What time does Rafael Nadal play at Hurlingham?

On June 25, 2018June 25, 2018 By Rafael Nadal FansIn Articles, Exhibitions, Match Time & Live Stream10 Comments

Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Rafael Nadal is to warm up for Wimbledon with two exhibition matches at the Aspall Tennis Classic at Hurlingham this week.

The world No. 1 will play this year’s Australian Open semi-finalist Hyeon Chung on Wednesday before facing Lucas Pouille, a previous Wimbledon quarter-finalist, on Friday – just three days before the SW19 showpiece gets underway.

Here’s the schedule of play at Hurlingham:

Wednesday 27th June (play starts at 2 PM local time)

Maria Sharapova v TBC

Hyeon Chung v Rafael Nadal

Friday 29th June (play starts at 2 PM local time)

Rafael Nadal v Lucas Pouille

Followed by Pablo Carreno Busta v Karen Khachanov

Not before 5:30pm - Bahrami/Rusedski v Philippoussis /Pernfors

Rafa said:

It’s always great to play in front of UK fans so I can’t wait to return.

I’m working hard and this is the perfect way to warm up for Wimbledon.

2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the Aspall Tennis Classic at Hurlingham, which over the years has become one of the world’s most star-studded tennis exhibitions. This year’s edition takes place from Tuesday, June 26 until Friday, June 29.

Vamos Rafa!

Here’s what Rafael Nadal said after his Wimbledon debut in 2003

On June 23, 2018June 24, 2018 By Rafael Nadal FansIn Articles, Interviews14 Comments

On June 23, 2003 Rafael Nadal made his Wimbledon debut with a 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win over Mario Ancic. Here’s what our champ had to say after his debut.

Photo by Tommy Hindley/Professional Sport/Popperfoto/Getty Images

Q. Fine performance, great match, but was there a risk of it slipping away in the fourth set?

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: A little bit, like in the third set, maybe when, you know, I wasn’t missing that much, I was playing too defensive. In the fourth set, a little bit. Yeah, I mean, it was my first main draw match in a Grand Slam, so I was a little bit nervous, just a little bit afraid. But, you know, that happened in the third set. In the fourth set, then I was fine. But I played my best tennis in the first two sets.

Q. How do you like playing at Wimbledon? How do you like the grass?

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: Yeah, last year I already played in the Juniors, and I played quite well. This year it was a pity that I couldn’t play the lead-up tournaments to Wimbledon. But I think I like to play on grass. Maybe I will not play very well on grass, but I like to play on grass, and it’s going my way.

Q. Is it true that you’re related to the footballer Nadal?

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: Yes, that’s my uncle.

Q. How long have you been practicing on grass before the tournament, due to your elbow injury?

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: Yeah, from Friday night, like one hour, and then Saturday and Sunday, here.

Q. When did you recover completely from your elbow injury?

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: Playing at my top level, like since last Monday.

Q. I think your next match could be against a British guy, which means you could be on Centre Court. How would you feel about that?

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: I wish. I’m looking forward to playing on Centre Court. I would like that.

Q. How does being related to your uncle help you in situations, pressure situations? Continue reading “Here’s what Rafael Nadal said after his Wimbledon debut in 2003” →

Rafael Nadal nominated for Best Male Tennis Player at the 2018 ESPYs

On June 23, 2018June 23, 2018 By Rafael Nadal FansIn Articles26 Comments

Rafael Nadal was nominated for Best Male Tennis Player award for the 2018 ESPY Awards.

The awards show will take place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles and will air on July 18 with race car driver Danica Patrick as host.

Nominated with Rafa for Best Male Tennis Player are Roger Federer and Marin Cilic.

The ESPY, short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly, honors sports achievement in the past calendar year, with the winners decided by online fan balloting at the ESPN website.

You can vote for Rafa HERE!

Rafael Nadal will play two exhibition matches before Wimbledon

On June 23, 2018June 23, 2018 By Rafael Nadal FansIn Articles, Photos, Rafael Nadal, Video12 Comments

(EFE) – Rafael Nadal said on Friday he was feeling confident after five days of pre-Wimbledon practice on grass at the Santa Ponça Tennis Club, where the WTA Tour’s Mallorca Open is being held this week.

After winning a record-extending 11th French Open title earlier this month, the Spaniard withdrew from the Queen’s Club Championships, a key Wimbledon tune-up played in London from June 18 to June 24.

