Rafa withdraws from the US Open

Per Rafa’s twitter account, he has withdrawn from the US Open. It’s sad news, but I applaud his conviction to not come back until he’s 100%. Let’s just hope he gets there soon.

15 Aug 2012 | by miri | 138 Comments

RafaLint: September 20th

Who’s Rafa fake snogging?

Is that a Costa daughter? Or a cousin? (Posted by cymro16668)

Anyone got a higher quality one of this? I don’t see it here (and the Nadal Minutes are usually region-blocked for me anyway.)

Articles:

The Sherwood Taipei to Welcome World-Renowned Tennis Players – Rafa’s getting the star treatment at an upcoming exhibtion with Daveeed.
The Implacable by Pete Bodo (tennis.com)
“He jugado en muchos sitios, pero la afición de aquí es inmejorable” by Rafael C. Mendoza. Warning: old man shorts! (mangle)
La última noche en Córdoba by

20 Sep 2011 | by miri | 56 Comments

USO: Rafa gets gifties from Nike

Found this on YouTube – Rafa and other Nike sponsored players visit Nike Tennis Athlete Hospitality during the US Open.

Posted by Nike Tennis.

GoodbyeEverybodyGuys!

17 Sep 2011 | by miri | 3 Comments

RafaLint: September 16th

Articles:

Someone’s still very upset about the schedule: Nadal asegura que no descarta “nada” en su postura contra la ITF (mangle)
Rafael Nadal displeased by schedule AP (espn.com)
Spain take giant step towards final by Clive White (daviscup.com). Includes audio interview clips.
Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer win AP (espn.com)
Tennis Turns Its Attention to Team and Country by Christopher Clarey (NY Times)
Rafael Nadal wins Davis Cup match to put Spain in charge via BBC Sport
Davis Cup: Argentina, Spain on verge

16 Sep 2011 | by miri | 9 Comments

RafaLint: September 13th

Q&A

El Mundo Q&A #5 and here’s the mangle.
El Mundo Q&A #6 (mangle)

Articles about the final/USO:

Racquet Reaction by Peter Bodo
Nadal Is Again Unable to Overcome Djokovic by Jorge Castillo (NY Times)
The game that crushed Rafael Nadal by Greg Garber (espn.com)
Mr. One More Ball by Steve Tignor (tennis.com)
Djokovic Wins Most Electric Men’s Final in Years by Lindsay Sakraida (NY Mag)
Djokovic now the best of the best by Richard Deitsch (SI.com)
Video: Best

13 Sep 2011 | by miri | 19 Comments

USO: Final photos

Photos from Monday’s Final.

Photos by REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi, Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images, EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images, Nick Laham/Getty Images, Al Bello/Getty Images, Chris Trotman/Getty Images, and REUTERS/Gary Hershorn

13 Sep 2011 | by miri | 9 Comments

USO: Post-final presser video

Here’s the video of the presser:

13 Sep 2011 | by miri | 17 Comments

USO: Final videos

(Photos tomorrow – I’m so tired!)

Hot shots:

More match highlights from PartidoaPartido here.

Match report via usopen.org.

Match report via CBS (try this if that first one doesn’t work)

Epic Rally:

Mary, Dick and JMac wrap-up the match:

Rafa’s trophy ceremony speech:

12 Sep 2011 | by miri | 15 Comments

USO: Post-final presser

Odd that we have a very quickly posted transcript and no video yet, but I’ll take what I can get. Why? Because once again, Rafa proves he has more class, balance and wisdom than someone almost twice his age… No silliness from me, just Rafa:

Q. At any time was fatigue a factor in the match today?

RAFAEL NADAL: At the fourth. But, it was a tough match. Physical, mental, everything was, yeah, I think it was a quality

12 Sep 2011 | by miri | 46 Comments

USO: Not this time

#1 verses #2 in the US Open final, that hasn’t happen since the Samprass/Aggasi days. Then, it was the #2 who ended up winning. But this is hard-court and one that requires non-stop aggressive play. When confident, Rafa can do that. When not? It’s damn tough. Add to that a player oozing confidence and no visible weaknesses, and it’s not good. Rafa fought, he fought hard, but it just wasn’t enough. Djokovic wins his first US Open: 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-1.

12 Sep 2011 | by miri | 211 Comments