RafaLint: November 22nd
Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images
Match Articles:
(You guys don’t really want a lot of these, right? Not much one can say about today’s match.)
Raquet Reaction by Steve Tignor (tennis.com)
The Deuce Court: Rafa’s Rambling Presser by The Fan Child
Rafa isn’t fuming mad, but I think it’s clear to anybody watching this presser that he’s fed up. There’s so little time to rest and recover, and he seems desperate right now.
I agree. I think he’s feeling it more mentally than physically, though. He’s been on top and under a lot of pressure for a long time. I mean, he’s had a year that 99% of the guys on the tour would kill for (hell, Fed would probably like to have had Rafa’s year), he’s ranked #2 in the world, and people are still talking about it like it’s a horrible year. That’s the kind of stupid, crazy expectations he’s got to live up to and answer to over and over again in the press. That’s got to add up. Right now, I think it’s adding up to one mentally and emotionally tired Rafa. I hope he can find away to deal with that – he has in the past. I also think it’s dangerous to read too much into this match. So, I’m just going to try to do my best to take a deep breath, relax, be with colm, and have illusion that Rafa will keep fighting.
Other articles:
- Team nominations announced for Davis Cup final
- Nadal to lead Spain vs. Argentina in Davis Cup
- Transcript of the presser after the first round robin match.
- Best moments from Nadal-Federer rivalry by Courtney Nguyen (si.com)
Videos:
Rafa does social media:
- Rafa posted a photo from his pre-match practice and said his tummy problem was okay.
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I agree with youre comment Miri, he probably is mentaly and emotionaly tyred after having to live up to his own and the worlds expectations, or maybe he’s even more tyred by the feeling that he has “failed” by that same high standards…
Yes, it has’nt bin a “bad” year and agreed that even Roger probably would trade his year for Rafa’s but he has spoiled us, the world and maybe himself… We, the people who know little or nothing, about the real effort these top guys have to make, expect them to “deliver” evrytime they come out on a court and we all refuse to accept that this maybe just is impossible even tought all the top guys, one by one, do prove it to us time and time again, first it was Roger who was down and out and over, then it was Rafa, then it was Roger again and in a while it will probably be Nole….
Guys, it became 17-9 yesterday, thats just it, forget the score, Rafa is a fantastic tennis player who won against Roger 17 times and lost against that same Roger 9 times. Chances are he’ll win again and chances are he looses again, whatever…. there is nothing we can do then accept it if he looses and chear for him and be happy if he wins. He has to do it himself and he knows it! Thats why he’s tyred now, but he will overcome. He is Nadal.
A defeat is never fun … we all know that too well. In everyday life success is what counts. But, we all know that it is impossible to be on top each and every day year in and year out. Rafa (and us, his supporters and fans) had a struggle this year. With all he had to deal with (from Doha up to London WTF 2011) w.r.t his health and still achieved what he did is absolutely fantastic. It is so human to forget his highs and only concentrated on the lows now. At the moment Rafa is for sure not the player we’re used to, and probably never will be again, but that is not a reason for writing him off. I must admit, I’m struggling at the moment to watch Rafa’s matches, because I can’t handle the sometimes ‘looking so lost’ Rafa on court. Rafa’s fighting spirit this year was’nt at the level of the past. I’m so gutted to hear about an shoulder injury too. Davis Cup is so precious to Rafa and I hope that he can play. He is a fighter and will fight against Tsonga, no matter what. It is so sad that Rafa will loose so many ranking points this week and will have to work xtra hard in order to stay nr 2 in 2012 – again xtra pressure on him from the start of the season he don’t need . Maybe I’m analysing too much, maybe I take it to personal.
Looking forward to Davis Cup with Rafa on the red dirt
Thank you once again, Miri, for all the good work. I for one did wish to see Rafa’s presser and I’m glad you found it, which I couldn’t ;-).
Always love to see Rafa talk, and I do hope he’ll find the mental strength to put up a decent fight against Tsonga. If he wins: great. And if he loses .. I’ll still love him. ;-)
I also think Rafa is mentally tired.
It amazes me, after everything he’s achieved over the years, Rafa has maintained his motivation to carry on. I think this year for the first time he’s lost a bit of that drive and I can’t blame him or be surprised.
He’s won everything of any importance and been the one to beat for years now and so people act like he’s invincible. The few (very few) losses he’s had this year have been greeted like catastrophes by the media and fans alike. As much as Rafa is more pragmatic about his own performances than the rest of us, all that doom and gloom has to have had a negative effect on him. Add that to the never ending season and the work he has to do to keep up with the other top 3 seeds must be causing him to have a tiny voice that asks himself how long he wants to put up with it all. He has nothing to prove to himself or the world and so has to find the motivation within him to continue. I hope he does.
Vamos Rafa.
Just watched the press conference… he is a gem. To a journalist underlying that Federer holds a good record indoor he answers “no, a perfect record”. Rafa is not depressed and he is not tired…. I watched the match… it is not his surface… period. And Federer was perfect. In passing….anyone noticed how sober he was in his victory…these two have great respect for each other.
When Rafa pasted Roger in Miami this year, he was equally gracious in his remarks after the match. I guess, they have such a rich and long history together, they kind of grew on each other and don’t have to be snarky.
And, as others have noticed, like old couples they look more alike each passing year, especially since Rafa’s hair started to grow back a bit.
Sometimes I have this hunch, that they will go down together as well. Rafa’s whole career was shaped by the existence of Fed, and although he has a brilliant resumme of his own, he will always be in the history book of tennis as the guy who could fight TMF at his best as no other player in that aera. That Roger was so defining for Rafa’s career, might have made it difficult for him to cope with the likes of Nole and (to a lesser degree) Andy, when they really started to peak.
I agree AliQuack. All the negative drama has to hit him hard at times. I hope this hoopla doesn’t carry over to dc, and I really hope it doesn’t affect his outlook for the year to come.
I’m struck by how often this year,starting at the AO, he has said something about how long he has been on the tour, it must be always at the back of his mind. His analysis of why Roger is so good indoors: “the ball doesn’t move nothing, no windy” Love him, there will never be another Rafa.