Nadal News

I have no idea what he’s saying, but he’s sure looking tan while saying it:

Rafa Nadal, Presidente de Honor de Lo que de verdad importa en Palma de Mallorca, no pudo estar presente en el congreso pero quiso dejarnos a todos unas palabras…

Which mangles to: “Rafa Nadal, Honorary President of What really matters in Palma de Mallorca, could not be present at the conference but would leave us all a few words …”

Articles:

• Another El Mundo Q&A (mangle)
• Report Card: Grading the Pros on January - by Tom Perrotta (tennis.com)
• Nadal has tools, fortitude to beat Djokovic; more Aussie thoughts - by Bruce Jenkins (si.com)
• Rafa Nadal’s performance contributed to one of the grand slam final classics - by Courtney Walsh (The Australian)
• ¡Qué grande es nuestro deporte, EL TENIS! - by Emilio Sanchez Vicario (mangle)
• Coming Soon: Nadal, the Djokovic slayer - by Swati Kothari (ndtv.com)

And @genny_ss would like to share this blog post - Sr. D. Rafael Nadal - and her translation:

MR. RAFAEL NADAL (by Amalio Moratalla)

Of course I will not say anything different from what you have read or heard about our best player and perhaps best athlete of all time. But my body, the justice and the reason ask me to do it. We can all the adjetives we want to Rafa. There is plenty of room for them and many are not enough. His attitude, personality and mood admit all of them, but in the case of Rafael Nadal, there’s more. Much more, I think. He is a full and honest athlete.

This is golden truth. After nearly six hours of play in the final in Melbourne in front of the ‘tennis machine’, Novak Djokovic, I failed to annotate in my book a single detail to reproach to our player. An example of a fight for a crown without disrespecting the crowd, the opponent, tennis and sport! What satisfaction!

Those of us, who spent many hours watching football matches and their circumstances because of duty, obligation or professional devotion, could see the differences. Yesterday, his 180 pulsations as tennis player - playing almost the equivalent of four football games in a row! - did not prevent him from being a gentleman. In addition, being on court by himself and with an overwhelming physical waste.

I know it is not a contact sport, but whatever. The pressure, the continuity, the intensity… of the actions is so brutal, that each ball is a [different] world. For a few centimeters, millimeters - the ‘Hawkeye’ decides - a game is won or lost. Thrilling emotion. Throughout the Australia Open final, not a bad gesture, no spitting, no pushing, no nasty protest at the umpire, no theatrics, not even a defiant look like those we are fed up of getting on the ‘green field’ of football. This and that are a different matter.

Mr. Rafael Nadal is awesome. As a player, no need for more description. He’s the number 1 -I do not care what the ATP ranking says-. But his values as athlete and human being, as an example to kids and not so kids and to a society as tense as the one in which we live today, are indeed a mirror in which to look at.

Please, let’s not do as usual with a man as exceptional as him: when he starts to lose -and he will, like every human being-, let’s respect the symbol, the person, his example and what he has meant for our sport while he was dressing shorts and what he can end up meaning dressing in a suit and a tie. If, when he decides to quit, we all together do not succeed in getting that his values endure in our sport with him as a leader, it will be a failure of all -citizens, fans and press-.

[I] hope he lasts long! Although what I propose is that he lasts forever, that is not necessary to see him dressing shorts winning or losing against Djokovic to admire him for life.

PS: For matches as yesterday’s there should be two champions. The final should be declared ‘world heritage’, [it should be] shown in colleges and universities around the world and stand as an example of sport, athletes and persons. It had any kind of things and all were exceptional to give a master class on dedication, excellence, elegance and good manners. If we want, like everything in life, WE CAN! And if we do it politely, much better.

Original Article

And we know this thanks to the iB3 and their airport stalking ways:

Check davidjnadal’s twitter for quotes from the interview and feel free to mangle them. I’m late getting back to work from lunch!

Original Article

From an old photoshoot - here’s the description from the meta-data embedded in the images:

PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAIN - JULY 19: Tennis player Rafael Nadal is photographed for on July 19, 2011 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photos by Clive Brunskill/Contour by Getty Images)

[gallery link=”file”]

Thanks to twitter tweeps @genny_ss and @diannada for helping with the source and jenlynn820.tumblr.com for uploading them with the meta-data intact.

