ARTICLES:
Rafael Nadal says 2020 tennis season is ‘practically lost’ due to coronavirus pandemic | CNN
“I hope we’re able to return this year, but I don’t think we will,” he told Spanish newspaper El Pais on Tuesday. “Unfortunately, I would sign up to be ready for 2021 — hopefully.
“I’m more concerned about the Australian Open (in January) than about what happens later this year. I see 2020 as practically lost. I have hope to be able to start next year, that’s what I wish.”
Next year’s Australian Open under threat, admits chief executive | The Guardian
As he waits, Nadal has followed developments closely and he offered a rare political critique to La Voz de Galicia that has caused a stir. “It is important that they get it right,” he said.
“There are things that cannot be reversed. There have been mistakes. Sorry, but this is fair to say, it is not a political issue … Everyone understands that politicians make mistakes. It is human. I make mistakes every day. What I like less is when mistakes are not recognised, because you no longer have credibility.”
Rafa Nadal: ‘This crisis has overwhelmed us all, but we are a great country’ | El Pais
I’ve found myself doing things I didn’t do before, because I was never at home! I like being here, as long as I am sharing things with my people and my friends. Suddenly, my activity has been halted 100%. It’s been a shock for everyone. We were used to travel, but there are people who work at an office and it was slightly less complicated for them. I found it hard to adapt at first, but then I started to get the hang of it. I’m back to double sessions, morning and afternoon, and I’ve set schedules for myself and restored my routines. I’ve also stopped watching the news, which was a very important step.
Kirsten Flipkens admits a kiss with Rafael Nadal, language barrier stopped the romance | womenstennis.blog.com
After calling Nadal the most complete player on the ATP Tour, Flipkens revealed some unexpected details about her relationship with the Spanish legend when they were young adolescents: “Have we ever had anything (laughs)? Yeah, that’s right. When I was fourteen years old, I had a thing with Rafael. But he didn’t speak English at the time, so we couldn’t go further than hand in hand and a kiss.”
Underrated Traits of the Greats: Rafael Nadal and when to come to net | tennis.com
When Nadal first arrived on tour, he was seen by many as one-dimensional, another Spanish dirt-baller in a long, stubbornly tenacious line of them. But you have to be good at everything to win a career Grand Slam, and Nadal has patiently expanded his game over the years. When he’s at the baseline, he shows off his physicality, but it’s when he transitions forward that he shows off all of the little details and intangibles that have made him such a versatile champion—the touch, the court sense, the decisiveness, the intelligent aggression. In all of these categories, Rafa is underrated.
VIDEO:
Happy Birthday Rafa! May all your wishes turn into wonderful reality!
Love you always!
🤗🍀❤️😘😘😘😘
Happy Birthdat Rafa!!!!!! Have a beautiful one with your whole famil
All our love, Shosha IO Jan and Clarita💝💖💝💝💖💝💖💝💖💝☮
Happy Birthday Rafa! 🥳 🎂
May all your dreams come true 🍀 ❤️
Feliz Cumpleanos Rafael.
Wishing for the next twelve months to bring you your 20th Grand Slam (at least) and the joy of fatherhood 🤞with your beautiful wife.
Yes and yes!!🏆 👶 👏
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOUR STUNNING GOAT RECORD OF WINNING ALL YOUR PRECIOUS MATCHES, INCLUDING ALL YOUR BRILLIANT GRAND SLAMS YOU ACTUALLY EARNED BY YOUR OWN SWEAT, UNLIKE OTHERS WHO RECEIVED HUGE, UGLY, UNSPORT LIKE HELP TO THEIR PATHETIC GS TITLES, YOUR BRILLIANT RECORD RAFA NADAL ALWAYS ILLUSTRATED YOU BEING A GIFTED, TRUE TENNIS STAR WHO STANDS APART FROM THE REST………YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND BRIGHT GENUINE TENNIS CAREER WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE TO BE EVIDENT, AND A TESTIMONY OF YOUR GREATNESS ABOVE ANY OTHER PLAYERS IS WELL RECOGNIZED AND YOU ARE THE ONE ULTIMATE TENNIS GENIUS GOAT IN HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) PAY ZERO ATTENTION TO THE BULLSHIT TV BROADCSAT BIAS REPLAYS TRYING TO FALSELY MANIPULATE PEOPLE’S IMPRESSIONS ON WHO IS THE GOAT……TRUST FULL HEARTDLY THAT TENNIS RECORDS DO NOT LIE…..TENNIS REPLAYS DO NOT LIE……TENNIS TOURNAMENTS LISTINGS AND DRAWS DO NOT LIE……YOU HAVE BEEN THE ULTIMATE TENNIS FORCE…….TENNIS GENIUS….AND TENNIS CLASSY BEAUTIFUL STAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) THE GOOD NEWS THAT ALL OTHER PLAYERS ARE AWARE OF ALL THAT YOU STAND HIGH ABOVE ALL……YOU EARNED 12 BRILLIANT FRENCH OPEN GS AND WHOEVER IS THE SUCKER WHO DECIDED WHAT REPLAYS WILL BE DISPLAYED, POORLY CHOSE TO SHOW