Born To Run

Rosangel Valenti has posted about her experience watching and photographing the Wawrinka Hurlingham match.

First, if my aim for the day had been to create a collection of pictures entitled “The Many Grimaces of Rafa Nadal”, I was definitely in the right place at the right time. I really enjoy photographing players’ expressions, and have captured many of Nadal’s before now, but I’ve never been there before at a time when when he’s appeared so joyless about almost every

20 Jun 2009 | by miri | 21 Comments

More man than machine

Tennishead.net has a report on the Wawrinka exhibition.

The theories among the stands covered the full spectrum of possibility. He failed to register a point on Wawrinka’s serve in the first game – there’s no way he’ll be at Wimbledon! He then held serve to 15 – of course he’ll be there! Every flex and grimace, every bludgeoned drive and fluffed drop-shot, every glance to Toni and Benito in the courtside player’s box

20 Jun 2009 | by miri | 61 Comments

Hurlingham day 2 photos

(Photos by AP Photo/Akira Suemori, REUTERS/Toby Melville, and BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

19 Jun 2009 | by miri | 9 Comments

Rafa will not play Wimbledon

Rafa announced during a press conference on Friday that he will not be playing at Wimbledon this year. He said it was one of the most difficult decisions of his career but that he felt he had no other option. You can see video of the presser here.

19 Jun 2009 | by miri | 142 Comments

Press conference soon…

The presser where we hope Rafa will finally announce his Wimbledon status is now scheduled for 7pm London time (just about an hour and half from when I’m posting this).

Pat sent in this Times Online article that has info about today’s exhibition match.

After defeat by Lleyton Hewitt yesterday, Nadal went down to Stanislas Wawrinka, of Switzerland, this afternoon. However, he did not look unduly troubled by his injuries and there was little in his body language or movement around the

19 Jun 2009 | by miri | 23 Comments

TV news coverge of exhibition

First up, Eurosport:

Posted by luneworld.

Now, IB3 with old practice footage:

Posted by vamosrafelnadal

18 Jun 2009 | by miri | 7 Comments

Hurlingham photos

Photos from the exhibition match with Hewitt.

(Photos by IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images and REUTERS/Toby Melville)

18 Jun 2009 | by miri | 52 Comments

[Updated] Bad knee news…

johanne sent in this link – the news doesn’t look good. (skyejaden nabbed the photo from the AP.)

Rafael Nadal still looked hampered by his injured knees in an unsuccessful transition to grass Thursday and will decide Friday whether he is fit enough to defend the Wimbledon title.

Nadal played without tape on his sore knees but frequently looked a step slow in losing 6-4, 6-3 to Lleyton Hewitt in an exhibition match at the Hurlingham Club

18 Jun 2009 | by miri | 63 Comments

More Rafalint

I’m on the trail of more Rafalint! There’s bits and pieces all over the place…

What the contenders need to win Wimbledon by Tom Perrotta

Rafael Nadal, confidence: How severe is Nadal’s knee injury? It’s unclear at the moment, though we should know more by this weekend. Even if his knees feel OK, can Nadal overcome the injury to his spirit? His uncle and coach, Toni, told the Spanish press this week that Nadal’s chances are no longer as good, and that losing at the French Open has hurt his confidence. If he finds it by the end of the

17 Jun 2009 | by miri | 21 Comments

More practice and Hurlingham tomorrow

Per the Fortis Bank Classic site, Rafa will play Lleyton Hewitt tomorrow (Thursday).

Also, pictures from today’s practice session can be found on the Wimbledon Facebook page.

17 Jun 2009 | by miri | 8 Comments