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31427” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by Scott Barbour/ Getty Images”]

Today’s recommended reading:
Nadal vs. Djokovic: Here We Are Again, My Friend - by Brian Phillips (Grantland.com)

No, this isn’t recommended reading, it’s required reading. If you haven’t read it already - go off. Be gone with you. Read it. We’ll wait until you get back. *whistles*

The cruelest thing about this glutted golden age of men’s tennis is that it keeps producing astonishing matches, matches that actually expand your idea of what sport can be, and someone has to lose all of them.

Depends on your definition of lose, I guess. I know someone walked off with a title, bigger trophy and more money, but I don’t think either player was a loser on Sunday.

Nadal, though? He plays like he’s fighting giants. It’s not just the sneer, or the muscles, or the hair, or that forehand — you know, the one where he swoops the racket all the way around his head like he’s whipping the team pulling his chariot. It’s also that frantic tenacity that used to drive me so nuts. Federer seems devastated when he loses but he also seems to sense losses coming and accept them before they arrive. When Nadal falls behind, he turns the match into life and death. He gets mad. He hesitates less. He hits the ball harder. He doesn’t look sad or scared. He looks defiant, and he plays like he’s possessed.

There was more than one time during that final where Rafa had the look of a madman in his eye. I remember seeing him turning to get a ball from a ball kid to serve (he wasn’t rude or anything) and his eyes were wide and full of crazy. It frightened me and thrilled me at the same time.

Of course, the terrible thing about tennis, as opposed to mere epic warfare, is that you have to do it again next week. Ultimately, I think what’s clued me in to Nadal’s greatness is that, ever since Djokovic’s rise, he plays this way and still loses.

Or he plays this way, loses and still comes back for more.

You spend years in the shadow of your rival. You never stop working or believing. Finally it all comes together: you surpass him. For a year, maybe two, you win everything. You turn the game upside down, and your bottomless reserve of will makes you seem unstoppable. All the records are going to fall.7 Then, more or less suddenly, a guy you used to beat comfortably surpasses you. Long before your reign was supposed to end, you find yourself overshadowed again. You lose five straight, six straight, seven straight to the new champion, all in finals, three of them in majors. You’re 25, in what should be the peak of your prime as an athlete, and you’re right back where you started. It turns out that your relentlessness isn’t an unstoppable force. But — precisely because you have it — you keep going as if it is.

It’s madness. Bless him.

Articles:

• A new Q&A for El Mundo (mangle). He was young and short when he gave his first autograph? Heh.
• Punto de inflexión by Carlos Moya (mangle)
• Seems like it’s time to pass out report cards: Tignor’s marks; C-Note’s grades.
• 50 thoughts from wild Aussie Open - by Jon Wertheim (si.com)
• Tennis’s Golden Age? - by Reeves Wiedeman (The New Yorker)
• The great debate (psssst: Wimbledon 2008 final)
• Why Tennis Rules the Earth - from the Wall Street Journal
• Nadal busca un ‘sparring’ sacador (mangle) - what Rafa will be up to in February
• Audio of a Spanish interview with Rafa post-final.
• Radio interview with Toni

Tweets about Rafa:

• Atch did my job for me: Rafa, a Champion in Victory and Defeat.

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31423” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by PAUL CROCK/ AFP/ Getty Images”]

Some new questions up in The Age (and some Reva pointed out I’d missed):

Question from Zara: I was just wondering what was your favourite kit that you’ve ever worn? I especially liked your US Open 2010 & 2011 kits as well as the polos you wore in 2009.

Rafa says: I don’t have a favorite one but I can tell you I keep one of each gear and special ones. I have yesterday’s shoes and will keep them.

Is there any tread left on those shoes?

Question from Nora: What is your routine to prepare for a game & which Spanish player are you the friendliest with?

Rafa says: My routine is the normal one to get ready. Taping my ankles, my fingers, getting the rackets ready, a cold shower before going out, etc. I am friends with Feliciano, David Ferrer, Ferrero, Granollers, Verdasco, all of them.

And Marc!!! How cold he leave out Marc!(who is on the Davis Cup team! Go, Marc!)?

Question from Jimmy Stefanovski: Given the huge attention that tennis and for that matter sportspeople seem to get, how do you try to keep grounded?

Rafa says: I suppose it is a consequence of the education I have received by my parents and the way of understanding life. Not because I play tennis I should think I am any special.

Maybe you aren’t special because you play tennis, but you might be special because of how you play tennis. And I’m not necessarily talking about skill here.

Question from Cedrine: I read in one of your interviews you said you were losing your passion for tennis. That made me sad. Do you still feel that way at this moment or was it just a bad moment for you when you said that?

Rafa says: That is not totally correct. I said that at the end of last year I played a couple of matches without that passion, but never said I lost it.

