Rafael Nadal was all class after his stunning loss in the French Open semifinals:
‘That’s sport, you know. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I tried to give my best. Probably was not my best day out there. Even if I fought, that I put in a lot of effort, I mean, the position on the shots haven’t been that effective tonight. Against a player like him that takes the ball early, you are not able to take him out of his positions, then is very difficult, no?
‘Even like this, I had the big chance with set point, 6-5, second serve. That’s it. Anything could happen in that moment. Then I make a double-fault, easy volley in the tiebreak. But it’s true that have been crazy points out there. The fatigue is there, too, no?
‘These kind of mistakes can happen. But if you want to win, you can’t make these mistakes. So that’s it. Well done to him. Have been a good fight out there. I try my best, and today was not my day.’
‘Have been amazing, the support, no? I can’t thank enough the feelings. I have been super tired some moments, but the crowd gave me some energy to keep going, no?
‘Yeah, it’s super emotional for me to feel the love of the people in the most important place of my tennis career, without a doubt. So thanks a lot to them.’
Source: metro.co.uk
I’m a long-time fan of Rafa and have followed almost every match of Rafa’s. I’ve played tournament tennis for a long time myself and think that I know something about the sport. The defeat against Djokovic hit me very much, because Djokovic has an impossible behavior for me on the tennis court, against his own box as well as against his opponents and he is obsessed with outdoing Rafa and Roger. From a human point of view, he will never achieve it. For me the main problem was that the match went into the evening and the effect of the topspin is much worse, Rafa said at the press conference. With that he couldn’t drive Djokovic out of the court, as usual. Had he played around noon, he would have won. If you play yourself, you know how much the topspin depends on the weather and that is Rafa’s weapon. And Guy Forget said 2 days ago that Rafa was injured on his foot in the fourth set. You can see that clearly in the pictures. Rafa kept it secret because he has character, a Djokovic would have given up. My feeling is not that good as I think Rafa is seriously considering quitting. But not because of this Djokovic please, especially now. As long as the body goes along with it. By the way, my son is also called Rafael 😉
I play tennis and live Rafa. I din’t think Djokovic is a nice man and I honestly don’t believe his sudden surge in strength and stamina is down to a gluten free diet. He’s desperate to top Rafa and Roger as you rightly say and I think he’ll do anything to achieve it. I had to turn the match off when I realised what was going to happen. Dear Rafa looked tired. It has really upset me and I feel Rafa is near the end and I’ll miss him so much.
Love and thank you..I try not to show my sadness for Rafa.. And you have helped me so much. I own all the color masks and his white jacket.. All the shirts.. Please don’t leave yet Rafa yet please be well and take care of you and your family❤️❤️❤️❤️
rafa will find solutions next year at RG and i think he will skip Wimbeldon 2021 and AO 2022
I’m so sad and heartbroken Rafa we are with you loser or winning is ok you are not machine we support you vamosssssss next 👍👍👍💪💪💪❤️🇺🇸🎾
Here’s a silver lining: To watch Rafa lose with such grace, even in such an important match and to such an annoying opponent, is a wonderful lesson for all of us. You may have lost the match, Rafa, but you gave the world something great with the strength, kindness and integrity you show in all situations.
You are and always will be the best ever. You are an example of excellence to young players (and people in general) everywhere. I wondered why you weren’t serving to his forehand? He was predicting you wouldn’t and you didn’t. But regardless, you are the best in so many ways. I think it would be kismet if you won Wimbledon. 🙂 God bless you.
Love you Rafa. Win or lose. You will forever be number 1 and the winner in my heart. God bless you Rafa. Love. Mary Lynn
So sad that Rafa lost, especially to Djokovic. I dread the time when Rafa eventually decides to retire but with Tsitsipas in the ascendancy (not to mention Medvedev, Zverev and Sinner) it is inevitably going to get harder for Rafa to win the French Open again. I really hope he can but he will be 36 next year. He played some great matches on clay this season, wining Barcelona and Rome, against very tough young opponents but recovery takes longer as you get older. He said himself he was tired. Rafa is unique, not only because of his outstanding achievements on clay but also because no-one plays like the King of Clay. (I never tire of watching him hit his topspin forehand winners down the line.) Let’s enjoy every moment and leave the recriminations to others. He has earned and deserves our full support, always. Fingers crossed for Tsitsipas tomorrow.
I so agree. I was close to tears last night and has to switch off in the end. I just couldn’t bear to see djockovic’s smug face. There’ll never be another player like Rafa and I’ve followed him from when he was just a teenager. He is a really special player and an even more special human being. He’s the best in my book and nobody can touch him. C’mon Tsitsipas!
Well…what I can say. I feel disappointed and sad…but ..Come on,Stefano
I can’t stand to see Rafa lose at any of the tournaments. I also can’t stand Djokovic, he has no class in my humbled opinion. I’m praying 🙏 Tsitsipas defeats the Joker in the French Open final.
