RafaLint: March 29th

Photo by Beth Wilson

If you care to believe anything Marca writes (their track record isn’t that great), Rafa payed a “surprise visit” to his knee doctor this week. Here’s what I want to know: what is their definition of surprise? Is it that the doctor/Rafa didn’t expect this visit to be needed? Did Rafa show up on the doctor’s doorstep and yell “Surprise”? Was it a surprise birthday party for the doctor? Or that Rafa didn’t feel the need to inform the press that

29 Mar 2013 | by miri | 5 Comments

RafaLint: March 25th

Photo by Beth Wilson

First, why can’t I buy these on the US Nike site:
Shirt (with photo by Ella Ling) and a just plain awesome shirt I must have.

For those who believe in such silly superstitions, these are the colors you need to do your nails for the clay Masters 1000 series: shirt and shorts. (Again, neither of these are on the US Nike site.)

Articles:

Las células madre que le han devuelto la rodilla a Nadal – interview with the clinic where

25 Mar 2013 | by miri | 8 Comments

RafaLint: March 20th

Preview of a CNN Open Court Rafa interview scheduled to air tomorrow:

And here’s the on air schedule and some photos.

Thursday 21 March at 0930 GMT / 1030 CET and 1630 GMT / 1730 CET
Saturday 23 March at 0730 GMT / 0830 CET and 2100 GMT / 2200 CET
Sunday 24 March at 1630 GMT / 1730 CET
Saturday 30 March at 1630 GMT / 1730 CET
Sunday 31 March at 0730 BST / 0930

20 Mar 2013 | by miri | One Comment

RafaLint: March 18th

Photo by REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Articles:

Rafael Nadal, en El Partido de las 12: “Ya estoy preparado para jugar contra cualquiera” – from the the mangle it sounds like the post-match limping a lot of us noticed is normal and nothing to be worried about. (Audio)
The Return of the Persistents – by Steve Tignor
Indian Wells, In Photos – by Steve Tignor (tennis.com)
Meaning More Than Most – by Jesse Pentecost (thenextpoint.com)
Toni Nadal: “Nuestro objetivo es llegar a la Copa Masters” – sum

18 Mar 2013 | by miri | 9 Comments

IW: Post final presser

Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Rafa’s post-final transcript is up:

Q. Congratulations. Is it one of the most memorable wins of your career?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t know, no? But it is an emotional one, a very emotional one, yes.

A lot of things happened last seven months, to be back here and to have this very heavy trophy with me is amazing, no? I am winning three straight top 10s, beating the top 5 of the world and No. 4 and not be

18 Mar 2013 | by miri | 11 Comments

RafaLint: March 17th

Photo by REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

What a wonderful day it’s been! Sorry about all the Twitter embeds slowing down the page, but I had to include each and every one of them. Just had to!

Articles:

Nadal Makes Masters 1000 History; Notches 600th Win – via atpworldtour.com
Racquet Reaction: Nadal d. Del Potro – by Hannah Wilks (tennis.com)
LiveAnalysis: Rafael Nadal vs Juan Martín del Potro in the Indian Wells Final – by Juan José (changeovertennis.com)
BNP Paribas Open: Rafael Nadal sets record by winning 22nd ATP Masters

17 Mar 2013 | by miri | 17 Comments

IW: Final match video

Video from the final.

Part one:

Part two:

Posted by TennisOnlineHD – be sure to click through on some of the videos and add your thanks in the comments. I’m sure this isn’t easy work for TennisOnlineHD to do.

17 Mar 2013 | by miri | 3 Comments

IW: Final photos

Photos from the final, and the trophy ceremony and photoshoot.

Photos by REUTERS/Danny Moloshok, Stephen Dunn/Getty Images, Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports, AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, Michael Heiman/Getty Images and FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

17 Mar 2013 | by miri | 12 Comments

IW: The present

Photo by REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Today Rafa played #7 Juan Martin Del Potro in the final of the BNP Paribas Open (aka, Indian Wells). Rafa was playing for his first hard court title since Tokyo in October 2010; Del Potro was playing for his first Masters 1000 title, ever. Rafa held to start the match. The second game was a long one. It took 4 break points, but Rafa finally broke to go up 2-0. Del Potro stepped things and Rafa had an off game and was

17 Mar 2013 | by miri | 76 Comments

IW: Semifinal presser transcript

Photo by Beth Wilson

Rafa’s post-semifinal presser transcript is up on ASAP Sports.

Q. During the Australian Open when you were sidelined, if someone said to you that in the warmup clay tournaments you played you would do extremely well and then come here on hard court and beat Roger in straight sets and Berdych and then reach the finals, what would you say to them?

RAFAEL NADAL: You never know what’s going in on in the future, no, but sure is something that the things seem

17 Mar 2013 | by miri | No Comment