THEY ONE YOU LOST….AND YESTERDAY, ONE THAT YOU WON WITH DIFFICULTY OF RAIN BREAKS ETC……..BUT ALL GLOBAL TENNIS FANS KNOW WHO YOU ARE SWEETHEART……AWARE OF YOUR BRILLIANT WINNING RECORD YOU ARE BLESSED WITH…..SO THESE MISLEADING TV REPLAYS DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS ARE TRULY UNEVENTFUL…….YOU ARE THE BRIGHT, PASSIONATE, STRONGEST AND MOST BELOVED TENNIS GOAT RAFA NADAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) YOU KNOW IT! WE KNOW IT! ALL TENNIS PLAYERS KNOW IT! ALL TENNIS OLD FARTS KNOW IT! ALL TENNIS ADMINISTRATIONS OVER THE YEARS KNOW IT! ALL THE PROFESSIONAL CHAIR UMPIRES KNOW IT! AND GUESS WHAT….ALL THE PATHETIC BORING MATCH COMMENTATORS BIAS IN THEIR COVERAGE KNOW IT! YOU RAFA NADAL KEEP DOING WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN BLISSFULLY DOING ALL ALONG…….IT WORKS FOR YOU SW3EETHEART…….HOLD YOUR PRECIOUS SPANISH HEAD WAY UP AND KEEP TRUSTING IN YOUR GOD GIVEN BRILLIANT ABILITY, TENACITY, DRIVE AND PASSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL……..IT IS DEEPLY MOVING TO SEE THAT NO MATTER WHAT BS POLITICAL TACTICS TAKE PLACE, YOU END UP ON TOP……TIME AND TIME AGAIN…….BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ULTIMATE BEST …..ULTIMATE TENNIS WORRIER……ULTIMATE CLASSY SPORTSMAN……ULTIMATE BELOVED WORLD WIDE ALL DUE TO YOUR HARD WORK, SWEAT, LOVE FOR TENNIS, AND LOVE FOR COMPETITION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART AND HAVE SUCH HIGH RESPECT AND REGARD FOR YOUR TENNIS INTEGRITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE SO SPECIAL RAFA NADAL……..WE LOVE YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL WEEK AND KEEP SMILING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
In the absence of any live tennis action, i’ve been watching “Players’ Cut Tennis” on Eurosport 2. This week it’s focusing on Rafa and some of his great victories. Although i would never tire of watching Rafa, i do feel like i’ve been robbed of most of this season’s tennis. Like the great man himself, i’m looking to 2021 for the resumption of play.
The possible resumption of the tour in August could really work against Rafa.
The Canada open (Rogers Cup) in Toronto is still on the schedule for the second week of August. More and more the USTA seems to want to go ahead with the US Open starting on August 31. Now there’s talk of having the Rome tournament prior to Roland Garros in September.
Note that Rafa is the defending champion for all four tournaments. First of all its too much tennis ( two Slams) in too short a period of time. Second Rafa could win three of the four and still lose points. As much as I want to see Rafa play for his sake I hope one or two of the four cancel (but not RG).
“I’m more concerned about the Australian Open (in January) than about what happens later this year. I see 2020 as practically lost. I have hope to be able to start next year, that’s what I wish.” Best wishes for you and best of luck
During his news conference today New York Governor Cuomo encouraged professional sports to resume without fans and said that the state would assist. He did not specifically mention tennis or the US Open but I think the odds of having the tournament take place on time this year without fans being present are much improved. It would be weird and Rafa would miss the encouragement he always gets from the crowd but I would still like his chances.
He mentioned the NBA, MLB and NFL which do not have any players travelling in from all over the world. Tennis is unique and should not be lumped in with those other sports.
I believe it would be very unwise for the us open to proceed even without fans.
You’re talking about 256 players in the main draw plus qualifiers if they intend it to be a proper Major tournament. Add in chair umpires, broadcasters and hundreds of other staff many of whom are also coming in from outside the U.S.
Why put all of those people at risk?
The reason to go forward is of course the TV revenue. RR is right that travel restrictions would have to be lifted and that will happen at some point. Previously there was talk of eliminating doubles and even limiting the field to 32. We will know soon enough- sometime in June.
My only point is don’t assume that the US Open is gone because it still could happen. And RG raises the same set of issues at the end of September.
As a season ticket holder I keep getting updates from the US OPEN saying that as of now the OPEN is still scheduled to play… Honestly I cannot imagine that is ever going to happen… As you know, New York was hit very hard with the virus and in my opinion having hundreds of thousands of people go to this event seems both stupid and dangerous… I honestly can’t see the Mayor of NYC and Governor of NY allowing this….
