The “You Can’t Stop Us” advert – featuring 53 Nike athletes – is set to debut on US TV screens during the return of the NBA. Rafael Nadal, LeBron James, Serena Williams and Cristiano Ronaldo are among the big names to feature in the 90-second clip.
You can watch the Nike ad below. You’ll see our champ around the 20-second mark.
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Second paragraph …..a very wise decision…..
In a Q & A session with Tennis World, Rafa gave two reasons for his withdrawal from the US Open. As well as his concern that the virus situation in the US was not under control, he also referred to physical concerns. He expained “Going from hardcourt to clay, with hardly any preparation, is dangerous for my body and my future. If I am going to compete, all my senses have to be focused on competition to perform at my best, and it would have been difficult to achieve that”
So it’s clear that Rafa is thinking carefully about his health and longevity in the sport and we would expect nothing less from him. A very wise because we want to have the pleasure of watching our champ play for as long as its physically possible.
An intangible not mentioned here is the fact that Rafa usually has upward of ten family and team members supporting him at the stadium as well as thousands of fans. To only have Moya sitting in his box would be far from optimal. He stated that his “spirit” is lacking right now.
He would be more than capable of adjusting to the new reality but it certainly would not be ideal for him.
As of this moment the FO is still planning to allow a few thousand into Roland Garros.
David, there is no link to respond to your comment.
If it were a choice between Madrid and Rome, I agree that Rafa would choose Madrid but Rafa usually plays both tournaments and the FO. Even though he won’t gain points at this year’s Rome Masters, he LOVES clay and that may be the deciding factor for a tennis-starved 19-time Grand Slam champion. He is known to play and win a tournament without having played a warm-up but the stakes are very high for this FO so I can’t see him skipping Rome. Further, if he has something new in his repertoire he will definitely play Rome; he is always evolving.
Wishing him the best in whatever he decides.
Hi Margo. I agree with you that he will play at Rome. I just think he doesn’t need to get to the final or beat Djokovic in order to be ready for Paris.
Hi David, mea culpa, got lost after “matches.” Thanks.
According to SK, the Rome quarantine question has been resolved.
“The problem has since been alleviated by the recent Prime Ministerial Decree on 7 August. According to Article 1, paragraph (i) of the decree, athletes coming from countries for which quarantine has been mandated will only need a swab of a negative COVID-19 test – not earlier than 48 hours after arrival in Italy – to participate in an event.”
The quarantine change is good for one month. The Italian government will have to renew the relaxed quarantine rule in one month’s time so that players arriving after the USOPEN can play in Rome. And again, the virus can change everything.
I am hoping Rafa can hand Djokovic another bagel like in 2019.
I think Rafa would have preferred to play Madrid and then skip Rome. As it stands he needs to have a few competitive matches but Paris is more important than winning Rome (especially since Rafa can not gain points by winning Rome).
To state the obvious it will be interesting to see how Rafa and Carlos Moya decide to play it.
And who knows about London in November? What a year.
Or, Djokovic may revenge the Bagel, Margo…..who knows, eh?
We just have to wait for things to gradually unfold…He who wants it most will certainly get everything. Like Busted Head reminisced ”Fortune favours the Brave”
As always, we go game by game, match by match and day by day…..cheers
Your name says all we miss you on the court Rafa we love your fans for ever 🎾❤️😘👍🎾🙏❤️👍🎾
Yeah Margo, but are you really surprised at such dirty tactics (quid pro quo) used by Novak?
U know, Novak is a Machiavellian, every illegal means is legal as long as it gets you what you want. The end justifies the means. He has effectively employed such tactics in Tennis at various times against Andy Murray (remember the controversial AO Open finals of 2013,14); He also used it in the A0 2020 final against Dominic Thiem to good effect, feigning one sickness or the other to distract/ make the opponent lose rhythm and all.
He however doesn’t employ such tactics against Nadal especially after discovering that the solution to Nadal is to rush him, unsettle him, take the ball early and make effective counter-attacks and shot making. This has worked so well especially on the hard courts of AO and grass of Wimby and no thanks to Rafa’s knees.
It seems he’s fighting tooth and nail to ensure he plays in both the USO and the FO. He must have reckoned that by AO 2021 he would have matched RF’s record of 20 slams! Well, we’ll see whether that is possible or impossible.
But with this pandemic, nobody really knows what can happen tomorrow and that is precisely why I ‘m so annoyed with Rafa for coming out so early to announce his withdrawal from the USO. It was really a bad move, very jejune, tactless and I can only hope Rafa will not regret it at the end of the day.
Having said all that, it is important to mention that life itself is so full of risks here and there, and at times, it is he who is ready to die to achieve his goals that may ultimately win. But Rafa is too much of a gentle man. Roger is also a risk taker like Novak, and were it not for his knee surgery, he would have long thrown his hat into the USO ring.
