ARTICLES:
- Rafael Nadal: The game’s toughest servant (via sportskeeda.com)
… In a sport where superstars are known for their on-court tantrums, he has maintained his composure on and off the court even when he is posed with inflammatory questions by the reporters. Journalists may try to find expressions like ‘The Spanish conquistador’, ‘The Indefatigable Spaniard’, ‘One man Spanish Armada’, etc. to describe him. But for tennis fanatics like me he is like a Frank Sinatra who said “I did it my way”.
… ‘Rafa has played quite a few pranks on me over the years and I am still waiting to get him back,’ Murray told the Dan LeBatard radio show in Miami. ‘I was in a restaurant in New York sitting at a dinner table with my girlfriend and I got a text message from a number I didn’t recognise saying ”you look great tonight, it’s is such a shame you are with your girlfriend”.
- Rafael Nadal Losing Hold on No. 1 Ranking After Indian Wells Upset (via bleacherreport.com)
… But Indian Wells was costly, and Nadal will trade in last year’s 1000 points for this year’s paltry third-round sum of 45. Prior to Indian Wells, Nadal led by 3825, but a Djokovic title would cut this lead to 2230 points. On Monday, the Emirates ATP Rankings will show Nadal with 13130 points. Djokovic will have anywhere from 9990 to 10900 points.
- Miami, próxima parada de Rafa Nadal (via mundodeportivo.com)
… La próxima parada de Rafa Nadal es el también Masters 1.000 ATP sobre pista dura de Miami, donde su debut está programado para la jornada nocturna del día 22 de este mes.
… But when the ball comes back short [to the opponent], I am not able to have the winner or to play a shot that is going to give me that advantage. Then I become a really normal player. I am not anymore a great player. I am a great player when I am doing these kind of things. These kind of things I am not doing the last two days. – Rafael Nadal, after losing to Alexandr Dolgopolov. The world No. 1 lamented that he just couldn’t find his rhythm in matches against Dolgopolov and Radek Stepanek at Indian Wells.
- Ten Top 25 players ready to participate in Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell (via barcelonaopenbancsabadell.com)
… Three Top 10 players, seven Top 20 and ten Top 25 are set to participate in the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell in 2014, to be held through April 19 to27. World No. 1 Rafael Nadal will lead the star line-up and will be challenged by second seed David Ferrer, who is currently ranked No. 4 in the world, and French World No. 9 Richard Gasquet.
- Arantxa Sánchez Vicario: “Nadal y yo hemos marcado dos épocas en la historia del tenis español” (via marca.com)
… “Entre ambos encontramos similitudes porque el carácter que tenemos es muy parecido, no nos damos por vencidos, remontamos partidos que la gente pensaba que no podía ser posible que se ganaran, esa garra, esa fuerza mental, … Yo gané 14 Grand Slam (individual, dobles, mixtos) y Rafa lleva trece y lo que le queda.”
- La ilusión de un equipo. Parte II (via Fundación Rafa Nadal)
VIDEOS:
- ATP World Tour Uncovered Rafael Nadal
- Federer & Nadal at the BNP Paribas Open from a whole new angle with Tennis TV FreeD camera
- Rafa does what tennis players do in Indian Wells – Play Football
- Center Court: Rafa Upset — Prim Siripipat talks to Howard Bryant about Rafael Nadal being upset by Alexandr Dolgopolov at Indian Wells.
ICYMI: Rafael Nadal hits 13 million fans on Facebook
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Vamos Rafa
Thanks for bringing in some lovely articles and videos while we wait for our Rafa. Hope Miami is here soon enough!
A very interesting and positive article. His behaviour is commendable indeed. “Doing it his way” has not done any harm to his success. We love you just the way you are. Vamos Rafa.