RafaLint: March 16th
Rafa’s very smiley post-match interview for the ATP:
Articles:
- Indian Wells Men’s Semifinal Previews – by Richard Pagliaro (tennis.com)
- LiveAnalysis: Rafael Nadal vs Tomas Berdych in the Indian Wells Semifinals – by Juan José (changeovertennis.com)
- Nadal needed to re-learn point construction – by Matt Cronin (tennis.com)
- Nadal beats Berdych to reach fourth Indian Wells’ final – AP via tennis.com
- Racquet Reaction: Nadal d. Berdych – by Richard Pagliaro (tennis.com)
- Rafael Nadal cruises, Juan Martin del Potro upsets Novak Djokovic to make BNP Paribas Open final – by Courtney Nguyen (tennis.com>
- Nadal: “I Did Much More Than What I Dreamed” – via atpworldtour.com
- Nadal Maintains Reign Over Berdych – via atpworldtour.com
- Nadal’s comeback form was “expected”, says Djokovic – by Mark Lamport-Stokes (Reuters)
Videos/Audio:
- This is what it takes to win a big point from Rafa
- Excerpt for Rafa’s 2nd round presser. Glad someone got this on video – Rafa was very amused by something on his phone.
- And a bit from the post Gulbis presser.
- Rafa talks about youth tennis – very briefly. And does promo bits in Spanish and English.
- iB3 preview of the semi.
- rtve report on the semifinal.
Photos:
- Zimbio’s photos from the semifinal.
- Zimbio photoset for the quarterfinal match and one from the Gulbis match.
- Watermarked tournament photos from coreleve
Rafa does social media:
- Rafa let us know he was going to take a shower. Such a tease.
Social media related to Rafa:
Rafa with Pico and Emilio Gómez (son of the great Ecuadorian tennis player Andrés Gómez):
Con dos muy grandes en Indian Wells @picomonaco #motivacion twitter.com/emiliogomez91/…
— Emilio Gomez (@emiliogomez91) March 10, 2013
Time for serving! I LOVE this photo of #Nadal serving during practice at #BNPPO13. Excelent form! Like dancing! :-) twitter.com/EnriqueNoticia…
— Enrique Carrión (@EnriqueNoticias) March 16, 2013
Time to #Vamos! #TennisRunsInOurBlood twitter.com/babolat/status…
— Babolat (@babolat) March 16, 2013
Just because this match tweet cracked me up:
I remember when a journo asked Rafa if he thought he could do a running fh more often so it wasn’t a lucky shot and Rafa said “are you new?”
— Ataraxis (@Ataraxis00) March 16, 2013
Tennis feels the same way. Good to have his energy back. RT @byjoefleming Whoa, Rafa. That’s some big smile (AFP).yfrog.com/ob5y0jkoj
— Beyond The Baseline (@SI_BTBaseline) March 16, 2013
Tomas on Rafa:confidence seems fully back, no reason why he can’t sweep clay and go deep on grass again.
— Tennis View Magazine (@tennisviewmag) March 16, 2013
Nadal’s fourth Indian Wells final is his most at any of the non-clay Masters 1000 tournaments.
— Tennis View Magazine (@tennisviewmag) March 16, 2013
Rafa being Rafa after his semifinal win. twitter.com/darren_cahill/…
— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) March 16, 2013
The #Nadal furrowed brow when he doesn’t understand a question is probably most entertaining facial expression in tennis pressers #BNPPO13
— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) March 16, 2013
A very pink Rafael Nadal on making the final: “The things seem always almost impossible until the things… instagr.am/p/W71fAWN5mk/
— Beyond The Baseline (@SI_BTBaseline) March 16, 2013
Rafa Nadal equally as happy with his golf game as he is with his tennis this week. Very hard to stop the young man smiling
— Neil Harman (@NeilHarmanTimes) March 16, 2013
Genny summed Rafa’s post-match comments to Spanish TV:
Rafa’s reminded what he said in Acapulco that his heart was telling him to go on competing and asked if his heart was telling him he would reach the final. Rafa’s answer is obviously not! He’s really happy with how things have gone. After 7 months out, he can’t believe he’s playing the way he’s playing. He still has some doubts, but he’s very glad w/ his level of tennis.
Rafa’s asked if he thought of not competing never again due to this injury. He says, once again, NO! He says that the knee is better some days and worse, others. Funny enough, it normally hurts more when practicing or in off days than in matches, possibly due to adrenaline.
He’s asked about tomorrow’s opponent: Novak or Delpo. Rafa says being in the Final is already a gift for him. Both good players & difficult.
(seems she left a lot of Pffffpffpfpfpfts out. Heh)
She also shares this:
Toni Colom (former coach was he was young) has told a wonderful anecdote from 2002, when they were doing Futures. He told him: Colombo, the days I don’t compete I’m more sleepy and get up being more tired. Colombo says he was astonished that being 16 year old he was able to handle the adrenaline of competition. (another Spanish ex-tennis player was saying that competition adrenaline is the best pain killer)
Random:
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Adorable interview. Smiley tanned Rafa. Like chocolate.
Thanks Miri for all the goodies. Love the twitter comments too from others abdout the Rafa brow and that Rafa can’t stop smiley from Harman. Plus Rafa signing for all the ball kids in a line, our Rafa is so down to earth and knows how to make others smile.
That press conference video blew me away! Rafa is tanned beautifully and looks good enough to eat for my breakfast!. Love the natural hair without the gel! and Rafa always looks a picture in pink. Not many guys can get away with wearing pink, but our Rafa can as he is cute and sweet and has that gorgeous smile on his face.
Happy to hear that Rafa is pleased with his comeback just as we are. Rafa is such a great tennis player and the way he returns from injuries is always amazing to watch. He always surprises me, I never thought he would reach the final and he has done just that. I am glad he faces Delpo and not Djokovic. But it will be a tough match with Delpo’s hard hitting and huge forehand. It’s a MSG replay, LOL!. Anyway, Rafa has a great forehand too along with his improved backhand and will give Delpo a match. Good Luck Rafa, let’s send all our good vibes, love and support to Rafa throughout the day. It would be great for Rafa to win this!! Vamos Rafa!!! 9pm in the UK today! Yeah!!!
Any reason why Nadal is not wearing his watch?
Congratulations to Nadal and his teams and the team of Nadal News.
Yes replay of MSG but with a difference. Since then Rafa has had a few more hard court match wins, is moving better is more sure about the knee and is more confident.
I hope it’s a thrilling match with a Rafa win ,it would be fantastic for him but it would be Delpo’s first Masters 1000 so would be great for him to. Just glad Novak is not in the final.
Just wondered if Rafa wins will he go back to No4 does anyone know? I’ve been trying to work it out but I’m not sure. Thanks.
I believe he would but he will lose his Miami semi points in 2 weeks, assuming he does not play there.