Rafael Nadal praised countryman, Fernando Verdasco for his level of play but was understandably upset losing in the first round of the Australian Open.
Video: Australian Open
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Rafa, As John McEnroe has advised, you need an additional post at this juncture to adjust
your game. You always practice hard. No one faults your work ethic, but your moves and
strokes have become too predictable. Adjusting your racquet strings accomplishes little.
Uncle Tony needs some help!
It was a match that he never had to lose even that his opponent played so well. Rafa played pretty bad the last set, he gave the match to Verdasco .
But we’ll see, I’m sure that he is not give up, he will find the way to recovery his best, word!
Fantastic analysis, Julia. Are you a Tennisexpert or something?
Yes, Julia is the one who knows. OMG.
Estamos tristes peromsiempre estaremos contigo porquen sabemos que trabajaste duro, I love Rafa,
Win Or Lose we always with you Rafa
hi rafa on ward you go to the next match in brazil it only the begining of the season,please dont get down hearted your one of the best ever tennis players that as ever lived vamos rafa by for now glennis in the lsle of man.
to me you are one of the greatest tennis players that as ever lived,better game in brazil,maybe go home to mallorca and do a little fishing by for now,vamos rafafrom glennis in the lsle of man.
I am devastated for RAFA, to have your hard work just bashed away by a player who was just ‘swinging for the fences’.
Many winners as much as errors and a 2 point differential in total points won.
I am devastated myself, but could well imagine how RAFA feels. Sad.
I am NOT going to abandon him now, ………….in good and bad I was there with him.
RAFA fan forever.
No more Aussie Open 2016 for me. Done.
Yes, agree JEN. Bless his heart ….Rafa is amazing ……and he gave us 5 hours of his beautiful intense playing on the court…… Totally get your sadness ….it is a bummer….& lost desire to follow the ao……The good news is Rafa has a wise, winner attitude….love how he said it was not his day and there will be next time……and that is the only way….. His playing is great!!!! : )
VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )
Fan love, please stop all these exaggerations and lies of yours. Rafa’s play was not intense for 5 hrs! He only upped his game in the 2nd and 3rd sets and thereafter he literally went to sleep!!
If it was intense for 5 hrs, Fernando will not end up with 90 winners and Nadal barely 25 winners!!!
Please, refrain from exaggerations and superflousities, and just simply say the TRUTH, please. It is only the TRUTH that can bring our champion back to life.
So, stop deceiving him please……This has to stop.
It’s just ok RAFA! win or lose still we support you! You are one of the best!
That’s the way to play..sometimes you win, sometimes you lose..
We knew that you can do that better nxt time again…
WE love you RAFA😊😊
I am still behind Rafa 100%. He lost a 5-setter to an experienced, seasoned, well-fit player in
Fernando not a teen-ager or inexperienced player in his early 20’s.
It’s not the end of the world. I look at it this way, so many players are playing better tennis
into their early, mid 30’s today. Stan got knocked out in the 1st round at the French Open in 2014 then won the French Open in 2015. So anything’s possible. I agree with Hepburn 3,
always with Rafa, through good and bad, thick and thin! No need to dwell on the past, better to keep moving forward! Rafa will be back!
You think you are behind Rafa but you are not. When you keep saying “It’s not the end of the world” you don’t know anything about sports, let alone pro sports. You must think that it is The End of the Frigging Universe when you lose, otherwise just quit.
Your comments are way too snarky for me. However, you are entitled to your opinions as
I am entitled to mine. Everyone on the site has an opinion which I respect but I don’t have to agree with. I am here to support my favorite tennis player whether he wins or loses. I remain a loyal fan to Rafa.
Yes Diane, it’s indeed called exchanging opinions. It seems very difficult for a lot of people here to accept that opinions that they don’t like, have as much right to be expressed as the opinions they appreciate. What a dubious approach by a generation that does not realize the key values on which we built things.
I’m over with: “let’s give him more chance”
In Doha, he wasn’t that bad, now it’s A GRAND SLAM, and he’s out from the first round, It’s a disaster, and all our RAFA’s doing is claiming:”I HAVE TO CONGRATULATE THE OPPONENT, HE WAS BETTER THAN ME…..”
We want him back, I WANT HIM BACK. Djokovic is getting closer and closer from all his numbers.
YES, djokovic , the same player that you had beatten a lot and a lot.
Last year, he got what he got, just because you were absent, not because Djokovic is PERFECT as you state, and soon maybe he could pass Federer as well.
Whatever was your problem, I DON’T CARE ANYMORE, CAUSE I’M SO TIRED FOM WAITING, FIND A SOLUTION.
Yes, this BS reaction of Rafa is Wednesday evening Senior Competition talk, and we have been hearing it way too often now.
Dear Rafa, i love your resilience and tenacity and been your fan when you broke in the ATP. I am your supporter unconditionally, but I feel that you trust your Spanish friends too much and they try so hard to earn your trust to be in your Elite circle of friends but this time please close your heart from them. They earn your trust then bite or bulldoze you to oblivion. Your are a man who wear your heart on your sleeve but to welcome them as your friends, they’re not. For instance, take your mentor so they say Charly Moya, he loves you now what he os Raonic’s coach to dethrone you etc. Spanish blood is thicker han water they soy but you brushed it off and say Milos can benefit from tris. No, he just bit the hand he is fed & what now?
