(AFP) A defiant Rafael Nadal warned Sunday his career was not over yet as he pledged that “sooner or later” he will be back at the very top of men’s tennis.
“In the US Open I did better, even if I lost the match (to Fabio Fognini in the round of 32). Tough loss, but I did better. Let’s try here to do better again,” Rafa said at the China Open. “I think I am working well. I am very motivated to go for that challenge that brings me the chance to overcome a tough situation for me. I love that feeling, and I am going to fight to make that happen.”
“It’s obvious that when you lose more than what you won, you lose your confidence, no? But the confidence comes back with victories and with good feelings on court. In the practices, there are better feelings for me. Now it remains to compete a little bit better (in matches). But I think it’s coming,” he added.
“I was not able to control my emotions on court for a lot of months, so when that happens it’s almost impossible to play well, no? Last couple of months I’m feeling that I recovered that. I don’t feel that I am suffering on court as I did the first six, seven months of the season. I feel that I am more under control of my emotions on court. So that’s a very big advance for me… I am working very hard and I have the motivation to improve my game again. So I try a little bit to play with calm. I believe that sooner or later I will be playing at a very high level again.”
Source: Agence France-Presse
VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Enjoy your 1st China Open match & have lots & lots of fun on the court!!!!! Really looking forward to seeing you play and we will be watching you on “live stream tennis” ( 2:30 am our time tonight ) Chinese Tennis fans are beautiful and kind…..they love you !!! Enjoy sweetheart your beautiful, speedy game & God bless you!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : )
There are two kind of fans, the ones who are following his fav during his good and bad times and the ones who are getting mad when his fav is playing bad and are criticizing him constantly. I’m not sure which one is working better and can help more:-)
You point it out yourself Carol, you shot yourself in the foot actually. Posters like “Move in or move out” and myself, are following through good and bad times, just like the group that you obviously consists of the more helpful ones. But I can give you the answer to the question: your group of yay-sayers is useless. Follow the comments of your helpful group during the last 16 months. These posts are all alike, the bottom line “We love you, you are doing great, you are improving, you are the best, bla bla bla”. Is that helpful? You know why a successful company never has three board members who all think exactly alike? Because if three people all have the same ideas, you can throw two of them out, cause they don’t add value. Your group does not add value to the Nadal cause. Rafa needs critical opinions, all tennis pro’s who expressed their opinions, agree on that, he needs to change things, he needs a new coach and most of all, he needs to get his head checked (“Oh horrible, what a fan, to say such a thing!’ – yes, we want more majors, if we only want to celebrate the past, we’d join your no added value group of yay-sayers. Your group consists of useless fans).
First at all I don’t belong to any group, just to myself. Second, sometimes the good critics help but trust me, Nadal doesn’t read what we say. It’s not because the coach or someone else, his injuries has made a very bad mentally job on him,after to lose the AO 2013 final due to his back he has not been the same player losing against anyone in any surface. He is now the only one to know how to improve and to figure out to get back his strong confidence and game but not because what you say
To J Beer: well-said. can’t agree more. the gang of yay-sayers think they have ownership of Rafa’s fan club. If they really love Rafa , they should voice their concern about the state of Rafa’s game, mentality and lack of effective coaching.
Rafa’s analysis tells it all. He ignores all the alarm signs and talks about non existing progress. Very sad but it explains why we see no change of plan – he does not see the elefant in the room.
“The last couple of months I’m feeling that I’ve recovered … I feel that I’m more under control of my emotions on court … So that’s a very big advance for me.” ~ Rafa
Really Rafa?
Blowing a 2-set lead in the 3rd round of the US Open to career also-ran Fabio Fognini was “a big advance” for you?
Losing in the 3rd round in Cincinnati to another career also-ran – Feliciano Lopez – was “a big advance” for you?
Getting blown off the court by Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinals in Canada was “a big advance” for you?
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. So sad. So very, very, very sad.
I am sick and tired of hearing the same things over and over from Rafa. Don’t his team and parents realize something is really wrong with Rafa? see a good sport psychologist and solve your damn wrecking nervousness.Oh wait uncle Toni doesn’t allow.
Don’t know where you get these ideas – Uncle Toni doesn’t allow? Rafa has always made his own decisions. It is up to him to work through his struggles. Unfortunate no one seems to understand personal responsibility in any aspect of life anymore. If you are sick and tired, don’t listen, don’t watch. Lots of other players to support.
Debby, read rafa’s bio. He does not make the big decisions himself. He basically is a kid in a man’s body. He lives at his mom, is afraid of lightning, does not dear to drive etc. All very fine – but don’t mistake rafa for a deciding alpha male cause that is the one thing he ain’t.
Rafa could be perfectly well as #1 or #2 but in my opinion he has too many distractions between making too many commercials, his Academy etc etc, I think he is more focused in his future than his present even being still young and been able to play good for three or four more years.
VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Great interview dear Rafa……always a pleasure reading your humble, intelligent replies. Very happy for you …… you are special in your believes & your work ethic……very exciting to see your matches moving forward w your Tennis wisdom & beautiful presence on the court & your calm amazing game!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )
VAMOS ……VAMOS…….VAMOS……. Lots of love & happiness & have a great time w your loyal great team in China!!!!! : ) : ) : )
Wishing Rafa all the best…tennis needs him…just is not the same without him…Believe he WILL regain his form ..Vamos, Rafa!!
Exactly, Elizabeth. Heard it before? Yes, in the 1st year he has struggled, after injury and surgery. Coming back is a process. Fed and Andy each took a full year after back issues. Guy is anything but a “deep thinker,” no?
We’re behind you all the way, Rafa! The love flows for him for reasons. Certain #1 had a grim look on his face in their exho, seems confused what he has to do for same-more wins don’t do it, sorry.
I hate to say it, because I’m a HUGE Rafa fan, but whenever he plays Novak, the majority of the spectators are cheering for the Serb. It’s even worse when our guy plays Federer. A LOT worse. Even against Dustin Brown at Wimbledon, the crowd was supporting the German over Rafa. Same as when he lost to other “underdogs” such as Wawrinka, Kyrgios, Rosol and Soderling. Rafa RARELY has the crowd on his side. You can deny it all you want, but you know it’s true. It’s not right. It’s not fair. But it is what it is. Pretending otherwise ain’t gonna change it.
I don’t remember to see that the crowd are cheering more for the Serb, not in NY, not in Miami, not in Madrid and less in London
I don’t pretend. Around the world, more people love Rafa because of how he is. How many fans on the internet? Djoker always gets upset because people aren’t cheering for him. Think what you like. I’m not talking about what is going on at a particular match.
We all hope so. Vamos Rafa <3 <3 <3
You will be back at your top level again Rafa! It may take to 2016 but it will happen as your confidence grows! Vamos Rafa!
We’ve heard all these before, Rafa.
Let’s just walk the talk a little bit, uh?
Well, Vammmooooosssssssssssssss!
Deep Thinker, please Think a little and understand the up and downs of sport. Rafael will return to his best form. support rather than make glib comments
“Ups and downs” are one thing. Rafa’s self-imposed death spiral – which I’ve thoroughly explained previously – is something else altogether.