RafaLint: June 3rd
Players wish Rafa a happy birthday:
Posted by ROADTOROLANDGARROS
Rafa’s b-day celebration via L’Equipe (you have to sit through a commercial first)
And via Eurosport.
Hopefully at least one of the above will work for you. If not, here’s more footage:
Posted by tennisnetcom.
Articles:
- Nadal knocking on Borg’s door – by Kamakshi Tandon (ESPN.com)
- Grounds Pass, Day 8, June 3 – by Steve Tignor (tennis.com). Rafa content at the end of the column, but the rest is a good read too.
- For Nadal, a Stroll to a Victory; for His Next Opponent, a Marathon – by Christopher Clarey (NYTimes)
Videos:
- Does this work for anyone? I think it’s region blocked outside France.
- Rafa d. Istomin full match videos
- More video from the Babolat Play & Connect demo.
- Highlights from Rafa/Schwank
Photos:
- Bday photos from the Roland Garros Google+ account. They also have a set of match photos for you to enjoy.
- Rafa practice photos from janmci.
- Some Rafa match photos in this set by Frédéric de Villamil.
- Two practice photos from Nana.
Random:
- Your all-time mixed doubles dream team – a lot of people picking Rafa for half of the team. I picked Rafa/Serena because I hope they do booty-bumps when they win.


The players singing happy birthday to him…. sweet!
The yearly cake ceremony…….. Awful!!!
How many pics can you take off a tennis player blowing out candles and cutting an hideous birthday cake, i mean…. really.
But smiling Rafa, HOT as ever!
Isn’t it a wonder that Rafa can stay so focused, grounded, natural and sweet (that smile!!) when dozens of photographers can’t wait to snap a picture of something so simple as blowing out a candle? How does one not get a big head when constantly being idolized like this? He is amazing. I’m sure he wishes he could simply celebrate with his family. But let’s hope that doesn’t happen for many years as we always want him to celebrate his birthday at Roland Garros!
Here’s the Eurosport birthday video on Youtube, in case you’re region blocked:
The driver looks like the guy in the Heineken commercials.
He is! His name is Guillaume Dolmans. Ever since I first saw the ad he’s struck me as a Hollywood version of Juan Carlos Ferrero. Works for me!
The birthday thing is INSANE, I would hate that.
“I picked Rafa/Serena because I hope they do booty-bumps when they win” – NADAL NEWS
Yay!! I agree with Miri! Coincidentally , Serena william is my fav female tennis player and Rafael Nadal, my fav male tennis player..so them playing Mixed Doubles would be a DREAM come true for me! the BOOTY BUMPS is a BONUS ofcourse! :o)
Thanks for posting this…I also picked Rafa-Serena! I was happy to see my entire tweet got quoted!! (mmikkola). I suggested 4 dreamdubs because one is not enough!!
So many people wishing him happy birthday (any cameramen left anywhere else in the world!)Birthdays are special and he looked really smiley and happy. Not everyones choice of cake but I bet a lot of hard work went into it and its the thought that counts.