RG: Rafa blog and Q&A – day 8

Woo! New blog and Q&A up on the TimesOnline site. First, the blog:

Hope things are well with you reading this blog. I can’t complain from my side since I am in Paris in the second week of Roland Garros, something I really wanted to feel again.

*sniff* We wanted you to feel it again too, Rafa.

I practiced at 11 am with Marc Lopez, sometimes my doubles partner and a very talented player. He should believe more in his game since he is really

31 May 2010 | by miri | 11 Comments

RG: Round of 16 French TV interview

If you don’t see English subtitles in the embeded video below, what it on YouTube.

Posted be meriko100 who thanks Moondancer from Vamosbrigade.com for the translation.

31 May 2010 | by miri | 4 Comments

Intense footie tennis

He just can’t help himself, can he? And does Maymo ever even get to touch the ball?

From the iB3.

31 May 2010 | by miri | 13 Comments

RG: Round of 16 presser

Video and a transcript of the presser can be found on The Official Roland Garros site. He seems to be pretty happy with his game but feels his shots still lack depth.

Q. Despite your excellent results, despite the fact that you’ve not yet lost any sets, you’re not boasting about it. You’re not that happy.

RAFAEL NADAL: What do you want me to say? Do you want me to jump and shout?

*snort*

31 May 2010 | by miri | 10 Comments

RG: Match point and on-court interview

Last point, celebration, post-match interview:

What’s with that bizarre twist thing he does mid-interview?

Posted by RNFANS.

31 May 2010 | by miri | 4 Comments

RG: Round of 16 photos

Photos from today’s match against Bellucci.

Photos by AP Photo/Michel Spingler, AP Photo/Christophe Ena, BORIS HORVAT/AFP/Getty Images, JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/Getty Images, Julian Finney/Getty Images, Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, REUTERS/Thierry Roge, REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol, and REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel

More photos are available on The Official Roland Garros site.

31 May 2010 | by miri | 14 Comments

RG: Rafa’s French Open story

Thanks to kefuoe for alerting me to this video on the Roland Garros site: Rafael Nada’s French Open Story

31 May 2010 | by miri | 6 Comments

RG: A little tougher; a little better

Rafa played world #29 Thomaz Bellucci in his round of 16 match today at Roland Garros. They had only played each other once before – in the first round of Roland Garros in 2008. That match was a bit tricky, but Rafa came through in straight sets. This match was pretty much the same. With all the breaks of serve it might look like it was a rollercoaster, but it was the tamest rollercoaster ever. Bellucci didn’t play bad and neither did Rafa – in fact, I’d say the goal of improving every round has so far been achieved. I

31 May 2010 | by miri | 55 Comments

RG: Rafa blog and Q&A – day 7

Another TimesOnline entry from Rafa! First up, the blog:

One more day goes by and as I mentioned yesterday, already in the second week. The competition started last Sunday but now the competition gets really difficult. I am playing on Monday for a spot in the quarter-finals and that is something important. I have been saying I have not been playing really well, but again, I practiced really well today so I am happy.

After practice I had to go to see

30 May 2010 | by miri | 11 Comments

RG: Spanish Q&A for May 31st

Rafa’s been a busy been and so has El Mundo. We already have a Q&A for the 31st. (Google Translation; Babelfish Translation)

What I can gather from Google & Babelfish’s mangling:

Rafa’s new strings give him more depth, but less spin – which contradicts what I’d heard before on the spin…
He prefers not to talk about religion since it’s a personal issue
His right hand has shaken when trying to do the service toss, but you have to

30 May 2010 | by miri | 20 Comments