ARTICLES:
- For Rafael Nadal and His Uncle Toni, the Coaching Never Ends | New York Times
“I am honestly not thinking about it being the last one,” Toni Nadal said. “I’m not in the beyond. I’m entirely in the present right now, very happy to be in the final and that Rafael is in another final. I’m not thinking about not being here next year. I’ll think about it next year when I’m in Majorca. Nostalgia is for then, not for now.”
Toni and Rafael have been a pair like no other in the modern game. Toni was Rafael’s first teacher, giving him his first lesson at age 3 on the Spanish island of Majorca that the Nadals still call home. Toni has remained Rafael’s mentor for the last 28 years as Rafael has become one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Nadal, who reclaimed the top spot on August 21, is defending just 100 ranking points after the US Open: 90 for a quarterfinal showing in Beijing, and 10 for a round-of-32 loss at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in Shanghai.
The 31-year-old’s only real competition for No. 1 is the 36-year-old Federer, who will move past Andy Murray and into the No. 2 spot on Monday. Like Nadal, Federer has a great opportunity to amass ranking points this fall. While Nadal has practically nothing to defend, Federer actually has nothing to defend, given his decision to end his 2016 season after Wimbledon.
- US Open Final Preview: Nadal Vs. Anderson | ATP World Tour
Nadal is attempting to win at least two Grand Slam titles in a season for the fourth time in his career (3 in 2010, 2 in 2008, 2013). He is trying to win his first hard court singles title since January 2014 in Doha (d. Monfils). He has played 34 hard-court tournaments, reaching eight hard-court finals since his last title on the surface. Nadal has not faced a Top 20 opponent at the US Open and the last Grand Slam champion to do that was Pete Sampras at 2000 Wimbledon.
The problem for Anderson is that Rafa has been looking less and less troubled with each match at the Open. He found his game in the third round against Leonardo Mayer—the Argentine’s game bears more than a passing resemblance to Anderson’s—and played with his old swagger in his semifinal steamroll over Juan Martin del Potro. Anderson’s serve alone should allow him to stay close in sets, and it’s easy to imagine him wiping away a dozen break points with it. But Nadal has played 22 more major finals than Anderson. That may be the only stat you need to know for this one.
- Del Potro Reflects On Epic US Open Run | ATP World Tour
“He played very smart from the second until the end of the match, because I was just standing all the time on my left side and once he played down the line, he won the point.
“I think at the beginning of the match, he was playing all the time to my backhand, trying to see how good is my backhand at this moment. It was good, but it wasn’t good enough to play a four-set, five-set match. And I couldn’t make any winners in the match, which you must do a lot of winners against Rafa.”
- Rafael Nadal, hard-court master? | US Open
Hard courts will never be Nadal’s favorite surface. That will always be his native clay, to which his game is so naturally suited. But like few others, Nadal has continually tweaked his game, adapting it to compete and win on a surface that began as a challenge.
Had Rafael Nadal had never played a professional tournament in his life on dirt, he would still have a Hall-of-Fame career.
The world No. 1 has been uniquely willing to treak his game and work to improve, rather than stubbornly stick with something that has worked in the past.
Rafael Nadal and Garbine Muguruza ensured a Spanish double at the top of the rankings next week, with Nadal set to stay No. 1 in the ATP rankings and Muguruza reaching the top spot in the WTA rankings for the first time in her career.
VIDEOS:
- Rafa on fire 🙂 Love it!
- 2017 US Open: Rafael Nadal SFs Press Conference
- 2017 US Open: Rafael Nadal SFs Press Conference (Spanish)
Maybe an early night is out after all😣
Yes. This wont be over any time soon Maria. Send over some of that steaming hot chocolate. Lol
I would Susie ,but I think the black coffee might need to come back on the menu.
I anticipated it sort of and have arranged a late morning to get to work. Better than thinking of killing the boss like our Navdeep. Lol
nadal he is taking advantage of your courtposition and is nervous please take advantage of it and stay closer to the baseline
Oh my!!!!! Sublime BH return from Rafa. I’ve seen this before. 🙂
Ad Rafa
Rafa can’t get any 1st serve in. Anderson 8/9. 🙁
Finally, it’s ON.
