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)
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) KEEP CHALLENGING!!!!!!!!! : ) What “S the story with this poor, non engaged empire???? CLEARLY, Empire was not going to over rule this very obvious OUT ball by a…..till he saw your hand up for Challenge and by then he was afraid to look utterly ridiculous with his “not seeing the obvious” so he decided only then to over rule line person call and rightly FINALLY over rule this way way OUT ball. I tell you these empires get so much RIGHT THERE, HIGH & CLEAR VIEW OF LINES YET SOMEHOW MANAGE TO MAKE POOR CALLS, OR IGNORE OBVIOUS MISCALLS BY LINE FOLKS………
RAFA YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) FOCUSED! POWERFUL! FEISTY! STRONG! GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )
LOVE YOUR TENNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 : ) : ) IT IS SO EXCITING TO WATCH YOU MOVE & GROOVE & REACH & RUN ALL OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )
VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) KEEP GOING DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXO
True Rainier! Rafa needs to step it up and start improving his length and thinking strategically like against del potro.
Cmon Rafa, VAMOS!!!!!
His only trouble is ROS, Susie. Once he gets the hang of it only a goating Novak in the zone can hang with him when he’s healthy/in form.
Still no worries, Susie. Rafa’s the best thinker on the tour right now, no doubt abt it.
Anderson, not so much. But he has weapons.
Rafa still having BIG trouble returning from the duece court.
This match is still far from over.
He needs to do sth abt that side.
Rafa will figure it out. You’re right though, this is far from over. A sloppy service game from Rafa, and Anderson will believe. We don’t need no tie breaks:):)
Rafa solid so far!
Not one so far, Mac. Rafa came to play today. 🙂
Still no sight of that ever elusive BP on Rafa’s serve for him. 😉
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) BEAUTIFUL 1st SET LEAD 6:3 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) And what is MORE BEAUTIFUL IS THAT YOUR SERVE RAFA NADAL IS SOLID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOUR SERVE IS MORE EFFECTIVE & YOU HELD YOUR SERVE MUCH EASIER & BRILLIANTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ci……..ci…….ci……ci…..& many zillion ci…….: ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 Enjoy your groove & stunning court command!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) LOVED THOSE CHEEKY ON THE RUN WINNING RETURNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) KEEP SMILING DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) WE LOVE YOU & YOUR TENNIS IMMENSELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) ; ) 🙂 KEEP GOING SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) I think if a had a little bit more suntan and lightness he would be more fun to watch…… Just kidding…..VAMOS DEAR RAFA & LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXO !!!! : )
Rafa net points win 7/7. 😍
Anderson 8/20 though due to Rafa’s short return.
yes rafa won the first set. This is very important hopefully rafa will relax in the second set and move closer to the baseline. If he wins the second set then game over for anderson. The second set will determine the match
Yay go rafa. He looked a lot more aggresive once he’d broken kevin. Very pleased so far.
Yeah ! 1 set !!
Rafa’s BH winning him this set. 🙂
Ad Rafa
And there the 2nd break! Amazing touch at the net as usual. 🙂
1st set to Rafa.
Hope he will play more feely in the 2nd and take this in straights.
VAMOS! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
Rafa consolidates :).
But this match is a far cry from the semis. We need DP Rafa back!
Kevin finally collapses after too much pressure in every service game bar the 1st.
4-3 Rafa
At last rafa breaks. So many chances on kevins serve which surprises me. Please please just hold serve in this set now rafa!!
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE PLAYING SOLID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXO
Anderson so strong on serve. But Rafa will break him sooner or later. However, Rafa MUST NOT allow Anderson to see a break point, coz that will just put all sorts of ideas into his head that we don’t want:)
Great service hold from Rafa.
Put him in more pressure Rafa.come on
Rafa playing a bit too passive, at especially on BPs/deuce/ad points. Still moonballing too much. Hit flater, pls.
Kevin is a serve machine. He can afford to do that.
Come on Rafa, step up.
Great game Rafa , make this win quick and I will even forgive the pink jacket and cap that looks like you’re more at the grand national 🏇 than a grand slam Lol.
anderson is using his serve in the same way muller use it at wimbeldon
So far rafa is serving well that is good
nadal can not afford waisting too much chances at breakpoints
Hi mjus. I really don’t like it. Rafa’s not clutch today :(. This is risky against big server. He can’t give Kevin relief and hope again and again. It’s only a matter of time before he strikes back.