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WATCH: How good is this passing shot from Rafa?

Watch Rafael Nadal find the open court past Jack Sock at the Miami Open.

104 comments

  1. Wow great putway from Berdych but both commies on Skysports say nothing. Birdie is playing better now after getting broken right off the bat.

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    • Thank gawd for that! LOL – I feel so guilty after I get this off my chest – but it is flaming well true!

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  3. Hi Maria siberia – now are you sure Roger won’t make it to the final? And if not are you sure nick will beat rafa at the final? Maybe you may have another vision with Rafa winning the title? No? Well we will indeed see. You were correct yesterday though.

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  4. Hi Vy and Maria – I’d prefer to watch Nicks match as I think it’ll have some stunning tennis. I may get to watch some of Roger’s match too. Maria – thanks for the correct times. Seriously the miami open atp score has UK times as 8pm for Roger, midnight for nick and 3pm for rafa tomorrow. It’s a good job I checked with you! I’ve seen that ‘thing’ of Ronaldo and it’s pigging awful. Lol. Vy thanks for your clips – always appreciated. The blowing kiss match was at Indian Wells and I think it was at the end of the 3rd round match when he was being interviewed court side by Marcus and he blew Annabelle a kiss. Leaf was also there. I say 3rd rnd as he was out in the 4th rnd after he was beaten by Roger but it clda been 2nd round. But last year, after he beat Sasha Zverev he actually gave her a kiss. Now that wld be worth a clip! Lol

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    • Susie scoreboard is an hour different , they haven’t adjusted it for when the clocks went forward , if ever in doubt go on SkySport and upcoming matches . Apparently the statue has its own twitter account ( whatever next). Surprisingly i feel wide awake after little sleep ,I’m hoping to catch the Konta match as well. Now if anyone can get us these clips of Rafa By can.

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      • Susie and Maria, I’m rewatching Rafa’s match yesterday a bit while waiting for the Fed vs Berdych so will be on the mission to find/make the Annabel gif later. Won’t be long, I promise.

        So the indecisive me is likely to watch both matches now after wasting time pondering which to choose. 🐩

      • LOL:O She admitted it a long time ago. She used to go and watch Rafa practice at Wimbledon when he was very young. She got into an argument with Greg Rusedski at the AO this year for daring to say Rafa was the best volley-er. He dismissed her (very rudely) although she made the point that he should ‘ask they other players on tour’.

      • GR: A fully fledged member of the Federer Fawning Society I believe – oppps I did it again. I must stop!

    • Yeah thanks, Suise, I remember it now. Rafa was SO happy he beat Sasha after surviving MP. Plus Annabel has always supported him. She even said Rafa had the best volley in men’s singles and of course got attacked for it LOL.

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  6. Here are my predictions for the rest of the tournament:

    Jack Sock vs Rafa Nadal – Nadal wins in 2 straight sets (6 -4, , 7-5) – was 100% correct as it finally ended in a SS win for Nadal as predicted.

    Thomas Berdych vs Roger Federer – RF wins in 2 sets (7-5, 6-3)

    Nick Kyrgios vs ”Shasha” Zverev – Nick wins in 3 sets (1 – 6, 6 – 4, 7 – 6)

    Fabio Fognini vs Rafa Nadal – Nadal wins in 3 sets (6 – 3, 2 – 6, 7 – 6)

    Nick Kyrgios vs Roger Federer – Nick wins in 3 sets (4 – 6, 7 -5, 6 – 4)

    FINAL::

    Rafa Nadal vs Nick Kyrgios – Nick wins in 2 sets (6 – 3, 6 – 4)

    But as always, we’d see…………….hmmmnn

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    • What make you change your mind abt the final, Maria (Siberia)? It sounds a bit gloomy.

      I think Rafa will straight set Fognini. The 2015 episode is way over.

      Can’t predict the final just yet.

      Fed vs Berdych: Berdych will try to resist the FedExpress force in one set, playing well and feeding off Fed’s second serve unless he’s injured, which doesn’t seem to be the case in this tournament.

      Then he’ll characteristically remember why he’s Fed’s pigeon (or any member of the B4’s for that matter) and hit away the match.

      Or who knows he might pull off a Wimby 2010. He’s quite predictably unpredictable, if that even means anything. 😀

      But really, if he plans to pull off anything, he needs to be unpredictable in this match. Because Fed simply has his number, and he doesn’t like surprises.

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  7. Susie and Maria, are you going to watch the Fed vs Berdych or Kyrgios vs Zverev match?

    Since I can’t watch both I’m torn between these two. Prefer the Kyrgios vs Zverev as but the Fed one is more time-friendly.

    I’ve just remembered Rafa’s wink at the end of the match yesterday, so I made this gif:

    https://media.giphy.com/media/wKcxNvKrtEHpm/giphy.gif

    😀

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  8. Susie, Roger’s match 9pm( UK) time, Kyrgios match 1am and Konta 3am if interested . At least we get to see Rafa play at a decent time tomorrow 7pm.Should be a good match but im not expecting​ to get through it with Fabio getting on Rafas’s case about something , I hope Uncle Toni doesn’t give him a reason to kick off like once before.
    Fabio being Fabio
    Q. There was a sense from Kei when he was talking he was a little bit not 100% physically.
    FABIO FOGNINI: I don’t care.

