ARTICLES:
- ‘Down to Earth’ Rafael Nadal’s Unexpected Side from Younger Days Unveiled by Doubles Tennis Legend | essentiallysports.com
“I think he’s, he’s just extremely, extremely down to earth. As a person is a little shy when, initially when I first I remember meeting him because he was real conscious of speaking in English. But in the locker room, if the Spanish guys were there..” said Bopanna in the interview.
“He’s fantastic. He’s, uh, you know, always will, no matter. Wherever in the room you are, if he just walks in, he’ll come and greet everyone and, you know, talk to everyone. And he’s just phenomenal,” he further added.
“He is a left-handed player and he plays exceptional doubles,” revealed Bopanna. “He has a very good idea of the game and he is also an Olympics gold medallist in doubles.”
- Rafael Nadal’s long-awaited return, Ons Jabeur’s Grand Slam bid, Paris Olympics games – 24 questions for 2024 | Eurosport
How will Nadal’s comeback go?
Rafael Nadal will make his return in Australia, but the most intriguing part of what looks to be his final season on tour will surely be on clay. He will be desperate to be in the best shape possible for a tilt at another French Open title, and then medalling for Spain at the Olympics, which is also held at Roland-Garros.
There’s also the question of whether this will be Nadal’s final season on tour.
- “I will not be surprised if Rafael Nadal wins more Grand Slams”: Andrey Rublev | sportskeeda.com
Speaking about Nadal’s comeback, Rublev said that while he didn’t know what the Spaniard’s level was, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he won more Grand Slams, adding that the likes of the 37-year-old, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic always proved people wrong whenever it was thought that their time was over.
“We don’t know yet (where his level will be at), but how many times people would say, not just about Rafa, about all those three players, every time they were injured or down and losing matches everybody was saying, ‘Now the time of Roger or time of Rafa or time of Novak, is coming to an end’ and they always proved them wrong. So I will not be surprised if he will prove it again and wins more slams,” Rublev said.
- Iga Swiatek’s touching messages about Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka ahead of their comebacks | tennis365.com
“I really like to watch them, so just from a fan perspective I’m really happy that they are coming back and I’m going to be able to see their game,” she told The National News.
“Rafa obviously is a huge inspiration for me, so I just hope he’s going to play nicely.
“Naomi, we may play against each other, so it’s pretty funny but I’m happy that she’s back and she could fulfil her other goals and now come back to playing tennis.
“I’m just curious how they’re going to play, if they’re going to be rusty or not but obviously they are both really experienced so I hope they’re going to go well.”
Social media related to Rafa:
Rafa received a special jersey from Lionel Messi on the first anniversary of Argentina’s World Cup triumph in Qatar.
One has to bear in mind that every single event that Rafa enters, even piss pot 250s (if he chooses to play them), there will be at least five players in the top ten at that event, eager and willing to get a hefty scalp.
Will this be a good thing, Rafa getting the measure of the highly ranked opposition for future Grand slams and Masters? I’d like to think so. Even if Rafa loses in a 250 or 500, it’s all a learning curve. Pretty much sussing out the opposition as if it were the first time they had met.
Rafa is just so versatile and determined. He takes and learns from a loss more than any other player in the history of the game.
Our greatest wish is for Peace and Good Health. Thank you, Rafa, for a tremendous effort to return to competition. It is a blessing. We are equally impressed with your
agility in English when we recall, with a smile, your early press conferences. Amusing and charming🥰 just as Roger said to tennis, “ I will never leave you”, you are stuck with us. Still standing. Still mesmerized. Still Rafa❤️🔥🙏🎄☮️
So looking forward to seeing Rafa. We will take him any which way just to see him is a treat on and off the court. We wish him all the best whatever he chose to do. Good health, and happy holidays to you and yours.
Since I am elderly and Nadal (and Roger) are not that active any longer, I will have to rekindle my enthusiasm for tennis.
Merry Xmas
Merry Christmas to all of you.
Rafa will be back very soon😊❤️
In my heart I feel Rafa can win 2 more GS & 4 Masters in his run up to retiring end of 2024. He is not going to sit back and be walked on or over. He has the will to end his career with a flourish and I just long to see this come true for him. He is so deserving to go out on a high. Vamos my champion. 🇪🇦🇪🇦☘☘