Au Revoir, Paris! Rafael Nadal was knocked out of the BNP Paribas Masters, losing after two hours and 23 minutes to fourth seed Stan Wawrinka 7-6(8), 7-6(7) in the quarterfinals.
Next up are the ATP World Tour Finals in London in two weeks’ time.
More to follow…
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 06: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks out to play his match against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during Day 5 of the BNP Paribas Masters held at AccorHotels Arena on November 6, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal of Spain arrives to play his quarterfinal match with Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during the BNP Masters tennis tournament, at Bercy Arena, in Paris, France, Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 06: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks out to play his match against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during Day 5 of the BNP Paribas Masters held at AccorHotels Arena on November 6, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 06: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks out to play his match against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during Day 5 of the BNP Paribas Masters held at AccorHotels Arena on November 6, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 06: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during Day 5 of the BNP Paribas Masters held at AccorHotels Arena on November 6, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal of Spain fails to return to Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka in their men’s singles quarter-final tennis match at the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Bercy sports hall in Paris, France, late November 6, 2015. REUTERS/Charles Platiau
Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka during their quarter final match at the BNP Paribas 2015 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 06 November 2015. (Tenis, Francia) EFE/EPA/IAN LANGSDON
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 06: Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during Day 5 of the BNP Paribas Masters held at AccorHotels Arena on November 6, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 06: Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during Day 5 of the BNP Paribas Masters held at AccorHotels Arena on November 6, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during Day 5 of the BNP Paribas Masters held at AccorHotels Arena on November 6, 2015 in Paris, France. (Nov. 5, 2015 – Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 06: Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during Day 5 of the BNP Paribas Masters held at AccorHotels Arena on November 6, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka during their quarter final match at the BNP Paribas 2015 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 06 November 2015. (Tenis, Francia) EFE/EPA/IAN LANGSDON
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves the ball to Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during their quarterfinal match of the BNP Masters tennis tournament, at Bercy Arena, in Paris, France, Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves the ball to Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during their quarterfinal match of the BNP Masters tennis tournament, at Bercy Arena, in Paris, France, Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 06: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during Day 5 of the BNP Paribas Masters held at AccorHotels Arena on November 6, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during their quarterfinal match of the BNP Masters tennis tournament, at Bercy Arena, in Paris, France, Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts during his quarter final match against Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka at the BNP Paribas 2015 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 06 November 2015. (Tenis, Francia) EFE/EPA/IAN LANGSDON
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after loosing a point against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during their quarterfinal match of the BNP Masters tennis tournament, at Bercy Arena, in Paris, France, Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
Great pictures
I would like to know if Raffa reads any of this ?
‘What’s wrong with Rafael Nadal? And can he get back to his best?’ – CNN article, August 10, 2015 – excerpts:
“One of the game’s most successful coaches, Larry Stefanki, is adamant that Nadal needs a new coach if he is to rebound and add to his haul of grand slam titles.”
“”I just think Rafa needs to get a little bit of a different view point,” Stefanki said.”
“Stefanki even suggested a name–Andre Agassi. The American, according to Stefanki, employed a smarter brand of tennis late in his career and won five grand slams after his 29th birthday, a feat matched only by Rod Laver.”
“”Nadal can definitely win more slams if he goes back and watches some clips of his best matches, especially his win over Federer at Wimbledon in 2008. I coached McEnroe in the twilight of his career and that’s what I did. I put together some of the best matches he played, kind of a smorgasbord, and let him watch it. Rafa needs to formulate a view point about the way he wants to go forward with the last quarter of his career,” Stefanki said.”
“Stefanki was ‘shocked’ that Nadal lost to Dustin Brown at Wimbledon – puzzled that Nadal didn’t change tactics when serving, and lamented Nadal’s ‘lunging’ returns and missed forehands.”
“Stefanki called for Nadal to strike the ball flatter, something he does in practice, and stand closer to the baseline instead of staying well behind it and reverting to defense.”
“”When Nadal beat Federer at Wimbledon, he was taking backhands on the rise, hitting winners. He was standing inside the baseline and ripping winners like Agassi. That’s the thing. He can do that. I’ve seen him do that. He needs to go back to that. And he’ll have a lot more fun playing. But if he keeps trying to think he’s going to play like a 13-year-old and run around and play defense, it’s not going to work. He’s not going to win another major,” Stafanki said.”
