ARTICLES:
- Rafa: “I Can Still Be A Dangerous Player” (via ATP World Tour)
“I always had the people around me,” reflected Nadal on his mindset as a teenager. “I listened to people who were trying to help me. I never was an arrogant guy. I never believed that I knew more than the people who were around me. They were older and they had more experience and they knew more about how things worked. I believed that one of the most important things I did in my career was listen to the people around me.”
- Nadal feeling “very close” to Slam-winning form (via AFP/Yahoo)
“After a tough year for me, I feel today close to being at the level of tennis where I have been in the past,” Nadal said. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to win but in terms of tennis, I’m closer than at any point in the past 12 months to playing at the level of tennis where I’ve been before. It might not be this week or next, but the results will come. The results will be back. I know that.”
- They Said It!: US Open Media Day (via US Open)
Rafael Nadal on getting his confidence back: “To have the confidence back you need to win. If you’re not winning, then you won’t have high confidence. To win you need to play well. To win a lot you need to play very well and have a lot of confidence, and I’m playing well today.”
- Top US Open Seeds Meet the Media in Flushing Meadows (via Tennis Panorama)
Nadal also clarified to press that he did not refuse to play with or against Nick Kyrgios in a charity exhibition for John McEnroe’s foundation.
- Rafael Nadal takes advantage on, off court (via USA Today)
What did his longtime girlfriend, Maria Francisca Perello, make of his steamy undergarment commercial, featuring skin aplenty? “I didn’t ask her,” Nadal retorts. Advantage, Nadal.
Can Rafael Nadal pull through at night? We all know Rafael Nadal has been struggling with his form this season. It’s been tough overcoming injury and his hardcourt season so far has been less than stellar. He says he’s feeling better though and he did win some rounds in Montreal and Cincinnati. But his opponent Borna Coric has a lot of upside. In fact, the 19-year-old won their only meeting in the Basel quarterfinals in 2014, 6–2, 7–6(4). Playing at Ashe under the lights, however, is a whole different experience and one that should favor the Spaniard.
- Top seeds headline historic opener (via US Open)
The 14-time Grand Slam singles champion arrives in Flushing off a so-so summer, losing in the quarters of Montreal and the third round of Cincinnati. Add in the fact that Coric won the only career meeting between the two, and you’ve got the ingredients for a potential early-round upset. Still, it’ll be a tall task for the teen to upset a guy who’s become so comfortable on the hard floors of Flushing. This should be a good one, but Nadal is a great one. Give Coric as set, but give Nadal the win in four.
PHOTOS:
VIDEO: Djokovic uses Mickey Mouse to distract Nadal during interview
Rafa is so cute ! He didn’t ask Xisca what she thnks ! Rafa rocks what she thinks is her business Rafa has the body and is a model and making $$$ apart from tennis ! We the fans are enjoying Rafa Sexy videos ! Such a great tennis player !
VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) Have a FANTASTIC evening & lots & lots of fun playing your beautiful STRONG & SOLID game!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 ci….ci….&…ci Senior!!!!!! I am 100% you will enjoy a beautiful opening match!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VAMOS!!!!!!!! Very happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your top powerful Returns & Beautiful Shots are SO impressive & exciting to watch….. I love watching your amazing well aimed 1st & 2nd serve, net reach & overall speedy movement on the court!!!!!!!! And by the way, as many fans already pointed out…..you look gorgeous w the NIKE Gray gear & the Blue TOMMY HILFIGER wear……but back to your beautiful TENNIS….You are amongst the very Top Top FIVE Sets Heroes……. w your fantastic endurance & tennis wisdom it will be fun…..enjoy EVERYTHING dear Rafa…..you have all you need…..have lots of fun gliding forward !!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Last but not least…..hearing your unique Ball sound as it lands winners is a sweet sound!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) Have a great time w your passion & steadfast determination !!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS DEAR RAFA & looking forward to watching you PLAY your creative magic on the court!!!!! Vamos & God bless you!!!!!!!! : ) : )
Rafa, it will be my birthday when you finish the match, please make it a great birthday present
Great vid, it says everything…….vamos!!!!!!!
http://youtu.be/int9oYnG4Ww
Wow powerful video!! Vamos Rafa!
After all the hype, the commercial shoots etc, I just hope Rafa is well rested, trained and focused and comes out playing aggressive high energy tennis with a PLAN.
Just saw Kei sleep walk right out of NYC against a first strike aggressive opponent. Looks like that is the way players with nothing to loose are going to play and Coric is going to be no different. Hoping for the best 🙁
OK. I noticed the usual trend again when a major is starting. The recent past seems hardly relevant anymore. “Let’s forget the 14 losses.” We saw it at Wimbledon. Rafa came of a horrid clay court season and a mediocre grass performance (Queens), won his first round match against Bellucci. Rafa played very, very mediocre that match, more UE’s than W’s (always tells the tale) and it was thanks to Bellucci’s even worse performance that he won. But no, what happened? The BBC commentator during the handshake ‘That was a solid performance by Nadal…..will Rafa be a contender this year’ – he said it in a hopeful way, he actually shouted it, full of excitement, as if he revealed a secret – he had seen the match, and he had spotted Rafa’s contender form apparently. Every realistic viewer could have seen what the more realistic comments would have been “Nadal through to the next round, but his form is once again very worrysome. Not a very convincing win!”. And now, after a meaningless win in Hamburg (clay vs a subtop field) and a horrid performance in Montreal and Cinci (both HC), the hyping starts again. “Nadal close to GS winning form”. Holy mother of the sweet lord! Wake up. The only thing Nadal and his fans should be concerned about right now is how the hell he will beat Coric. That’s the reality. The chance that Nadal will win this US Open is as big as Robin Haase winning it. Zip, zero, nada. The form is not there, and it’s not even close. Stop hyping, get real.
Oh please shut it will you. I used to agree with you but you’ve become like a broken clock repeating itself and not in a constructive way either.
Yes Rafa is a shell of his former self. That’s reality for everyone. But what if they want to believe? You don’t have to rain on their parade of positivity and hope. Rafa will never be the same player he used to be. Accept this and move on. Just enjoy whatever time we may have left with a legend of the game or go jump on another bandwagon.
Please be more creative in your future comments.
I posted a comment with clear examples based on facts. You on the other put energy in going ad hominem because you don’t like to read the truth. Disgusting person you must be then.
People on this FAN site are tired of hearing your criticism. We are not stupid, as you keep implying. We are simply rooting for a champion. You seem to think you’re the only one that can digest facts, and keep yelling at posters to wake up.
YOU are the one that doesn’t get it. We are all well aware of what the situation is. Facts are irrelevant to rooting for someone.
Your comment calling someone a “disgusting person” doesn’t belong here.
Go, Rafa. Millions of people who have been behind you for 10 years, ARE STILL behind you wishing you the best.
Rafa’s Mary has used to his steamy advertisement over the years. Don’t think Rafa retorts, they have been together for a long time and have good mutual understandings. All the very best for USO Rafa, we love you and will always stand by you and believe in you. Vamos Rafa!!
Vamos tonight Rafael. I pray you serve many aces. Can’t write much with only left hand. Right is in a sling after shoulder replacement operation. God bless you. Your Aussie Abuela.
VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!! : ) : )
Maria is a beautiful intelligent person who I’m sure trusts Rafa’s business decisions. Vamos Rafa!
Wish you all the best for the US-Open. Vamos Rafa <3 <3 <3
I wish you the very best Rafa ,I hope you have an amazing tournament .vamos Rafa ,time to kick ass ,