ARTICLES:
We’ll Get There When We Get: There Last year’s results here at Roland Garros can’t be repeated. [Nadal didn’t drop a set en route to his 10th Roland Garros title in 2017]. Just because he didn’t get off to the ideal start doesn’t mean we’re panicking. Looking back, Rafa’s start to the US Open last year was difficult as well, and he wound up winning the tournament. We just need to get through the early rounds, find our rhythm and everything else will fall into place.
- Moya: ‘My Belief In Rafa Is At An All-Time High’ | ATP World Tour
Does Nadal get nervous this time of year?
I wouldn’t call it nervous, but he does feel pressure going into Roland Garros.
So the pressure is there.
Correct. We as a team feel pressure. Team Nadal is under constant pressure to win. We’re talking about one of the all-time greats here. We know with whom we are dealing with and there’s no use trying to dance around that. Rafa will be the first to admit we’re under pressure all the time.
The Spaniard, who has a degree in clay, surprised everyone when he said of his favourite killing ground: “The court is more slippery than usual. I slid a lot when I started off or when I moved to another side. It was quite complicated.
There are many more grey zones or white zones than other years, because there are little pebbles underneath. That’s [because] you don’t have the proper grip on the court.”
His yacht is named “Beethoven” after his grandfather, who was a director in an orchestra and who was nicknamed after the German composer.
“Of course, great news that I have the possibility to have a boat since already years ago, and come back home and have the possibility to go out and spend some time with family, friends, girlfriend, going out, sleeping on the boat,” said Nadal.
“Being away of everything is an amazing feeling,” said Nadal, who turns 32 in June. “The feeling of freedom the sea gives you is something difficult to compare.”
PHOTOS: Rafael Nadal: A Photographer’s Favorite Shots | Getty Images
Celebrated tennis photographer Clive Brunskill has been following—and shooting—Rafael Nadal for 15 years. During that time, he has shot Nadal at countless tournaments—including Rafa’s 16 Grand Slam wins, and a record 10 French Open titles—but also for commercials and in private sessions. It’s fair to say that Brunskill knows Nadal as few photographers do.
VIDEOS:
- Moet Moments #1 – Focus Rafael Nadal | Roland Garros
- Rafael Nadal’s passing shot produces gasps from the crowd | Eurosport
- When A Ball Kid Gets Starstruck Over Rafa
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL SOLID FEISTY VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GREAT EXCITING MATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) YOUR AGGRESSIVE RETURNS WERE ABSOLUTELY STUNNING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOUR FANTASTIC SERVE SO EFFECTIVE & BEAUTIFUL TO WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) AND WI……..WI……..WI…….YOUR FOUR BRILLIANT ACES WERE SHARP AND BEAUTIFULLY TIMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) EVERYTHING YOU PLAYED WAS GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) LOVED YOUR REACH AND NET AND SPEED AND COURT COVERAGE AND CUTE ADORABLE HANDSOME FACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOUR BEAUTIFUL TENNIS IS SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOVED EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) I ESPECIALLY LOVED HOW YOU HAD SUCH STRONG COMMAND AND YOUR FEISTY AGGRESSIVE RETURNS WELL SIMPLY PUT ……….. THE RAFA NADAL SIDE TO SIDE ADVENTURE : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) CI………..CI……….CI………THAT PRECIOUS FOCUS AND DESIRE AND PASSION…….BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART AND LOVE WATCHING YOUR MAGIC AND EXTRAORDINARY COMMAND ON THE COURT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) HAVE LOTS OF FUN CELEBRATING TONIGHT WITH YOUR LOVED ONES & ENJOY A SPLENDID EVENING AND A BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & AND HAPPINESS & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
ENJOY EVERYTHING SWEETHEART & HAVE A LOVELY TIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Good luck to Rafa who is about to come onto court and well done to Kyle Edmond who has just come off court and is into the 3rd round.
OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS SWEETHEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY & ENJOY EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) THIS WILL BE A GREAT MATCH FOR YOU & WE CHEER GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART & SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ; ) : ) : ) ; ) ; ) : ) ; ) KEEP SMILING ! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
I saw the press conference i have a feeling that nadal is very insecure that is not a good thing also he said that the absence of federer was a good thing for him why is he saying that why is he showing his nervoursens for federer and others.
Good luck for today. Vamos Rafa <3
The Clive Brunskill link is well worth a visit – not only great photos but lovely words from a legendary sports photographer about a legendary sportsman – Clive is clearly a Rafa fan 🙂
Also love the Moet Moments video, the fan comments are great, but look at Rafa’s footwork, from around 1:06 on, he’s dancing on the clay, just beautiful.
Practising with a leftie earlier was good prep for today’s match against Pella. Vamos Rafa!!
Bless you Rafa for all your God given qualities and characteristics.
i know I am continually amazed at how you are so completely aware of everything both on and off the court, and you never take any short cuts in your life, even as a tennis player or as a humanitarian. You are amazing all the time, and my son thinks I have a fetish about you,but he doesn’t see your amazing qualities, as I watch every game and read all the fan news as often as possible.
Rafa has been taught from childhood to be polite, humble, and always aware of the needs of those around him on the planet.
All the best for the next match,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
Elaine, I agree with everything you say.
As for your son thinking you have a fetish about Rafa, my grandson thinks exactly the same about me.!!
Dear Rafa, Hope you enjoy your French Open experience this year. I hope that the courts somehow retu;rn to normal and to your liking. I pray you remain, happy, confident , healthy and pain free so that you can play your best tennis and also the way you need to play. I agree with Mac, you bring JOY to all of us. God bless you Rafa. Love you Rafa. Marylynn
Aww I can’t stop watching that ball kid staring at Rafa in awe… I do that myself, and I’m millions of miles away from him 🙂 🙂
God bless you Rafa for all the joy you bring.