“”Nadal’s got a huge heart, and I just don’t want to see him running around backwards,” said Stefanki. “That really irritates me.He can’t do that at his age. He’s got to be a bit smarter.””
(Larry Stefanki is a former ATP player who then went on to coach John McEnroe, Marcelo Rios, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Tim Henman, Fernando Gonzalez and Andy Roddick. Rios and Kafelnikov both achieved their No. 1 rankings while under his guidance. Henman reached a career-high No. 4 and Gonzalez a career-high No. 5 while working with Stefanki.)
I’ve said many times and say again. Rafa should hire a new coach and free himself from the damaging influence of Uncle Toni.
Yo quisiera que lo haga, pero segun el Tio TONY dice que de donde va a sacar Rafa el dinero para pagarle. Eso me da tanta risa porque me imagino el TIO TONY cobra y se beneficia de viajes, lujos de hotel, avion gratins, comidas, etc. que no se haga el payaso y que reconozca que ha fallado como COUCH. TONY, NO TE HGAS EL TONTO.
AYUDA A TU SOBRINO QUE TE HA DADO DE COMER POR MUCHOS ANICOS.
RAFA, si quieres triunfar como antes, tienes que conseguir un nuevo COACH PRONTO. Tu tio dice que no tendrias el dinero suficiente. Mentira, JA…JA…JA. Si no ves tu por ti nadie lo hara RAFA. PIENSALO MUY BIEN, PORQUE TUS JUEGOS VAN DE MAL EN PEOR. TE LO DIGO DE CORAZON PORQUE TE HE VISTO FAJARTE PARA QUE ESTES PERDIENDO CASI SIEMPRE. ECHA A TU TIITO Y QUE VENGA UN COUCH DE A DE VERAS QUE VEA TUS ERROROES Y TUS FALTAS. TE LO DICE UNA ABUELA QUE TE HA SEGUIDO POR MUCHOS ANOS Y ME DA MUCHA TRISTEZA……..ADIOS COACH TONY. GET A NEW ONE Y PRONTO. QUIERO QUE SEAS EL CAMPEON DE ANTES
yes ashish. you are probably right. i dont believe in horoscopes blindly or completely at all. but i happened to come across one sports horoscope concerning rafa and his tennis in 2013 last year. it was so accurate and there was also further written about 2014 and 2015/2016 and it was not nice. that made me look at those written by other astrologers – they were not very different and the way rafa has been playing this year i cant help thinking about what was ‘predicted’ and was/am longing for it all to be proved wrong. i want more than anything that this bad year and whatever else that i read about is only a coincidence (could absolutely be) and is rubbish. the horoscope would not stop me from watching – nothing except sheer disappointment and pain in seeing rafa like this might, for a match or so.
I sincerely pray that rafa beats aaaaaaaaall odds, sees what he has to do to improve,- shots, service, coach and whatever else and more than ever that he beats novak in the near future.
vamos rafa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
U were right it is just plain coincidence ……when things not go by our way v tend to find reasons outside world more than seeking inside
Regarding beating novak, even novak knows that rafa and stan got that potential to beat him even when he is playing at high level
And roger have showed many times
I quote very famous lines of a genius scientist
” our virtues and failings r inseprable like force and matter when they seprate, man is no more ” – Nikola Tesla
Just bless rafa a healthy years
IF HE DOES NOT CHANGE HIS UNCLE TONI AS HIS COACH, HE WILL NEVER WIN VS. NOVAK. NICE DREAM.
Why should watch sports if we can relate players performance on their stars ….i mean they work so hard to be able to get to the level w/o beleiving stars its just simple rafa has bad year and novak a really good
i know that many of the fans dont like what move in and move on writes. it is rather harsh at times but despite being a die hard rafa fan – i love and adore him- i have to agree with him on many points – especially the tennis advice. i too agree that rafa could at least try a new coach in addition to toni if it has to be etc etc. but crazy as it sounds and i have been saying it before – the stars are against rafa. no matter where i read his horoscope for 2015/2016 its a bad time for him, for his career and he’ll retire in 2016 – beg, middle or end i dont know. his health is also affected even mental health, which we can see in terms of confidence and belief etc. i dont believe in these things blindly and know that things can be changed but that needs great strength, help and belief. i have been waiting and waiting for things to change and hoped that rafa’s luck was changing in and after china. but when i saw him play stan i was confused and depressed and pained. so once again i couldnt help but think of his stupid horoscope. novak has become very strong especially mentally and he and his family and team have worked together to achieve that. his diet has changed, they believe in affirmations etc. at the moment it seems he would be able to beat the stars if he had to. please dont get me wrong – im not a novak fan – far from it, but i have to give credit where credit is due. maybe we should really do as marilyn said pray that rafa sees the light and gets back to where he was in 2008, 2010, 2013 ……. . wish it sooo much.
vamos rafa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we love you!!!!!!!!!
