RG: The draw

The Roland Garros draw was performed today. You can see the results here (html) or here (pdf). Rafa is in Djokovic’s half while Ferrer is in Federer’s. He will start his tournament by playing Daniel Brands – it will be their first ever meeting.

24 May 2013 | by miri | 31 Comments

RafaLint: May 23rd

Photo by Beth Wilson
Articles:

Brain Game: The Art of Nadal – by Craig O’Shannessy (tennis.com) (I thought I’d linked to this before, but I can’t find it now…so, better to link twice than not at all.)
News from the French, part III – by Guillaume Willecoq (rolandgarros.com)
Keys for Nadal, Sharapova in Paris – via espn.com
Nadal back in old routine and looking invincible – by Martyn Herman (nbcsports.com)
Burning questions about Serena, Rafael Nadal, more going into French Open – by Courtney Nguyen (si.com)

23 May 2013 | by miri | 11 Comments

RG: Practice and Nike Event photos

Rafa had a shortened practice session today. Shortened for two reasons: he was late; it started raining. Here’s a few pictures:

Photos by AFP PHOTO/MIGUEL MEDINA and EFE/CORINNE DUBREUIL.

Later in the day, he joined a few other career slam holders for a Nike event.

Photos by AFP PHOTO/KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

23 May 2013 | by miri | 2 Comments

RafaLint: May 22nd

Rafa interview and practice footage from today:

Posted by molvi1501.

Articles:

Rafatigue? Nadal’s dominance on clay never gets old; more mail – by Jon Wertheim (si.com)
The Rally: 2013 French Open – tennis.com pundits Tignor and Bodo be pundity.

Rafael Nadal ¡¡¡sorprendente!!!. Palma del Río, el mejor ITF Future de España. – Rafa praise and concern for the future of Spanish tennis from Toni Colom (mangle).
French Open build-up: Who’s hot and who’s not? – via thetennisspace.com

French Open preview: Can anyone stop Nadal or Djokovic lifting the trophy in Paris? – by Alex

22 May 2013 | by miri | 13 Comments

RafaLint: May 21st

AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino
Articles:

Toni Nadal: “No me explico que Rafa sea 1 en la Race” – an interview with Toni via puntodebreak.com (mangle)
Return of Serve Analysis: Nadal Trounces Federer in Rome, But Return Numbers Tell Different Story – by Juan José (changeovertennis.com)

Federer-Nadal rivalry running on its last legs – by Bruce Jenkins (si.com)
ESPN / French Open Conference Call w/Evert & Drysdale – Rafa doesn’t like to be defensive? And Fed has a good slice backhand against Rafa? #shitChrissieSays.
Nadal the

21 May 2013 | by miri | 9 Comments

RafaLint: May 20th

AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

I’m so totally addicted to this site – it’s got so much of what I’d had envisioned doing with the database here, but have never gotten around too.

Articles:

Heroes and Zeros: Rafa, Serena Replay, Paire Powers, Jerzy Rips – by Chris Oddo (tennisnow.com)
10 Things We Learned in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome – by Chris Oddo (tennisnow.com)
Brain Game: Roger’s New Rafa Tactics – by by Craig O’Shannessy (atpworldtour.com)
Is Rafael Nadal back to his best? Sure thing he is – by

20 May 2013 | by miri | 10 Comments

RafaLint: May 19th

AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

Articles:

Racquet Reaction: Nadal d. Federer – by Steve Tignor (tennis.com)
Nadal Masterclass Stuns Federer, Wins 24th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Crown – via atpworldtour.com
Rafael Nadal crushes Roger Federer to show clay supremacy in Rome final – by Kevin Mitchell (guardian.co.uk)
Rafael Nadal hammers Roger Federer in Italian Open final – via bbc.co.uk

Rafael Nadal routs Roger Federer, but French Open triumph isn’t assured – by Courtney Nguyen (si.com)
Ruthless Rafa blows away Federer to conquer Rome – by Nathan Williams (sport360.com)

19 May 2013 | by miri | 29 Comments

Rome: Trophy photoshoot

All taken at crotch level…I guess to fit in with the XXX/69 theme.

Photos by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

19 May 2013 | by miri | 9 Comments

Rome: Final videos (Updated)

Here’s the full match:

Posted by TennisOnlineHD who has also posted a version with Spanish commentary.

Post match on court interview in Spanish. It’s also available on YouTube:

Posted by molvi1501.

Genny summed up a few of Rafa’s comments:

Rafa in Spanish TV: Rafa’d have rated as mad to anyone who would’ve told him 4 months ago that by now he’d have won 3 M1000, 2 M500 & 1 M250— Genny SS (@genny_ss) May 19, 2013

Rafa thinks today wasn’t the best day of

19 May 2013 | by miri | 3 Comments

Rome: Post final presser transcript

Photo by REUTERS/ Alessandro Bianchi

The transcript for Rafa’s post-final presser is up on the Italian Open’s website. It’s another impressive example of transcribing.

Q: First of all 7 wins in Rome and second somehow surprised when 1 all 30 all he you lost only 3 points – won 9 games in a row…

R. Nadal: Surprising …. I 61 and but that is what happened and the end is always surprising when you play against someone like Roger – and you win 61 – how can I

19 May 2013 | by miri | 6 Comments