Rafael Nadal flies to Abu Dhabi (Photo: A. M. Cañellas)

Rafael Nadal flies to Abu Dhabi (Photo: Qatar Airways)

ARTICLES:

• INTERVIEW: Rafael Nadal – Starting afresh in his battle for glory (via sport360.com)

“In general, the feeling physically is okay and I hope to be ready to compete well in Abu Dhabi and Doha and Australia.” … “I’m not thinking about my injuries every minute. I’m thinking about all the positive things and how lucky I am to be where I am and all the things that life gives me. Many people are in a much more negative condition than me. So I’m happy and I can just say thanks to life for all it’s given me.” … “I never changed anything in my team during the whole of my career and that’s going to be the case for the next couple of years probably.”… And his biggest goal for 2015? “To be happy.”

• Nadal makes return number eight (via Marca)

Following his final training session this Monday in Manacor, Rafael Nadal feels that his work is done and he’s ready to return to competition. … “What happened in 2013 is unrepeatable. First of all I’m two years older”, Nadal said.

• Nadal: No. 1 no longer an objective (via tennis.com)

“For me it won’t be a goal in my career anymore,” Nadal told French television in an interview promoting his new tennis academy. “If I have become No. 1 because of the results I have, it’s great. But I’m not going to pursue this objective. I will follow my schedule.”… “My big goal is to play as many years as possible. What I won’t do is put at risk the best years of my career to get the No. 1 spot.”

• Rafael Nadal representing Warrnambool at Australian Open (via The Standard)

Thanks to the city’s efforts in Tennis Australia’s AO Blitz, Warrnambool will win a swag of prizes if the Spaniard is able to raise his 15th Grand Slam title aloft. … Warrnambool City Council events and promotions manager Merran Fyfe said it was fantastic to have such a high-profile player linked with Warrnambool. “Rafael Nadal is one of the most recognisable athletes in the world and I hope our connection with him can raise the profile of Warrnambool,” Ms Fyfe said.

• 2014 in review: Nadal proves he is indeed super-human (via tennishead.net)

The penultimate part of the tennishead 2014 review is about Nadal’s ability to play tennis when no other man can.

• SI’s 10 favorite tennis moments of 2014 (via SI.com)

Never ever doubt Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros – If ever there was a year to say he wasn’t the French Open favorite, this was the one. And then he won his ninth Roland Garros title dropping just two sets.

• Rafa Nadal abre hoy un calendario de 115.000 kilómetros (via tennisas.com)
• Best Off-court: Centre Stage (via ATP World Tour)
• Una mirada a 2014 (via Rafa Nadal Foundation)

VIDEOS:

• Rafael Nadal is preparing for the new season
• Rafael Nadal flies to Abu Dhabi (via Eurosport)
• 2014 in review – Rafael Nadal (via IB3)
• Happy Holidays from Rafa Nadal (via KIA España Facebook)