Even Rafa himself has said that going to a tournament is more than just playing… It’s travelling to a tournament, it’s staying in a hotel…it’s going out to restaurants, it’s meeting the fans… and so on…
The OPEN has said they will make an announcement by June 15th,,, In as much as I love my time there…I will not attend even if they say it’s going to happen…
My money is on its cancelling…. Time will tell…
Miss you Rafa…
Marileena- The talk in NYC now is to have the Open there without fans or to move it to Florida or Indian Wells (no fans) in order to capture the TV revenue. So there is no danger of thousands of fans crowding in to see it.
At best the chances of this happening are 50/50. They expect to make a decision in June.
Maybe Paris in October?
Hi David… that’s interesting as I have not heard anything like that… About 3 weeks ago a statement was released….
“ The US Open Tennis Championships will either be held with fans in attendance, or won’t be held at all.” That’s the message new USTA CEO Mike Dowse laid out in a conference call with reporters about the state of the the Grand Slam in New York in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. A decision will be released mid June….
Paris… mid October? I think that’s ambitious David.. but who knows…
I’d LOVE to watch some tennis… especially you know who… 🙂
Stay healthy… stay safe….
The Schedule portion of the site shows the Rogers Cup Toronto as canceled. The WTA side scheduled for Montreal has been canceled but not the men’s tournament in Toronto. Toronto is still a go as of May 13. Has Rafa’s team made any comment about Rogers Cup Toronto? Thanks for any info.
Rafa we miss you on the tennis court vamossssssssss champ 🎾🙏😘🇺🇸🎾🌎
Sad but real. It’s going to be a long haul to the AO next year, but I know Rafa will be patiet and disciplined.
Sad but true 😭
Rafael, gracias por tus contribuciones a la lucha contra la pandemia de coronavirus. Eres un héroe para la raza humana y una persona maravillosa. Y como una gran ventaja, eres un jugador de tenis fabuloso. Predigo que a tu regreso serás mejor que nunca.
Mallorca’s going to take a huge hit from the loss of tourism, and I’m sure Rafa’ll do anything he can to help people who are struggling as a result of that.
It’s very sad to think of practically a whole year’s tennis being wiped out, but he’s right. A lot of countries are imposing restrictions on people coming in from abroad, and some have banned sporting events until at least the autumn anyway. I’m very sorry for the players, especially those lower down the rankings who’ll struggle without a year’s earnings, plus all the coaches, physios, etc, but the situation is what it is.
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):):):):) OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA SWEETHEART!!!!:) GREAT YOU STOPPED FOLLOWING THE NEWS CLOSELY……GOOD MOVE!!!:) LOVED READING ABOUT YOUR AM AND PM SESSIONS……BEAUTIFUL…..KEEPS YOU SOLID AND STRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):) GO RAFA GO…..ENJOY EVERYTHING SWEETHEART…….WE HAD A FEELING YOU WOULD KEEP UP YOUR PRECIOUS WORKOUT AND FITNESS!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!:) KEEP YOUR PRECIOUS BRIGHT ATTITUDES AND SENSIBILITY !!!!:) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART AND TRUST THIS PHASE WILL SOON BE OVER……THERE ARE VALUABLE NEW LESSONS MERGING FROM TIME FOR REFLECTIVE THINKING…..MAY GOD HELP ALL THE BEREAVED FAMILIES EVERYWHERE AND KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS, AND THE BEAUTIFUL GORGEOUS OUTLOOK YOU HAVE. HAVE A NICE WEEKEND AND TAKE GOOD CARE!: ) XOXOXOXO VAMOS SWEETHEART AND LOTS OF HAPPINESS AND LOVE!!!!!!:)
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):):):):) GREAT YOU STOPPED FOLLOWING THE NEWS CLOSELY……GOOD MOVE!!!:) LOVED READING ABOUT YOUR AM AND PM SESSIONS……BEAUTIFUL…..KEEPS YOU SOLID AND STRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):) GO RAFA GO…..ENJOY EVERYTHING SWEETHEART…….WE HAD A FEELING YOU WOULD KEEP UP YOUR PRECIOUS WORKOUT AND FITNESS!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!:) KEEP YOUR PRECIOUS BRIGHT ATTITUDES AND SENSIBILITY !!!!:) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART AND TRUST THIS PHASE WILL SOON BE OVER……THERE ARE VALUABLE NEW LESSONS MERGING FROM TIME FOR REFLECTIVE THINKING…..MAY GOD HELP ALL THE BEREAVED FAMILIES EVERYWHERE AND KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS, AND THE BEAUTIFUL GORGEOUS OUTLOOK YOU HAVE. HAVE A NICE WEEKEND AND TAKE GOOD CARE!: ) XOXOXOXO
So glad to hear you speak out your thoughts. They are as precious as your tennis.
I love you Rafa. God bless you and health to you Maria and all your loved ones. Mary Lynn
I love your honesty. I have always said you are one of the greatest
World class tennis players,but you are q greater human being.
An extraordinary example of loving kindness🌸
vous nous manquez , j’attends avec impatience votre retour Vous êtes un homme bien , je vous aime en champion de tennis et aussi pour votre grand cœur
Rafa asi lo veo yo, pero cuando sea estsremos esperandote,