Well it can go on
Whteher roger win gs after hiring new coach or does he now thinking of adding
Whether andy win gs after hiring new coach or does he now thinking of adding
And it can go on other side
Above player won gs before adding new coaches
Novak did won 3 gs in a year with rafa and roger in well form without becker
Now navak still won 3 gs in a year with rafa in worst form and roger at not great form with becker in his team but still found short of roland garros even with rafa not in final
So …….it can go on and on i.e with adding coach got result type
So let rafa decides this
He never refrain from possibility of adding
Uncle toni is too selfish and egocentric. He say that if he have s bad 2016 the he will think about it, like if Rafa have all the time of the world. The thing is that Toni dont have to walk away they can add someone else I think is a dificult decision for Rafa because he is family so Toni should advice him to do it but he is a selfish mf.
UNCLE TONI DOES NOT WANT TO RESIGN FROM RAFA, BECAUSE HE WILL HAVE NOT MORE PLAYERS THAN WANT HIS ADVISE AND ALSO, HE WILL NOT HAVE THE GOOD MONEY THAT RAFA PAYS HIM.
TIO TONI, YA DEJA A RAFA QUE ENCUENTRE A UN COACH MEJOR QUE TU. NO HAS HECHO NADA BUENO EN CASI DOS ANOS Y NO SE VALE. ESTAS LASTIMANDO A TU SOBRINO QUE HA TRABAJADO TAN DURO Y ESTA EN DECANCENCIA POR TU CULPA. VETE TONI…….SI LO QUIERES Y QUE BUSQUE UNO SUPER BUENO………………YA BASTA………..VAMOS RAFA……….ECHA A TU TIO TONI Y BUSCATE EL MEJOR COACH SI QUIERES GANAR. SI QUIERES SER UN MEDIOCRE PUES TENLO. TUS MATCHES ESTAN TAN ABURRIDOS QUE PRENDO Y APAGO LA TV………..TU DECIDES CAMPEON…………..PORQUE TE LO MERECES……………VAMOS RAFA CAMBIA DE COAH Y PRONTITO.
Prior to hiring Boris Becker as his coach in December 2013, Novak won 6 slams in 6 years(one slam title per year). After hiring Becker, he won 4 slams in 2 years(2 slam titles per year). With Becker on board, Novak won slams at TWICE THE RATE he had previously..
Prior to hiring Patrick Mouratoglou as her coach in June of 2012, Serena Williams won 13 slams in 13 years(one slam title per year). After hiring Mouratoglou, she won 8 slams in 3.5 years(2.3 slam titles per year). With Mouratoglou on board, Serena won slams at 2.3 TIMES THE RATE she had previously.
Hiring a new coach can make a HUGE difference for any player on tour, even for the best of the best. I could cite numerous other examples, past and present, where a player’s performance skyrocketed after hiring a new coach. Every professional player knows this. Except for Rafa, who apparently, never got the memo.
And by the way, I totally agree with Susana’s earlier comment that Uncle Toni should be ASHAMED OF HIMSELF for not telling Rafa to hire a new coach as an addition or replacement to his team. When the press asked him about it earlier this year, Toni said “it’s too expensive for Rafa to hire a new coach.” Not to mention the fact that it would hurt Toni’s ego and endorsement income(Iberostar).
I just saw the match the semifinals, Novak and Stan. What a difference from the match from yesterday from Stan and Rafa. If uncle TONY thinks, it is too expensive to hire a new coach, he should resign and get the new coach that Rafa needs so bad. Yesterdy Stan and Rafa played over 3 hours. So boring and we were tired. This set was done in one hour and some minutes. Tio Tony, creo que usted es muy irresponsable de no permitir aunque sea caro otro coach que ayude a Rafa en su juego. Entre mas gana Rafa mas le puede pagar a un coach que realmente que lo ayude. Su juego es tan monotono que cansa. Pienselo TIO toni. If you love RAFA, GET OUT.
