Rafael Nadal is expecting a much tougher test against Roger Federer in the semifinals of the French Open.
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Paris’ weather forecast for tomorrow looks abysmal: high winds 25-35mph; rain all day starting early in the morning. I hope Rafa gets to play his match before the rain starts. I am not a happy camper.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Something that really bugs me is the Tennis Channel constantly running those Rolex ads glorifying RF as though he is the king of this tournament. How can they justify this??? $$$$ of course. I will never ever join plus, based on this hype as well as their own constant pressure to do so. All anyone has to do is record the matches in advance–those they want to see. The TC started out good, and unbiased, and now they are doing some disgusting things, like having one of their commentators try to provide in great detail how to beat Rafa. It would be more annoying if it weren’t so completely laughable. Does anybody try to say how to beat RF? They wouldn’t even dare.
Even worse Guy Forget and all RG organizers should be ashamed of themselves. Rafa has won this tournament 11 times and he is world no.2. Forget & co. put Federer world n. 3 who won this tournament only once, before Rafa. Golden goose promoted by all and sundry. Rafa knows this and could’nt care less, it is his tennis that counts. Beat the goose to a pulp
Wamos Rafa, you are the best
I completely agree with you.
Sent from my iPhone
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Good luck the King Rafa
Fed. Is a snake in the grass who has to be king in every part of the world. Soooo tired of the publicity he gets ,especially when Rafa deserves it so much. I truly hope that YOU, Rafa, take all the energy and finess.
and heart that you have and get that 12th!!! No matter what, YOU Rafa , are the king of hearts and soul!!!!
Vamos.
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X
It is refreshing to read some opinions such as DG’s about RF’s ulterior motives for playing at RG. Often I am also surprised about the inherent admiration of the so-called Fedal friendship also on this site. Does anyone really believe that RF with his narcissicist personality can feel friendly towards Rafa, RF’s biggest rival? In my tennis fandom experience I do not remember any filthier trick than what RF did to Rafa at the AO2017 final.
So please please Rafa, beat Roger Federer to a pulp at this semi-final.
Wamos Rafa, anyway you are the best.
MAKES NO DIFFERENCE…….RAFA HAS HIS FEISTY PRECIOUS TOOLS AND STRENGTH AND POWER AND FITNESS AND ENDURANCE LIKE NO OTHER PLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) RAFA IS BRILLIANT IN ALL TENNIS AND FITNESS ASPECTS…….. HAS HIS GLADIATOR DRIVE AND HEART OF A SOLID FIGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) RAFA HAS BLESSED SPORTSMANSHIP LIKE NO OTHER……..THAT IS WHY HE IS SO LOVED GLOBALLY BY MILLIONS OF FANS WHO KNOW HE IS THE ULTIMATE GOAT OF ALL GOATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) RAFA IS VERY SPECIAL BRILLIANT CHAMPION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) CI………CI……….CI………….HE NEVER CONCERNS HIMSELF WITH BS OR PRESSURE OR MEDIA ASS LICKING LIKE YOU KNOW WHO………….RAFA NEVER EVER SHINES FROM TRUE TOP TOP TOP COMPETITION AND HES IS A TRUE GENUINE TOP TOP TOP TENNIS PLAYER EARNING HIS CAREER WITH HARD WORK AND SWEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO SWEETHEART GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) RAFA IS LOVED BY ALL PLAYERS AND HE IS HIGHLY RESPECTED FOR HIS MERIT WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) IN SHORT…….OUR PRECIOUS RAFA NADAL IS THE ABSOLUTE BLESSED NATURAL GENUINE STAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) HIS MATCHES ARE EXCITING AND FILLED WITH HUMILITY AND HUMANENESS AND SUCH PRECIOUS FOCUS AND AGGRESSIVENESS AND SIDE TO SIDE GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) AND THE PRECIOUS EFFECTIVE SERVE….WITH OR WITH OUT ACES……..IT IS MAGNIFICENT AND I JUST LOVE THE WAY HE SERVES SO BEAUTIFULLY AND EFFECTIVELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LETS NOT WASTE NY MORE OF OUR PRECIOUS MOMENTS COMMENTING HERE DISCUSSING OTHER LESSOR PLAYERS…………BECAUSE RAFA NADAL IS THE ULTIMATE GOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )HE IS LOVED AND HIGHLY ASTONISHES ALL TENNIS FOLKS WITH HIS BRILLIANT PASSIONATE STRONG AND SOLID TENNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : 0 NO ONE……NO ONE IN HISTORY EVER PLAYED SO BEAUTIFULLY…….SO MAGICALLY…….SO PASSIONATELY EACH POINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 THAT IS WHY WE ALL FOLLOW HIS LIVE MATCHES………HIS PRECIOUS POINT BY POINT SUCCESS AND SIMPLY ADORE AND RESPECT HIS KINDNESS TOWARDS HIS PEERS. GO RAFA GO AND LETS GO RAFA LETS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) JUST ANOTHER MATCH……NO PRESSURE………NO CONCERN ABOUT NOTHING…………JUST ENJOYING EVERYTHING SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL EVENING AND A BLESSED BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) SWEET DREAMS SWEETHEART AND GOD BLESS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Rafa, look in the mirror and see the greatest player who has won 11 RG titles. You are playing with confidence and joy .
