ARTICLES:
If ever there was a place for the Spaniard to reignite his career, Monte Carlo was it. Despite never taking up residency in Monaco, Nadal’s eight titles in the principality had seen it become something of a second home for the Spaniard.
With his feet back on familiar ground, fans were subsequently treated to a once-familiar sight; Rafael Nadal finding a way to win on the clay.
Even with a first round loss in Australia, he’s playing Top Five tennis in 2016. He appears to be healthy. And the next Grand Slam is one he’s claimed NINE times. (Which constitutes eight more times than anyone else who will be in the field.)
- 6 Monte-Carlo Thoughts ~ by Juan José Vallejo | medium.com
In a way, this Monte-Carlo run was more like the gracefully declining Rafael Nadal that I had been looking for over the past two years. Still good enough to win a Masters 1000 on clay. Still good enough to beat a couple of top-10 players on the way there.
- Doing the Monte Carlo – Roland Garros double | Roland Garros
Having struggled on the Rock since 2012, he finally returned to the winner’s circle just last weekend, bagging his biggest title since… Roland-Garros 2014. The king of clay can now hunt down an eighth double, and with it “la decima” – an historic 10th French Open title…
- Roger Federer discusses his future, Ivan Ljubicic, Rafael Nadal’s successes, Novak Djokovic and more | vavel.com
Federer was asked if he ever doubted a Rafa comeback, and the Swiss former world number one had a clear-cut response.
“Zero; absolutely not,” Federer said. “Maybe you journalists were upset, but we players of course were not. A guy who won nine times in Paris, nine times in Monte Carlo, who was world number one for much time does not lose his qualities. Maybe we have come to expect to him to recover faster from injuries, but I cannot imagine Nadal at such a low level. To me, he is always there at the top. And on clay, he is still one of the first two or three players in the world,” Federer said.
“[The] King of clay is Rafa,” Federer said. “He is the tennis player to beat. Novak’s never won in Paris. Maybe now he’s the favorite, but Nadal is Nadal. I am happy of what he showed to those, who did not believe that he could win in Monte Carlo.”
VIDEOS:
- Watch Globo’s Rio 2016 Olympic promo video: Rafael Nadal
- Rafael Nadal press conference (SF) | Barcelona Open 2016
- Meet & Greet con Rafa Nadal | Barcelona Open
- Nadalmania in Barcelona | Barcelona Open
- Monte Carlo 2016 Players Revue | ATP World Tour
Come on Rafa , you take this and their be no stopping you, I bet Novak is glued to the TV and quaking in his boots
4-1 Nadal second set
Set 1 Set 2
Nadal 6 1
Nishikori 4 1
My heart’s in my mouth again (gulp)! I really find it difficult to watch Rafa matches. I’m happy that Federer has made this comment. He is generally well respected by fans and media. I’ve only read the comments so haven’t picked up Federer’s tone but sounds like a dig at the media? Rightly so. One article suggested Nadal’s recovery at Monte Carlo was miraculous (insinuating help) ignoring the fact Rafa hadn’t played well for 2 seasons! Federer firmly places Nadal as slowly recovering from injury.
YEH SWEETHEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) YOU ARE PLAYING SO SOLID !!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) & JUST WON BEAUTIFULLY THE 1ST SET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO…………………….GO…………………….GO……………………… : )
Vamos Rafa! We love you!!
First set 4 all.
Your story posts are not written by RNFs but by William Giles and other reporters. You can be sued unless you RNFs signed agreements saying you can use others’ articles on RNFs without attribution.
Furthermore, I find your layout confusing.
All the best Raffa hit deep today. You are the best!
Watch out Kei, here comes Rafa! May the best player win!
RAFA ROCKS!!!
Well said about the commentary and some articles, its so one sided a lot of the times and rarely gives RAFA the credit he deserves. And, of course the constant blabbering about their personal player preferences. I would like to hear the commentary on the game played before them, play by play. Thanks, that’s all. Not who’s going to win Roland Garros and who speaks 100 languages.
