ARTICLES:
- Rafael Nadal withdraws from Roland-Garros ~ by Michael Beattie | Roland Garros
“We took the risks yesterday. To have won the tournament I would have had to play five more matches and the doctor told me that was 100 per cent impossible.
Nadal, wearing a wrist brace, said the injury first flared up during his quarter-final match in Madrid against Joao Sousa earlier this month, after which he underwent treatment in Barcelona before heading to Rome, where he lost in the quarter-finals to Novak Djokovic.
Having played on anti-inflammatories in Italy, Nadal said the pain began to return prior to his departure for Paris. “When I arrived here, every day is worse,” Nadal said. “I cannot play with my forehand. That’s the real thing.”
By withdrawing from Roland-Garros, Nadal hopes to avoid surgery to his wrist.
- Rafael Nadal withdraws from French Open: ‘Now is a tough moment, but is not the end’ ~ by Marianne Bevis| The Sport Review
For now, the French Open and the popular Spaniard’s millions of admirers will hope he has another stab at the record next year. He certainly believes he will.
“Now is a tough moment, but is not the end. I feel myself with the right motivation and the right energy to be back in Roland Garros the next couple of years, and I really hope to keep having my chances in the future.”
- Toni Nadal believes Rafa’s injury has come at “worst moment” ~ by Reem Abulleil | Sport 360
Nadal’s uncle and coach Toni lamented the unfortunate timing of the injury but is hoping his charge will be ready to compete again soon.
“It’s part of the sport. But yes, this setback has come at the worst moment,” said Toni.
“It’s a pity because Rafael was starting to get back to a good level, feeling competitive and this is the most important tournament of the year for us. Now, the most important thing is for him to recuperate completely and when he’s back, we can get to where we are right now.”
PHOTOS:
VIDEOS:
Rafa’s success at Roland-Garros is often compared to that of Bjorn Borg’s. The nine-time champion reflects on his inspiration, motivation, and love of the red clay.
- Press Conference: Rafa Announces Withdrawal From Roland-Garros
- Roland-Garros 2016 – Fast&Zap with Nadal
REMINDER: Birthday Project – JOIN US!
I feel one of the reasons Rafa built his Academy in Manacor is to keep him connected with Tennis in retirement, a sport he loves n in which he has become a Legend! I do hope this does not happen for many, many more years! I note a number of you Rafans repeat various knowledgeable people’s opinion that Rafa must change his style of playing to save him further injuries n, therefore, requires a Coach or Asst. Coach with a different style n you maybe right. I would like to see Argosy assist Tony? However, we must bear in mind that Rafa became “No.1” n is The King of Clay doing things UT’s way. But Uncle Tony must now realise that since Rafa is suffering injuries due to his style of playing, maybe he needs to talk Rafa into engaging someone to help possibly with a different style. I love Rafa like my own grandson n I love Uncle Tony, but “Uncle Tony give Rafa a break by insisting he employs extra help”. I remember reading in his book RAFA, one day his friend n Asst Coach, Uncle Tony nRafa were walking down the road n Rafa was in the middle, well Uncle Tony insisted he (i.e. Uncle Tony) walk in the middle so as not to let Rafa feel important! Tony can influence Rafa. Ha, ha, quite amusing.
Get well soon Rafa, I am praying daily for your quick recovery. I am 80 yrs old n time is running out on me – I hope I can meet you next year when you come to Melbourne. My wish is to visit Manacor n meet you n your family n I may yet do so if my health permits, God willing.
Vamos Rafa, God bless you. Love from your Aussie Abuela. 👑👑 👑🎈🎈🎈 😇😄😊
So sad for you Rafa 🙁 You played brilliantly at those 2 first matches. But as you so wisely said – it’s not the end. You’ll be back sooner than you know, healty and fit. Please take rest and take good care of yourself – I sure will miss you at the R.G.
<3 U – VAMOS Champ and all the very best 🙂 <3
Rafan 4-ever 🙂
Isner that should be
Have we any update on Rafa’s wrist or any photos of him returning to Mallorca.Not loving the Zebra pint this tournament .we have a giraffe as well Owner( only joking)
Racquet-maker Babalot is only one of Rafa’s many sponsors while Bachelot is the one he is suing.
RAFA KEEPS ROCKING
I’m guessing Rafa won’t be getting to much rest , as his Tennis Academy in Manacor opened this month . I had a look at it on the internet and it looks amazing.What a great opportunity for youngsters to have Rafa and uncle Ton
i giving them their expertise. Yes it is only for people that are rich , but it’s there to produce the next generation of great players and helps fund the Academy in India which is for under privileged kids to give them education and sport to give them a better life. When Rafa does retire we all know where we can find him . Rafa you are a beautiful person a real saint.I love that Rafa said that Andy is an honest and good guy and for that reason if he wants to train here I won’t charge him .Great since of humour to.
