ARTICLES:

• Rafa Nadal: “I’d rather die being brave” (via El Pais)

RN: For instance, before Djokovic’s double fault at match point, I had already decided to hit a high cross shot and then a parallel forehand. I had already made that decision before he missed. I told myself: “The time is now; I am tired, I must play.” My inner logic was: “If I miss, it will be my miss. If I end up not winning this game, I must not think that I haven’t been brave. I would rather die being brave.”

Q. You said you cried when Roger Federer won Roland Garros in 2009, the year you went out to Robin Söderling, your only defeat at the tournament … RN: I was moved. Q. Will you cry if Djokovic wins? RN: I don’t know. As the years go by you see things a bit differently. It doesn’t take a lot to make me cry. I often cry at the movies, sometimes with videos, and with things that move me about sports. I have a good relationship with Federer.

• 9 Things to Know About Rafael Nadal When It Comes To His 9 French Open Titles (via Huffington Post)

With the exception of his very first title in 2005 where he defeated unranked Argentine, Mariano Puerta, Rafa’s other eight opponents have all been seeded in the Top 5. Of those eight, Nadal has defeated Roger Federer four times, Novak Djokovic twice and both Robin Soderling and David Ferrer once.

• Nadal Hits The Halle Grass Within An Hour Of Arrival (via ATP World Tour)

Rafael Nadal arrived at the Gerry Weber Open shortly after 6:45 p.m. local time on Monday. Within an hour, the World No. 1 had set off to the practice courts for his first hit on the grass courts.

• Rafael Nadal’s French Open record is nothing special, according to Spaniard’s coach and uncle Toni (via DailyMail)

‘What Rafael has done, I’m sure that another one can do the same. Rafael is not special. ‘Another guy can do the same, but it’s not easy. Because nine years winning a difficult tournament like this is very tough. It’s difficult to win one, to win nine in 10 years is unbelievable. ‘He’s not special, he’s a very good player I think, but not more than this.’

• Rafael Nadal once again proves his greatness; now it’s Roger Federer’s turn: Greatest player debate (via Oregon Live)

But Djokovic was built from the ground up to beat Nadal on clay, and he’s proven in Monte Carlo and Rome he can do it. But Nole is now 0-6 at the French Open against Rafa. There’s something to be said for the intangibles, for the sheer will of a great champion. Nadal has it in spades.

• Rafael Nadal Proves He’s Best on Clay After French Open Win vs. Novak Djokovic (via Bleacher Report)

Over his career, Nadal has won 64 career titles, including 14 Grand Slam titles. The majority of that success has come on clay courts, winning 45 titles and going a ridiculous 318-24 on that surface. During his career at the French Open, Nadal has gone an incredible 66-1, losing just once back in the fourth round in 2009.

• Nike made a life-sized Rafael Nadal statue made from red clay (via USA Today Sport)

The statue will appear in a Nike store in Paris with a plaque reading “legends are made from different stuff.”

• Report Card: Grading the French Open (via SI.com)
• Corona ATP Weekly Slice: Nadal Seeks 700th Win In Halle (via ATP World Tour)
• Twitter served as a second home to the French Open (via Twitter Blog)

Nadal’s victory Tweet was the most retweeted Tweet of the tournament.

• Ana María Parera, madre de Nadal, en Tiempo de Juego: “A los nervios nunca te acostumbras” (via cope.es)

“Cada año es más difícil en todos los aspectos. Ha sido un partido complicado, como siempre, ha habido muchos nervios, a eso no te acostumbras”.

• Habla el médico de Nadal: “La mente de Rafa está muy bien entrenada y estructurada” (via efesalud.com)

¿Recomendaría usted a Nadal que parase y no jugase esta semana? A Rafa la única recomendación que puedo hacerle es que disfrute y que nos siga haciendo disfrutar a todos dando ejemplo. Como ha demostrado siempre, su entorno técnico está muy cualificado y es el que mejor conoce lo que hay que hacer.

• Andre Agassi: “Les Gens Peuvent Dire Que Ce Qu’ils Veulent, Nadal Est Le Meilleur” (via GQ Magazine France)

PHOTOS:

• Rafa celebrated fabulous French Open win at Cafe de la Paix in Paris
• Rafa celebrates French Open win with Eiffel Tower photo shoot
• Best shots from the 2014 French Open men’s final (via SI.com)
• Todos los ‘Grand Slam’ de Rafa (via El Mundo)

VIDEOS:

• Is Nadal the best ever on a single surface? (via Eurosport)
• Nadal lifts French Open trophy at Eiffel Tower (via Eurosport)
• Nadal: I’m very emotional (via Eurosport)
• Interview with Rafa – French TV
• Nadal’s personal stringer reveals secrets
• Rafael Nadal Arrives In Halle
• Rafa shares some stories about his Babolat racquet