Wimbly: Final RafaBlog
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Rafa’s found the time to post his final blog and Q&A. Big thanks to Rafangel for sending them to me. First, the blog:
Hello everyone and BIG THANKS to you all.
You can imagine two things of me today: 1) I am over the moon and 2) I am very tired and need holidays!
The first one is difficult to explain further. The sensation to win the tournament of my dreams for the second consecutive time (I didn’t play here last year) and doing it after winning Roland Garros too is something it was difficult to imagine just one year ago. I was suffering, watching the final on TV at home on my sofa, and wondering how things were going to unfold in my career. But today I am again with this special feeling of winning the biggest and most important tennis tournament in the world.
The second one is long to explain. I am not that tired from the match itself. To be honest all the media work I did after the match was longer than the match itself. I got to the house at 9.30pm and only had 5 minutes to get changed. I was then back in the car talking to Spanish radio stations and only finished when I got to the hotel for the Ball. But also tired for these past 16 weeks where I only had a few days at home.
Now it is time to get treatment and rest for 2 weeks, a full 2 weeks of not playing tennis and simply enjoying my holidays!
To end this blog and to end this 2 weeks of being with you, I want to really thank you for your support. I truly mean when I say that I feel at home here in Wimbledon. I feel the warmth of the fans here like at home and I feel the respect for the game, for our sport. For me it is really an honor to play here and a dream to have done what I managed to do on Sunday.
Many thanks also to The Times for giving me this opportunity and I hope we continue with this tradition now that is also lucky for me!
Your Rafa
Nothing snarky from me here. Just, how crazy is the life?
And now, the Q&A:
How does this victory compare to beating Roger in 2008? Mal, Sheffield
RN: It is different since the one in 08 was my first win. But let me say that a win is a win and I am very happy, very proud, very excited about the win.
No comparations!
Who was your most difficult opponent at Wimbledon this year? Helios, San Francisco
RN: Maybe the answer should be obvious because of the five-set matches. However, mentally it is also tough before the match and the semis against Andy as well as the final were both tough.
In other words: the score line doesn’t always tell the full tale.
You seemed quite nervous at the start of the final which is not like you. Did the crowd and the occasion affect you? Joanne
RN: No, I wasn’t too nervous. Tomas played very well, especially with his serve, and there was not much I could do then. I was pretty much calmed during the whole match.
“If you are not nervous in the final of Wimbledon, you are not human, so…”
Now that you have won the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year twice – which is amazing – what will be your next ambition? Rob, Tottenham
RN: I really want to be ready and fit for the US Open.
*fingers crossed* Although, I do worry that all this early talk about the Open is jinxing things.
I loved your match with Andy (I thought you brought out the best in each other). Do you enjoy all of your matches or are there some players whose style makes them more enjoyable to play against? Sian Morris Ross
RN: Enjoyable is to play and most of the times to win. With Andy we always play good matches. He is very talented and it is really difficult to play against him.
He’s not going to name names. Well, since you already named one…
How did you adjust from playing from clay to grass? Was it hard? Shirlee, New York
RN: It is hard, but this is what also motivates me. I won a few matches at Queens and then practiced, practiced and practiced more. That is also why the first matches at Wimbledon are tougher.
Challenge…he always loves challenge.
After you won in 2008 you gave a lot of your kit to the Wimbledon museum. Did you keep anything for yourself to remember it by? Katharine
RN: I gave a whole kit on Sunday too. But I also keep a whole kit for me, the last racquet i played (the one I converted the match point)
Glad he didn’t give it to Brad Gilbert this time!
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Sigh this is why we love him. I do so hope he comes to Toronto – it is such a relaxed tournament and we have so much fun (especially near the practice courts heehee)
oh, i love the “your Rafa” in the end…
This is going to be your year again, Rafa, like 2008.
you are such a wonderful person that’s why the media and your fans simply go crazy about you.