Rafas withdraw makes me very upset. Why now…? Why the left wrist… Why now when he was again doing so great… Still in a sad and numb mood I’m just waiting and hoping to read something positive from him, soon… I felt heartbreaken for hours when he announced that he has to retire from RG, and I miss him on the courts already. Can’t watch a second of RG, even if I want to. It hurts too much. But who knows, maybe Rafa is already more positive and looking ahead… I hope so.
I have to say that I’m a Roger-fan, too. For me, this two guys have given so much joy to my life in the last 10/15 years that it makes me so very upset to think about this era might come to an end sooner than i can try to get used to. But I really believe and pray that this is not happening already in the next two years, especially Rafa I hope to see 3 or 4 more years on the courts, but only if he is healthy and not forcing anything…
As a Swiss, not many Rafa-fans are around me, so I decided to share my thoughts here, as I feel somehow alone in this sad situation. I’m going to Wimbledon this year, but even if I will cry to be there without Rafa playing, I’ll be somehow relieved if he takes enough time to recover the wrist. I really hope for him that he can to the Olympics. And I would be incredrible happy to see Rafa in Basel in October, again. It was my dream-final last year, and I hope that this time, Rafa can revenge and win in basel against Roger :). But this is many more months away…
“EVERY SETBACK IS A SETUP FOR A COMEBACK”.
RAFA fan forever.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm……..
But, as always, we’ll see
I just wanted to try and bring a smile to everyone face in this trying time as RAFA fans. While writing it, I was like….. Gen you really are crazy about this guy. Ha ha.
Well good, I have company.
I forgot about the thunderstorms. 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
RAFA fan forever.
Maritza Llenas I became in love with Rafa when he was19 and saw him play! A very famous reporter sittig next to me said; “if he continues play like that only he will soon be plagued with injuries.! a prophecy today I watched the entire era of Sampras, Agassi, Becket (jojo headcoach) and never saw them with injuries. tennis is not just serve and hit, you need clever tips and trcks too Wk too. With due respect to Uncle Toni, he only knows backyard tennis. Talk to Sampras, Agassi, Mcelroe. etsc. skip W he ha toskip wimbledon and olimpycs !! heal your mind and body first so not t play with fear,,My heartr hurts so much much fo him..and don’t expect him backsoon,,take ur time to focus on where ur going..prayung that u willmake some drastic changes in the future heal soon! my heart goes to u Rafa!
Sad times over the past few days but if you want to see Rafa with a smile on his face go on YouTube and type in Rafa and Roger laughing it’s so heart warming .They are both trying to keep straight faces but look at each other and burst out laughing (it goes on forever)
Yeh, that’s an older one but just hilarious. I think they were trying to shoot a commercial. I joined in their laughter because it was contagious.
RAFA ROCKS
Fantastic, simply fantastic or better still, simply Rafantastic, Maria!!!
But, as always, we’ll see…….
Thanks for this Maria. First time I’ve smiled since Rafa withdrew from FO. Sad days for us Rafa fans. I doubt we’ll see him at Wimbledon but I do hope he won’t have to miss the Olympics again.
… you love the way his face twitches and twists his mouth when he speaks – his poor English and the way he says No? at the end of a sentence, his eyes when he gazes at the ball before serve – the sad, innocent emotion in his eyes – shall I go on…
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmnnn…………
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm – so you know what I mean😍
… I love that one-raised eyebrow he does when speaking.
And the faces he makes when surprised. So adorable! The one that stands out for me in hilarity is the face he made during the 2015 Swiss indoors Roger victory speech (YouTube).
RAFA ROCKS
I need to find this – do you have title?
Rafael Nadal+Swiss indoors+YouTube will bring it up
Brilliant Gen Brilliant , don’t forget though he’s scared of thunderstorms and is not a great driver and hates being alone. And I have to say I have his calendar , autobiography, bought the underwear and aftershave ( Tommy Hilfiger) , DVDs and my top box memory is full with his matches (winning ones only) . Sad I know but I can say I have never named a child or pet after him (YET)
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnn……………
You know you are a RAFA fan when:
1) You want Real Madrid to win, when you don’t follow soccer and have no idea who is on the team.
2) You like the Nissan, but feel guilty if you do not get a KIA.
3) You only work out in NIKE wear.