Saw you play yesterday and you played some superb shots . Will be there to cheer again on Friday .
All good wishes to the greatest international sports role model and champion . Vamos Rafa
Beautiful thoughts and statements, Elizabeth. Thank you! You are very fortunate to be there live!
We r also very excited. All the best Rafa vamos💪💪💪
Rafa, you are the best. Show RF that you are the King of Clay .Love you and all of the best.
Rafa vs Roger is a classic . Rafa has a big advantage at Roland Garros and I predict a 4 set victory . it’s important to start strong and I expect Rafa will do just that .Go Rafa !
Looking forward to your next match! Vamos Rafa!
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND SOLID AND THE BEST PART IS YOUR GORGEOUS MATADOR BODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) EASY ON THE EYES AND PRECIOUS ON ALL FRONT!!!!!!!!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART ON YOUR STRIKING BEAUTIFUL
POINT BY POINT BRILLIANT TENNIS!!!!!:) ENJOY EVERYTHING AND ENJOY CELEBRATING YOUR OUTSTANDING VICTORY WITH YOUR LOVED ONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART AND VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!:) YOU HAVE SUCH CLASS AND YOU HAVE THE GOODS!!!!!!!!!!:) IT WILL BE A BLESSED BEAUTIFUL MATCH FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!:) YOUR STRENGTH AND POWER AND PRECIOUS SERVE AND SPEED AND MOVEMENT ARE ALL GIFTS OF YOUR BLESSED FITNESS AND HARD WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) YOU ARE MAGNIFICENT AND GORGEOUS OUT THERE !!!!!!!!!!!!:) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) YOUR MATCH WAS GREAT………VERY EXCITING !!!!!!!!!!!!:) LOVED EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z………YOU ROCK RAFA NADAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT SWEETHEART AND A BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!:) PAY ZERO ATTENTION TO NOTHING BUT YOUR NEXT BLESSED POINT. THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS. NOTHING ELSE IS IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) WI………WI……….WI……….AND CI…………CI………….CI…………!:):):):):):):):):):):):) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU DEAR RAFA YOU EARNED EVERYTHING WITH YOUR STEADFAST EFFORTS AND YOUR PRECIOUS SWEAT ………CI………..CI………..CI…………METADOR SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) MUCHAS GRACIAS FOR ALL THE GREAT FUN AND WE DEEPLY THANK YOU DEAR RAFA AND APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND BLESSED PRECIOUS PLAY EACH POINT EACH TIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) WE LOVE YOU RAFA NADAL AND SENDING LOTS OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS AND VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) KEEP SMILING!:) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Wishing you the very best of luck Rafa, Vamos, we are all with you x
Roger and Rafael know each other so well-he knows exactly what to expect. Whoever wins will be
fierce and determined. Pride and passion. Tennis history. Good luck, Rafael. 👍💪🤛👏🍀❤️
Only two more to go.
I do not doubt for one nanosecond that Roger has been practicing on the clay in preparation for this French Open. Even so, Rafa is still the best clay-courter ever.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Yes, I think RF is trying to prove he’s the actual GOAT for any doubters who suggest that he couldn’t really win on clay, especially against Rafa. Rafa has the opportunity to close the door on that idea, once and for all!!!