Vamos for the rest of the season and have fun!!! loads and loads of fun on your holiday because you so deserve it!!
take care
Loved the “your Rafa” at the end of the blog. How sweet!
“Your rafa” is a bit self absorbed lol
Don’t worry too much about the USO hype jinxing him. Me, I prefer “he can win the USO” to “he’ll never win the USO”.
*mumbles mantra* healthy, happy, playing well *repeat*
I know what Rafa will be doing this evening: Spain vs Germany! Think he’ll be watching his TV with TWO Wimbly trophies on top? :-)
I think the signoff ‘your Rafa’ is rather endearing. He is showing his connection, with affection, to all his fans. He is such a good guy; well deserved vacation at home with family and friends; preparation for the late summer/fall schedule.
Or it’s a typo and he meant “yours, Rafa”
thanx for waking us to reality
but anything he says is ok for me
It could well be he meant it to be the way it is. I was just thinking out loud.
I think he does mean it just the way it is. A common way to end a letter in an affectionate way in my language, so possibly in Spanish too? Just like Maria commented earlier. :)
Yeah, I figured a typo or a direct translation, which doesn’t quite convey the same thing.
“How did you adjust from playing from clay to grass? Was it hard? Shirlee, New York”
Shirlee,
Please. Wimbledon IS clay now. Don’t kid yourself.
Your place or mine,
Rafa
How come he didn’t answer like that? ;)
And there was me thinking that the “Was it hard?” bit was entirely unrelated to the question about the surfrace. Silly me! Unless…I mean, he does say that it IS hard. I’m confused. ;)
Gah! I’m out of practice!
Thanks for setting me straight. I mean hard. I mean…;)
Your CC-in-training,
Natch
CC, Rafa has said several times, not only him, many players (from Spain which are the ones I follow more closely, dont know about the others if they think the same) that it is hard for him to be playing several weeks on clay and the next day go and practice on grass, that he needs time to adjust. He said that the first week in Wimbledon is always harder than the second one regarding the courts conditions, but as the days go by and more and more matches are being played the grass it is better for his game as the court becomes more “clay like” after being used (desgastado).
CC was joking.
Although, I do worry that all this early talk about the Open is jinxing things.
Yup. I don’t worry about Rafa being jinx-y (for him, it seems to serve as motivation for his training – fair enough), but the likes of JMac, etc., predicting he’ll win it this year … eek. I cringe to think of the hype when September rolls around.
I’ll be happy if Rafa gets there healthy and can give it his 100% without physical set-backs. His actually winning it depends a lot on the opposition, too.
Anyway, it’s fascinating to watch Rafa attack his goals. Look at what he did at Wimbledon after years of being told the Spanish don’t win there!
‘Your Rafa’ is sweet. And it makes perfect sense for some of us who read & understand English as a second language.
Rafa and his entourage seem to be really wanting this US Open. Hope he will not jinx himself.
How would it be written in Spanish, Maria? (If that’s your native language).
He’s had a bit of trouble with how to sign himself off previously – I noticed ‘besos y abrazos’ and ‘un abrazo’ suddenly became much more formal. I wonder why?!
Sorry it took me ages to reply to that but it’s been a really busy day.
No, I’m not a native speaker of Spanish. I’ve learnt it, just as I’ve learnt English. I am a native speaker of another Romance language which, actually, bears more similarities with Catalan than with Spanish.
Anyway, what I meant to say was that:
From the viewpoint of the language I was born into: there is no striking difference in meaning between ‘Yours, Rafa’ and ‘Your Rafa’ as it is in English (Yours, Rafa = usual informal letter closing vs. Your Rafa = the signoff one would only use when writing to their lover, if I understand correctly.) It’s just an affectionate way of saying goodbye to someone you feel close to.
From the viewpoint of a non-native speaker of English & my very brief experience as a teacher, some time ago: those who are learning English will always have a hard time grasping the difference in form and meaning between possessive determiners & possessive pronouns in English (your vs. yours, in this case).
