ARTICLES:
McEnroe: “All of a sudden things have fallen into place for Rafa who has to be the humblest, classiest champion of almost any athlete I’ve ever seen in any sport. It’s well-deserved for a guy to do this like Rafa Nadal, you can see how much it meant to him to get to the finals again.”
Becker: “What a legend of our sport. Two months ago it was uncertain whether he would be able to continue playing at all after his serious ankle operation – and then he comes to Australia and plays his best tennis. I don’t think Nadal was thinking about his 21st Grand Slam title before the semi-final. He is more relaxed about it than Novak Djokovic.
“He says, I’m happy that I still can play tennis and that I’m in the final in Australia. But that will change now. Rafa has two nights before the final and he will be thinking about the 21. However, Rafa is an absolute superstar and will be able to handle it.”
- Berrettini: ‘I Will Learn From Rafa Defeat’ | ATP Tour
With 20 Grand Slam titles under his belt, Nadal is an obvious role model for Berrettini in his pursuit for further success. “Just look at the numbers,” said 2021 Wimbledon finalist Berrettini. “I don’t know how many semi-finals Rafa has played, but I know that he has more experience in this.
“We chatted a little bit in the locker room. He told me that it was a great run, and I told him again, bravo. It’s just really nice for me to talk to him and have this kind of conversation, because I’m still learning from him, and it’s good.”
VIDEOS:
Rafa was crying in his hand trying to hide it. You could see how much this meant to him. We heard him say: “I wasn’t sure if I was able to play tennis again.” You could see that come pouring out of him. I love the match he played.
Lindsay Davenport
Social media related to Rafa:
Goodbye first set!
Medvedev game plan at the moment is to simply serve well and wait for the Rafa errors.
Our champ needs to clean up his errors and he’ll be fine.
This second set is a must win for Rafa now. Take it champ!
He is sweating too much ~hope he doesn’t get heatstroke again. The humidity is 60% & Rafa is sweating profusely.
Wow what a game finally… point of the tournament for 40-15…he breaks
Rafa is nervous because he knows the calibre of his opponent. He’s has to serve better and get a grip pdq.
The first set is gone terrible set to much unforced errors bad serving also
The second set hé needs to serve much beter more free points and why is hé playing long rallies
Hi all!
My streaming is intermittent today but it’s looking like Rafa’s serve and forehand are malfunctioning so far… His serve has already been broken.
No matter. It’s early days yet and Rafa will settle in and work his way into the match.
First set gone Mac…Rafa is not playing great so far but you are right…he can settle in
Nadal is nit serving well
Medvedev playing very aggressive from the outset
So far so good to hold the service
Let’s go Rafa, Let’s go Rafa!! Vaaaamooos!!!
Good luck Rafa
You can never under-estimate Rafa and his will to win. I personally think he can win the final (later today) and I will be cheering him on. But regardless I am so proud of him and his terrific run during this AO and so grateful that he is back on the tour and thriving!!
When Rafa was playing in the final for #20 (French Open 2020), he played great in that French Open final, indoors on clay, smoked Novak in straight sets. I expect him to make a strong showing in the AO Final.
The tennis pundits are clear they dont think that rafa will win tomortow thats why if rafa pulls upset tomorrow it will be history
When Rafa is the favorite, which is most of the time, I get nervous and anxious for him.
As the underdog as he will be in the match starting in eight hours, I am calm and relaxed. As relaxed as can be waking up at 2a.m.!
For this tournament, I didn’t do any of my usual silly superstitious things to try and bring Rafa good luck, like buying flowers that match his outfit… but there are now some purple ones on the table tonight. They’re just to celebrate his achievement in reaching the final. It was unimaginable to me, but Rafa has made it happen. Tomorrow? Lo que será, será. Vamos Rafa!!
