ARTICLES:
- The Numbers Don’t Lie: Why Beating Rafa In Paris Is Nigh Impossible | ATP World Tour
Nadal has never lost after the quarter-finals on the Parisian terre battue, holding a 21-0 record in semi-finals and finals en route to his 10 trophies, which is the most captured by any man at a single major.
But perhaps it is the left-hander’s performance in championship matches that is most striking. The World No. 1 has won 50 per cent of his sets in Roland Garros finals by a margin of 6-3 or greater.
- Rafael Nadal, master of the impossible | Yahoo Sports
If Benjamin Franklin were alive today, he’d have to expand his belief that death and taxes are life’s only certainties and add a third — Rafael Nadal winning the French Open. The Spaniard chases an 11th title at Roland Garros on Sunday and 17th major of his career. He has 85 match wins on Paris’ famous crushed red brick against just two defeats in 13 years.
- Thiem time, or 11th hour for Rafa? | Roland Garros
Yes, the Rafa tennis can fail but at Roland-Garros, it happens once, maybe twice, in a Paris blue moon. For Soderling and Djokovic, can we now read Thiem? Well, Team Thiem can dream but so often it’s the nightmares that grab hold in Nadal’s very own personal chamber of horrors.
The reality is that Nadal is not just greatest and latest in the distinguished line of clay-court titans — he’s probably the last of the breed. Enjoy him while you can, because this king has no successor nor even a kingdom. The dominion he’s had over clay events hides the fact that there’s no longer a subspecies of tennis player worthy of the title “clay-court specialist.”
AUDIO: The Tennis Podcast: Can Thiem Topple Nadal?
VIDEOS:
- The Coach: Rafael Nadal must be aggressive to beat Dominic Thiem | Eurosport
- Nadal disputarà la final de Roland Garros | IB3
- Focus on: Rafael Nadal | Roland Garros
- Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem – Road to the final | Roland Garros
VAMOS SWEETHEART CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 : ) CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL SOLID VICTORY SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) 🙂 VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) ; ) ; ) EACH POINT WAS A CLASSY RAFA NADAL POINT AND WE LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR PLAYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) : ) : ) EXCITING MATCH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOUR EXCITING PASSION AND FIGHTING ARE SO SPECIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND KUDOS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) HAVE LOTS OF FUN CELBRATING WITH YOUR LOVED ONES AND WE ARE HEADING TO CASTLE ISLAND BEACH FOR A FUN WALK TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ; ) : ) : ) : ) 😉 ; ) : ) LOVE YOU SWEETHEART AND VERY VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) IT WAS CLEAR AS A BELL THAT YOU WILL WIN TODAY……. YOUR TOP PRECIOUS TENNIS IS BRILLIANT AND ENJOY IT ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 ; ) KEEP SMILING ! : )
HAVE A BEAUTIFUL EVENING AND A BEAUTIFUL WEEK ENJOYING YOUR FANTASTIC 11TH ROLAND GAROS BRILLIANT FEISTY CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) 🙂 🙂 🙂 SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
LEADING 3 : NADA TO BE PRECISE….: ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) LOVE THE CROWD LOVE THE UMPIRE AND LOVE YOUR PRECIOUS BRILLIANT HOLDS & FEISTY FIGHTING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) : ) : ) ; ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE LEADING 2: NADA 2ND SET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ALL FOR FUN : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) KEEP GOING SWEET CHAMP GOAT OF ALL GOATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ) : ) ; ) 😉 : ) : ) YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU WON 1ST SET WITH YOUR SOLID RETURNS AND SOLID SERVE & SOLID SPEED & SOLID MOVEMENT & SOLID EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE PLAYING BEAUTIFULLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) SOLID BRILLIANCE SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) KEEP GOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) IT IS ODD TO SEE HIM SCREAMING, SWEARING AND SHOUTING AFTER EACH LOOSING POINT…… THAT IS A LOOSER IN THE MAKING !!! : ) IT IS LACK OF SPORTSMANSHIP….VERY POOR DISPLAY , HOPEFULLY THE UMPIRE WILL SHUT HIS OUTBURSTS SOON……
MEANWHILE YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL OUT THERE DEAR RAFA & KEEP GOING SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : 0 YOUR SERVE IS MAGNIFICENT AND YOU ARE THE BETTER, STRONGER, MORE FIT PLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE YOU RAFA NADAL AND SO DOES THE FRENCH CROWD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) .XXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) KEEP GOING !!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
WI……..WI…….WI……….2 : DENADA LEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) 😉 VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) BEAUTIFUL SPIKY RETURNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) SOLID !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Unfortunately I’m almost always nervous when Rafa plays.
