ARTICLES:
- The director of Netflix’s Nadal documentary: “In the US there aren’t many Rafa fans; his mentality is the anti-Jordan” | claytennis.com
— Was it easy to convice him?
— He really didn’t want to do it. He said no forever and ever and ever. Thanks a lot to his team for convincing him that, because you’re still playing, it’s better to do the documentary while you’re in action — people can see the struggle, the ups and downs of the season. If it had all been told about the past, it would be a lot of talking heads telling you stories. But I think the most impactful parts are where you see him in everyday life — with his kid, with his wife, his parents, joking around with his team. That’s the Rafa people don’t get to see. And that’s more important for his legacy than the awards, than the trophies. Obviously, the numbers say what they say, but what makes Rafa different is his ethos, his personality, what he stands for, his integrity — and that kind of thing you can only get from watching.
— Had you followed Rafa closely before you started working with him?
— I wasn’t even a fan of Rafa’s when I started. I liked tennis, but in the US, no one really knows Rafa. They know him because he won a lot of tournaments, the US Open four times… but there aren’t many Rafa fans because it’s hard to get to know him — he doesn’t really speak English that well. But as soon as you’re around him, there’s something about him that makes you sympathize immediately and root for him.
- What would have happened to Rafael Nadal’s tennis career if he was right-handed, according to John Isner | The Tennis Gazette
“It’s such a hard one,” began former American player Steve Johnson when answering that question in an episode of the Nothing Major podcast.
“Because he is such an animal on clay, I don’t know if there is any difference on the clay. The serve is maybe not as important, but maybe on hard and the grass he would not have had the same type of success. But I think on clay he is still winning double-digit French Opens, even if he was right-handed.”
Fellow American and former Wimbledon semifinalist John Isner replied: “No! There is a massive difference. He wins a lot of French Opens, yeah. But this changes everything about his career. He is then not hitting against his main rivals, especially Federer, whom he had a great record against, because he was hitting that cross-court forehand to Fed’s backhand. He does not have that if he’s right-handed. It changes everything. He’s not nearly as good if he’s right-handed, in my mind.”
- Rafael Nadal Had Heartfelt Message For Lionel Messi After Father’s Death | Yahoo Sports
Condolences have poured out for soccer icon Lionel Messi today following news of his father’s passing. Among the many fans of Messi from around the world, tennis megastar Rafael Nadal is one of them and he had a heartfelt message for the former Barcelona superstar.
Taking to X on Saturday, Nadal offered his condolences to Messi and offered his love to his entire family during this difficult time.
“Dear Leo, I can’t imagine the pain you must be going through. I’m sending you all my love and my condolences to you and your entire family during this such difficult time. Rest in peace, Jorge,” Nadal wrote, translated via X.
“[Rafael Jodar] doesn’t get scared,” Ferrer told Cadena SER’s El Larguero. “He reminds me a lot of Nadal when he was 17 years old and also of Carlos [Alcaraz].
“They are athletes who, at that age, do not feel the weight of the stage.”
World No. 15 Jodar started the season ranked No. 165. In seven months, Jodar has won his maiden ATP title in Marrakech, contested quarterfinals in Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros and is coming off his run to the Washington, DC finals where he fell to American Taylor Fritz.
Social media related to Rafa:
Who cares if there are not more Nadal fans in the US.
I never go for the popularity vote. I look, assess and make up my mind. I go through this process with almost everything (the exception would be life decisions which rely on ‘feel’ or instinct or vibrations of the heart and soul, not the mind).
I was a Federer fan, until I wasn’t. The shift happened when I watched Rafa play Roger at the French Open 2005 semi-finals then Wimbledon 2008 final and the Australian Open 2009 final.
Yes, Rafa was fearless throughout his career. I admire this quality. This was highlighted at the Australian Open 2022 when the entire stadium was praying fervently for him to get through against Medvedev. To me, that was my beloved hero’s greatest win of all!