Rafael Nadal Fans

Rafa Roundup: December 20, 2013

Photo: L'equipe
Photo: L’equipe

ARTICLES:

… “There is no joking around on court, I would say even that Rafa is a little shy, after training we do not hang out,” Ćorić said about the world’s best player. “We work two hours a day on tennis and during that time there is no stopping. These two and a half hours are as intense as like five hours of my normal training,” Ćorić said.

… “You need to love the game.” That’s what an exhausted, exhilarated Rafael Nadal said on June 7, when he was asked what it took to win a match like the one he had just played. On that hot summer day in Paris, it had taken every bit of love, and effort, and “suffering,” as Rafa likes to put it, that he could muster.

… But if 2013 taught us anything, it’s that we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves in forecasting a man’s doom or a man’s coronation. Best bet is to let it play out. It played out wonderfully for Rafael Nadal in 2013, as he stormed back with a vengeance to reclaim the No. 1 ranking and his place in the GOAT conversation. As 2014 approaches, we can only sit and wonder, what will he do next?

… Nagreanu says “he got 2 lucky hands” … and “that’s the only reason why he beat me.” As for a rematch … nothing’s been officially set, but Daniel told us “I’m down and ready to go for a rematch! I’d win this time. Obviously. I’m suppose to win every time.”

… “Every time I play, I give 100 per cent to try and win, and it will be no different in Abu Dhabi. I’m certainly hoping it will be third time lucky for me there and I hope all the fans will get behind me like they have done before,” Nadal added.

… While the $160 million redeveloped Margaret Court Arena will put the Australian Open on a new level, it’s the balls that could decide January’s winner. “I think it’s a good thing and it’s an advantage to two people. One of them’s Rafa (Nadal) because he likes to get a bit more spin … this ball’s going to allow him to really spin the ball and work it hard. It also helps Sam Stosur.”

“No entendemos el premio al mejor jugador del año que ha concedido la ITF, consideramos que la temporada realizada por Nadal merecería todos los reconocimientos”, señaló José Luis Escañuela en declaraciones a Europa Press. Del mismo modo se expresó Albert Costa, director deportivo de la RFET. “Respetamos mucho a Djokovic, pero Rafa ha demostrado esta temporada que es el mejor jugador del mundo, los resultados están ahí, tanto en ‘Grand Slam’ como en los Masters 1.000, no es comprensible una decisión así”, afirmó el ilerdense.

… #36 WHAT INJURY? NADAL DOMINATES, RETURNS TO NO. 1 – The question was being asked: Would persistent knee injuries derail Rafael Nadal’s career? He answered in resounding fashion with perhaps his greatest season. And Nadal did it all after a seven-month injury layoff. The Spaniard won 10 titles, including his eighth French Open and second U.S. Open, and finished 75-7 to climb back to No. 1. How good was Nadal’s year? He was even winningpoker tournaments. Playing in his first live poker event, Nadal won a charity tournament in Prague. Of course he did.

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