I think that are countless ways to express informal salutations in Spanish (native speakers could help us here), “un abrazo” and “bezos y abrazos” among them. And I think that their literal translations, ‘hug’ & ‘hugs and kisses’, sound a little bit weird in English.
I also think that, whether it was just a typo or the way he meant it to be, ‘Your Rafa’ says that he just wanted to somehow convey a sense of appreciation and love towards those that read his blog or sent in questions. Saying goodbye as naturally as possible has become difficult these days, so we should bear with him.
Ooh, can I ask which language? Closer to Catalan than Spanish – I’m fascinated now… :)
Thanks for the explanation, especially for bringing your knowledge as speaker and teacher of English as a second language, and Spanish as a second language (I have to say, I am a native English speaker and have never heard of a possessive determiner!) It was really interesting. You’re right, ‘hugs’ is quite unusual (but sometimes used affectionately among friends, especially if the friend is having a difficult time – in English English, at any rate), and ‘hugs and kisses’ is maybe a bit saccharine and probably used either in jest or to a lover. Not so in Spanish, I’ve gathered!
“I also think that, whether it was just a typo or the way he meant it to be, ‘Your Rafa’ says that he just wanted to somehow convey a sense of appreciation and love towards those that read his blog or sent in questions. Saying goodbye as naturally as possible has become difficult these days, so we should bear with him.” – I think you’re spot-on there. I think a lot of the debate has been us trying to ground our fluttering hearts and overactive imaginations, all-too-easily ignited by Rafa’s (Benito’s?) slightly non-idiomatic usage ;) It’s certainly not criticism, his Rafaisms are adored – besides which, it is incredibly rude to criticise someone who is doing you the honour of speaking your language (and usually cringingly hypocritical too, if you’re a native anglophone).
Dear Rafa,
Don’t stop
Your Rafangel (hugs and kisses) xox
Yes this is all too jinxy for me! Of course you want the US open Rafa but did you have to be so open about it? I know he cannot help but be honest but the media will be insufferable, they are already talking of Rafa over passing Fed, its all very nice but leave off the pressure please! I am thinking of how its going to effect Rafa when he gets to the big apple….
Ah Rafa! Finally you aknowledge that you’re mine….
Uh, you were’nt writing to me alone :) Oh…. well anyway…
I hope youre country meets my country Sunday in the WC final, i won’t know what to hope for the outcome if that happens but well… i wouldn’t want my men to be dissapointed tonight!
Enjoy!
Your Anna.
An, what are you and bf going to do on Sunday evening?! I am worried for the well-being of your relationship and minds ;)
Aaaaw.. Thank you but don’t worry! We just finished a good conversation about this and we agreed on it that whatever the outcome will be sunday it will be fine with the both off us.. If the Dutch win we will be glad for our friends and family, if Spain winns we will be glad for bf’s family and off course for Rafa en his beloved Spain.. So this is what you can call a win, win situation, No?
Good news! A win for both teams – wish that could happen occasionally in tennis (still smarting for Mahut).
“…Your Rafa”
About a year ago I sent a friend the link to Rafa’s charming contribution to the “It must be love” U.S. Open ad campaign.
I remember saying something in that email about “Our Rafa.”
How does he know that we sometimes think of him that way?
He is wonderful, and so da***d cute!
Oh, gosh, he is so endearing!! of course, all of us on this blog/site know this! I immediately thought he meant to say, “Yours, Rafa,” but you all are probably right that he did mean it the way he wrote it. How SWEET!!! I love it!!
I’m always referring to him as “My boy,” or “Our boy”–mainly because my husband and I are old enough to be his parents. HA! and, he reminds us of our son, who is a bit younger, but we still call him “boy,” because of the age… anyway… also, “Our Rafa,” as some of you mentioned.
I haven’t even thought of the US Open talk as jinxing him, even though I usually won’t even fill in the polls because of my fear of jinxing him. But, this time, I feel very positive that he WILL win it!! That would be the ultimate!!!