    Q. No, but…
    FABIO FOGNINI: Don’t be like Italian press, please.
    Lol

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  9. Hi Susie , i will take a peek in a mo(moment not Mohammed Lol) , just watching news to see that hilarious looking statue of Rafa’s friend Cristiano Ronaldo , apparently it has its own twitter account . Please Rafa if you ever have one done don’t use the same artist Lol. Have u seen it Susie ? It will put a smile on your face

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    • OMG – that is one strange looking statue. It doesn’t look like Ronaldo at all 😂😆

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      • Not the most flattering thing i have seen, god knows what Ronaldo really thought of it ,as he has a reputation of being vain

  10. Hey Maria – are you watching the doubles match just about to start? The lovely Mohamed lahyani is the umpire and I wouldn’t want you to miss him today. Lol

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  11. Rafa vs. Fognini tomorrow at
    07:00 PM /19:00 (DK time)
    01:00 PM local time…
    – Am I right, Margo? LOL 😂

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    • The only time I can find is on the Miami Open info page and it gives 10:00am Mismi time, or 4:00pm (16:00) DK time. Where did you find that?

      Thanks

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      • Scoreboard has never, to my knowledge, posted tennis match times a day in advance. Is it your app?

      • Yes, on scoreboard.com under “TENNIS – ATP Miami” there is something called “Scheduled” where you can see the time of tommorows semi-finalsmatch…

        RAFA TOTALLY ROCKS 🎾💪🏼🍀❤️😊

      • Yeahh Margo, got the time right this time 👏🏻😂 – You’re RAFA ROCKIN’ WELCOME 🤗🌻😃👍🏻

        RAFA ROCKS! 🎾💪🏼❤️🍀

      • LOL I have 19:00 DK time, 13:00 Miami time. Can’t wait….EXCITED😃😃 NERVOUS😬😬HAPPY🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🎾🎾🎾🎾

        RAFA ROCKS

      • Same here, Margo 👍🏻😃😬🤗

        Go nail it Rafa – you can do it.
        GOOD LUCK – VAMOOOS CAMP!! 🎾💪🏼❤️🍀😘

      • The Rafantastic reappears in anticipation of our favorite tennis-player’s match. Hopefully it won’t be delayed but ‘ya never know.

        PUT YOUR SEATBELT ON, Rafantastic as you’re on your way to a RAFA ROCKIN ride. LOL

      • While you’re waiting for Rafa, Rafantastic, take a peek at this hilarious video: Yuck+Middle Sea+YouTube

        On-court aggression….LOL

        I’m still laughing…

        RAFA ROCKS

  12. Good luck Rafa in your match against Fabio ( daddy to be) , he will be tricky but i don’t see him giving you to much trouble . YOU will be in the final and if it’s against the Jolly Roger, well he’s beaten you twice this year ,but you know what they say about third time lucky .

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  13. Keep playing your game!🤗 Writers need fodder, and commentators fill dead air.
    How satisfying to be in form again-good luck in semis🍀💪👍👏🌴😎❣️

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  14. That was one of several great shots last night. I know we all want a title here for Rafa, but I am just so encouraged by his play. He has moved up to number 5, and could even end up at 4 if he wins out or if Fed loses before him.

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    • The final if it happens will be Rafa’s number 1004, which would be so fitting if he wins and rises to no4, don’t you think? 😋

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      • It would be wonderful, but if Rafa makes the final, he will have a tougher match than the semi. 1004 would also tie him as 10th on the all time match list. 1005 moves him to 10th by himself. I was moved by Rafa’s comments on how much the short career predictions bothered him.

      • I was surprised that Rafa publicly admitted that the “short career” comments bothered him because he said the opposite in a November 16, 2009, interview with The Guardian.

        “Considering the grinding circuit, and the intense physicality of his tennis, many pundits believe Nadal has only a few years left in the game. Is he angered by those forecasts?” ‘No, it doesn’t bother me. People forget I started [professionally] at 16. And this is my fifth straight year in the top two. I’m not thinking about stopping yet, but most players start at 20 and if they finish at 29, nobody will say they had a short career. If I finish at 25 I’m going to have had the same career as them. People will say it’s a short career but I don’t agree.'” When I read your comment I remembered this interview and that’s why I responded.

        Also, when the solution was found to enable Rafa to continue his tennis career after the scaphoid deformity was discovered, Rafa was told by his doctor “that it would work now but in the future other problems would arise because the fix was not a natural one.” (In “Rafa.”) My guess is that his knee problems have their origins from the scaphoid solution.

        The above is testament to Rafa’s warrior spirit and his love of tennis. I only wish he didn’t have to endure such chronic pain through the years. The pundits don’t talk or write about that.