In a press conference, the world No. 2 talked about the state of his game ahead of the year’s third Grand Slam event and what goes into having a successful run at Wimbledon, a tournament he has won twice.

“I played very well on clay, and that always helps … We have to bear in mind the Wimbledon courts, which are very special, and the draw is also important,” he said, alluding to the possibility of facing dangerous, unseeded grass-court specialists in the early rounds.

Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Referring to his preparations in Calvia, a municipality on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca, Rafa said that “all has gone well and I would like to thank the Mallorca Open organizers for allowing me to train here. I had a very intense clay-court season, and my body needed some rest.”

Rafa reiterated that the switch from clay to grass was tough on his 32-year-old body, but he also recalled that he was in excellent form last year at the All England Club despite coming off an equally long and demanding clay-court campaign.

“I’ll play two exhibition matches (before Wimbledon, which gets under way on July 2), and it’ll be a week to tighten things up before I arrive at a tournament where you never know how things might go,” Rafa said. “I have good memories from last year. I lost (in the round of 16 to big-serving Gilles Muller), but I was playing at a very high level.

Although a fourth-round loss is never an acceptable result for a player of Rafa’s stature, his performance at last year’s Wimbledon was arguably his best effort since a runner-up finish in 2011.

Source: EFE

Rafael Nadal to prepare for Wimbledon at Mallorca Open

On June 17, 2018 By Rafael Nadal FansIn Articles18 Comments

(AAP) – Rafael Nadal will start preparing for Wimbledon next week with practice sessions on the grass courts used for the Mallorca Open, a WTA event in Spain, tournament organisers have confirmed.

After extending his record haul of French Open titles to 11 by winning Roland Garros last Sunday, Rafa withdrew from the Queen’s Club Championships, a key Wimbledon tune-up to be played in London from June 18-24. In announcing that decision on Wednesday, he said his doctors had advised him to rest.

The Mallorca Open courts will be played that same week in the small town of Santa Ponsa, located about an hour by car from Rafa’s hometown of Manacor.

Rafa is then expected to travel to London to continue his preparations for tennis’ grass grand slam event, which begins on July 2.

Source: AAP

Tired Rafael Nadal withdraws from Queen’s Club

On June 13, 2018 By Rafael Nadal FansIn Articles26 Comments

Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from next week’s traditional Wimbledon warm-up tournament at London’s Queen’s Club.

“Queen’s is a great event, I have happy memories of winning the title in 2008 and I wanted to come back this year. But it has been a very long clay court season for me with great results. I would like to say sorry to the tournament organisers and most of all to the fans that were hoping to see me play, but I have spoken to my doctors and I need to listen to what my body is telling me,” said Rafa.

“We are obviously disappointed that Rafa has decided that he is unable to play this year, but we wish him well and hope to see him on our courts in the future,” said Tournament Director, Stephen Farrow.

All the way with you, Rafa!

ATP Rankings: Rafael Nadal is No. 1, but for how much longer?

On June 11, 2018 By Rafael Nadal FansIn Articles41 Comments

Rafael Nadal has held on to his No. 1 ranking after cruising to a record 11th French Open title on Sunday at Roland Garros. He sits barely ahead of No. 2 Roger Federer with a 100-point lead of 8,770 to 8,670.

Alexander Zverev is No. 3, nearly 3,000 rankings points further back. Juan Martin del Potro jumped two spots to No. 4 by reaching his first French Open semifinal in nine years, and Thiem rose one place to No. 7 by reaching his first Grand Slam final.

If Federer reaches the final in Stuttgart, he will regain the No. 1 spot in the ATP Rankings on 18 June.

ATP rankings as of June 11:

#	Name	Nationality	Points	Tournaments
1.	Nadal Rafael	Spain	8770	14
2.	Federer Roger	Switzerland	8670	18
3.	Zverev Alexander	Germany	5965	23
4.	Del Potro Juan-Martin	Argentina	5080	19
5.	Cilic Marin	Croatia	4950	19
6.	Dimitrov Grigor	Bulgaria	4870	23
7.	Thiem Dominic	Austria	3835	26
8.	Anderson Kevin	South Africa	3635	21
9.	Goffin David	Belgium	3110	24
10.	Isner John	USA	3070	25

“Today is all about Roland Garros,” Rafa said after defeating Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in Sunday’s final. “I don’t think about the rankings at all today, no?”

Rafael Nadal is now leading the ATP Race to London. He has 1545 points more than Alexander Zverev.

Source: ATP World Tour, AP, AFP

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