ARTICLES:
- Nadal to keep it simple in quest for 2014 success (via sport360.com)
… “So in my opinion it’s more about the player than the coach. In my case, I never needed a former champion to be my coach. What I’m saying is that there are different ways to have the right coach.”
- A funny thing happened on the way through the draw… (via andytayloronline.com)
… The next selection determined who would play Rafael Nadal in the first round, and Ernests Gulbis was given the honor of selecting a chip from the bowl. He pulled Lukas Rosol’s name…who just happened to be seated two chairs away. (Too funny). Ernests offered a fist-bump, which was of course pushed away and completely denied by the Czeck. That said, most are aware that Rosol was the man who defeated Nadal during first-round play at Wimbledon in 2012; Rafa’s last match before 9-months of knee rehab, followed by a wildly successful 2013.
- Frustration for Tsonga after defeat to Nadal in Abu Dhabi Read (via thenational.ae)
… “I think I played better than him in the first set,” Tsonga said. “I had a couple of break points and he didn’t have too many opportunities to make points on my serve. The tie-break was very close, but he got it and then he just played better than me after that. What can I say? It was close but still I didn’t win.”
… Both in Madrid and in Paris I lost against the best clay court player of all times, Rafael Nadal. He’s such a tough opponent, he doesn’t give away a single point. I’m very happy with my clay court season and my consistent results.
- Murray To Make Doha Comeback; Nadal Doubles Up (via ATP)
- Corona Atp Weekly Slice: 2014 Season Begins, Federer Reveals Big News (via ATP)
- Take your 2013 tennis quiz (via ESPN)
- My New Year’s tennis resolutions (via SI.com)
VIDEOS:
- Rafael Nadal reveals the one thing he’d change in tennis: World No1 Rafael Nadal has a novel idea for improving tennis.
- Abu Dhabi: Rafael Nadal vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – highlights!
- Is Roger Federer a spent force? Nadal, Ferrer & tennis fans have their say
PHOTOS:
I like this and agree that Rafa comes across as being nice, polite, lover of life and his sport. Thanks sharing some of his thoughts! I like his tennis playing very much! I am not too old for that!!!!
Rafa is the man of all sport! hard work, brain, athleticism and talent! =)
I honestly say that I watch tennis because of Rafael Nadal. I like the way he thinks and I like him as a person. He is someone who really takes his sport seriously and he behaves very well on and off the court, the two most difficult thing to maintain. It is easier to lose one’s cool and some people might even say it’s okay, but not me, it is too easy. For me, he is the best sports person ever!
Rafa is still my favorite !