I really thought I was only one with the struggle, trying to lower the volume but still wanting to hear the ground strokes.
Anyways, Good luck to OUR guy today.
Go get Kei, RAFA. RAFA YOU GOT THIS!
RAFA fan forever.
OLA OLA & VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 😉 🙂 : ) : ) 🙂 It is beautiful day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Congratulations on your fantastic victories and your amazing FEISTY TENNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) We love you and enjoy watching your matches SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Ci….ci….ci……& ci……. We love the way you move on the court!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 You have EVERYTHING you need and it will be a FANTASTIC match FOR YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) Have lots & lots & lots of fun enjoying it all !!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) Sending a big massive hug & lots of love & happiness!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART & Enjoy your beautiful Tennis and your great solid game!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Que Rafa Nadal es el mejor por supuesto que recibe criticas claro , pero esos le tienen mania por ser tan bueno los que verdaderamente son amigos como Roger Federe y algunos mas si saben como es Rafa . es el mejor , buena suerte Rafa sabes que puedes
Federer: Typically jealous of Novak. He just wants anyone to win as long as it’s not Novak. He’s obsessed and so freaking jealous. And so obvious to everyone. Ugh! I hope he never wins another major or masters. And, he probably won’t!
Roger and Nadal are good buddies, if not friends. Both have a great deal of respect for each other. Roger has said that Nadal made him a better player; I’ve seen the interviews. He would not be saying these things out of jealousy.
RAFA ROCKS!
I believe that Roger still resents some of the actions of Novak’s parents which he thought were disrespectful. He thinks Novak could have quieted them. Roger and Rafa do respect each other, but they are friendly, not friends. Rafa explained that his grasp of English was a factor. Roger is also five years older with a family. Roger may be afraid that Novak will break his GS record so I don’t deny that is a factor too. Athletes do not reach Roger’s level without an ego. When Rafa lost the FO to Soderling, he was quoted saying that he hoped Roger would win it.
Great words by Federer. Good luck for today. Vamos Rafa!!!
Good on you Roger Federer always has something nice to say about Rafa, acknowledges him the rivalry between these two is the best of all time, my favourite was when Rafa beat Roger in the final at the Aussie Open 2009 I think. The two nicest guys of the tennis world..
do your self a big favor,, fans of Tennis, especially fans of Rafael Nadal,, DO NOT, I repeat,, DO NOT pay attention to the so-called expert announcers when they give you their take on a specific player, especially one like Rafa,, the ex-players who are now working a “mike” don’t have a clue, but they love to hear them selves on air,, I usually turn off the sound when when I watch a Tennis match, especially on ESPN an also the tennis channel, the blabbering gets to be so much hot air,, 0h by the way Rafa is well an winning ,,
You are so right about the commentators on any media. I am thrilled Rafa won MC so at least we will not have to listen to the doom and gloom for a while. I would mute the sound too. I really hope that Rafa wins today, but the important thing is for him to play well. Rafa may be a little tired today after playing so much.
Well done Rafa,
and all the best in the finals against Kei,
Love and God bless,
AlaineXX
Vamos Rafa. your Stats say “you can do it 🙂
Sus estadísticas no . Lo avalan sus éxitos sus valores y su juego, cada vez mejor. Suerte y a preparar el Roland que seguro que este año será tuyo
VAMOS RAFA.💖. ALL THE BEST.🌷 FOR THE FINALS TODAY.
YOU R THE BEST.🌷.
YOU ARE MY CHAMP.
YOUR FANS ARE RIGHT BEHIND YOU. WE WILL NOT LET YOU FALL, DEAR.
OUR LOVE N GOOD WISHES WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR SUPPORT. LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YOU RAFA.💖
Well said Roger re his comments about Rafa I hope Rafa can prove him right at RG in the meantime he has Kei to face in the final at Barcelona today and I have no doubt he will try his very best to do so
So good luck Rafa go there and do it
Come on champ you know you can