Novak is a cunny, little snake and he’s not called the Djoker for nothing. On and off-court, he is aware and can cope with all the convolutions, emotions, machiavelism, psychology and mind games that are involved to be crowned the GOAT of Tennis.
Fortune always favour the brave even in a Pandemic. Novak is ready to die to win the greatest crown of all – The G.O.A.T in Tennis.
Your name says it all.
I think Rafa made the right call on the US Open and not just because of the virus. As he has said recently going from hard court to clay so quickly could have been a problem for his knees. Also Rafa needs rest and preparation prior to a major, just like most players. If he had tried to compete in New York and Paris he easily might have failed to win either and end up injured.
Perhaps it’s possible that Djokovic could win both but I doubt it. If he makes if to the second week in New York I think his chances at Roland-Garris would be lessened.
I am concerned that Rafa needs a competitive match prior to Paris but I am also sure that Rafa and his coaches will figure that out.
Wooooow! Steady on.That’s a bit harsh. I’m not a fan of Novak’s but he he has a choice. Yes, we all know he’s so hungry to surpass Roger’s tally of 20 grand slams and it’s up to him (just like other players) whether he plays the US Open. Even though the press states that Novak will make his final decion about playing, he isn’t going to pass up on this golden opportunity. In any event, it’s not a foregone conclusion that Novak will win the title, as there are many talented young top players in the hunt – most of them have had match practice during this covid period and have become more confident. In fact, i’ll be betting that it’ll be the first grand slam title for the winner.
As for Rafa, it wasn’t a rash decision to withdraw, but rather a carefully thought out one which I’m happy with and respect. He has absolutely nothing to prove and has erred on the side of caution, so that he can be as fit as possible for RG. Fingers crossed it goes ahead.
Busted Head, Rafa has put the 2020 USOPEN behind him.
To call Rafa’s timing “jejune” because of when he announced he will not participate in the USOPEN may be indicative of how little you understand the champion in the man and I’ll tell you why.
Rafa made his decision after assessing the risks involved if he came to the US. Why should he continue to wait to publicly announce it during such a tumultuous time for sports in general and tennis in particular. As far as I’m concerned, Rafa is not one to play such a game.
For all we know, his mindset is CLAY, and the health of his family, himself included.
It’s also possible that tournament officials were badgering him to hurry his decision; after all, he is the reigning champion and NY loves him.
I feel he made the right decision at the right time because it also serendipitously freed him from the controversy-ridden USOPEN. He can be VERY pleased with himself.
I hope 13 is as lucky a number for Rafa as it has been for me. Hoping Paris is in a much better position when it comes time to play.
RAFA ROCKS
There are now reports that Nole will try to organise a boycott of the US Open unless players are guaranteed exemption from quarantine. It may just be the media making things up, but, if it’s true, I won’t be very impressed, especially after what happened with the Adria Tour – it gives the impression of being a lot more concerned about avoiding personal inconvenience than about the safety of others.
Setinthepast i agree. if it’s true and Novak does decide to head a boycott then I’ll have some choice words to say about him. At a time when his credibility is dented by the Adria Tour and he’s trying so desperately hard to be loved, it would be a disasterous move.
I understand that some players are happy that it’ll be safe if the bio-secure bubble operates effectively, as has been done for the cricket Test matches, and I also understand that lower-ranked players need to earn some money. If players are happy to play, then that’s their choice. But demanding exemption from quarantine regulations is very arrogant. It’s not even up to the USTA: it’s up to the authorities in each individual country. The US Tennis Association doesn’t have the power to make the governments of Serbia, Austria, the UK or anywhere else grant exemptions from quarantine! Or to demand that the Italian government let them all play in Rome without 2 weeks’ quarantine.
World #7 Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands has also withdrawn from the USOPEN.
If anyone is interested, you can read the USOPEN waiver be signed by players and team members alike. It’s is a masterpiece in exempting the tournament from any liability. WOW
Correction: to be signed; it is
Now Dirk Hordorff, the vice president of the German Tennis Federation, states he participated in the video conference with players and admitted there was grumbling about the cancellation of the Madrid Masters and Washington Open tournaments but “no talk of a threatened strike.”
He unambiguously refutes the idea that players would intentionally miss the Cincinnati Masters and the USOPEN, as suggested by Marca.
It is either sloppy reporting or someone is not being truthful. If I was incorrect about a quid pro quo I stand corrected.
The clock is ticking.