Your so called friends bites you in thé back, my advise is protect yourself from thé and close your heart and do not be too con and protect yourself.
I wish you the best because you are a. GREAT CHAMPION A BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEING INSIDE AND OUT MORE STANGHTH AND LOVE CARINO HASTA SIEMPRE Y APOYO PARA SIEMPRE ADELANTE Y A SEGUIR Y VAMOSSSSSSSSS!!
Rafa chose not have a new coach and if Carlos Moya will be making money as a coach for Raonic Rafa is not to be blamed for having him as his friend.Verdasco is practicing with Rafa and know all of Rafa weakness on the court, Remember Rafa body is worn and torn a 14 Grand slam champion with so much injuries. How many times did Verdasco win any slam not one ? Rafa will improve and he has nothing to prove he needs new strategies on court he’s too predictable for all the players and Tony has nothing to add to his game and if Rafa don’t want to hire anew coach then he will have to accept his losses with grace and dignity as he always does. Good luck to Rafa in the next tournament. He love friends as they all grew up together.
Rafa for me always.
Through good and bad, thick or thin!
Vamos! <3
Rafa I can see the hurt and disappointment in you ! I’ve seen so many different poker faces of you on court with disgust ! Sad to look at but you are the only one who know what you can do different on court. You played well but Verdasco attacked your forehands , you are stil standing too far behind the baseline,and you were feeding Verdasco with the ball he was waiting to capitalize so many free points and 91 errors he made you played passive he played aggressive. like a giant, mighty power like Hulk. You stood up like a champion wish you won that 5 setter ouch I couldn’t sleep after that game ! I drank some wine and then 4 am went to bed now got up for work. Will always love you and will miss you I have no interest in AO you are the special player makes me look at tennis. Move on and good luck in the next tournament
OLA GORGEOUS IN YELLOW PRECIOUS RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) HELLO THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOUR SINCERITY & BEAUTIFUL NATURE IS SOMETHING WE CHERISH !!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) IT WAS VERY MOVING TO WATCH YOUR POST INTERVIEW, ….AND OUR AFFECTION & HEARTS ARE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR THOUGHTS COMPLETELY ….. THERE IS MERIT OF TRUTH & SINCERITY THAT IS PRICELESS!!!!!!!!! BESIDES, YOU WERE AS GORGEOUS AS EVER WITH YOUR DOWN TO EARTH BRILLIANT DEPTH & MANNERISM & CLASSY SPORTSMANSHIP STYLE. YOU ARE MORE THAN 100% CORRECT WITH YOUR POST MATCH THOUGHTS……. CI….IC….CI…. YOUR INSPIRING INTELLIGENCE & OPTIMISM IS REMARKABLE SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU PLAYED FOR FIVE HOURS AND YOUR ENDURANCE & WINNERS & MOVEMENT COVERING THE COURT WERE ALL BEAUTIFUL & SOLID……..NEVER MIND THE RESULT……THERE WILL BE A NEXT MATCH & YOU ARE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU SWEETHEART & THE STRENGTH YOU HAVE IS KNOWING TENNIS INSIDE OUT & YOU HAVE THAT IN BUILT UNBELIEVABLE ON GOING ABILITY OF IMPROVING. THAT IS YOUR GIFT !!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 : ) : ) YOU PLAYED GREAT BOTH DEFENSIVE & OFFENSIVE FOR NEARLY FIVE HOURS …..SO TAKE GOOD COMFORT AND PRIDE IN THAT!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) YOU PLAYED WITH ENERGY AND THE TIMING OF YOUR OFFENSIVE PLAY DURING YOUR ADVANTAGE LEAD COULD USE AN EXTRA TINY PUSH OF URGENCY , SO THAT AN EXTRA POINT OR TWO, WHEN YOU ARE AHEAD, WILL MAINTAIN THE LEAD IN YOUR FAVOR. YOUR HEART IS IN IT, AND YOUR FANTASTIC EFFORTS ARE ALL THERE AND WHATEVER HAPPENED ON THE COURT, PLEASE BE SURE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING YOU DID RIGHT……. YOU HAVE THE BRIGHTNESS TO KEEP CURRENT AND STRONG & FIT…….ENJOY ALL OF IT & KEEP TO YOUR FANTASTIC GAME NO MATER WHAT THE THE OPPONENT DOES…….. IT IS YOUR GAME & YOU HAVE US MILLION FANS GLOBALLY WITH YOU ALL THE TIME RIGHT THERE WITH YOU WITH EACH POINT!!!!! WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU DEAR RAFA & YOUR INTENSITY & FOCUS OF PLAYING NEARLY FIVE HOURS IN AN OPENING TOUR MATCH….THAT IS A SUCCESS IN ITSELF !!!!!! : ) : ) : ) YOU WERE BOTH WINNERS!!!!!!!!!! YOU WERE THE ONE WITH MUCH MORE ENERGY & SKILL…..AND NEXT TIME YOU WILL PLAY WITH THAT KNOWING . AS YOU SAID, HE PLAYED RISKY WITH NOTHING TO LOOSE….AND IT IS OK….NO BIG DEAL…..EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS AN EXPERIENCE AND A LESSON…… WITH POSITIVE DRIVE & GREAT ENDURANCE & INTELLIGENT BEAUTIFUL TENNIS, YOU ARE PLAYING GREAT AND SIMPLY ADJUST THE TIMING OF YOUR EXTRA URGENCY WHEN YOU ARE AHEAD KEEPING THAT ONE OR TWO EXTRA POINTS ON YOUR SIDE. YOU ARE A TOWER OF TOP SOLID TENNIS……PLEASE KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN PRACTICE…..YOU & UNCLE TONI AND YOUR TEAM ARE ALL BLESSED WITH GOOD DETERMINED ENERGY!!!!!! THAT IS , AND ALWAYS WAS, YOUR ADVANTAGE OVER OTHER PLAYERS. YOU HAVE THAT IN YOU!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) . ENJOY YOUR TIME IN BETWEEN TOURS & KNOW YOU ARE THE MOST EXCITING TENNIS PLAYER IN TOUR & YOUR PASSION & DRIVE ARE VERY SPECIAL!!!!!!! VAMOS SWEETHEART & ENJOY YOUR DAY!!!!!!!!!! LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS TO YOU & YOUR GREAT team!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) VAMOS DEAR RAFA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : )
I cant believe this!!!!