Today’s the final of the RG, Thiem is the opponent and I’m …. nervous, more so because the hype over Rafa. Even he said he doesn’t like it and it’s not routine!
Anyway dear Rafa please start being aggressive from the very start -please! Don’t let Thiem get in. Be strong mentally at all times in the match. Believe, believe, believe in yourself.
YOU are the ace, the Champ!!!!! Keep changing your pace, tactics and ….
Go, go, go!!!!
VAMOS!!!!!!
OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) 🙂 : ) 🙂 : ) 🙂 IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY & A GREAT TIME FOR YOUR PRECIOUS TENNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) O LA LA & VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ): ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) IT WILL BE A GREAT MATCH FOR YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WI………WI……..WI…….SENIOR CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE YOU AND VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 😉 YOU ARE ALWAYS SIMPLY FOCUSED ON YOUR OWN GAME & NOTHING ELSE AND WE LOVE THAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) BRILLIANT! : ) IT IS ALL FOR FUN & THAT’S IT! : ) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) NO BIG DEAL JUST ANOTHER MATCH! : ) YOUR BEAUTIFUL WISE ATTITUDE ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY EACH PRECIOUS POINT AND HAVE LOTS OF FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU ARE THE BETTER, STRONGER PLAYER & YES, THE GORGEOUS HUNK OF TENNIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) CI………CI……..CI……. : ) ENJOY EVERYTHING SWEETHEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOUR PRECIOUS FITNESS SWEETHEART AND ENDURANCE ARE VERY SPECIAL…… VERY HAPPY FOR YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) WI……….WI………WI……..& CI………CI…………CI…….. GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ): ) : ) : ) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) HAVE BEAUTIFUL DAY AND A GOOD TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE WILL BE ENJOYING WITH YOU EVERYTHING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 😉 : ) : ) : ) SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) KEEP SMILING! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
nadal has to win this one. And everybody agrees the first set is the key. If nadal loses the first set it will put thiem in pole position to win the second one and he only will be playing better. If nadal wins the first set his confidence will increase that will shut the door for thiem. So the first set is the key. I hope also for hot weather
BLAST OFF Rafa for today’s challenge. Best of luck with your final’s match today. Leave the nerves and the pressure in the locker room. You can pick them up AFTER your win.
RAFA ROCKS
Who recalls July 2012, when at Wimbledon, Andy Murray choked and Roger Federer won his 17th major. The hysteria that followed in the mass media and on the online forums. The fact that he was almost 31 and could win a major, it was presented as a miracle in itself. No one would ever touch this record of 17 slams, so much was clear.
Now I was there on those forums and I had seen Rafa close the gap from 6-16 in Jan 2010 to 11-16 in June 2012. That’s a leap of 5 in 2,5 years. And I believe in data. Rafa at the time had a grand slam winning rate of close to 40%. And he still is at 30% nowadays. That means he wins 3 out of the 10 majors that he enters, on average. So I firmly believed that 17 was doable for Nadal. And here we are today. One match away from that number. That number that would never be reached by anyone else. Well, if he does it today, I will tell you that I believe he can make it 21 before he calls it a day for good. Because be not mistaken. It is for this record that both Roger and Rafa are playing. And that is why we must get that win today. Vamos!!!
Very well said, Jean. The right, positive way of assessing the situation.
Rafa all the very best for your finals match today,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
I don’t know why but I m not feeling that nervous today. The only opponent that made me very uneasy right after finding out the draw was schawartzman. May be because he could take Rafa by surprise which he did. whereas opponents like delpo or theim, Rafa knows what to expect! And will be ready. Vamos king. No 11 is not too far now.💪💪💪
Vamos
Quite nervous for this one. I see this final as as big as a challenge as the Djokovic matches 2012-2015. The first set will be key. Vamos Rafa, on to #17!
All the best for today! You can do it. Vamos Rafa <3