RafaLint: January 22nd
Photo by Beth Wilson
Articles:
- Andy picks Rafa for his footie team.
- Mats Wilander: Rafa Nadal could put fear in their eyes again – by Alexandra Willis (thetennisspace.com). It cracks me up that they picked a photo of Rafa looking like a little tot anticipating a lollipop to accompany that title.
- Looks like Rafa’s getting a new watch: Richard Mille Tourbillon RM 27-01 Rafael Nadal Watch – by Kyle Stults (blog.perpetuelle.com)
- Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer out – no surprise, neither Rafa nor Daveeed will play in the first round of Davis Cup. I wonder if Alamgro’s going to be able to play now.
- Nadal traza su agenda – by Tolo Jaume (ultimahora.es). Speculation on Rafa’s schedule. Here’s the mangle.
Videos/Audio:
- I’m always grateful for some RafaTot footage: El futuro del tenis, en el ‘Nike Junior Tour’
- Rafa wearing shorts as short as his new hair cut: rtve report. Sum up from Genny:
In the short interview at the end, he’s asked a couple of questions about [translation of his words below]:1) how he’s feeling: “Right evolution. I feel I’m ready to start doing practice session as I did today (for almost 3 hours and doing sets). But then you have to try when you “remove the handbrake” to start competing at the highest level. I’ll be in Chile in two weeks and try my best.”
2) Armstrong: “It’s a very sad moment for cycling and sad for sport in general. Armstrong was a myth and has turned out to be a lie. It’s a moment to reflect, as I think we should be an example for young people, for kids who look up to us for their future and I believe that things like this should not happen. We all have to work together so that this isn’t repeated again.”
Oh, how I missed his feet dancing on the clay.
- Benito Perez Barbadillo: “The goal is – Roland Garros”
Rafa does social media:
- Looks like Rafa and his sis are enjoying hanging out together.
- Rafa shared a picture of him getting dressed in the locker room. Well, of him dressed in the locker room.
He gave Daveeed a much deserved cheer:
Enhorabuena a @davidferrer87 por el partidazo que han hecho los dos! Congrats to @davidferrer87! I enjoyed the match!
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 22, 2013
And then announced that he loves Pico (or that they will be playing doubles together – same thing):
De la mejor pareja de la #play a jugar en #Viñadelmar!! @picomonaco entrena duro para el torneo! bit.ly/10CJI2a
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 22, 2013
Pico replied:
@rafaelnadal que buen video ese !!! Y mejor todavía acompañarte en tu regreso #Viñadelmar
— Juan Monaco (@picomonaco) January 22, 2013
Random:
- Get your Rafa “beat this” wallpaper from the ATP. (Sadly, not as naughty as it sounds.)
- Tennis considers ‘biological passport’ – by Douglas Robson (USA Today). More evidence we are in a post-Armstrong-confession world.
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im viewing via handphone.but i cant view any RAFA BEAT IT poster?is he in it?
Yes he is, but looking a bit weird, I think.
I hope Rafa manages a reasonable schedule and also that he plays less rather than more if there is doubt on the state of his knees. Another injury would be a huge disappointment for him, much bigger than skipping a tournament. I am sure his team will support and guide him in the best possible way.
Hello all, I am in Melbourne for the Aus open and of course as I am a massive Rafa fan (even though he is not playing) I booked to stay at the Crown Casino where I have stayed for a number of years and have seen Rafa countless times ! Does anyone know why Benito might be here as I saw him yesterday in the hotel !?
He probably is. He does PR for Vika and she’s still in the tournament
He’s got his work cut out for him after the semi.
Grace, if you look at Benito’s company’s web page, you’ll find Vika in the banner. The world #1 is keeping him busy!
http://on.fb.me/WgLmTI
I hate to say this but at this point of his career, Rafa has to do a Roger. No more of those 250 and 500 tourneys. Just go for the slams. At the end of the days, he will be most remember for the # of Slams he wins and with the rate he’s going, he won’t be fit enough to surpass Roger’s tally or worst, Novak might overtake him (god forbid!)
Surely what matters now is that Rafa is fit and healthy and wanting to play tennis – and we get the chance to watch. I think he can decide for himself how he wants to organise his calendar.
