Roger Federer was well beaten in the semifinal of the French Open but he still showed true class in his praise of Rafael Nadal following the contest:
He makes you feel uncomfortable the way he defends the court and plays on clay. There is nobody who even plays remotely close to him.
I don’t even know who I need to go search for to go practice with somebody who plays like him. It’s just amazing how he plays from deep and then is able to bounce back and forth from the baseline.
You get to a point where you’re just happy to make shots and not look ridiculous. It’s that bad.
There is also no way to practice in these conditions. It’s all a mindset. It’s footwork…It was difficult, but I accept that. He played in an incredible way. He has incredible abilities on clay. I knew that ahead of time.
Source: ATP Tour
I seriously wonder how many of your subscribers actually play tennis! And if so ,for how long. Methuselah here remembers Rod Laver and plays tennis. Had the joy of meeting Roy Emerson at the Rogers Cup who actually was a stupendous player . Old enough to have a perspective on tennis that was not jaundiced by opinion but preferred dealing with FACTS, JeanPalmer Winnipeg Canada.
Margo, Not only are there people bashing Rafa’s opponents but also Nicole who denigrates Rafa and cheers on his rivals at every opportunity. That is no better. Whoever runs this site must like all the clicks that the negativity and controversy generate. Wish we could have a true fan site.
RR, re Nicole yes but she obviously doesn’t know Rafa’s record on surfaces other than clay so she’s just showing how ignorant she is. I gave her a 👎 [see above]
To be fair to RNF, look at the amount of 👍 garnered by the negative comments about Roger. Those had to be from Rafa fans.
Look what I go through here. For instance, all I remember is that someone called Roger a cheat. Now, that someone wants to blame it on Pat Cash. Are you with me? Well, it so happens Pat Cash never called Roger a cheat. Pat Cash said what Roger did at the AO was “legal cheating.” What an oxymoron.
Don’t sweat the jerks. Come and cheer Rafa on and if others want to be ugly that’s on them. I intend to enjoy Rafa for as long as he’s in it.
Here’s to #’s 12 and 18.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Margo now dear and to all you Rafamaniacs out there, please let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet, will you?
Yes, everybody expects Rafa to win tomorrow, but tomorrow could just turn out to be the day when Rafa hands over to his successor and who else is more befitting, more worthy than Dominic Thiem.
But as always, Margo, we’ll see……..cheers
Rafamazing really rocks
In terms of accomplishment, contribution to the sport, and character, Roger and Rafael have no rivals. I do not think either one of them suffers fools. When a compliment is paid, it is deserving.
Stories are created and embellished, but the power and truth of these two players shines far above the rest of the field. It is a privilege to witness their tennis history.🙏💕
Domi has done it!! Congratulations to him on another final.
YAAAY DOMINIC, YOU DID IT!!!
Roger and Rafa. There will never again be.. the likes the talent the graciousness of these two ‘gentlemen’. I hope time will be gentle to these guys and they will be able to enjoy this love of tennis for a few more years.
Yes, on clay he’s very good, But on a hard court anyone can beat him. Roger Federer, what a great human being.
Roger gave an honest appraisal of Rafa’s abilities and I’m glad that he didn’t blame the wind for his defeat. The mutual respect that both men show is truly admirable and i think it’s even more touching than ever at this stage of their careers. Not sure about the clay, but I hope it’s not the last time that we see these great ambassadors face off against each other.
Lorna, why on earth would Roger blame the weather. In fact, it’s usually Rafa’s fans [some, not all] here who go on to blame the weather, as if Rafa is experiencing different conditions. Or the tournament director, or preferential treatment for Rafa’s opponent,
As a Rafan, it is very difficult for me to accept a Rafa loss but I understand and ACCEPT that Rafa cannot “win them all.” Reasons why Rafa would lose a match is important to me but it doesn’t give me the impetus to search for a scapegoat as it does for some here. The vituperation was extremely toxic as far as I am concerned.
What I am so very happy about is that Carlos and the rest of the team seem to have found a placebo to address Rafa’s mental struggles. Whatever it is seems to be working having got Rafa out of his funk.
As Rafa is now in the final, fans’ attention will be directed toward Djokovic. This is a Rafa fan site and I hope it stays that way, not a Rafa opponent site full of scathing remarks about his opponents.
Great play Rafa 😍🤗 And now on to the final – Best of luck champ! 🥰🍀🏆
VAMOS KING OF CLAY! 🎾💪🏼👑
#12 will be yours on sunday <3 Vamos Rafa!
Congrats to Rafa for making it to his 12th RG final. (I hope Rafa wins, by the way).
As a fan, some credit goes out to Federer for even making it to the semi’s.
I also respect that Federer stated that he acknowledged that Nadal is the best on clay.
Rafa is the King of Clay, the undisputed champion on this surface.
This is his turf and he means business.
Rafa is also plays fair and I noticed even if he lost, he will still sign autographs to his fans.
That is what I call: true sportsmanship to Rafa
We will be crossing our fingers for Rafa to win that 12th title.
VAMOS RAFA. No. 1 to us.
