In Bangkok
Rafa’s arrived in Bangkok. Here’s some photos of the usually chaotic airport scene.
Photos by PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images, and REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang
More photos here – tweeted by Atch2.
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Nah, his hair a bit messy Miri. But yep he looks fresh. I hope Bangkok stays safe and Rafa and family will enjoy Thailand; think he’s heading for one of the islands? Darn, I can’t believe I’m missing seeing Rafa esp when he is so near to me!! Well, Singapore is near to BKK. But cowardly me dare not go to BKK alone :S
Seems like a chaotic arrival….does Rafa turning up for the Thailand Open even after winning the USO indicate that his knees problem might not be a problem anymore? Dare I hope so!?!
I’ll be here if you need help or a friend :)
Oli is going too!
That is so sweet of you Atch! But I’m really kinda scared of going to BKK now esp in light of some small bomb blasts a couple of weeks ago. Hope you’ll have great fun and that Rafa will shower you with some special attention ;)
I’m going too… didn’t want to risk it, but then I did, and then I didn’t and in the end….. I just couldn’t resist seeing Rafa after his win at the US Open. Luckily my darling friend from Singapore decided to accompany/chaperone me there. So, hopefully we’ll see Rafa in the quarters and semis… and if we don’t, I’ll still have a great girlie weekend. Gosh.. I’m breathless… and so excited!
yea im in singapore too, but i wouldn’t want to risk going to Bangkok now…
hope all will be well there!
It’s interesting that he started with no flowers, then one garland, then more and more. How come no pix of someone putting them around his neck? He does look very fresh, but then he probably slept all the way thru on a flat bed on 1st class!
Rafa’s looking his usual lovely self. Hope he keeps his flower garlands as presents for Mama Nadal, his sister & Xisca. Can’t wait til tourney starts, but hope he has a relaxing holiday in the meantime.
What about Maymo? Or Papa Nadal? Do only women like flowers?
I like the thought of keeping one for Maymo. He can wear it while giving Rafa a massage ;)
On second thoughts Papa Nadal & Maymo would look great with flower garlands round their necks but would have to be wearing Hawaii print shorts!!
Oooooooh, dios mio, i hope he got trough that chaos in one piece:)
Looks hectic…. But must have made him feel verry welcome in Thailand, No?
And Rafa, please a little more colour on the outfit, No? You’re hot enough thats “the true” but this colour is for old men….
Nooo, I love that khaki t-shirt on him. Trousers look ugly, but tee is yummy.
Ok, i’d like a little more colour for the T but the “hottest legs in the world” def. ought to be in tight jeans comming out of the plain No?
Nooo…I quite like that khaki t-shirt on him. The trousers are ugly. Take ‘em off, Rafa! ;)
“In Bangkok”?? Huh. You have got that delicious city name to play with, and all you could come up with was a preposition? ;)
Tweeted comment from staff looking after Rafa at the Hua Hin resort said “he’s so nice and down to earth”. He’ll be there on holiday for about a week. A lot of time laboring on the beach and golf courses I expect.
Heard the airport was chaos, so sortof glad I didn’t go.
I luv the flower garlands. Amazing craftsmanship once you see them up close & quite heavy too.
The garlands look lovely.
Looking forward to your on-the-spot reporting! :D
Thanks for your updates, Atch! Are you going to the tournament?
Yes, I’m going but found out the practices are closed to the public :(
I was looking at his calendar and started 9/27 he plays three consecutive weeks on hard courts. Thailand, Japan followed by Masters1000 in Shanghai.
Why does he do this to himself and why does he need to do this?
Rafa said he was in debt with Thailand fans because the last 2 years he had had to pull out because of injury. As for Japan, it’s mandatory that one M-500 event must be played AFTER the USO (last year he played in China, this year he’s chosen Japan)…. and we know that all the M-1000 tournaments are mandatory, too. So, it’s not that Rafa has many choices to skip these tournaments…. unless he alleged that he’s injured, which I’m glad he is not! ;) In any case, I expect Rafa to take the first 2 tournaments easy. I think he knows how important is to dose his energy on hard courts.
He could skip the 500 – the only penalty he’d get would be a zero pointer for some of his 500s. He’s not going to be able to get the required 4 in any way.
I too expect him to take things easily….well, as easily as his nature will let him. I’m sure he’ll be looking for more game practice with the new serve grip.
Yup, I’m really hoping he treats this as ‘serve practice’ time. He’s said that he still feels like the serve’s not defined or set in place, so it might be that he doesn’t want to take a long break for it to disappear again.
But I really think he should wear some kind of device that gives him a mild shock should he play a longer-than-3-shots rally. ;)
i like the mild shock idea.. lol
I am actually cracking up…
“I really think he should wear some kind of device that gives him a mild shock”
I could be that device. ;)
But…my shocks might be a bit excessive for Rafa. ;)
And in a very uncomfortable area.
There are ways of making it very comfortable indeed.
Then it wouldn’t be aversion therapy. Distraction therapy, but not aversion therapy. :)
I know he could skip the 500, but once he’s in Asia for the Bangkok tournament and then for Shanghai, I guess he’s preferred to play it too. Anyway, like you, I also hope he’ll take it much as practice than anything.