I feel your pain Susana. I’ve also been having a tough time watching Rafa’s matches this year. They’re very slow, very repetitive, very discouraging. I used to watch them from start to finish. But not anymore. I skip in and out. Change the channel. Leave the room. Do other stuff. Come back for the big points. I watch half the match, at most. If Rafa’s not 100% committed, why should I be? The Novak-Stan match was indeed far higher quality and far better entertainment than the Rafa-Stan match. Novak has left Rafa – and everyone else on tour – in his dust. And he ain’t looking back.
Asi es. 100% de acuerdo con Susana. Toni tu debes facilitar las cosas a Rafa solicitando un nuevo coach en el equipo pero eres un verdadero egoista. La carrera de tu sobrino esta en juego. Que puedes perder? Me parece que en este momento eres la principal piedra en su zapato.
Despues de ver como se mata rafa en la cancha, acabo de leer un articulo donde dice el Couch de Rafa su TIO TONI QUE RAFA NO TENDRIA EL DINERO SUFICIENTE PARA PAGARLE A UNO NUEVO. Toni, si usted dijo esto es un envidioso porque no creo que este trabajando de gratis, aparte todos los viajes, hoteles buenos que usted perderia. No es justo que por su culpa, RAFA no pueda jugar mejor porque va como los cangrejos, PARA ATRAS. Que diferencia del juego de anoche, Stan vs Novak, dio gusto verlo. Que triste que la carrera de RAFA este en sus manos y me da tristeza que Rafa no pueda tomar una decision. RAFA gana muy bien dinero para tener el COACH que el quiere, pero usted que haria. SU TIEMPO YA PASO y muy pronto el de RAFA TAMBIEN. PIENSELO MUY BIEN SENOR ENVIDIOSO. QUIERO VER A RAFA NADAL Y VA COMO LOS CANGREJOS.
VE ESTO RAFA………LOS CAMBIOS SON BUENOS Y TONI NO HA HECHO NADA POR TI……………READ THIS ARTICLE. THE CHANGES ARE GOOD AND YOUR UNCLE TONI HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING FOR YOU TO LOOSE AND LOOSE. BASTA YA RAFA.
Jugaste incredible eres un chàmpion I love you
Bravo rafa , tu as fait un excellent match … c’est pas passé bon pas grave tu as donné du bon tennis…. j’espère que stan va gagné car pour le coup j’ai mis rafael NADAL / andy MURRAY en final…………………. VAMOS tu reste le plus grand joueur de tennis ………
OLA & VAMOS DEAR RAFA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) This morning our family was chatting over breakfast about your beautiful top play & we were marveling at your unbelievable force & determination & fantastic results to go with it…… Last night clearly was very hot on the court….and it was VERY LATE ….ridiculously late to begin a ATP 1000 MASTER match…. SEEMS like a pattern that you are scheduled for very late matches all too frequently………. AND there are always delays where previous matches go on & on longer than expected……We are wondering if players have any input and can request earlier match time slot in future tours ……. You tried to talk w the umpire about the very hot court condition, showing him the poor tennis ball etc…..but he basically said he was sorry….and that he understood…..nothing constructive to help improve the conditions was done….Seems reasonably safe to assume the crowd & tennis fans would have totally understand if the match was moved to the next day….Cameras & Live stream broadcasting is always on the move…. adapting to wherever they must be…..& match coverage would not have been a big issue either if your match was moved to the next day…..IT HAPPENED BEFORE…..I do recall r. fed match was postponed because of late evening starting time & he played the next day instead.
We admire your sportsmanship & gentleman attitude and the way you conduct your professional career very much DEAR RAFA! Please hold your head up that you kept going last night just the same, you gave it all, and you did a pretty remarkable job under such poor match condition. You are a winner in every aspect and your Tennis genius is out there no matter what any given match result may be…… ALL folks who covered your matches have noted your powerful improvements & stride forward…..and take time to appreciate everything you have been able to achieve and accomplish recently. !!!!!!!! : ) : ) VAMOS & have lots & lots of fun preparing for the next tour!!!!!!! God bless you sweetheart & lots of love & happiness!!!!!
You are 100 Percent correct. Dont know why he does not want a new Coach.
He is the one to decide and I dont know why his Tio Toni doest not see the true.
