RafaLint: May 16th

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Articles:

Racquet Reaction: Nadal d. Gulbis – by Steve Tignor (tennis.com)
Nadal Keeps His Nerve To Beat Gulbis; Paire Upsets Del Potro – via atpworldtour.com
Rafael Nadal overcomes shaky start – AP via espn.com
Nadal claims he deserved to win thriller – via internazionalibnlditalia.com
Should Rafael Nadal be bumped up the Roland Garros seedings? – via thetennisspace.com
Rafael Nadal survives stern test from Ernests Gulbis at Italian Open – by Courtney Nguyen (si.com)
ATP Thursday – As it Happens –

16 May 2013 | by miri | One Comment

Rome: 3rd round photos

These photos of Rafa’s victory over Gulbis are brought to you by guys named Clive.

Photos by Clive Mason/Getty Images and Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

16 May 2013 | by miri | One Comment

Rome: 3rd round presser transcript

Photo by AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

The transcript from Rafa’s 3rd round presser is up on the tournament’s site:

Q: About the draw – this time you had Gulbis next time Ferrer, Djokovic or Federer and going into the Roland Garros as 5th seed is a problem

R. Nadal: I can be 4th seed. Is there no chance for me. The draws are tough and if you are fifth then you can have tougher draws but being 7 years out of the completion and still being

16 May 2013 | by miri | 15 Comments

Rome: 3rd round videos

Full match video:

Posted by TennisOnlineHD.

Post match on court interview (Spanish):

Posted by molvi1501.

Post match in studio interview (English):

Posted by ATPWorldTour.

16 May 2013 | by miri | No Comment

Rome: Into the quarters

Photo by AP Photo/Riccardo De LucaHelloeverybodyguys! Sorry I missed today’s match, but I’ve been in (and am still in) a meeting at work – we are taking a short break. So, let’s make this quick: Rafa defeated Ernests Gulbis in his third round match today: 1-6, 7-5, 6-4. For those who saw it, how nerve-wracking was it?

16 May 2013 | by miri | 41 Comments

Madrid: 3rd round presser transcript

AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza

The transcript from Rafa’s post round of 16 presser is up on the ASAP Sports site.

Q. Good afternoon, Rafa. Congratulations on the victory. We were a little bit worried. I don’t know if it was just a feeling, but you were feeling more bad than normal?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, well, you know, sometimes I feel more and sometimes I feel less. Sometimes I have pain. Since the first day sometimes it’s complicated, you know.

I try to avoid talking about it

10 May 2013 | by miri | One Comment

RafaLint: May 9th

AP Photo/Andres Kudacki

Articles:

Nadal On Track In Madrid, Faces Ferrer In QFs – via atpworldtour.com
Nadal steams through – via madrid-open.com
Impressive Nadal cruises past Youzhny – via ESPN
Paseo militar de Nadal – via marca.com (mangle)
World No.5 Rafael Nadal criticises 25-second rule after being warned for second day in a row – via news.com.au
Will Rafa Retain His Throne? – by Tracey DeFrancesco (tennisviewmag.com)
Rafael Nadal’s Words Speak Volumes About La Quinta Resort & Spa – uh, okay. The one time I was

9 May 2013 | by miri | 3 Comments

Madrid: 3rd round photos

Photos from Rafa’s victory over Youzhny today.

Photos by AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe, Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP, and Jasper Juinen/Getty Images Europe

9 May 2013 | by miri | 2 Comments

Madrid: 3rd round videos

Full match:

Posted by TennisOnlineHD.

Highlights:

Posted by RAFApedia.

Post match on court interview:

Posted by molvi1501.

9 May 2013 | by miri | 2 Comments

Madrid: Efficient

AP Photo/Andres Kudacki

Rafa played #31 Mikhail Youzhny in his round of 16 match today in Madrid. It was a quick and efficient match – Rafa only lost three points on serve in the first set. There was a slight burp in set 2 when a few errors allowed Youzhny to break, but over all, Rafa was playing and moving well.

9 May 2013 | by miri | 16 Comments