BTW, the Intercontinental Bangkok hotel that will host the players looks awesome! Rafa will be in the Royal Suite and all the towels, bed sheets and stuff will have the “R. Nadal” name on them! You can see some pics here: http://bit.ly/bhNHyJ
Couldnt read since its not in english but the pics look nice. Thank you!
But I dont like the monogrammed towels and bed sheet stuff. Its a bit too much. The hotel in NYC has been doing that for Federer for a few years and I thought its pompous.
I don’t have problems with thee monogrammed stuff, though I understand what you mean. However, we know that Rafa is not Fed and these things won’t make him appear, and much less be, cocky about them. ;)
Actually, they had prepared personalized items for him last year and he couldn’t make it, so it’s likely that he felt that he should return the respect they have shown for him. I wonder if they are the same items they had for him last year? He’s probably honored but a little embarrassed although must be getting used to having everyone fawn all over him. Amazing that he hasn’t become a pompous and has such a good grip on “normalcy”. Kudos to Mama Nadal for making him clean up after himself and the rest of the family for keeping him feeling loved and yet disciplined and grounded. I hope he really hangs on to the intensity and keeps on winning.
Lots of places to dream about him in ;)
I understand he needs to get in some 500 tourneys and I have not seen the ATP calendar in depth.
But does he need to play 3 consecutive weeks without break on HC.
For instance the 500 in Basel is later on and he could pick that. Or some 500 stuff on clay if that is an option.
3 consecutive weeks on HC is too much I think.
Switching surfaces is also difficult on the body (and game). I can’t see him switching to clay and then back to hard courts for the remaining Masters and WTF.
I don’t understand the 3 consecutive weeks either. I think he should skip the 500 in Japan – he doesn’t need any 500 points…he’s got so many!
sorry meant to post here.. I think Rafa has an Asian fettish :)
Agree on the switching surfaces difficulty. Some people here in Spain would be much happier if he played the M-500 in Valencia, but
I guess he’s preferred to have more rest in between the two most important tournaments: Shanghai and Paris…. and then the WTF, where it appears he wants to have a good performance to end well the season. Let’s hope for it! :)
I think Rafa has an Asian fettish :)
A few more photos here.
I’ve just come from the ‘Hello’ pics, and the title of this post dissolved into three filthy syllables.
According to Pico’s twitter, he’s flying out to Bangkok for the party–er, tournament, too.
Oh boys … don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. ;)
*remembers tales of a lost Play Station bet that had Pico and Rafa walking from Rafa’s bungalow to the hotel gym at Indian Wells…nekkid*
Why are fans never around to photograph these things?
Uh.. oh.. Just tell me when and where and i’ll be there with my camera i promise!
Oh no no no- how was I not there??? Where did you find that story, miri?
I dunno. I was going to Google before posting it, but didn’t think I should do a google search with the word “naked” in it at work….
Is this the video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDhljEhvqZU&feature=related
I bet you gals will pause the vid at 0.55. Warning: Object could be too bulky for your eyes. Enjoy!
No, that’s from Madrid.
Ah-ha! Found it via this google mangling:
Gee, if only there was a video of the loser’s penalty performance! ;D
Well, with that vid and that anecdote, I don’t even know what to say. :OOO
I love the flowers and just how much he’s loved where ever he goes :)
Fyi, http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/197552/nadal-arrives-for-open
ITINERY:
Sep 22-28 – Rafa will be staying at the at the Intercontinental Hotelin, Hua Hin.
Sep 28 – To take part in a tree-planting ceremony as part of PTT’s project to grow one million trees for His Majesty the King before returning to Bangkok.
Sep 29 – To meet Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Parliament at 1pm.
Sep 30 – To make his Thailand Open debut in the second round at 7pm.
Oct 1-3 – QF at 7pm / SF at 1pm / Final at 1pm (or 3pm ?)
Hope Rafa will win this tournament. We, Thai people love him.
Edited.
Sep 22-28 – Rafa will be staying at the Intercontinental Hotel, Hua Hin
Why does Rafa have to meet the PM at Parliament? I don’t like the sound of that.
Hrmm? What’s wrong with it?
Woohoo! Rafa’s gonna have a good time in Bangkok. He’s not there with his family – he’s there with Marc and seven of his buddies!! LOL Good for him. I hope he has a blast. He deserves the break.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255309210030
Nadal’s arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday morning was accompanied by professional tennis player Marc López and seven of his mates, amid warm welcome by President of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand Suwat Liptapanlop, BEC-Tero Entertainment Pcl executives and a massive crowd of his fans.
Aha! They’d probably visit Patpong. ;-)
Why all the critisicm on Rafa’s clothes, hair ect al the time? He’s just a normal young man – 24 years old – we all know he is not that into be somebody else but RAFA. Comfortable with who he is and not trying to impress anybody – and that shows because he don’t ‘groom’ every time him knowing he’s gonna be in front of a camera. Even with formal press conferences he don’t try to look ‘maked up’ – just natural Rafael Nadal. We as funs must appreciate that he’s still the man (kid) we learned to know in 2002/3 and still loved for who he is in 2010.
Oh we will love Rafa for “whot” he is as long as he and we shall live, no matter outfit, hair or him loosing the hair!!
We just like to talk and talk more about Rafa and evrything concerning him here and sometimes you need to take some comments from some of us with a little humour!;)