Rafael Nadal Fans

Rafa Roundup: “Nadal is just a ‘beast’!”

Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

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Nadal, the champion at Wimbledon in 2008 and ’10, has tricky opposition from the start. The Spaniard faces Martin Klizan in the first round and could meet Lukas Rosol, who famously beat the Spaniard in the 2012 second round, once again in the second round. He is seeded to meet the towering Ivo Karlovic in the third round and could face the returning Richard Gasquet, into the Eastbourne semi-finals, or Gael Monfils in the fourth round. Nadal is bidding to win the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double for the third time.

Is it possible to have a dominant Big 4, and a void at the top of the game? That’s what it feels like as the men head to Wimbledon this year. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and Roger Federer are seeded No. 1 through No. 4, have collectively won virtually every Grand Slam played over the last decade, and seem to be in at least passable physical condition. But would you put your money on any one of them individually to win the tournament?

El tenista español Rafa Nadal, número uno del mundo, debutará el martes 24 en el torneo de Wimbledon contra el eslovaco Martin Klizan, según el sorteo de emparejamientos realizado hoy.

Somehow, Rafael Nadal has won the French Open nine of the last 10 years. “Rafa Nadal is just a beast,” Davenport said. “Winning nine times, it’s remarkable. He’ll be the greatest clay player of all time.”

Thomas Lovelock/AELTC
Wimbledon Twitter

The governing body of tennis in Spain voted Thursday to urge the International Tennis Federation to backtrack on its decision to name Novak Djokovic the player of the year for 2013 and instead confer that honor on Spanish world No. 1 Rafael Nadal.

Rafael Nadal, not Roger Federer, is the highest-earning player in tennis, according to Sports Illustrated and Fortune magazine’s annual rankings of athlete incomes.

No one wants to hear it and no one wants to believe it, but we must face facts. This is the last time we’re going to see Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal make serious runs at the same Wimbledon, the last time we can reasonably hope to see these two great rivals square off on Centre Court in the second week of the tournament. Will it happen?

If Nadal can survive the early days of Wimbledon when the grass is slick and the conditions play havoc with his game, he will be increasingly tough to beat across the second week when the courts harden and the conditions start to resemble those on hard courts.

By Marc Valls
By Marc Valls

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5 comments

  1. At this moment RAFA is the most stunning tennis player on the planet. His shots make entire court spectators react mesmerized by their beauty and inventiveness.

    Where can the term ‘beast’ enter such a spectacular quaity of tennis? At most Rafa is a giant not a beast that obviously the commentator does not comprehend.

    WAMOS RAFA YOU ARE THE BEST

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  2. I like Davenport’s comment “Nadal will be the greatest clay player of all times” – where has she been for the past ten years?!? Hasn’t she heard?!? Rafa IS the greatest, and has been so for several years …!!! VAAAMOOOSSS RAAAFAAA to win Wimbledon AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!

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  3. How I totally object to Rafael Nadal being called a ” beast”. Recognise his greatness as a human being not an animal. Wonderful Rafael, wonderful player, humble human being. Vamos Rafaaaaa

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