Man, people are really hung up on passion, aren’t they?

Question from Simiti Singa (India): You came to India last year with your mother perhaps to start an academy in Hyderabad. What is the progress on that initiative? Do you have any other plans to help tennis in India?

Rafa says: I believe it’s been finished. It was together with the Vicente Ferrer foundation that have some things going on in India.

You believe?

Question from Gayle: People talk a lot about the importance of physical condition and determination. To me it also seems like a question of balance. A tennis champion has to be energized and pumped up but not too much or you’ll lose control. At the same time you have to stay calm but not too relaxed, or you will lose focus and your level will drop. You have to be constantly thinking and making decisions, but not think too much or you’ll become indecisive. Keeping all these things in balance at the same time sounds so difficult. How do you do it?

Rafa says: Yes, you are right. I was too pumped at the US Open final and I payed the consequences on the first set. But I agree with you with that mental part of the game that is as important as the physical one.

Now I want to go back and watch that first set.

Question from Anthea: My question is, you often take many rackets onto the court for a match, how many different string-weight variations do you use in a match? And do you reuse the rackets for the next matches or do you get new rackets for each match? Love, Anthea Yeung (London, UK)

Rafa says: Thanks. I always take the same string weight on all of them. I normally carry 6 rackets and I change them at every set. The rackets are all of them used and I change them at certain times of the year or if one breaks like the one that broke practicing before the OZ Open started.

Oh yeah, like that one. I love how he refers to it like it’s common knowledge.

Question from Karie: Hola Guapo, I was just wondering what you do with all the trophies that you get to keep? Are they on display anywhere or do you keep them at home? Thankyou. xx

Rafa says: I keep them at home. The most important ones are in my room.

Do you cuddle them when you have trouble sleeping? Maybe just give them each a little rub before bedtime?

Question from Sujith: Hello Rafa, thank you for the great memories and wish you the very best. Can you please explain why you don’t move closer to the baseline during rallies and when facing a second serve to avoid your shots falling too short on the other side of the court especially against Djokovic who then gets the time and space to smack a winner? Thank you.

Rafa says: Would love to but believe me the balls coming push you back!

In my head, I heard a *sigh* before that answer.

Question from Sam: Hi Rafa. Congratulations on your progress so far, hope you continue to win your matches! February is a quiet month for your fans as you often don’t play, but in February 2010 we had the Shakira Gypsy video and in February 2011 the first Armani photos came out. Have you got any treats lined up for us in February 2012?! Buena suerte!

Rafa says: Yes I do. I have some days of work with my sponsors during this month.

I hope those days don’t involve waxing/shaving body parts.

Question from Usaid: Which tennis player would you like to take out on a date?

Rafa says: I have my girlfriend

Heh.

Question from Adela: Hola! Rafa! ! I’m a big big fan of you. And u are so cute off court!! If Aladdin’s Lamp gives you just one wish,
1.M&M chocolate for your whole life
2.A PS win against Moya or Pico
3. Real Madrid wins the UEFA or LFP champion 2012
Which one will you choose ??? :) Best wishes for u in AO and 2012.

Rafa says: 1. Not my thing. 2 I have already done it. 3 for this year maybe that would be my choice but why not a GS title for me? ;-)

No M&Ms? There’s a type of chocolate he’d say no to?

Question from Edel: Hi Rafa, I’m a massive fan!! I have followed your career for years and admire you so much! I have read your book a few times and love it so much! :) Just wondering, if you could only win one more grand slam; which would it be? I know you’ll win more as you’ll keep improving as I believe you are the best player in the world! Djokovic is having a good run but I think you have to talent and the drive to gain back your No.1 spot! All the best for the season, I know you’ll dominate!!

Rafa says: Believe me that any would work for me!

Any old slam.

Question from Sasha: My question is, when will you come to Serbia and play a tournament here in Belgrade or an exhibition match????? You have so many fans here and you are a big sportstar name here, we’d love to see you!

Rafa says: Thanks, I heard many things about your country. I am sure one day. Thanks ;-)

Gee. Wonder from whom he’s heard those things?

Question from Anita: Hey Rafa, you have so many media duties to perform and new interviews you do seem to pop up every day. Do you prefer the more serious questions, such as those asked in the post-match press room, or do you prefer lighter/funner ones like those you answered in the Open Drive? Hoping you’re happy and healthy

Rafa says: It depends on the context and on the moment. Sometimes it is good serious ones, to talk about the sport, the matches, and sometimes other more relaxed.

It’s all about context, people.