Someone just has to stop this guy from spewing out lies all the time!!!!!!!!!
LOL at ‘this guy’ 🙂
you looked so upset at losing today and as a long time fan I felt your loss so badly that I don’t think I can watch any further tennis this week However it’s not the end of the world and if you are really determined you can put this behind you and get ready for the rest of the season you have nothing to prove to anyone you are already a great champion with what you have acheived in the past and only retire when YOU you want too and not listen to what others are saying you also do not need to change your coach why would you as you have have acheiivement have been with their help Good luck for the next tournament go away and have a rest then come back stronger your real fans will be waiting win or lose
Elizabeth from melbourne I do not believe you will have upset his real fans by what you have said, I think in a way you have said iwhat a lot of us think but wish in our hearts was different. You have seen Rafa fist hand so you would know. Maybe he has lost the zest for it or maybe he gives it all he has but now it’s not enough I don’t know . Nobody minds what people comment and you have wrote this with kindness and grace its the people on this website that belittle Rafa and make unnecessary nasty comments about him and his family who we don’t appreciate .like you Elizabeth I hope Rafa’s retirement isn’t looming and that he can turn this around . I hope that if you goi to AO again in the next two weeks you can still enjoy watching the tennis .Hope the weather cools for you from the chilly UK
no problémo tu va gagner c’est sur !!!!! VAMOS RAFA …
As someone who was at the match, I have to say I think Rafa’s tactics were bad or unchanging.
I really love Rafa and have followed his career with interest (difficult from Australia in the days before social media), and one thing I always admired about him was his ability to change his game to the circumstances.
I remember being really impressed when after losing the first set of his first Wimbledon final against Federer 6-0, he didn’t get angry, he just changed his game a bit and was more competitive for the rest of the match.
That didn’t happen today. He stayed in the same position (way behind the baseline) to receive every serve, first or second. As a result, he missed most of the returns in the first set, and when he started to get them in, dropped them far too short in the court. He gave Fernando many free points on second serves as a result, and those second serves were often about 150-160 kph i.e. significantly slower than his first serves which seemed to average around 200k.
It’s really hard not to think he might have dented Fernando’s confidence a bit had he got more 2nd serves back!
Conditions were difficult – it was extremely hot in the stadium, so he should have been looking to shorten the points. When he did come into the court more, he did win points.
I’m writing this at 3am – unfortunately we have very hot nights as well as days! – but I’ve found it difficult to sleep, knowing Rafa could and should have won that match!
Each year for the last few years I’ve wondered if we’ve seen the last of him in Melbourne. I saw Rafa’s first match at Melbourne Park (he won in 3 sets against Frenchman Thierry Ascione on an outside court). This time, I really fear it might have been his last appearance here. I really hope not!
I’m sorry if I upset anyone by writing all this, but it was a very sad day as a Rafa fan!
Elizabeth (from Melbourne)
I know nobody feel worse than you today. Had been on a good place. But I also feel bad for you. Still a big supporter of you . Love to watch you play you have alot left in the tank yes still a new year. Work harder if that is possible. You have such a great practice now. You will get there. Fan for life. Many blessings to you.
This words hear your fans since the beginning of last season 🙁 Don’t give up. Always with you. Vamos Rafa! <3 <3 <3
Enough is enough Rafa. Open your eyes and make good decision. You work hard but you play the same game each player on tour knows. How can you imagine good results playing the way you doing.
You always think that your opponents are good but you make them feel good with your non agressive game.
If you need results you have to make changes. Act as a man and make changes or it is the end for you.
I am sad for you but I hope you are enough angry against yourself to take good decision for your future.
VAMOS