Rafael Nadal is one of the nicest and classiest players in tennis, and he again showed why on Monday. Despite fourth round loss, he was waiting patiently for Gilles Muller to gather his gear so they can exit the arena side by side after a classic match.
The packed crowd on Court One noticed Rafa’s gracious act and rose to their feet, arguably cheering louder for Rafa than Muller. Rafa also stopped to sign some autographs.
Tennis fans, media and players worldwide also took to social media to praise our champ!
https://twitter.com/tennis_jarkag/status/884504620265025536
Source: Yahoo 7
Rafa the greatest ambassador of tennis n the classiest legend of all time
Rooting for Cilic! Best bet against Fed!
Our best bet is Berdych I believe. Cilic is not able to pull the upset. Sam Querrey probably won’t even get a break point. It’s a cakewalk to no. 19 unfortunately.
Breath-taking moment from Rafa. There are so many. Acknowledging it was Muller’s moment is always so classy and humble of Rafa. So many emotions following that epic battle. The way he always carries himself with such grace and dignity even in defeat is truly amazing to behold. He never ceases to amaze me with his decency and respect towards his opponents. He is such an international treasure but of course, he is a wonderful human being, first and foremost.
W e are EXTREMELY LUCKY to have Rafael Nadal playing tennis!!! He is thrillingly talented as he displays form that is astonishingly effective and beautiful crafted as only world-class athletes can execute. I’ve loved watching him play, and look forward to continuing to do so; he IS my favorite tennis player, after all!!! And as already said, win or lose, RAFA IS THE MAN!!!!
What lovely comments all of which I agree with. It was so sad that Muller beat him but now with Murray and Djovovic out as well who knows what would have happened – maybe the longed for Federer/Rafa final. Rafa always says there are ‘no what ifs’ in tennis – so true.
HELP ! I feel SO bad for his loss ! Plus Murray is out (and Muller 🙂 Rafa’s curse) !
Give your location Lily and I will send some help your way:)
We all feel terrible after the loss yesterday but it’ll fade with time and will be replaced with hope and optimism by the time the next tournament rolls around. I’m already looking forward to it!
Rafa is a beautiful soul and that’s why we all feel his pain. The loss against Muller was very difficult for me, but not like his withdrawal from FO last year. That one hit me so hard that I was in tears! Because he did not get a chance to fight. But yesterday, our Rafa fought valiantly against so many odds, and even though he lost, he won our hearts yet again.
Sad also to see Murray slowed down by his hip issues and Djokovic injured… we can empathize. But wow… Federer looking STRONG!! Who can stop him now? Straight sets all the way to his number 19? Ugh… I’m such a hater:) But if he does it, he will totally deserve it.
Cheering for Cilic now👌😉
I am feeling so bad too. Maybe I will feel better if Cilic got the trophy 😉👌
I am feeling so bad too. Maybe I will feel better if Cilic got the trophy 😉👌
Me too Bis
I think and I strongly dis loss will make him a more aggressive and better player than ever before and he wud win more grand slams Dan expected..
The Stefan Edberg sportsmanship award, voted on by the players, has been won by Federer twelve times in the last thirteen years! What’s going on? Credit where credit is due. Come on guys. Do the decent thing. Forget your hero worshipping of Federer and vote for Rafa!
LORNA, I AGREE~WHOLEHEARTEDLY!!!!!! RAFA IS ALWAYS A GOOD SPORT, EVEN WHEN HE LOSES!!!! HE CERTAINLY DESERVES THE STEFAN EDBERG SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD!!!!!!
Iam a die hard fan of Rafa..cried and depressed when he lost his matches..i mean each and every important match…I have a honest question to everybody on the forum…I think Rafa wud have really struggled against fed if he had reached the final..Fed is attacking second serves like never before…he is not leaving first serves either. Rafa has good not always first serve but a weak second serve .his return of serve is part brilliant not always aggressive..he wudnt have made inroads against roger playing like dis…I think wat Rafa needs to do untill American hardcourt season is to work on aggressive serve first and second, aggressive return of serve, aggressive court position no matter what part of rally he is in..it wud have left him more scarred had he lost to Roger again in the final..Roger is the grass court mirror of Rafa on clay right now..i think Rafa needs to do is play like nothing to lose go for all the shots no matter what..guys don’t bash me..I have given a honest opinion..always and forever a Rafa fan.
i disagree had nadal reached the final against federer nadal would have give competition to federer. Especially the way he was serving against muller and his improved backhand and volley.
Now i know muller is out against cilic it pains more the loss from nadal against muller. If federer is going to the title he should give half of his prize money to gilles muller
Agree completely. In all sports, and certainly in tennis, at this level of competition, the championship difference is often less about physical skill than it is mental “skill.” There is a fine line in sports between the supreme confidence needed to overcome an equally talented or perhaps even a superior opponent, and arrogance. The latter being far more prevalent than the former. Rafa fans love him in large part because he is such a consummate gentleman win or lose. He has been able to reach the highest historical levels of accomplishment in the sport all the while maintaining a modesty and humbleness that is probably unique. I question, however, whether that modesty and humbleness to some degree masks what really holds Rafa back from even greater heights – 20 grand slams???