Rafael Nadal-you bit that boomerang Melbourne trophy, and stoked the fire. We are elated to witness your success. AO is not about the hype; it is about you overcoming injury, Covid, doubt; still standing,
still fighting, still owning it.💪 Pure emotion after your semi-final win. We see you, Rafa. Those smouldering embers are now a raging wildfire. This belongs to you🪃❤️🔥
On the Rafa-Medvedev match tomorrow, honestly I really do not see Rafa beating Medvedev. Yes, 3,4,5 years ago, Rafa would have taken Medvedev to the cleaners, but not anymore. Medvedev has come of age now and fully knows/understand what it takes to win a GS.
Unless a miracle happens, i do not see Rafa triumphing tomorrow. Let all Rafa fans pray hard for a miracle for Rafa.
Medvedev is favorite on the paper. But he is not untouchable.
Semi-final: 7-6 4-6 6-4 6-1 vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas
Quarter-final: 6-7 3-6 7-6 7-5 6-4 vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime
Fourth round: 6-2 7-6 6-7 7-5 vs. Maxime Cressy
Third round: 6-4 6-4 6-2 vs. Botic van de Zandschulp
Second round: 7-6 6-4 4-6 6-2 vs. Nick Kyrgios
First round: 6-1 6-4 7-6 vs. Henri Laaksonen
If Felix could shake his game, Rafa also can do the same. And please go somewhere else to spread your negativity.
Thanks, Emily!🙏
Thanks Emily. My thoughts exactly. The Snake needs to move on.
Ditto to Emily’s reply……
Funny that, Medvedev has regressed actually. Did you witness his behaviour on court versus Tsitsipas?
Ugh… slither away snake.
You predicted that Rafa would not beat Shapovalov and yet here we are.
Take your unique brand of negativity elsewhere.
MSI, when Rafa gets through with Medvedev, Medvedev will be world #21!
Medvedev has received a $12,000 fine for his insult-slinging tirade during his match vs Tsitsipas.
Those punishments are ridiculus. What is 12,000 dollars for the guy who already earned 1,575,000. But who cares for Medvedev. We are here to cheer on Rafa!
Also, Denis has been fined $8,000 for his outburst, and $4,000 for abusing his racquet.
❤❤🙏🏼🙏🏼 & everything that’s good! Rafa is not the favorite to win but I know he can! With his improved serving ~ his mental toughness an all the Aussie fans behind him Rafa will take Daniil down!
I think Rafa is playing on a mentally higher level because of the following:
“I feel alive again in terms of competitive spirit; I missed that feeling and I’m enjoying it. The pressure it not much for me now, I never believed that I will have the chance to be where I am today. So I’m just enjoying every single moment and of course trying my best.”
THE VERY BEST RAFA
Great to know tennis world is still not out of superlatives for Rafa!
Vamos champ Rafa. You can do it.
Fly Rafa fly. Do it again because THE GLORY IS WAITING FOR YOU ✨🌈. You shine more than ever, even everyone in Australia want you to win. Everyone ‘s melting with you, everybody, at your feet cause you are MARVELOUS 🙏🏻😌.
Vamos Rafa be ruthless.
Estamos siempre contigo, te queremos 🤗.
Lucha, gana, levanta los brazos y mira al cielo…
VAMOSSSSSSSSS Rafa!!!! ⚡💪🏻💪🏻💥☘️🍀🌊🌈🔥🔥
Rafa is the ultimate in manners and humility. What an exceptional athlete.
Rafa, you are Simply The Best…..such an inspiring individual, with obviously sound foundations in life, so humble and always a pleasure to watch and listen to. All the very best Rafa for the finals. You can do it……
Vamos Rafa❤️
Note the difference in attitude between Berrettini and Shapo.
Yes, David. Perhaps Denis can learn a thing or two from his buddy, Felix?
Good luck to Rafa always!❤️ Vamos💪
Dennis was actually a good-natured, well-mannered kid until 3, 4 years ago when he started hobnobbing with Nick Kyrgios – all thanks to Laver Cup!!!
MSI, there’s no excuse for disrespect IMO.