Vamos, dear Rafa! I hope you are only empowered by such circumstances that bring you together there in Paris. You can do it!!! We believe in YOU!!!
DG, another perspective is that Roger will be playing without the attendant pressure to win if they were meeting on grass instead of the clay. Ranking points? None to defend. Prize money? Irrelevant. Losing the match? Not worried because Rafa is supposed to win.
By all accounts, Roger is surprised he has gotten this deep into Rafa’s territory. And so am I quite frankly.
I also believe Rafa will put the brakes on any further progress by Fed.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Totally agree with you / Fed has ‘got a plan’ … his sole intention is to beat Rafa on His’ RG Court, otherwise why would he play the French after years of not doing, but not play Monte-Carlo , Rome etc like he’s done before ? Fed is SLY, puts on the act of friendship with Rafa but is actually SO jealous of Rafa, and all his achievements. I am worried silly that Fed will beat Rafa (Rafa doesn’t play ‘dirty’ like Fed will) …. even think Fed will win the tournament . Heaven please forbid . His head is SO big and egotistical, even had the easiest draw (and Djokovic)!
Denise N., I doubt Roger has anything to be jealous of Rafa for. Also, he did injure his knee and wisely waited to make sure he was completely healed before returning to competition.
I have been keeping up with Fed news since his injury and that’s how I found out he had been practicing on clay.
But additionally, unless he lied to the media, he also spent time with his family, time vacationing in the Middle East and checking up on his various charitable endeavors in South Africa and Switzerland.
Would he love to win the French Open, of course he would but I believe it’s more of what a story it would be were he to win [which he won’t] at age 37 and not more about trampling over Rafa.
Unlike you, I’m not worried about Rafa winning.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Nah, disagree Fed is not ‘surprised’ … it’s been his intention all along to ‘de-throne’ Rafa.
It’s DG I agree with …. see my reply below!
At last!!! Denise North, you have completely nailed Fed. He has been jealous of Rafa since day one. He puts on the act of being a great friend solely to bolster his image of being such a great sport, but he is a complete phony. I have never forgotten his comment when Rafa first appeared on the scene and stole his thunder. He said Rafa was one dimensional. How he must regret saying that! I have never heard Rafa make a spiteful or petty comment on any opponent.
Let’s not forget Fed won his sole RG title courtesy of Soderling, who did all the hard work by beating Rafa, whereas Rafa won his first Wimbledon by dethroning Fed at his peak. Don’t tell me that doesn’t rankle with Fed. Add to that, it has been calculated that adding up all his injury time layoffs, Rafa did not play for about 30 months – 2 and a half years – all told. How many Grand Slam titles could he have won in that time? 17 to Fed’s 20 is amazing, when you think how much time Rafa lost to injuries.
So I totally agree with Denise’s reading of Fed’s motives.
Wimbledon 2018 RF was defeated I think at the quarter finals by Kevin Anderson while Rafa was only defeated at the semifinals of Wimbledon in an epic long match by Djokovicz who then won Wimbledon. Djokovicz then won the USOPEN, and then the AO 2019. Federer knows his winning grand slams career is over and that is one of the reasons why he trained on clay and returned to Roland Garros. Guy Forget and co. have disgracefully treated him like the king of clay, thereby denigrating Rafa, the true king of clay. RF’s last bid to preserve his goat status will certainly fail hopefully in the hands of Rafa, if not certainly by Djokovicz who does not even consider RF his greatest rival.
Seriously, Fed did about a 6 week or 3-month training on clay somewhere in Europe in advance of clay season. Not sure of the location but do know that he had a trainer working with him specifically re: playing on clay. Who knows how else he prepared? getting tips from Uncle Toni? Actually, none of this matters and even if he loses, Rafa is still the best player on clay in history.
What stupid interviewers. Wamos Rafa best of luck against RF. Rafa best player on and off court. RF is just one step before Djokovicz your biggest rival.
Wamos wamos wamos
Rafa good luck you can do it . Vamossssssssss champ 💪😘🎾❤️🏆🌎👍❤️💪😘🎾🏆👍❤️
Rafa you are playing a very strong opponent but you are also playing very solid matches! You can do that! Good luck!