I’m curious to know why it is you think it so important that Rafa overtakes Roger or that Novak doesn’t overtake Rafa? Rafa will be remembered for being possibly the most exciting, physical, extraordinarily talented focused player of all time and humble with it – not for the number of slams he won. If Novak ends up winning more slams, so what?
Yes I was thinking the same about Djokovic. It is not impossible that he overtakes Rafa if Rafa doesn’t win any other Slams. But why wouldn’t he, with clever planning and with that knee feeling well? I am surprised to see Djokovic in his invincible form again, I thought he had become a bit more beatable but it seems he’s slowly going back to his I-beat-Rafa-seven-straight-times-mode. Terrible news for us Rafa fans but for the moment I choose to concentrate on him being healthy and slowing playing himself into form.
Rafa will be remembered for the first and only player to conquer Roger during Roger’s prime. No matter how many majors Murray and Djokovic win, it won’t be considered as having come when both Roger and Rafa were at their best. Some will argue in 2011 that Rafa and Fed were at their best and that Djokovic dominated them but I would disagree. We haven’t seen Rafa return to his 2010 level yet, which I feel was the best single year when all of the top players were near or at the top of their game. The Rafa that won 3 consecutive majors on three different “surfraces” hasn’t been replicated previously or since.
FWIW, Djokovic doesn’t look invincible. He probably should have lost to Stan. The problem with the game today is that it is missing the X-factor in Rafa. Rafa made it difficult for Murray and Fed to continue to win but not having Rafa has made it more difficult for Djokovic. I’m of the opinion that Rafa would have overcome Djokovic, Federer and Murray at Wimbledon and the USO last year if not for injury. If we simply look at the career record of each player against the other three it is quite telling that Rafa has been the most dominant player of this era irrespective of surface.
kyukee,
Last year Federer played three 500′s and two 250′s. Compare that to Rafa’s 2011 (his last complete year) where he played two 500′s and two 250′s. Exactly what change are you asking Rafa to make?
Well put :)
In reply to kyukee; I too believe that Rafa should just head to the slams or reduce the tiny tournaments he is trying to play. However, the past 9-11 yrs attest, Rafa builds up momentum and confidence from the amount of matches he plays and wins, and as Pete Sampras, Mats Wilander and other greats of the game have said in the past few days, it is the right choice for him to play the tournaments he has elected to play in Feb. It will let him feel like he is ready to compete again. As for just focusing on Slams, if he did not have the points from the 500 etc. tournaments his ranking would slide dramatically leaving him susceptible to meet Djokervic(Nojo – forgive me but I live in Australia and watching his excessive attempts at becoming the press’ darling while mimicking all and I mean ALL of Rafa’s celebration gestures, makes me want to throw things at the TV), Federer and Andy in the early rounds of a slam – a taxing experience. Rafa has made the right choice, though he must ease up on doubles and DC commitments. We must have faith and visualise the next 3 Slam Cups between his teeth. Vamos! :)
Thanks for commenting, Sam. But please, no mean nicknames for players. I prefer we treat them all with respect – they have a hard job.
I saw a comment today (can’t remember where now) that said that Mats Wilander says Rafa is no longer the favourite to win Roland Garros! Whilst I know Mats is a big fan of Roger, he’s surely being a bit premature in his assumptions since Rafa is not even back yet. I wish he’d keep his comments until we have some results on which to judge Rafa’s performance.
I read the article where Mats Wilander gave his opinion on the Big Four. Then I went to check on the ATP website to check on Rafa’s win/loss record vs the top 10. I realised he has a winning record against ALL of them!!! No wonder they will be fearful of his return. I feel he will be more hungry to prove his mettle. I also think this time off is putting him in better stead where the longevity of his career is concerned. I do miss him. I havent even watched one AO 2013 match. But the sacrifice will be worth it!!! I do believe so!!!
Please tell me there will be some live feed of his matches in Chile?
Guessing Tennis channel will probably carry the matches. They were all over the Rafa comeback trail in December and also started the ads for Acapulco and Brasil when he entered those tournaments. I suspect they will carry the feed from Chile.
Totally agree with your comment on the records of the big 4 against one another. What’s been obviously last year and this year is that they are getting opportunities they might not otherwise get if Rafa was healthy. Rafa is still the X-factor in the top 4 and the one player that changes the entire dynamic of the men’s tour.