeded Spaniard.


``For Nadal, doesn't matter,'' said No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko, who eliminated 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. ``He can play today, tomorrow, after tomorrow. ... It's no problem for him.''

For the full article: www.tennischannel.com

RafaAvatarpic-1-1.jpgZiaBigPot-1.jpgRedclayisTalking-1.gifRafaPinkMay2208RolandGarros15-1-1.jpgRafaPinkMay2208RolandGarros15-1-1.jpg
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Pictures in slideshow from
Daylife, Bee, Hatice, Lali and Chachou, Mathilde, Roland Garros website,
Reuters, Elmundo, Yahoo, Getty Images, ESPN

Below from Rafa's Front Page at www.rafaelnadal.com

ONLY 9 MINUTES OF JOY FOR RAFA

Rafa Nadal only managed to play nine minutes of his first round match at the French Open on Tuesday as rain continued to pour in Paris.

The defending champion is level at 1-1 in the first set with Thomaz Bellucci as the match between the pair rolls into a third day at Roland Garros.

Due to persistent showers at the start of the day and midway through the afternoon it was not possible to get many matches finished leaving Rafa and Bellucci, who were second on court, with nothing to do but watch the rain fall.

He is scheduled to continue on Wednesday after Maria Sharapova's match. Play starts at 11am (Paris local time)

French Open: Rafael Nadal has mental edge to win at Roland Garros, says Bjorn Borg

By Mark Hodgkinson in Paris
Last Updated: 1:58am BST 28/05/2008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Bjorn Borg, the Swede with red dirt on his socks and blue ice in his veins, was the Viking God of Clay in the Seventies and early Eighties. He won six French Open titles, including a record four in a row. "Everybody says that when Borg went on court, no one thought he was going to lose," the Spaniard Rafael Nadal noted.
  • In pics: Rain delays play in Paris
  • Jim White: Sharapova, yes, but Playboy should beware the full Monty
  • In Sport: Playboy centres on Ashley Harkleroad

    • The Ice Borg has not been seen at Roland Garros in years, but next week he is scheduled to return to Paris, intrigued to discover whether Nadal can emulate him and become only the second man in history to win the Coupe des Mousquetaires four years in succession. Many in tennis still believe Borg is the greatest clay-court player of modern times, perhaps of all time, but now a debate has begun over whether he has been biffed aside by the Nadal biceps. Borg is travelling to the French capital to see for himself at close quarters what this Nadal is all about on the terre battue.


    French Open: Rafael Nadal has mental edge to win at Roland Garros, says Bjorn Borg
    Clay court kings: Bjorn Borg's record French Open sequence may be equalled by Rafael Nadal

    On a soggy, irritating day at Roland Garros, where a pair of galoshes would have been more useful than clay-court training shoes, it was after 7.30pm last night when Nadal, in a neon green muscle-vest, began his opening-round match against Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci. They completed only two games before being chased off by the rain.

    But on Sunday week, Borg wants to settle into his seat on the Philippe Chatrier Court and watch Nadal play Roger Federer for the cup. "If Nadal wins the title again, and equals my record, then I will be the first to congratulate him. Records are there to be equalled and broken, so I would be happy for Rafa to do it," Borg told The Daily Telegraph.

    "I haven't been to Roland Garros for many years, and can't even remember when I was last there, but I thought that it was time for me to come back to the place where I have such happy memories. Roland Garros has a special place in my heart. I'm looking forward to being at Roland Garros as a spectator, and I would very much like to see Roger and Rafa play in the final," said Borg, who won back-to-back titles in 1974 and 1975, and then his unbroken four, from 1978 to 1981.

    This has become a recent trend, Borg travelling to grand slams with the prospect of a record run being equalled. At Wimbledon last summer, he sat in the Royal Box on Centre Court and watched as Federer matched his mark of five golden trophies in a row. Borg, though, believes that Federer will do well to dump Nadal on to the baseline dust.

