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:
Painful. Medvedev will look to hold serve then attack attack attack! 😩
No Rafael Nadal. You won’t get your second Australian Open the easy way, without finally beating your nemesis Novak Djokovic. There is a thing called karma and today it strikes again. Having been a Nadal fan since 2004, this is where I left Nadal: after hearing this tennis player utter the possibly most fascist statement from any athlete post World War 2: “the world has suffered enough” (implying its the fault of the ones without mRNA) and “When the doctors say we should take the vaccine we must do it”, implying bodily autonomy does not apply. What a spineless character he turned out to be. The lack of curiosity is blatant. Start reading about universal human rights. And if you love your jabs so much, read Nature and The Lancet and wake the F up. Only the very vulnerable may benefit from these experimental jabs. For the rest they only benefit the installation of a system of digital IDs with full world government control over our movements, our opinions, our financials, our health status, over our lives. Sheep like Rafa enabled this fascist outroll. And you all keep buying it.
Utter BS !!! Get off this site!!!
Rafa needs a hypnotherapist to make him think he’s now playing on clay, and this is a 3-set match:)
Wake up or we are heading home empty-handed champ!
Rafa squandered a lead twice in the set and also in the tie break. He’s been bad this match and doesn’t deserve this win!
Oh boy!
Has Rafa ever come back from 0-2 sets down to win a slam?
Medvedev seems to have all the answers to whatever Rafa throws at him. And Rafa’s serve decided to go on holiday today… No free points!
Physically I’m afraid he won’t come back 2 sets down. Too many unforced errors and no vooma behind his shots
Damn this AO curse ! I know the match is not over yet but at this age to come from 2 sets down is really an uphill task for Rafa !
Terrible drop shot execution.
Hang in there Rafa!
2nd set is gone and with that I think we won’t have 21 as Medvedev is playing out of skin
Rafa we need some aces!
Stay strong in the tie break Rafa!
Not kidding but my legs are shaking guys… Rafa please win this set
Rafa is fighting both himself and his opponent. Our champ can’t seem to settle down his nerves and get stuck into the match.
Hang in there Rafa, you can do this champ, you’ve been here so many times!
Rafa will lose 20KG today:) 🙂
What happens to Rafa when he comes to aus open finals?
This is a disgrace no first serve in
So many wasted opportunities! What next?
Lorna he is winning points only on winners
This is not a good look of Rafa as he is broken again while serving
You are right, but Rafa will keep fighting to the end win or lose. Vamos Rafa💪💪💪
Plan B Rafa. First serves in, serve and volley, drop shots. Draw him in, he will play whole day from the back line. C’mon Rafa
Rafa erased 5 BP while serving for the set
Daniil Medvedev broke back again…
Has nadal left hus first serve in the clothing room
Our champ is back in the game 🔥🔥
WOW! 40 shot rally. Where did that winner come from?
Come on Rafa. Capitalise on that break!!!
Can’t watch. Rafa’s playing worse than at any time in this tournament and not just because of Medvedev. He’s hardly getting any 1st serves and playing far too defensive.
Don’t get heartbroken yet….he is back and the support he is getting is unbelievable