RafaLint: April 26th

Photo by AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

Sadly, it looks like I’ll be missing Rafa’s match tomorrow because I’ll be doing a fundraising walk for Arthritis research and awareness. I’ll check scores while walking, but please say a few Vamoses for me.

Articles:

ATP World Tour – Nadal, Raonic Pull Double Duty; Almagro To Face Kohlschreiber – via atpworldtour.com
Rafael Nadal advances to semis – AP via espn.com
Rafael Nadal wins two matches in a day to reach Barcelona semis – via bbc.co.uk
Nadal breezes through in

26 Apr 2013 | by miri | 4 Comments

Barcelona: 3rd round and quarterfinal photos

Photos from both matches Rafa played today.

Photos by David Ramos/Getty Images

26 Apr 2013 | by miri | One Comment

Barcelona: Quarterfinal match video

Video of Rafa’s quarterfinal match against Ramos.

Posted by TennisOnlineHD.

26 Apr 2013 | by miri | No Comment

Barcelona: Double header

Photo by Beth Wilson

To make up for yesterday’s non-stop rain, Rafa had to play two matches today in Barcelona. He started his day with a defeat of #33 Benoit Paire 7-6(2), 6-2. Rafa folloed that up with a drubbing of #64 Albert Ramos. Nice scores, but Rafa still needs to steady his backhand – it went from brilliant to “oh my” bad in a nano-second.

26 Apr 2013 | by miri | 43 Comments

Barcelona: 3rd round match video

Full match video of Rafa’s defeat of Benoit Paire this morning on Barcelona.

Posted by TennisOnlineHD.

26 Apr 2013 | by miri | No Comment

RafaLint: April 24th

Photo by Beth Wilson

(This was going to be more organized and less of a time-shifting mish-mash, but I’m tired and lost momentum. This also means this post is missing so, so much.)

Today’s recommended reading:
Back to the Present – by Steve Tignor (tennis.com)

Rafa was all smiles on the trophy stand afterward. It seemed to me that losing provided a moment of relief, and it may even have confirmed something in Nadal’s worldview.

I too sensed a bit of relief in the loss. No more wondering when

24 Apr 2013 | by miri | 32 Comments

Barcelona: 2nd round match video

Video of Rafa’s match against Berlocq.

Posted by TennisOnlineHD

24 Apr 2013 | by miri | No Comment

Barcelona: Business as usual

Photo by Beth Wilson

Rafa started is Barcelona campaign with a solid 6-4, 6-2 2nd round win over Carlos Berlocq. I’m back to the boring real job and didn’t get to see the match – did anyone get to see it? Comments on the level of play?

24 Apr 2013 | by miri | 31 Comments

Practice in Barcelona

Per this article, Rafa’s continuing his practices in Barcelona. (mangle)

And there’s some videos to prove it! First, an iB3 report. Here is Inés’s translation of Rafa’s words:

Happy to to play again in Brazil and also especially happy to be back to play two weeks earlier than it was planned, that was Acapulco and that the things are working well and try to keep working with the same intensity, in the same line, and hopefully that everything continues working well as it is doing in recent weeks.

Next, a video from sport.es:

15 Jan 2013 | by miri | 10 Comments

RafaLint: May 1

Rafa’s second mountain, a tribute to his Masters 1000s record wins, and a snuggly, satisfied Rafa.

1 May 2012 | by miri | 11 Comments