RAFA ROCKS SMART DECISION
OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA AND VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) BY GREAT FORTUNE YOUR 1/4 FINAL 2019 US OPEN MATCH W MARTIN C. SHOWED UP ON MY YOUTUBE SO I AM HAPPY TO BE WATCHING YOUR BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT TENNIS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOVE THE GORGEOUS RETURNS TO HIS 1ST SERVE……SPIKY, SHARP AND BRILLIANTLY PLACED….WE LOVE YOU DEAR RAFA AND SO IMPRESSED WITH YOUR GORGEOUS TALENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) HAD TO WRITE AND SHARE WITH YOUR FANS THIS BEAUTIFUL MATCH……VAMOS SWEETHEART AND HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX YOU ARE SO FIT AND SPEEDY AND PRECIOUSLY FOCUSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Here we are discussing the insouciance of the male players. However…I guess Serena hasn’t seen any of Dr. Fauci’s interviews in which he mentions the higher rate of Covid-19 deaths for people with co-morbidity issues: she has a history of blood clots. Being a Black person may also lessen her chances of survival were she to contract the virus. The co-morbidity point has been in ALL the news from day one.
She has a 2-1/2-year-old daughter.
WHAT IS SHE THINKING! 24?
In Serena’s latest interview she states that she is taking extra vitamins so that if something happens she will get the good strain of the virus. That statement clearly shows that she hasn’t listened to any infectious diseases specialists at all.
She also admits to already having lung issues. Certainly hope that none of her social media followers believe that what she is doing can in any way help lessen the severity of Covid-19 as there is no evidence to back that up.
Sometimes it’s okay to be a risk taker but not during a pandemic.
Stan Wawrinka and Elina Svitolina are the latest players to pull out of the US Open. No doubt there will be more to come.
I was surprised to see Stan as a USOPEN entrant but he may have withdrawn.
“I don’t want to go to the United States under these conditions,” Wawrinka told RTS.
“There is a health situation that is particular in New York. And the sequence of tournaments which follows after the US Open will be tough.
“If the Washington tournament had been maintained, we would have been entitled to a real tour. It could have played on my choice.
“Finally, there are all the uncertainties related to the quarantine issue. There are still many questions and doubts about the holding of the US Open.”
That was probably the Kia Motors promo he did a couple of weeks ago. Interesting personal info about his likes and dislikes but nothing news worthy about his plans for the tour in 2020.
Who knows what will happen? When all the balls are thrown up in the air, we can only wait and see where they land.
Hello everyone,
I was looking at a 58-minute-video on YouTube yesterday where Rafa has been interviewed but I could not hear what he was saying. Has someone seen it ? Has he told more about his plans ?
Hope that you are all OK and protecting yourself from the heat by drinking.
Queens County is not Manhattan.
The governor of New York State gave the ATP/WTA an OK to stage the USOPEN. The venue is in Queens County, and not in Manhattan, which players undoubtedly know. However, there is a stark difference in infection rates between the two locations.
As of July 26, there were
44.0 positive tests per thousand people
80% greater than City average
3.9 deaths per thousand people
83% greater than city average
in the 11368 ZIP code of Corona.
In total, 4,941 of the 22,945 people tested had a positive result; 443 people who tested positive have died.
Note: Only a minority of people who show symptoms are tested, so the actual number of positive cases is higher.
The ZIP code above is for one small area in Queens where the tennis stadiums are located.
I wonder if the ATP and WTA are giving players and their teams accurate and comparative data.
Rafa made a prudent decision, says his uncle Toni.
“Tennis is not like football. In football, they move 24 hours earlier, play, and leave. In a tournament, you can spend more than 25 days and in 25 days you have many opportunities to be in contact with the virus.” Toni said.
RAFA ROCKS PRUDENCE
Problem solved. Why don’t we just let the tennis players make up the rules.
Another “perceived” nail in the coffin is that the USTA updated a point last week in its list of protocols. This said that if a member on a player’s team is COVID-19 positive, the player will be disqualified from the Western and Southern Open and the US Open. Players are also fighting against this protocol.
Rafa is to be admired for avoiding this whole mess by valuing his health more than his tennis ambitions.
The petulance and entitlement being displayed by the top 20 is shameful. Following their arrogant leader is not a good look for any of them.
This virus has exposed people for who they truly are.
100% Correct.
I’ve been hoping that Rafa will be able to play the FO, his favorite playground but I just read a NYTimes article stating France’s increasingly high infection rate. Yesterday it recorded 1,695. Starting this month, it’s daily count averages 1,242 which is almost the same level of infections it had in May when the country was still under lockdown.
Please don’t be a washout Paris.
According to the AP, Italian Tennis Federation president Angelo Binaghi has put in a request to the sports minister that players from the US be exempt from quarantine.
The following points are either in discussion or will be considered according to Binaghi:
*After Madrid canceled, the ATP approached Rome organizers with an expansion proposal. ATP would cover extra costs [prize money, etc.].
*Increase the ATP field from 64 to 96
[the WTA will remain a 64-player draw]
*3 more days of competition
*Having 17,000 fans per day at Foro Italico was rejected last month by the Italian government’s technical and scientific committee. It ORDERED no fans.
To date, Italy continues to register 200-300 new cases daily, many of them imported by returning workers or migrants.