Picture it, NYC 2006

Rafa and Rog answering questions from fans at a US Open promo event:

And playing a bit:

Posted by golfsmith.

4 Aug 2010 | by miri | 2 Comments

Flashback: Barcelona 2003

A very young Rafa loses to Alex Corretja:

Posted by tnnsdvd.

5 Jul 2010 | by miri | 8 Comments

Wimbly: History of a passion

Inés wanted to share Bee’s translation of this article from 2008. She says it’s one of her favorite Rafa articles eve, and I thought it was a good article to share as Rafa prepares to head back to Wimbledon. The last paragraph of this article didn’t happen as expected, but let’s try to not focus on that. Early exit in 2005; more success than expected in 2006; gut-wrenching defeat in 2007; most glorious victory in 2008; heart-breaking inability to play in 2009

16 Jun 2010 | by miri | 10 Comments

Baby Rafa serving

For those who are already worrying on tomorrow and need a distraction…baby Rafa serving in 2002 (with very silly music):

Posted by RTSPORT1.

5 Jun 2010 | by miri | 3 Comments

W: Baby Rafa at Wimbly

From his 2003 Wimbledon appearance…

Cracks me up that he’s holding the racket up high the whole time he’s running into the net. “I need to volley! Racket in position! I need to volley!”

Posted by gandaines.

1 Jun 2010 | by miri | 12 Comments

Baby Rafa winning Acapulco title

Posted by sztregozone – check out their channel for the rest of the match.

23 May 2010 | by miri | 7 Comments

16 year old Rafa will kick your ass

Video from a Futures event that Rafa (ranked #466) played in Vigo, Spain in August of 2002. This was the final – played against Antonio Pastorino (ranked #639) of Argentina. Rafa won: 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4.

Posted by RTSPORT1.

17 May 2010 | by miri | 15 Comments

Teenage Rafa

Just barely past the tot stage and playing at a tournament that has no one to hold his towel. Ah, the rough times. Am I hearing right? Does he mention Wimbledon?

Description by the FernadoReyTapias who posted the video:

Fragmentos del documental sobre Rafa Nadal a los 16 años cuando ganó el Torneo Satélite de Vigo.

5 May 2010 | by miri | 55 Comments

2006 Rome final

Take a trip via the way-back machine and relive the 2006 Rafa/Roger Rome final via TennisTV.com.

1 May 2010 | by miri | 3 Comments

Old Rome…

…remember when the Master Series finals were best of five sets? Remember when an up-and-coming guy who had just won his first Master Series title in Monte-Carlo played an epic final against a clay-court specialist and won? (Nada/Coria in 2005 – if you haven’t seen that match, I feel sorry for you.) He made the final again in the next year and this time was facing the #1 player in the world. One couldn’t hope for as exciting a match, could

24 Apr 2010 | by miri | 35 Comments