Author: Rafael Nadal Fans

Rafael Nadal to miss Asian tournaments due to knee injury

On By Rafael Nadal FansIn Articles, Rafael Nadal16 Comments

(AP) — Rafael Nadal says he will not play in upcoming tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai because of an injured right knee.

Rafa says he and his team decided to skip the Asia swing to recover.Our champ, who has often dealt with knee pain, won the Beijing tournament last year. He lost the final in Shanghai to Roger Federer.

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

The world No. 1 announced his decision not to play in Asia through posts on his Twitter account on Wednesday.

Hello everyone, as you know I had to retire from my semifinal match at the US Open and this past Monday I was in Barcelona watching with doctors the situation of my knee.

While the annoyances on my knee are nothing new, we have decided together with my medical and technical team not to participate in the Asian tour to recover the knee the way we have always done.

I’m sorry I can’t be with all the fans in China who are so many and with the organisers of the Beijing and Shanghai tournaments that have always had all the attentions with me and my team.

Rafa Nadal

According to ESPN, Djokovic is now primed to snatch Rafa’s No. 1 ranking after a magnificent summer saw him win at Wimbledon and defeat del Potro in the US Open final.

Rafa currently leads the way with 8,760 points, 1,860 ahead of Roger Federer — who is limiting the number of tournaments he plays in — and 2,315 clear of Djokovic.

The Serbian can only gain points in the Far East because he missed the final six months of last season, while Rafa will drop points for not defending his title in Beijing or participating in Shanghai.

Sources: AP, ESPN

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Rafa, Cristiano, Pau and Enrique bring Ibiza restaurant Zela to London

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The team behind a new restaurant backed by Rafael Nadal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pau Gasol and Enrique Iglesias said they chose London as the location because the city has “the hottest culinary scene in the world”.

Cult Ibizan restaurant Zela is opening its first restaurant outside the White Isle in the ME London Hotel in Aldwych later this month — with all its celebrity investors making plans to attend the opening.

A press release said it hoped “to make its mark on the city’s culinary and nightlife map, for London’s foodies and the international jet-set alike, with exotic menus and vibrant atmosphere.”

The new venue is the second outpost for the Zela brand – the flagship restaurant opened in Ibiza in May last year.

How Zela in London will look Zela [Official Photo]
Michelin-recognised chef Ricardo Sanz has been announced as the “gastronomic director”, and has called the food on offer “meppon cuisine” – Japanese techniques applied to Mediterranean ingredients and traditions.

The menu will feature fresh fish and seafood; raw dishes including tatakis, tartares, sashimi, sushi and tiraditos; and classic dishes like pork gyoza. Available on opening night will be dishes such as tiradito of scallops with Ibizan sobrasada and butterfish nigiri with white truffle.

Mr Matutes said: “The food scene is the best, the hottest in the world. It had to be here. London is the perfect place to bring the Ibiza concept to. All of our backers are very involved and are real foodie guys. Cristiano and Rafael in particular love London.”

Sources: Independent, Evening Standard

VIDEO: Here Are The Best Points Rafael Nadal Played At 2018 US Open

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Watch Rafael Nadal perform amazing drop shots, touch lobs and blistering backhands!

Injured Rafael Nadal to miss Davis Cup semifinals

On By Rafael Nadal FansIn Articles37 Comments

It’s official now. Rafael Nadal will miss Spain’s Davis Cup semifinal series against France next weekend.

While some tennis journalists reported that Rafa is facing one month on the sidelines after suffering a small lesion in his patellar tendon, his agent Benito Perez-Barbadillo posted on Twitter that it is too early to speculate about his process of recovery and there is no need to speculate will our champ or not play in Beijing and Shanghai.

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Miguel Díaz, president of the Spanish Tennis Federation said:

Now it only remains to wish that Rafa recovers soon, his commitment to our Davis Cup team has been maximum, but unfortunately he will not be able to be with us in Lille, we still have full confidence in the captain and our team.

Pablo Carreño Busta, Roberto Bautista Agut, Albert Ramos, Feliciano López and Marcel Granollers will line up for Spain against France on September 14-16.

Get well soon, Rafa!

VIDEO: Rafael Nadal’s press conference after US Open knee injury

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Rafael Nadal speaks out after knee injury forces him to retire in US Open semifinal against Juan Martin del Potro.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You have been playing so well throughout this tournament, how disappointing is it for you to end this way? When did you realize you were having difficulty out there as far as your health? Before the match or during the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I had some issues during the tournament. As everybody knows, I had an issue, it was in the second or third match. Then I think was little bit better.

But, yeah, I think was 2-All in the first, 15-Love, something like this in the first set, that I felt. I said too my box immediately that I felt something on the knee. After that, I was just trying to see if in some moment the thing can improve during the match. But no, was not the day.