4) You wished your hubby would wear Tommy Hilfiger underwear.
5)You don’t understand a word of Spanish, but you listen to all his interviews, pressers in Spanish.
6) You watch replays of his matches, funny moments you have archived.
7) You know he does NOT like ham,cheese and scared of the dark and does not trust dogs.Ha Ha.
8) You have his autobiography RAFA, calendars, T’shirts with the bull logo etc.
9) WHEN YOU FEEL THE PAIN HE DOES,
FEEL THE JOY WHEN HE WINS,
VAMOS AS LOUDLY AS YOU CAN DURING HIS MATCHES AND….
HAVE THE PATIENCE OF A SAINT WHEN HE IS DOWN WITH INJURY
BECAUSE YOU KNOW HE WILL BE BACK.
RAFA fan forever.
LOL. Sums me up x
LOL, too! Loved all your sentiments from another Rafa fan forever.
I just want to add: You know you are a Rafa fan when you get up out of a deep sleep to watch a Rafa match 3:00 am in the morning even though you have to wake up 7:00 am that same morning!
Thank you for that Gen! I am with you! I open bottle of champagne when he win and cry when he loose.
I haven’t seen the Roland Garros video so I can’t comment on that but after reading your comments I also looked up Rafa’s injury and one sentence stood out- Problems may arise if the activities that caused it aren’t stopped . I hope this is not the case with Rafa , only time will tell. I guess even Rafa doesn’t know until his injury has had time to heal and then training begins.Rafa doesn’t think it’s the end of his career and neither do the commentators or other players so I don’t think it’s as clear cut as that’s it your career’s finished. Rafa may have more problems than most because of his style of play .Greg Rusedski said he will have to make adjustments like changing to a lighter racket and maybe not play grass tournament . One things for sure Rafa’s a fighter and hasn’t given up and neither should we until we get told different.
Let’s hope he can recover but it sounds like he is risking his future health. He has already had to give up football. If he cannot play sports after he retires I think it will finish him mentally😟
I totally agree, “This is not the end!” Just another phase of Rafa’s illustrious career where once again he has to take time off to fully recover from an injury.
It’s just so unfortunate that this occurred during the FO. I really felt strongly that Rafa
was poised to win his 10th title. Oh well, we fans will just have to wait for next year which I will do gladly.
What’s also so amazing to me is how Rafa can play exceptional tennis through pain.
(as experienced in the first 2 rounds of the FO!) I wish him a quick and safe recovery and the best of health.
I am so happy that Rafa has been competing so well in 2016, winning 2 prestigious
titles: Monte Carlo and Barcelona and beating top 5 and 10 players once again.
Rafa will be back! And I can’t wait!
Vamos!
I’ve just been reading about tendon sheath injury. It does not look good. Has brought me back to the tears I woke up with. Basically if he carries on playing it’s likely to reoccur and do permanent damage.
That RG video comparing him to Bijorn looks like a retirement video – I don’t like it😒
Real Madrid have scored I know he is smiling☺
really Sad! I started to be in love with him when he first played at 19! Sampras, Agassi, Becket era (now head coach of Dojo). Never saw these players with injuries. Next to me was a famous tennis reporter who said “If he continues to play only that way he will be plagued with injuries.” A prophesy today. tennis is not only playing, you need tips and tricks to avoid injuries. With due respect, Uncle Toni only knows backyard tennis, Rafa definetly needs a coach.. Talk to Agassi, Sampras, MacEneroe…He will not play again for a while, skip Wimbledon and Olympics. take ur time to heal mind and body
All I am saying here is because I love Rafa so much it is breaking my heart! I am from the Dominican Republic where Rafa bought a beautiful villa at the most rich and exotic plush resorts. I have lived in Spain and I love Mallorca! Pray that u heal soon, but take ur time and focus..
Mother Nature also misses Rafa at the FO. Due to high winds there is/was a power outage at Roland Garras.
YOU TRULY ROCK RAFA WHEN MOTHER NATURE SHOWS HER DISPLEASURE FOR YOUR ABSENCE
IF Rafa heals sooner than expected, his poor showings at the last four Wimbledon’s should give him pause to participate. 2012-lost in first R; 2013-first R; 2014-fourth R; 2015-second R. The grass will play havoc on his battered knees.
He expressed such emotionally charged reasons for participating in the Olympics that I hope he is able to be there this summer. I don’t want him to jeopardize his health even more by playing Wimbledon.
Spend some time on your new boat and think hard about different plans you could follow based on the outcome of this recent injury.
RAFA ROCK AS ALWAYS