(AFP) – Rafael Nadal said he had enjoyed a “positive tournament” at the Paris Masters as he gears up for his latest tilt at a first ATP Tour Finals triumph, despite losing to Alexander Zverev on Saturday.
The top seed slumped to a 6-4, 7-5 loss to Zverev in the semi-finals at Bercy Arena, but said his run this week would help him at the season-ending event in London, which starts on November 15.
“It has been a positive tournament for me. Of course not happy about the loss, but that’s part of the game,” said Nadal, who has also never won the Paris Masters.
“I spent hours on court. Of course I wanted to win the tournament, but it’s always difficult. But I had the right attitude during the whole event, I think, fighting in every match. That gave me the chance to play four matches that I think will be helpful for London. I need to adjust a couple of things, but I am doing well on all the important things.”
Rafa has only won one of his 86 ATP titles on indoor hard courts and that success came in Madrid over 15 years ago.
“I need to find a better feeling with the backhand on this surface, because when I hit the ball sometimes I feel that I can miss it,” he admitted.
“To compete at this highest level, sometimes it’s a little bit tougher.”
Source: AFP
Hello every Rafa fans,
I wanted to tell you about strange things that happened in my flat these years which never happened before here, nor to the neighbors.
As I was working in a company dealing in the chemical field, my boss that I met maximum only once a month if I remember well, asked me to watch in my colleagues files. I should actually not replace a lady on Wednesday, but I did it. The correspondant abroad and her did not put the right prices in the computer so that I had to be very careful by doing the job. The same happened with the lady I replaced. She did not tell me but I realised that the prices had to be changed. I was told that someone had spent some time in this department and had critized them. She had no problems in her future jobs. I have not critized them at all. I have even told them to be sure everything was OK with their files as the boss wanted me to replace them during holidays.
I did not want to take anyone’s job. I told them from the beginning. This boss had the reputation to fire people. One of their colleague had been fired after she trained.
My proposal to save money was linked to substantiality. The project should be led by the transport responsible who did not seem to be pleased with that. I would have be very pleased to lead this project at this time.
Anyway, concerning my flat. I could see clouds of insects in my place : butterflies at night, flies and even wasps in my bedroom. The firemen refused to come to help me fix the problems so I had to take information from the library.
Lately, I could see a unique cockroach about the washing machine, near the wall that is common with my young neighbors. If I remember well, one of the owner living in building 4 told me about cockroaches in the flat but during all those years, I have never seen any here and since that day, where I took it, threw it immediately. A few days later, my young neighbors told me that they had lost, again, the key of the rubbish room. I have heard that they used to keep their rubbish bags before putting them in the dedicated room.
I had also difficulties to open this room for a reason that I ignore but I used to throw my garbage every day, even twice a day.
You can notice changes when newcomers arrive.
And when I was doing all those projects with people of this town, (I have worked on several sites), one of the responsible told me about people who worked on the chemical field but did not want to tell his/her name.
Has anyone ordered the new green 20 mask Rafa is wearing? It’s a cool one isn’t it?
FANS’ FAVORITE AWARDS
Voting is now open for fans to vote for their favorite ATP player in singles and a doubles team. Voting closes on December 11 at 11:59PM, GMT.
You can caste your ballot(s) on the ATP site.
Rafa and Diego practicing now (half an hour later than scheduled). Live stream on Youtube. I haven’t watched the practice courts for a couple of years, the quality is quite good now. Definitely brightens up a cold, dark, rainy, windy Saturday!
The ATP has now released a statement on domestic abuse. “The ATP fully codemns any form of violence or abuse. We expect all members of the tour to do the same, and to refrain from any conduct that is violent, abusive or puts others at risk. In circumstances where allegations of violence or abuse are made against any member of the Tour, legal authorities investigate and due process is applied, we then review the outcome and decide the appropriate course of action otherwise, we are unable to comment further on specific allegations.”
Sascha Zverev was asked about the domestic abuse allegations at an ATP Finals press conference and made a pre-prepared statement refuting the allegations.
There is an interesting discussion on this issue on the Tennis Podcast on Acast (posted 14th November).
I don’t think they singled out domestic abuse if the ESPN and Reuters’ articles are correct. Of course, the ATP’s statement most likely was prompted by the Zverev and Basilashvili allegations
However, I haven’t forgotten the felony battery charge made against Justin Gimelstob who was, at the time, an ATP board of directors member. He plead no contest to attacking Randall Kaplan, a former friend. I didn’t see one article by the ATP acknowledging this. Had the ATP issued a statement at the time, maybe we wouldn’t be faced with seemingly ATP insouciance regarding these two latest alleged incidents of violence.
