USO: El Mundo Q&A #4

Rafa’s next Q&A with elmundo.es is up. From the mangle, I’m guessing that:

He’s not happy about them starting play on Wednesday.
He doesn’t want to answer questions about the Mallorcan government supporting sport.
Cramps happen. He’s happy to be on the DC team.
Just throwing a racket doesn’t garner a warning unless it’s severe. Time warnings are nothing new.
Something I clearly don’t understand about trust, being #1 and play. I’m assuming it means confidence, not trust.
Rafa wanted his friend David to

8 Sep 2011 | by miri | 8 Comments

Tennis Magazine: US Open Special

Rafa’s on the cover of the most recent copy of Tennis Magazine. The article that goes with the title is by Pete Bodo. It doesn’t really contain anything new – just talks about how incredibly honest Rafa’s post Wimbledon final presser was and Bodo’s feelings that Rafa is at a turning point in his career.

There’s also an opinion piece by Chris Evert on what she calls the seven-year itch. She feels that’s “the approximate amount of time top players seem to be able to compete on the tour before the physical and mental tolls cause them to want to take

14 Aug 2011 | by miri | 24 Comments

Is Rafa too nice on the Court?

With passage of time after the Wimbledon final I have come to agree with an opinion voiced by many on this board that Rafa’s deficit against Novak in the Wimbledon final was entirely psychological. Going into the match Rafa’s tennis was where it needed to be. The Rafa who defeated del Potro and Murray would have dispatched Djokovic in four sets. But on the Sunday Novak had the psychological edge. From what? In my opinion, a blend of personality and on-court persona.

Several

14 Jul 2011 | by AbigailA | 89 Comments

RafaLint: July 12th

Sorry I abandoned you for awhile! But there wasn’t much lint about (that I could post) and besides, I’ve been dealing with some other Spaniards. :) I’m sure you guys have already seen all this stuff, but here goes any way:

The worst, but most adorable, line reader in history is back in action for the Drink Responsibly campaign.

Articles & Stuff:

Inaugural ‘ATP Aces For Charity’ Grants Awarded – ATP Staff/ATPworldtour.com. Rafa’s foundation is one of the receiving charities.

Rafa Nadal: «Djokovic ha sido el mejor todo

12 Jul 2011 | by miri | 45 Comments

Wimbly: Times Blog and Q&A #13

Rafa’s final entries are up on The Times site. First, the blog:

Good morning everyone and first of all thanks for all your support these past weeks.

I am already in Mallorca, back home. Now will be taking some time off, some holidays since I have practically been playing since the Davis Cup tie against Belgium, and that was back at the end of February!

I will be 2 weeks completely off, with my friends, enjoying the summer here in Mallorca.

I am obviously

5 Jul 2011 | by miri | 74 Comments

RafaLint: July 4th

Articles:

A Loser’s Winning Moment – Jason Gay/Wall Street Journal (Thanks, JK)
Nadal no sufre una fractura en su pie, según su tío Toni – AS (mangle)
Fifty thoughts from Wimbledon – Jon Wertheim/SI (Jon teases us about Rafa’s upcoming book)
Wimbledon players leave landlords legacy of dirty linen – Pritha Sarkar/Reuters (Thanks, Atch2)

Video & Audio:

iB3 report on ranking change
Pre-final BBC podcast – Rafa starts at around 30 minutes in. (Thanks, CC)
Audio of

4 Jul 2011 | by miri | 21 Comments

RafaLint: July 3rd

Videos:

Full presser – too bad about the voice-over interpretation
Higher quality version of Rafa’s interview with JMac post match

Articles:

Racket Reaction – Steve Tignor/Tennis.com
Five thoughts off Sunday’s men’s final – Jon Wertheim/SI
Rafa Ready To Bide His Time – Kate Flory/ATP
Nadal finds out what it feels like to be ‘Rafa-ed’ – Alix Ramsay/Wimbledon.com
Wimbledon Royalty: The A-List – Steve Tignor/Tennis.com (I love how all that’s needed to show Rafa earned his grade are quotes from his presser)

3 Jul 2011 | by miri | 17 Comments

Wimbly: Hairline fracture?

Per a comment from Mike91, The Times is reporting that Rafa has a hairline fracture in his left foot. Here’s his screen grab from the story. Subscribers can read it here. The relevant bits:

Although The Times has learnt that Nadal had a hairline fracture in the left foot that he hurt against Juan Martín del Potro in the fourth round and may not play for six more weeks, he put up no excuses for his defeat,

3 Jul 2011 | by miri | 54 Comments

Wimbly: Final photos

Photos from today’s final.

Photos by Julian Finney/Getty Images, REUTERS/Eddie Keogh, GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images, REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth, Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, Photo by Stephen Pond/Pool/Getty Images, and CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images

3 Jul 2011 | by miri | 10 Comments

Wimbly: Post final presser [Updated]

Update: Oops, forgot to include the video via the ATP.

If the above video is region blocked for you, try this one.

Rafa’s presser is up on the Ubi tennis site. It’s honest and classy…no snark from me or stupid quips from me belong in there.

Q. How would you describe the way Novak played today, especially in the second set?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well,

3 Jul 2011 | by miri | 32 Comments