RafaLint: May 22nd
Photo by Julian Finney/ Getty Images
Articles:
- Borg: To beat Nadal you have to play like Nadal – via The Tennis Space
- Brain Game: Rafa Brings Opponents To Breaking Point – by Craig O’Shannessy (atpworldtour.com). Many people sent me this article, so it seems to be something to check out!
- You know who leads clay rankings – by Kamakshi Tandon (ESPN.com)
- Rafael Nadal returns to form, with the French Open dead ahead – by Douglas Perry (The Oregonian)
- Rafa is Gathering Steam Heading to Paris – by Steve Flink (tennischannel.com)
- Rafa’s Paris calendar is already getting booked. (mangle)
- JK wants to share this article: Life before Rafael Nadal in Paris – by Matt Wilansky (ESPN.com)
- Awwww! ‘Little Rafa’ serves up love
Audio/Video:
- Very short interview (in Italian) done after the final.
- iB3 report on the Rome final.
- Audio of an interview with Toni (mangle)
Photos:
- mbevis was kind enough to put all their Rafa photos from Rome into one set on flickr.
- Some photos from Nida
Rafa does social media:
Rafa shared an article* he wrote (mangle) about Rome:
Mi momento más especial en Roma fue ganar la final! descubrid otros momentos en la ciudad ;) bit.ly/MfQjWl twitter.com/RafaelNadal/st…
— Rafael Nadal (@RafaelNadal) May 22, 2012
* More like a travel sales blog, but it’s more Rafa and a bit of insight into his off-court activities, so who cares? He appears to be doing this for a travel company.
Random:
- Nida got to see Marc! & Marcel win their doubles title and shares a video of match point.
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I am not sure I agree with the article – life before Rafael Nadal
“And yes, Nadal has since locked his arms around nearly every conceivable record at the French Open, but no matter how much longer he plays and how many more records he racks up, he’ll always trail Guga in two very important categories: his love affair with the game, and ours with him”. Whoever has written this article is certainly biased and seems to imply that it would be a tragedy that Rafa should keep winning. Is this why the french are not keen on Rafa – they want someone new? I hope Rafa has prepared his speech and like he did in Italy, will speak fluent French the whole way through his speech. I think after 7 years maybe the french deserve a french speech no? Maybe that is what they want from our Rafa
I too am not sure if I like the article. Are they trying to say Rafa does not have a “love affair” with the game? I feel he, more than anyone else now, has a genuine love for the game.He wouldn’t be Rafa otherwise. “And ours with him”. What to say to that? Us, not love Rafa? That’s laughable!
U show them Rafa..go get ur 7th.
And here’s my 2 cents on the article:
“You rooted for Guga because he left everything on the court. You could feel his every emotion.” Absolutely True (loved me some Guga), but you canNOT be SERious that the same is not true for Rafa!! What planet is this journo on? I will gnash my not-so-pretty teeth and go back to hoping with rafan that Rafa’s French will rule in all matters in Paris.
Yes – this is ridiculous. I have never seen someone leave everything on the court, fighting for each point, more than Nadal.
I agree to all that has been said about the article. Not loving the game, who Rafa? Excuse me! It is really hilarious! And our love affair with him – his fans? The writer should take a look at this website. This is one of the real tellings of our love affair with Rafa!
Thank you, Miri, heaps, for this wonderful site!
‘Little Rafa’ must get rid of those Adidas shoes – quickly! hahah
So cute. He knows a champion when he sees one and can only going upwards and being a great from here on in.
Yeah..what’s with the ADIDAS shoes! go get the boy , Rafa’s COURT BALLLISTEC 4.3 already! haha…
Loved reading Rafa Returns to Form…and the video from 2005 Rome final is such fun to watch!
Rafa mentions “one visit a day to the Trevi Fountain” in the mangle. Ha ha what’s he doing there, making wishes? (I can imagine many wishes ha ha ha)
maybe he was there for the famous GELATO..nearby Trevi fountain! Yummy Gelato!:o)
I loved Matt Wilansky’s article, because my first clay court love was Guga! And while I certainly don’t appreciate his slighly backhanded comments concerning Rafa, everything he says about Guga is true. I still miss him.He was a wonderful player (so much more than a mere clay courter – he could go toe to toe with Pete and Andre on hard court), and he still is a wonderful human being.
That said, there’s no reason, not to like both of them. Especially, since Rafa could do, what Guga could not, due to his rather short career because of hip troubles: Become a threat on all surfaces, and thus making tennis, not just clay court tennis so much richer and exciting.
This Matt Wilansky needs talking to. It is outrageous comparing Guga who you claimed had 3 Roland Garros titles to Rafa.
Guga plays an attacking game and Rafa plays defensive game,so what?,it’s a choice. As long as it produces results.Rafa hits winners while defending from rediculous positions on court, now, that is entertaining! Again, rafa has 6 (abt to make it 7)RG titles.
You question his love for the game …that’s laughable…How do you then explain that inspite of suffering awful defeats in 2011 from Djoker in 7 finals,he comes back, fighting.
And don’t tell me you don’t feel Rafa’s love on court? the energy… it’s just mind blowing!
About our love for him…I think the number of Rafafans speak for itself.
If you simply have a beef against Rafa becos he is humble cos that’s really who he is then i gat to say,suck it up, man!
Can’t help but think one of these years fans in Paris will finally show Rafa the love. But perhaps not this year :(
At very least hope they show him the respect he deserves.
I too loved Guga, who had a lightness and acrobatic style on the court that was a joy to watch. However, in my humble opinion, Wilansky undervalues Rafa’s brand of tennis and his passion for the game. I appreciated Guga while I respond to Rafa’s tennis with a depth of feeling that I never felt with any other player except, perhaps, Agassi.