Rafa was my favorite for years. I dont like to see him play anymore. It is so boring. So sorry that he does not understand this. His uncle TONI should step out and let him grow. Vamos Rafa, get a new COACH MUY PRONTO. TIRED TO SEE YOUR GAMES AND LOSING MOST OF THE TIME. SO SORRY, YOU ALLOWING YOU ARROGANT TIO TO DESTRY YOUR DREAM, WAKE UP NOW BEFORE IS TOO LATE. PIENSALO YA Y PRONTO UN NUEVO COACH. BYE TIO TONI.
rafa ur only goal should be to end the season being healthy
u r health is so much important than anything else so just do look after u and take care
the goal to now to be healthy
Yes a bad thing to loose this match but never mind rafa since recently u played number of matches which were mentally draining for u and best thing u overcoe with solutions in that matches….
u missed ur forehands on important points or improper selection of shots which indicates little nervy but u were playing against a good opponent and though player like u it easy to repeat that holding ur mental strength day and day again but this year watching ur mental this year it is more satisfying at this point of year….. it is understandable that this match was so mentally draining for u ….
best part of the match was u hit an absolutely amazing down the line forehand after setting it up with cross court forehand which will be very useful in grand slams
as is said earlier today it was again visible that u were again in making a “rafa factor” in opponent mind i.e the opponent even on the brink of winning have doubt in their mind because of u that they can still loose the match
and it was visible when stan serving for match on 5-4 and u broke him
i was saying earlier u should not overplay urself, u should choose tournament tactically at this stage of career
rafa please don’t let this match any effect on ur nerves and not even 1 percent on ur confidence since V know in best years u have made only a final in 2007 in paris and not a surface likable by you, but i think u were so good on this surface this year and probably will able to win this title next year. so nothing to worry about this result and for u it is again a help/opportunity to train u better
just continue to hit the balls beyond the service box area and do have a look at strings after london
i am very confident that u will win many more grand slams in coming years come what any opponent at any level
whether u should change/ add any member to ur team i will not comment since ur at this stage of maturity knows the best what needs to do( that doesn’t mean fans should not suggest u)
sad part of the result that i will not able to watch u play in two more matches
watched last two matches at 2 AM and 3 AM but worth watching u rafa u r so special in tennis game ur so exciting and inspiring to watch
just enjoy the days before london and have great rest the only goal should not to be healthy and feel at right attitude for next year grand slams
vamos rafa vamos
I always appreciate many of your insightful kind comments Ashish ……. & as you well know, Rafa is back & he is back STRONG!!!!! His health & well being IS THE MOST IMPORTANT……..
VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )
This messsage is not for Rafa. I already sent him one. This message is for his coach Uncle Tony.
Uncle Tony, is you see Rafa is not improving and losing and losing and you are his couch, it does not talk very nice about you. If you really love Rafa, please bring a new person and coach so he can have new ideas.
He is playing the same as 4 years ago. You should be shame of yourself for not
telling him this. I am sure, he will be very happy if you tell him so.
I hope you will do it ASAP because it is not fair for Rafa.
No sea envidioso porque lo que usted esta haciendo es perjudicar a Rafa y el no tiene el valor de decircelo. HAGALO PERO YA.
EL JUEGO DE RAFA ES MUY ABURRIDO. GRACIAS A USTED SU COACH.
SORRY UNCLE TONY. RAFA WORKS VERY HARD TO BE LOSING SO MUCH
OR LONG, LONG MATCHES.
OJALA VEAMOS NUEVAS CARAS DEL LADO DE RAFA. EL SE MERECE GANAR Y USTED LO ESTA PERJUDICANDO. SO SORRY UNCLE TONY, BUT IS IS THE TRUE. YA HAGALO Y PRONTO
Rafa is has been winning matches & staying highly competitive! He has done remarkably well maintaining a top relevant high level play & he & his team have our uttermost respect & admiration for their effective work together!!!!! We are mighty grateful to Rafa’s extraordinary success & efforts, Uncle Toni labor & dedication, & to the rest of the amazing loyal & strong group …his kind Physio & the outstanding amazing GREAT TEAM !!!!! : ) God bless them all!!!!!! Vamos & God bless Rafa…. he is something very special in his solid Tennis & in his solid character !!!! : )
When is rafa leaving the land of losers? There have been positives of late but the sheer reality is that he battles with sub top players and loses to guys like tsonga, stan and roger. Players he used to own. He took a small step backwards again last night. He lost once again a match that was his. Get a coach!