What is unclear in their statement is what will guide them in making any decisions about a Tour member against whom allegations are made; the Tour’s investigations or the outcome of a court case. By its statement it seems the ATP is talking about the outcome of a court case for guidance.
I also noted that the ATP included “…. refrain from any conduct that…. puts others at risk.” Could this mean court behavior? I hope so.
There is a link to the ATP rule book on @opencourt after the Pospisil v Sinner post.
Some pertinent passages (paraphrased) : page 204 A player shall not at any time physically abuse any other person within the precinct of the tournament site.
Page 199: the tournament site includes player hotels.
Page 185: The ATP shall make a reasonable investigation.
They are not following their own rule book for some reason. They do not have to wait for the outcome of a legal investigation.
Rafa on Twitter.
Nikolaus Fink
@NikolausFink
Rafael Nadal before the start of the #NittoATPFinals: “I don’t know how close I was to a perfect preparation. The four matches in Bercy should help and I have two more days to prepare for a tough opening match against Rublev.“
More from Nadal: “The experience to play the finals in London has been one of the best. It was one of the best events. The ATP did a great job in choosing London. It is not fair to finish the finals without crowd. But an event like this needs to move around the world.
Rafa also said that the best opportunity to win in London was maybe last year when he was in great form in Paris. Added that he had “he best preparation possible“ and the opening match against Rublev will be key.
As is his custom before a match, he’s busy practicing and acclimating to the court. There’s a clip of him practicing with Tsitsipas and his academy tweeted that he practiced with ND.
GOOD LUCK RAFA
The teams look pretty evenly balanced to me. Regardless of who Rafa faces, he needs to be quick out of the starting block.
David, yours @6:52pm
I see what you mean and it does make sense.
I’m thinking that they all pose strong threats so I’m not even looking at the rankings. I hope it’s not a failure on my part.
Isn’t a draw random, though?
You are right Margo that it is random except 1. and 2. are placed on opposite teams to begin with. After that there are just six to be assigned randomly. With such a limited number it is not surprising that the random draw matches perfectly with the rankings.
Go RAFA!
Sunday’s Matches that were posted on Twitter.
ATP Media Info
@ATPMediaInfo
· 11m
#NittoATPFinals begins Sunday with Group London 2020.
2 pm: [3] @ThiemDomi vs [6] @StefTsitsipas
8 pm: [2] @RafaelNadal vs [7] @AndreyRublev97
Rafa vs Andrey match: Sunday, November 15, 8pm local time, 12pm pacific time
Vamos Rafa💪🍀❤️
Projected singles for first matches:
Group A
ND vs Diego
Medvedev vs Zverev
Group B
Rafa vs Rublev
Thiem vs Tsitsipas
GOOD LUCK 🍀 RAFA
Margo, I will be rooting for Rafa against Andrey 100% 😉
Oh, cheering for Diego 100% as well!
Mimiiii
Finally some excitement here LOL.
Yes, Rafa better win or I’ll jump ship [joking]😂
Hoping Diego is rested so he can win his match too.
GO RAFA
GO DIEGO
I had forgotten how this goes. Looks like one group plays two matches each day for the RR portion of the tournament.
I thought it was one match from each group per day. Duuuuhhh
ATP FINALS DRAW
Group Tokyo
Group Tokyo 1970
1)
@DjokerNole
4)
@DaniilMedwed
5)
@AlexZverev
8)
@dieschwartzman
Group London 2020
2)
@RafaelNadal
3)
@ThiemDomi
6)
@StefTsitsipas
7)
@AndreyRublev97
WOW
Looking at this draw, it’s hard to argue that Rafa could have gotten a weaker draw. All are strong.
GOOD LUCK RAFA
Seems to me that the draw followed the rankings almost? entirely, Nole drawing the weaker and Rafa the stronger This is not a complaint; it seems fair but by appearance it is not a random draw after 1. and 2. are placed on opposite sides.
I am not wishing or predicting anything, but I recently posted that it’s possible Domi and Stefanos may have some lingering health issues: both players are in his group.
ROOTING FOR RAFA
The ATP Finals draw is today, Thursday, at 4.45pm GMT.
YAAY… RAFA has arrived in London @ATP TOUR
Good luck RAFAMAZING
🤗
Mimi, have you seen any updates on Tsitsipas’s leg injury and Domi’s blisters? I hope both the players are all healed because it would be a shame to have them drop out.
Looking forward to a hot contest among these top 8.
GOOD LUCK🍀RAFA
RAFA ROCKS
Hi Margo, I haven’t. Best wishes to both, and of course good luck to Rafa🍀❤️
YES. And it looks like Maria Francisca is there with him. She is always such a good luck charm.
Wishing them all the best for their stay in London. May it be fruitful.
😍