Yeah, I waited as much as I can. You could imagine very difficult for me to say good-bye before the match finish. But at some point you have to take a decision. It was so difficult for me to keep playing at the same time that way, having too much pain.

That was not a tennis match at the end, no? It was just one player playing, the other one staying on the other side of the court.

I hate to retired, but stay one more set out there playing like this will be too much for me.

Q. How much do you think the five-set match the other night affected your knee?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, you never know. Maybe zero, maybe yes. I was not feeling worst of my knee today before the match or yesterday when I practiced.  Continue reading “VIDEO: Rafael Nadal’s press conference after US Open knee injury” →

PHOTOS: Rafael Nadal retires hurt against Juan Martin del Potro at US Open

On By Rafael Nadal FansIn Photos28 Comments

Rafael Nadal’s defence of his US Open title has come to an end this afternoon. The world No. 1 stopped play with Juan Martin del Potro leading 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, citing trouble with his right knee.

Rafa appeared to be having trouble with his right knee and even pointed to it while explaining to Del Potro his reason for retiring. He had it taped during the match and did not appear to be moving to the best of his abilities.

“I was just trying to see if something can improve during the match but no, it was not the day,” Rafa said after the match. “You can imagine it was very difficult for me to say goodbye before the match finished. But at some point, you have to take a position. And it was so difficult for me to keep playing at the same time that way — you know, having too much pain, and that was the tennis match at the end.”

 

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US Open SF: What time does Rafael Nadal play against Juan Martin del Potro?

On By Rafael Nadal FansIn Match Time & Live Stream118 Comments

Top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal seeks his fourth US Open final when he takes on former champion, Juan Martin del Potro on Friday afternoon.

Date: 7 September 2018

Match time: Not before 4 PM EDT –  New York, Montreal / 9 PM BST – United Kingdom / 10 PM  CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / Saturday 6 AM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.

Photo via Getty Images

The world No. 1 has won 11 of his 16 matches against Delpo, and has beaten the Argentine in three of the last four majors, including an epic five-setter at Wimbledon. They have met once previously at this stage in New York, a contest which a then 20-year-old Delpo claimed in straight sets.

Year Event Surface RND Winner Result
2018 Wimbledon 
Great Britain		 Outdoor Grass QF Rafael Nadal
75 677 46 64 64
2018 Roland Garros 
France		 Outdoor Clay SF Rafael Nadal
64 61 62
2017 US Open 
NY, U.S.A.		 Outdoor Hard SF Rafael Nadal
46 60 63 62
2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games 
Brazil		 Outdoor Hard SF Juan Martin del Potro
57 64 765
2013 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Shanghai 
China		 Outdoor Hard SF Juan Martin del Potro
62 64
2013 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells 
CA, U.S.A.		 Outdoor Hard F Rafael Nadal
46 63 64
2011 ESP vs.ARG DC Final 
Spain		 Indoor Clay RR Rafael Nadal
16 64 61 760
2011 Wimbledon 
Great Britain		 Outdoor Grass R16 Rafael Nadal
766 36 764 64
2011 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid 
Spain		 Outdoor Clay R16 Rafael Nadal
W/O
2011 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells 
CA, U.S.A.		 Outdoor Hard SF Rafael Nadal
64 64
2009 US Open 
NY, U.S.A.		 Outdoor Hard SF Juan Martin del Potro
62 62 62
2009 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Canada 
Canada		 Outdoor Hard QF Juan Martin del Potro
765 61
2009 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami 
FL, U.S.A.		 Outdoor Hard QF Juan Martin del Potro
64 36 763
2009 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells 
CA, U.S.A.		 Outdoor Hard QF Rafael Nadal
62 64
2007 London / Queen’s Club 
Great Britain		 Outdoor Grass R32 Rafael Nadal
64 64
2007 Roland Garros 
France		 Outdoor Clay R128 Rafael Nadal
75 63 62
2007 ATP Masters Series Miami 
FL, U.S.A.		 Outdoor Hard R16 Rafael Nadal
60 64

Rafa on playing Delpo:

Yeah, will be a very tough one.

Probably Juan Martin is – in Wimbledon he’s a great player. He’s a great player on grass. Well, he’s a great player everywhere.

But the challenge of playing him on hard of course is even higher for me personally than playing against him on clay, like happened in Roland Garros.

Even like this, I had a very lucky first set.

Will be a big challenge. Is a match that we know each other very well. I know he’s playing well.

I know that I will have to play at my highest level to keep having chances of success. I am focused on try to make that happen.

I think last three sets I improved. I increased my level. Was a step forward for me in the dynamic of the tournament. So I did it. I hope to continue that way.

Delpo:

It could be another big battle as the Wimbledon match was. Of course, I like to play always with the No. 1 of the world, doesn’t matter the tournament or the conditions or the weather. I just have the chance to play the greatest on this sport, and it’s amazing for me.

GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!

Source: US Open