As he himself has admitted many times, it is more than modesty and humbleness. It often escalates to damaging insecurity and self doubt. Sure, maybe this player has a better serve, that one a better return and the other a better backhand but when he is healthy and confident/aggressive, Rafa usually simply outworks and outplays those other guys. I know it is a cruel term and athletes hate it but too often in the big moments in recent years, Rafa’s insecurities have caused him to get tentative, overly defensive and to “choke.” I thought during the clay season and the first week of Wimbledon, team Nadal had gotten past that. He looked like the absolute ruthless “beast” that commentators have (probably foolishly) labeled him for years. I watched those matches and said to my wife, “He looks like he believes he cannot be beaten.” Think Djokovic in 2011. To me it seemed he lost that in the first two sets against Muller. Yes, I know Muller is a good grass court player and is playing better than ever in his career but Rafa squandered those first two sets. He should not have lost to Muller. I don’t know. Maybe that head bump did something but I think he got flummoxed by Muller’s serves and allowed Muller to dictate and gain the confidence needed to prevail.
The bright side for me was the post match presser. This was not the despondent Rafa with that vacant look in his eye. He did not write the loss off with the usual, “that’s sport, sometime you win sometime you lose” line. He was angry and annoyed at himself. He knew he blew a great opportunity and that’s the attitude he needs to take into the next phase of the calendar. If team Nadal can channel that energy and still maintain the grace and civility all Nadal fans love, he will dominate again like he did on clay this year. US Open??? Two for “Twinkle Toes” (Federer) and two for Rafa? I’ll take that year.
What heart! What passion! So gracious and generous in defeat. I’m so glad Rafa got the standing ovation on court and the twitter tributes he truly deserves. I hope youngsters watching him will take a leaf out of his book! It’s about time he got the sportsmanship award!!
Can’t agree with you more, Lorna!
Federer will continue to win this award forever because of all this fawning over him by the tennis hierachy in general and it has become a tradition which I fear they feel cannot be broken after all this time in case of of offending the great Fed. Even the tennis players vote for Fed and I really can’t see why he would be more popular than Rafa. The fact that Fed has won the most Grand Slams is not the criteria for this particular award which seems to have been forgotten. As Lorna says “what’s going on?” I wonder.
Sorry if this sounds like sour grapes but this matter has puzzled me for some time. I can’t help feeling somewhat resentful.
As always, Rafa conducted himself in a soortsmanlike manner while never giving up. Never negative, never throwing or breaking his racquet or displaying fits of anger but striving to do his best to the end. He is always a winner. That’s why we love and admire him Djokavic didn’t need a guru. He needed an uncle tony to teach him grace and humility growing up. Rafa always has his feet on the ground (unless he jumps up and hits his head). 😃❤️❤️
Your absolutely right Betty , and you have put the first smile back on my face since Rafas’s loss on Monday. Thank you.
Of course sad😢I prayed for him, could not do any more. I was pleased to see Cilic win yesterday and stop Muller going any further.😀 A surprise about Andy and Novak 😢I wrote to Rafa before that your previous Wim opponents are going down like ninepins, Roger is the only one left. Wished him a good rest in Mallorca, it is 34 degrees 😃el sol le espera ☺! Fiona in Paris
Rafa you are a perfect example of a true sportsman, you have everything, modesty, super tennis player, kind, handsome, etc.. and of course voted sexiest tennis player once again. Very best wishes for you in the US Open. Your fans love you
I think the moderator likes to make grown people cry 😢…
Thank you for compiling this list of “tribute” tweets to our great champion.
You’re welcome 🙂
Always with Rafa <3
Bravo👍a warrior and a gentleman.
That is one of the reasons I love Rafa so much, for his whole outlook on life and I know he feels pretty down but he still is able to show his compassion and love. Love you Rafa forever.
RAFA NADAL is pure magic , all his fans love and admire him for his honesty and passion
and now wish him rest thankyou my dea rRafa for a spellbinding match. was sad , but will wish you well on your next title xxx
Tu saber estar en todo momento bajo cualquier situacion..naciò contigo..naciste especial y sigues asi…tambien es genetica..
España esta orgullosa d tener un deportista d tanta calidad y clase como la k tienes tu…solo pedirte k nunca cambies es la unica manera d estar en nuestros corazones…y nunca se perdera…TE QUEREMOS!!!!!!!!!
A great player Rafa is, and one of the nicest guys around on all tournaments. Not just as a player, but also as a human being. Tense and extremely focused during his matches, but such a sweet person off court, a true example for some of the other competitors.
He wasn’t able to make it through round four this tie, but he will be around to impress us on many forthcoming occasions.
It is time for a tie break in the 5th set, it is a shame to put the players through such a gruelling.
Rafa, again, surpassed himself. He is a paragon of class, an exemplum virtutis.
RAFA ROCKS 150% EVERY DAY