Rafa looking all business in black.
Good luck, Rafa. We’re all with you. 🍀🍀🍀💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
Here we go. Good luck rafa – you can so do this.
Hi Susie. Any “report” for me today? 😋
Only things to report are that there’s no cake; raffy is here in his usual place pretending to watch but i know he’s sleeping and im so jealous that Maria has hot chocolate!! Enjoy this match Rainier. Thought rafa had a good crack at kevins opening service game.
I of the the TIGER🦁🦁🦁🦁
You got the shots, the serve
and mentally strong.🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Win u want.
Let’s hope that Rafa will take the last hurdle tonight. The difference between winning and losing this match is immense. A win will probably define the Nadal legacy (so few thought that this, 16 slams, would be possible, I mean he would be only one major win away from 17 which for almost 5 years was the Federer record that Rafa would never break) and – given the mental aspects involved – could boost Rafa to more peaks in the seasons ahead. We have seen plenty of painful losses in the last few years. I say: not tonight! 16 tonight could propeller Rafa towards 19 and above. Vamos!
Navdeep, you have summed Rafas’s year up perfectly , won’t be long now before Rafa is the USO champ for the third time and his fans can rejoice yet again . Can’t wait.
Rafa , I quite agree with your view to oncourt coaching ( surprisingly Roger disagrees). The way I see it is ‘What’s good for the goose is good for the gander’.
OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) 🙂 : ) Congratulations DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) XOXOXOXOXO WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART and LOVE WATCHING YOUR BEAUTIFUL SOLID TENNIS & FEISTY DRIVE & PASSION with each point you play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 SUCH PURE JOY TO SEE YOU MOVE AND GLIDE & SLIDE & REACH & SERVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) YOU ARE ONE SPEEDY PRECIOUS GENIUS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 : ) ; ) : ) GO RAFA GO & !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ENJOY IT ALL & have lots of fun playing your brilliant magic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ci………ci……..ci…….ci…….. YOU ARE BY FAR THE STRONGER & BETTER PLAYER SWEETHEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) OH YEH……THIS WILL BE A GREAT MATCH FOR YOU SENIOR SWEETHEART CHAMP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOUR PASSIONATE INTENSITY WITH EACH POINT & YOUR BLESSED DRIVE & YOUR RAFA NADAL PRECIOUS COMPETITIVE EDGE IS SO SPECIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) VERY VERY VERY SPECIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE EXTRAORDINARY SWEETHEART WITH YOUR HARD WORK & BRILLIANCE…….WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH & VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) and ci…….ci……ci……of course YES……..you are FOR SURE MOST GORGEOUS PLAYER…….those muscles : ) ….and those adorable dimples : ) …..and LOVE HOW YOU ARE SO INSPIRED & MOTIVATED ……..VERY SPECIAL: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!………..wi……..wi…….wi…….wi……..VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) It is a beautiful Sunday & very very happy for you dear Rafa !!!!!!!!!: ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 We loved seeing you play so aggressive and with such speedy, STRONG & POWERFUL RETURNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU WERE WAITING FOR EACH BALL WITH SUCH READINESS & DELIGHT & THEN RETURNED THE BALLS WITH SUCH JOYFUL POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 🙂 GOD BLESS YOU SWEETHEART & YOUR FANTASTIC PLAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Have a great time & Enjoy your gifted BEAUTIFUL, FEISTY & STRONG POWERFUL Tennis. We will be enjoying each point you play and will be singing LETS GO RAFA LETS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) Have fun sweetheart & keep smiling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) AND WITH EACH SET WE WILL BE SINGING GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ; ) : ) 🙂 Have a lots of fun sweetheart & we are sending Lots of love & happiness & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) & ci…….ci…….ci………ci…….ci…….& LOTS OF MANY LOVABLE BIG CI ……. XOXOXOXOXOXO : )
This is it. Susie, Maria ,Margo, Rainier and all Rafans this is the day. Since the Australian open we knew Rafa can create wonders this year and he proved just that and completely owned the clay season n completed 3 LA decimas in which one them was of a GRAND SLAM ! then unfortunately he lost in Wimbledon but again showed that even in loss he was fighting till the last point and NOW here we are in the finals of us open. One message for champ- you have exceeded our expectations a long back . We just want you to enjoy the game.I won’t lie that I’m not nervous, taking some deep breaths but more than anything i can proudly say that I’m a RAFAEL NADAL fan.