    "I know that Roger wants to win the French Open so badly," Borg said. "But he probably has two or three good chances left to win. I think that Roger has a chance to win the French title this year, and I would be very happy if he wins, too, but he would have to play the match of his life if he is going to beat Rafa over five sets in the final.

    "I believe Rafa is getting stronger and stronger on clay, as he is becoming more experienced, and he is moving so well on the court, and playing such great groundstrokes. He is playing with a lot of confidence. I don't think I've ever seen Rafa play a bad match on a clay court. He is so consistent. Beating him over five sets on clay is so tough."

    Borg applauded Nadal's mental edge. "Rafa knows that he doesn't play bad matches on clay. Paris is the toughest grand slam tournament to win, mentally and physically, and Rafa walks out on court with the feeling that he already has a mental advantage over his opponent.

    "His record is a negative thought for his opponents, though, as they realise that they are going to have to play the best tennis of their life to have any chance of beating him. Rafa is definitely the strong favourite to win again, you have to say that. But Roger and Novak Djokovic still have a chance against him. If Rafa doesn't win this year, he is going to go on to win many more French Open titles, as he is only young and has a lot of time left."

    And what were Borg's thoughts on who is the greatest clay-court player in history? "I know that if Rafa wins, people are going to want to compare him to me and talk about who was the greatest player on clay. But I think that's difficult to say, as it's difficult to compare two players from different eras. I am very happy with what I achieved at Roland Garros, and I think Rafa is a great champion, an unbelievable clay-court player."

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    friendship1
    cheering5
    todosconrafa

    www.justin.tv

    video.tennischannel.com/schedule

    ESPN2 starts at Noon in USA EST

    2008 French Open TV Schedule
    Times for French Open ~ Roland Garros at www.tennis-x.com

    by Tennis-X Staff

    2008 French Open on ESPN2 (times EST)

    Date Time (ET) Event
    Sun., May 25 Noon – 5 p.m. Early Round Action Same-day
    Tue., May 27 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
    Wed., May 28 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
    Thur., May 29 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
    Fri., May 30 3 – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
    Mon, June 2 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Round of 16 Live
    Tue., June 3 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Quarterfinals Live
    Wed., June 4 Noon – 5:30 p.m. Men’s Quarterfinals Live
    Thurs., June 5 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Women’s Semifinals Live

    2008 French Open on ESPN360.com

    Date Time (ET) Event
    Sun., May 25 5 a.m. – 5 p.m. Early Round Action Live
    Tue., May 27 5 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
    Wed., May 28 5 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
    Thur., May 29 5 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
    Fri., May 30 5 a.m. – 3 p.m. Early Round Action Live

    Mon, June 2 6 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Round of 16 Live
    Tue., June 3 6 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Quarterfinals Live
    Wed., June 4 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. Men’s Quarterfinals Live
    Thurs., June 5 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. Women’s Semifinals Live

    Radio at the Roland Garros site, www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multimedia/radio

    Highlights of Day 3 www.rolandgarros.com

    I don't know anything about this one but someone suggested it for seeing Roland Garros:
    www.isatonthetv.com/

    May Wednesday, May 28, '08 TV:

    Tennis Channel (online and TV) 5 a.m.-12 p.m.

    ESPN2 Noon-6:30 p.m.


    WEDNESDAY'S SCHEDULE - May 28, 08

    Full Schedule: www.rolandgarros.com

    CHATRIER COURT - STARTS AT 11:00 A.M. PARIS TIME
    which is 6 hours ahead of USA EST

    1 Women's Singles - 1st Rnd.
    Maria Sharapova (RUS)[1]
    		v. Evgeniya Rodina (RUS)






    followed by
    2 Men's Singles - 1st Rnd.
    Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)
    		v. Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2]

    		To Finish 1-1




    3 Men's Singles - 1st Rnd.
    Gael Monfils (FRA)
    		v. Arnaud Clement (FRA)






    4 Women's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
    Serena Williams (USA)[5]
    		v. Mathilde Johansson (FRA)



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    posted by ilovemylife @ 12:04 AM   0 Comments