Rafa is always a class act. He will win more slams.
Last time Djokovic defeated Rafa in the Quarters at the French in 2015, he went on to lose to Wawrinka in the finals.
Let’s hope history repeats itself?
I hope so too! 😃❤👍
Thank you for this post. You’ve said my feelings exactly. Stef is our future.. And pray for victory tomorrow.. Thank you.
“Today was not my day.”🙏for a courageous effort, Rafael Nadal. Your accomplishments will never
be diminished. We expect the impossible from you, and that is to always win. We are saddened, but
we are not broken. You lost, but you are not abandoned. As long as you continue to fight, we are
there💪👏👍🤛🔥🎾❤️
Well said Isabel!👍
Thankful Rafa is still playing and fighting at age 35.🙏🥰
I was devastated at Rafa’s loss but at least he has still not lost a final there. I had to switch off just before the end, couldn’t bear to actually see him lose.
Is he playing at Queens or Hale I can’t find any information about this.
Same here; I had to switch off. It’s worse when it’s Djokovic too. I fear he won’t win another major now and ND looks unbeatable and I still truly believe it’s nothing to do with a gluten free diet but something else entirely. His best pal, Sharapova was found out after many years and I hope he gets found out too. Rafa will always be King to me.
@Lesley Jackson
Djokovic is very very careful what enters his body, no way he does drugs. If you listen to his interviews you will believe this too
You may believe that but I don’t. I remember his sudden increase in form and ability to last for hours. That is not just down to gluten free diet. I play tennis and know people in tennis and they believe “he juices”. He never used to have these rages either. His close friend Sharapova got caught after many years using so it wouldn’t come as any surprise to find out Djokovic does. Andy Murray has said before that there’s too much drug use in tennis.
@Lesley Jackson
Novak was always angry?!?!?!?
He also could last long matches before 2011, before 2011 he played:
6 semi-finals and 2 finals in grand slam tournaments, there he played lots of long matches.
Sometimes he faked injury, so maybe thats why you think that he didnt have stamina
I disagree. I remember him well. He was always good and very likeable then he suddenly turned into a machine and got very angry. Some of his behaviour is appalling. I truly believe he’s a drugs cheat.
Am an avid fan of champ Rafa.👏👏 Felt sad truly sad.😞😞 Am not that selfish person but I always long for Rafa’s winning every match he’s in. As champ Rafa said sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I guess there’s someone out there awaiting for this amazing moment of a lifetime.
I hate to see Rafa lose to the Joker but wow is Rafa a fighter! He nearly pulled off a minor miracle in that third set.
I hope Rafa is not personally too devastated by the loss. Maybe a little blue for a few days. I can’t wait to see him at Wimbledon. He can get 21 there or at the U.S. Open.
David, I agree on all of your points but am starting to worry about his recovery from one difficult match to another. Let’s see how it goes and which tournaments he will play. Feeling bad for him.
Heartbroken for this wonderful player and person. Small margins at times but Djokovic better on the night. Most of his fans are obnoxious, Rafa has mega support. Rafa left with dignity and class. Rest Rafa and we will still support you and hold you in our 💕.
Before the end of the tie breaker in the 3rd set, I couldn’t keep my eyes open and surrendered to sleep.
It was a fatal mistake on my part. I’ve always felt all these years, that so long as I am there supporting you in spirit, you’d always prevail….
Let’s cry a little, then dust ourselves off, and as I have said time and time again: “NEXT, RAFA!”
My son and myself have been sitting here in London , with our Rafa shirts on , and were supporting our unique sporting hero with all our hearts ! It was not to be , that is sport , and you most definitely are not a machine or a robot !
We saw Novak, a disturbingly crazy man, pulling weird faces, screaming with anger at his box , who a German sports writer called a Werwolf after he screamed at length at the end of the Berettini match.
And we saw our Rafa – and what you see is what you get : kind ,brave , passionate , fair, fighting till the end, gracious even in defeat and saying a proper good- bye to the crowd,
Rafa , thank you ! You light up our life and we are sad with you . That was that and tomorrow is another day : Vamos , dear Rafa , you are the greatest !!! ⭐️😍🍀
FUCK YOU you sick fuck
Quite obviously, you are the sick one. I hope that someone discovers your illness soon.
No fan of Rafa would ever submit such a comment. Keep your offensive and unwarranted remarks to yourself or go elsewhere.
N.D. fans are as uncouth as he is. Birds of a feather…
WTF? If you have nothing constructive to say, maybe you should keep it to yourself. Just saying. 🤔
👍
So sad and heartbroken😭😭
Estuviste como los grandes,pero tienes razón,así es el deporte.
Gracias por esa calidad de persona y de profesionalismo.
We all love you anyways Rafa, no?
Absolutely.. We love you . You were great and the draw ridiculous.. No one week ever catch you!