Vamos
Hi Navdeep. I guess we are all nervous and so is Rafa. But this is his 23rd slam finals, 3rd of the year. He will find a way to control his nerves and play his best. 🙂
Hope to see you and many others here during the match. 🙂
I will be watching the match Rainier no matter how much the time sucks( 1:30 am).
As Margo always says ‘ Rafa rocks the us open’
Glad to hear that, Navdeep. If you need to so sth abt ur boss tomorrow, I’ll be happy to be ur accomplice. 😈😉
Lovely sentiments Navdeep and well said. Glad you get to watch this at a decent-ish hour and you know that it will start on time!! Im quite anxious but looking forward to the match
Hi Navdeep,
I am only now reviewing the comments made during Rafa’s final.
Although the loss of the AO was a heartbreaker, his game was a harbinger of brighter days to come. When I said that the best was yet to come, it came from the heart. Seeing him play told me he was finally back; back to “do damage,” his words.
His clay season BLEW ME AWAY.
I have to admit I was nervous/worried about his US Open final. SILLY ME. I am ecstatic to say the least. Two Slams in one year after so much angst in ’15 and ’16. His final presser has put me even more at ease for him for the future. I am seeing a better Rafa. [Is that possible🤗?] An extroverted Rafa? Whichever the case may be, I am seeing a HAPPIER Rafa.
HAPPY SWEET 16 RAFA
Rafa , Good Luck 🍀 tonight
bring out on court ‘Rafa the Giant Slayer ‘
And just like your last match, you now have a 6ft 8in Giant to bring down.
Just play magnificently like you did against Del Potro , and you will be biting in to that trophy in no time at all .🏆
Hi Maria. Any thing freshly brewed/baked today ☕️🍵🍰🍪? Any tails wagging near you? 🐕🐶🐱🐾
Hi Rainer , not today , no black coffee needed , I’m going to sit back and enjoy this match with a steaming hot chocolate and then get an earlier night for a change . Golam 😾 out, Holly 🐕 Zonked out💤with a full stomach after a roast dinner🍲
Somehow I can imagine that peaceful English night of yours, Maria. Hope it won’t be too long before you join Holly in his golden slumbers. 😇🌌
Awesome Rafa . Vamos
I will be at the edge of my couch watching you today and always wish you the best and of course to win. Love you Rafael forever.
All of the very best Rafa!!!we as your admirers are behind you!!!!!
The best partnership ever ,a match made in heaven.
That’s right. It would be really really sad for Rafans if uncle Toni is no longer sitting at Rafa’s box. The Rafans are accustomed to see uncle Toni in every Rafa’s match. May uncle Toni change his mind and still be tagging at Rafa’s tournament. Please uncle Toni don’t leave. 🙁 🙁 🙁
Good luck for the final today. You can do it, champ. Vamos Rafa <3
Rafael, use this chance to win the US Open! Get the victory, it’s your’s! Vamos Rafael! 👑🙏🏼
Tio Tony tu eres parte d Nadal…juntos los dos formateis al mejor jugador d la historia dl tenis….esas raices se tienen y se conservan…imposible d olvidar….Gracias!!! A los dos por ese honor tan grande k tenemos los españoles y España d teneros….
Y agradecer d k Carlos Moyá haya entrado en ese equipo ..para hacer cambios en el tenis k necesitabais….
SUERTE ADELANTE ESTAMOS CONTIGO ESTA NOCHE….VAMOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!