“I appreciated Guga while I respond to Rafa’s tennis with a depth of feeling that I never felt with any other player”
THIS!!
Well well well Merrill, same idols as mine….I love Guga, Agassi and Rafa as well! =)
When Guga plays, you would think he’s got asthma the way he grunts. And he always seems to be out of the match already. He loved 5-setters and being 2 sets down, it seems. hehe
Guga and Rafa’s just got different ways of showing their love for the game. How dare Wilansky.
Well, I like everything about this article – except the last paragraph, which is utter rubbish, of course. The writer is entitled to, but cannot generalize his subjective feelings.
I agree, the last paragraph is completely subjective, and certainly does not speak for the millions who love and appreciate Rafa.
Someone posted a few days back that they noticed, albeit very slightly, just a bit of a smile on Rafa’s in a few key moments in the match vs Nole. I haven’t seen any of the Euro clay matches, but in reading the write-ups and postings of those who have, it’s clear he’s winning the crucial points. 9 of 10 saving break points against Nole. Small adjustments, sure, playing closer to the baseline, serving to Nole’s forehand; but to see and hear that the mental edge is now back, I think is just huge. Praying for good health! Miri thanks for what u do to keep this site so fun and convenient to come to!
I too am sure I noticed a slight smile on Rafa’s face a couple of times in the second set. Either that or he had the windy! :)
I noticed that smile last night when I rewatched my recording, and was surprised because I have not seen him smiling in the middle of his game. Glad others noticed that too!
Thanks, Miri. I enjoyed the Steve Fink artcile, especially the ending:
[Rafa] will be in the mix again. But this much is certain: after his nearly immaculate play in Rome, after claiming three more clay court titles this spring, after clipping Novak Djokovic two times in a row, the feeling grows that Rafael Nadal is on his way to an eleventh major title triumph in a few weeks.
I cannot wait for RG!!! Vamos for title no 7!!!
Thanks Nida, and Miri, for the Marc! & Marcel final point, loved seeing it! Their short celebratrion brought to mind the Beatles’ “Why Don’t We Do It in the Road” , silly I know.
Isabelle I so agree. Yes Miri – you are wonderful running this site so beautifully.Thank you.
OMG, I just watched the Rafa vs Coria 2005 final highlights (in the Oregonian article) and it is The Rafa We Love So Much, absolutely amazing! Well worth the 9 minutes if you have never seen it and well worth it if you have. I love his little look at about 4:50ish when he wins the point and how he just keeps hammering away the 5th set!
Yes! What a thrill to watch! He is virtually unstoppable. Talk about never giving up, forcing another point time after time… Extraordinary!!!
I think people may be over-reacting to the Willansky article just a little. It’s a blatantly, subjective article in praise of Guga and doesn’t pretend to be anything else. Nothing wrong with that. Guga deserves some love. No reason to perceive it as anti-Rafa. The author is probably just looking for a different story than everyone else is writing leading up to RG.
I didn’t know Rafa could speak Italian. He sure is full of surprises!
Well everyone we are gonna have to prepare ourselves going into RG. There is gonna be plenty of Rafa bashing cos the Parisians are not to keen on him , it becomes more evident as each year passes and Rafa keeps winning. Also your commies are going to be Matts Wilander for one who has already said after all what Rafa has done in the clay season that Nole is gonna win and was praising Roger. I remember from last year how Matts always seemed to be negative about Rafa , which really irritated me. If I can watch the matches minus matts commentary then I will. I do think Rafa is up against it in Paris as far as the crowd is concerned , I’ve heard boo’s before but he gets on with it ,wins the title.
Go on Rafa make it no 7 to really p**s em off!
It is mystifying to me and, I think, rather sad that the greatest clay court player in the history of tennis is disliked by so many people in France and else where for no good reason I can see. Snide references to “magic potions” and unflattering comparisons that do not hold up to scrutiny demean those who make them. Rafa has shown the greatest intensity and love for the game as much as any one and clearly has a game perfectly suited to clay. The unwillingness to give him credit for his achievements is annoying and unfair. I imagine when he retires people will miss him and may be he will get credit then from those too short sighted and mean to give it now?
I can recall last year when Rafa was playing Isner on Phillipe Chatrier in that tight 5 setter when Rafa won ,,on court Suzanne Longlen they showed the result on the screen and the crowd booed. I remember Rafa was still on court and I heard the booing then one of he commentators said what had happened. I was absolutely disgusted there is no need for it. All he has ever done is win and be humble in victory.
I have to say RG is the slam I least look forward to only cos of the Rafa negativity in general, but I do love the tennis.
Sharon, RG is the one major I have no interest in going to. Agree, the tennis is great (the only clay tournament where the players play 3 out of 5).
I’ve seen the Rafa/Coria Rome final and it’s a corker! I wish the Masters tournaments still played 3 out of 5 for the finals like they used to :(
A positive article about Rafa from Pete Bodo:
http://blogs.tennis.com/tennisworld/2012/05/rafa-time.html
Wow, what magic potions has Bodo been taking? Maybe he’s been reading all the glowing admiration for Tignor, whom he mentioned in the article. He’ll never be up there with Tignor, but it’s nice to hear him speak kindly and respectfully of Rafa for a change…
awww, yay, “little Rafa”‘s cute… thanks Miri! :)
his love for tennis, his win on clay court championship, his love for Rafa, his humbleness (on his comment), even his mother’s name (Maria)…
Ralph’s so Rafa, so far, in my opinion :)
what do u think about the “little Rafa”, Rafans?
Very cute…Maybe he could call himself “Ralpha”