Helen, Roger has been saying all along if you want to win on clay “you will have to go through Rafa because he will be waiting.” I give him credit for trying and getting as far as he did. Unfortunately for him he couldn’t break that barrier, Rafamazing, our CHAMPION.
RAFA ROCKS
Great performance against Federer who is humble and demonstrated alot of class in praise of Rafa . Rafa should be more than pleased with his performance and good and ready to defeat the winner of the Djokovitch Thiem match . Vamos Rafa ! Lets win our 12th French Open !
Nobody Does It Better Than Rafa On Clay….The Undisputed King Of Clay is Rafael Nadal.
Roger graciously acknowledges Rafa’s great game . They have huge respect firvrscj other . People did not like Roger’s taking TMO in Australia . It wasn’t sporting .
Rafa was splendid and the very first game was a challenge but he prevailed .
After that he was confident , yes lost serve but broke back in a calm and measured way .
He is an amazing champion .
Lovely to see him and Roger at the end .
Now to finish it off on Sunday .
Rafa the King of Clay vamossssssssss champ you can do it the best player love ❤️ your fans 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾😘😘😘😘😘😘😘❤️❤️❤️❤️💪❤️❤️🏆🏆🏆🏆
Well well!! And it’s Federer statements 🤔😊 So who are the others to saying something VAMOS RAFA 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
Kim, please bear in mind that fans here can read Roger’s mind. They know exactly what Roger is thinking. In fact, they personally know Roger😂😂😂😂
LONG LIVE THE RIVALRY
OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA AND VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) MATCH WAS SHORT FAST AND SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!:) YOUR MAGICAL BRILLIANT TENNIS IS SUCCESSFUL ON ALL SURFACES AND YOU ARE A VERY SPECIAL ONE IN A LIFE TIME TENNIS HERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU DEAR RAFA AND LOVE HOW SWIFT AND BRIGHT YOUR SOLID SEMI VICTORY WAS!!!!!!!!:) GORGEOUS SERVE AND SPIKY TIMELY ACES AND EVERYTHING WAS EXCITING AND FUN!!!!!!!!!:) KEEP DOING EVERYTHING YOU DO SWEETHEART AND ALL YOUR VICTORIES ARE PRECIOUS BECAUSE YOU PUT IN THE EXCELLENCE IN EVERY POINT IN EVERY MATCH AND YOU ARE DOING IT ALL WITH CLASS AND BEAUTIFUL SPORTSMANSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
YOU ARE BRILLIANT STAR ON GRASS…..ON HARD COURT…….ON CLAY IN SHORT ON ALL SURFACES SWEETHEART AND OVER THE YEARS SWEETHEART WE HAVE SEEN YOU SHINE BRIGHTLY WINNING IN CLASSY TOP TENNIS FASHION WITH YOUR MAGICAL TENNIS FORCE AND TENNIS INTELLIGENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) YOU ARE GLIDING AND SLIDING AND TEACHING AND NETTING AND SERVING MAGICALLY ON ALL SURFACES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) YOU ARE THE ULTIMATE KING OF TENNIS SKILL IMPROVEMENT RELEVANT…..UPDATING…….AND MIGHTY POWERFUL!!!!!!!!:) THE WAY YOU ADJUSTED YOUR SERVE TIME TO THE SILLY ALLOWED SECONDS FOR SERVE IS IMPRESSIVE AND NOTHING SHORT OF GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) YOU TOOK STEPS AND MANAGED TO DO IT……….CONGRATULATIONS SWEETHEART FOR BEING SO BRIGHT AND AGILE AND ADOPTABLE AND ALWAYS WILLING TO BE OPEN TO CHANGES…..EVEN SENSELESS CHANGES THAT MAKES ZERO SENSE……SUCH IS YOUR HUMILITY AND RESPECT…… KUDOS SWEETHEART FOR ALL YOUR BLESSED POSITIVE NATURE AND FINE ATTITUDE!!!!!!!!!:) MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS ON KEEPING UP YOUR FITNESS AND BEAUTIFUL COURT COVERAGE!!!!!!!!!!:) YOU ROCK RAFA NADAL AND WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):):):):):):) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
You don’t have to shout.
I think she does have to shout, actually. Probably doesn’t know how to turn off caps lock.
Hilarious comment😂😂😂😂
Thank you for posting this RNF. It just goes to show how many Rafa fans are wrong about Roger, one going as far as calling Fed a “cheat.” So many disgusting comments.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
FYI Anyone who watched the AO2017 final and witnessed RF’s MTO to pretend he was injured would be shocked unless blinded by a RF worshipping. Again FYI Pat Cash who normally roots for RF was the person who called such behaviour “cheating” upon which RF defended himself by saying “why not if rules allow it”.He added that it was the only time he had taken MTO and it would not be correct if done repeatedly.
Again to my knowledge when Rafa has a health problem he respects his opponents sufficiently to call it quits. One of the reasons, among many others why I consider him an exceptional person and am proud to be his fan.
To my understanding this is a sincere Nadal fan site where everyone can freely voice their opinions and nobody has the right or “authority” to censure opinions.
Finally it is incredibly “disgusting” to pretend to be a fan of one player while in reality being a Trojan Horse hiding
another player. Just a reknowned historical reference here very appropriate.