        RAFA ROCKS

  16. Congratulations Rafa,

    all the best for your next game,

    Love and prayers,

    AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX

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  17. Watch some NADAL MAGIC, google:
    “RAFAEL NADAL – New Start 2017 – My Way Continue” ❤️🌟🍀☀️😍

    VAMOS!! 🎾💪🏼😊

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    • I think you’ll like this one also:
      BigThink+Federer+Nadal+Honan. It is the first article of the list. Sorry, no date is provided.

      All Rafa needs is an Ulfberht and his wrist action and he will definitely get the trophy.

      RAFA ROCKS

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    • Vintage Rafa indeed!

      Notice how subdued the commies were LOL. If that point had been played by Fed or some others, they would have shouted:

      “Ourageous!”

      “Exemplary defensive skills!”

      “[Fed/insert name] is just too good for Sock!”

      “Sock’s FH is simply not *the best* in the business.”

      “Sock’s BH can’t compete with Nadal’s BH. His FH? He can’t run around for it forever and even if he could, which of course he couldn’t, his would still be far from being in the same league with the top tier FHs like Nadal’s and (the God) Federer’s.”

      and so on…

      (Okay I’m having some fun here 😄.)

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      • Fun or not Vy, you are right. I have often said Rafa has very rarely been given full recognition for his talents by the commentators no matter how superbly he plays. Is it because he represents a threat to Roger whom they fawn over to the point of nausea?
        I admire Roger’s tennis and his great comeback at 35 years of age but the way tennis officials and commentators are making some sort of god out of him at the moment is turning me off him.
        I hate to feel this way and find I am becoming very resentful towards the attitude of a lot of tennis commentators.

      • Beverley, I have found a way to make peace with this kind of things. And I’m glad I have :-).

        Actually before the AO 17 final, I’d heard a lot of praises for Rafa from various commentators, to the point I felt like if I wasn’t actually watching the match, I would have thought Rafa of 2013 had come back.

        They said stuff like “It’s the best I’ve seen him play” and I was like, “Really? When were you at PeakRafa?”

        Of course they were praising Fed even more, like they have always been doing.

        But after AO it’s a different story.

        Anyway all credit to Fed and his team for his fairy tale renaissance. But still he’s so lucky in the sense that he *almost* always appears in the right place at the right time.

        More often than not things just felt into place for him. But of course it also happens to other players, just not as frequent.

        It’s not his fault that people automatically fawn over him as it’s true he has some air or “aura” abt him – plus the media has always played a BIG part to promote this “religion”. Remember this piece?
        https://mobile.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/sports/playmagazine/20federer.html

        It’s as early as 2006, which, after all those years, has still never failed to baffle me.

        But Fed himself is also a part of it, no matter how small. He candidly admitted that he liked being the centre of attention; that he loved watching himself the most and his morning rituals at Wimbledon was spreading a bunch of newspapers in front of him to read what people had written (translate: praised) about him over night.

        Fed is actually an interesting character. 😀

        I will stop my (another) essay here. Enjoy the day and see you tomorrow. 🌿🍀🎾

      • Hi Vy, Were you talking about the ESPN commies? Cahill and Fowler were fair in my view, but they did pump Sock up for the American viewers, in my opinion. Fowler is actually a huge Rafa fan. He has made several comments on what a fine man Rafa is on and off the courts.

      • Sorry to butt in the conversation but you and Beverley are spot on. Thanks for the ‘piece’. I’d never read it before – I’ll try not to chuck up LOL. Roger obviously evoked a lot of emotion in people: quote ‘the clinical artistry of the North -v- Southern machismo’ perhaps says more than I care to mention. It was this ‘love’ (described in the article) why certain elements of the tennis world were in denial of young Rafa’s talents – it just couldn’t be so. It was about 2008 before certain commies finally acknowledged that Rafa was the best clay court player in the world. Mats Wilander continued to begrudge Rafa this status and said Novak was better when he could no longer maintain, I quote, ‘Roger’s ‘A’ game on clay is better than Rafa’s’. I know people don’t think much of McEnroe but he always gave Rafa his due right from the start as did Agassi (who note, actually played both of them). McEnroe’s recent sketch chanting ‘Roger is good Roger is great’ did not go unnoticed LOL. I always feel bad mentioning this as I like RF but there is a lot of hard evidence for this bias. There was old Esquire or GQ profile that called Rafa a knuckle dragging butt picking cro-magnon and, of course, the nasty doping allegations. Roger has never suffered these indignities. I studied discourse analysis and it really is an eye opener to how attitudes permeate in society simply through ‘talk’. Both Rafa and Novak (who also hasn’t been given his due) achieved more in a shorter time and in a much harder era than Roger but this is just shoved out of the window. Roger’s longevity is brilliant and one in the eye for the ageism in tennis but no one will ever convince me he is a better player than Rafa (or Novak).

        This quote form a satirical blog describes the injustice of what was happening to Rafa: ‘Of course the physical nature of Federer did not help. For years everyone did a face with a knowing look when looking at the huge calves the man from Switzerland was displaying at the entrance of the court. It was alleged that he proudly showed off those calves to intimidate the adversary at the toss’. http://federerisdoping.blogspot.co.uk/ I meant to keep this short but could go on and on…. – sorry!

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