Hi Miri not sure where to post this, but just saw the spain v germany footie game and yeah spain in the final first time ever and we know how much Rafa is so obsessed just like we are obsessed with him. (BTW I love footie too and if you can imagine when we are tense with Rafa in the break points/match points this was even worse! – did you see?)
I think he gonna take that flight to South Africa on Sunday (well we know how stubborn he can be!) and think sod the knees I still have time to deal with them – it’s only two days + 4 with travel and this is my holiday no?
U mark my words. He will be too excited not to do anything about it and in a funny sort of way I wonder that was the reason he quit the Armada for the Davis Cup this weekend…. just a thought oh and of course the knee treatmenet which to be honest he has six weeks to do.
Is there an article where he says he’s going to go to SA? There’s just so many articles I don’t have time to read of them.
He did quite a few interviews and he was very indecisive and then eventually said coz of the knees he needs treatment but I have to say he will be flying on the ceiling now (just like we have been when he won wimby) and you can’t blame the guy for changing his mind and flying again – to South Africa – Vamos! it is his holiday afterall and where else would he want to be with Xisa by his side, his family (who played for Barcelona) and seeing his beloved Spain footie win the World Cup. It wouldn’t make sense if he wasn’t there no? The knees can wait another week no?
You’re right, I bet he gets that flight – we know ‘our’ Rafa ;) He was asked whether he’d go and he dithered and said it was far and he wasn’t sure (BBC interview, miri’s link: http://www.nadalnews.com/2010/07/04/wimbly-link-a-palooza/ the WC bit is around 7 minutes). For a second I even thought about watching the match, to see if we get a moment’s Rafa – but no, I’m not that desperate yet (if it were in 3 weeks’ time, however…). Also, I can count on miri. Heh. (You do make life so much better, miri).
It is just so wonderful how happy he is now, and how last year is so much behind him. I keep thinking of the people who actually do love him, how wonderful it must be for them to see things now – maybe especially for Xisca, who probably bore the greatest part of Rafa’s pain. Her joy at Wimby was fantastic. Bless them all, and I hope they all really get to enjoy this happy time off with him.
Hi Rafangel
You know what we are like to watch Rafa is what Rafa is like to watch his beloved Spain. I can understand coz I love my footie too and I love Torres (but not the hair cut. Wish he was still blonde!) So I am telling you 100% he is gonna go to South Africa. He is not like one of us has to look for the flight, the ticket, the money he can just go and his knees can wait another week and Davis Cup can do without him! Isn’t that right Rafa, for anyone who wants to put it on his facebook!
Hey Rafafan :) I think you’re right, Rafa is a crazy fan even though he doesn’t recognise it ;) Tho I also can’t see him compromising on the knees or the DC, if he has to make a choice. He doesn’t seem – how can one put this? – uncommitted. Heh.
I think now that Spain is in the finals, Rafa might go to South Africa. He’s too much of a footie fan not to unless the knee really is the pressing issue. Or Rafa is now worried about whatever is lurking in SA that will prevent him from winning USO :D
I think Rafa means Your Rafa as it is…to acknowledge the Wimbly crowd I suppose. For a moment, it feli like that was his personal blog for me *smiles dreamily*
Don’t worry abt jinxing him…. He’s well past that stage now methinks.
Hope he has a fabulous holidays!!!
“I was suffering, watching the final on TV at home on my sofa, and wondering how things were going to unfold in my career.”
It’s only now that he can talk freely about how actually felt last summer. And it still makes me a little sad for a second! But he’s all happy and smiley now, because he’s going South Africa for the final, as announced on his website! Go ahead and have fun, sweetie. But don’t bite that trophy- it’s not yours even if Spain wins ;)
So he thinks blogging for the Times brings him good luck. OK then, we will bear the annoyance of its becoming a pay site, just for “Our Rafa”!
yay! i knew he’ll go since Spain is in the finals – but ..but…does Rafa know he’s a major jinx? LOL