Question from Ellie: Hi Rafa! This year, you have played the first four matches during the day. If you progress to the Semi-Final and (hopefully!!) the Final, the matches will be at night. Is it difficult to adjust from day to night? Will you do some practice at night now to get used to the different conditions? All the best for success in this tournament and for the rest of the season!

Rafa says: I haven’t played at night yet and it is different i know but I would love to be in that semis day or night ! :-)

Night didn’t seem to bother him at all.

Question from Joseph: Congratulations on your great career so far. I am a Roger fan, but over the years I have come to respect and admire your game. My question is what do you do with all your old gear? You must have so many old shirts, shoes, racquets etc. There must be museums who would love to have this stuff. Or maybe you could auction them off for your fans, with the money going to charity.

Rafa says: We give a lot away to people that use them for charity. At every tournament.

And that’s a good thing.

Original Article

The post-AO rankings are up and Rafa’s gained some ground:

 
Of the top five, only Djokovic (500; Dubai), Federer (300; Dubai) and Ferrer (500; Acapulco) have points to defend in February. (That is, if I’m reading all the breakdowns correctly after only 3 hours sleep in 24 hours.)

 

Original Article

Today’s recommended reading:
Everything You Can Imagine - by Steve Tignor (tennis.com)

When Federer plays Nadal, Federer’s fans ask, “Why isn’t he more aggressive? Why doesn’t he do this, or that, or something else?” It looks like he should be winning. When Nadal plays Djokovic, Nadal’s fans ask the same exasperated questions. It’s not so easy. Djokovic hits with deceptive weight and accuracy, and he’s better than anyone at forcing Nadal to hit his backhand. He’s always going to have the advantage when he does that. When Nadal plays Federer, he can play his game, while his opponent must find a solution. When Nadal plays Djokovic, the roles are reversed. It’s Nole’s who’s comfortable, and Rafa who’s searching.

True. Against Fed, Rafa has a game plan that is comfortable, natural and works. Against Nole, Rafa doesn’t have a game plan that is comfortable, natural, and works. He has to feel confident enough to go out of his comfort zone.

I felt bad for Rafa as he shook hands with Djokovic. I wondered how he would get that missed pass out of his mind. I wondered if he would break down in tears on the trophy stand.

We got none of that. What we got instead were words that spoke to why you play the sport in the first place—for matches like this, even when you lose them. In my favorite moment of the evening, Rafa raised and shook his second-place plate with a sad pride.

“When you are with passion for the game,” Nadal said, “when you are ready to compete, you are able to suffer and enjoy suffering, no?”

But it isn’t just a feeling you have on a tennis court, and it isn’t something, in Rafa’s mind, that only star athletes can understand. It’s there for anyone who wants to try for something greater.

And it is that spirit, that ability to keep going on despite the odds, pain, and tough opposition while actually enjoying it that makes me admire people. I’m a wuss. I tend to flee as soon as things get difficult. I honestly can’t imagine seeing a huge challenge and getting excited about tackling it. These guys shame me and make me want to be a better person.

Articles:

• Challenged again, Novak Djokovic finds another gear in Australian Open final - by Courtney Nguyen (si.com)
• Novak Djokovic’s win over Rafael Nadal is as good as tennis gets - by Diane Pucin (LA Times)
• Djoker has the trump card as marathon men’s final crowns a record Open - by Greg Baum (Sydney Morning Herald). Includes a short video reel.
• Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal in longest Grand Slam final in history - by Chris Chase (yahoo.com). Includes a few seconds of Rafa’s presser - including the “too long, just highlights” joke.
• How The Australian Open Final Was Won - by James Buddell (atpworldtour.com)

Video/Audio:

• Rafael Nadal upbeat despite defeat by Novak Djokovic - from the BBC

Photos:

• The match was so epic, it needs three photo galleries on the AO site: one, two, and three.
• Rafa
• A lot of match photos from Zimbo.
• Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic - in pictures - via The Guardian
• Rafa & Laver
• flickr photosets from: Sydney Low; tlaenpix; tastigr

Finally, some additional presser pictures:

[gallery link=”file”]

Photos by AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill and REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Original Article

From the AO site: Match highlights and the Shot of the day (I thought there were better ones, actually). Also, a bit of Rafa’s presser.

Trophy ceremony:

Some photos from the trophy ceremony.

[gallery link=”file”]

Photos by Quinn Rooney/Getty Image, GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images, WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images, Lucas Dawson/Getty Images, AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, and NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images

(Videos to follow later - I’ve been at the computer gathering photos way too long.)

Original Article

A few of the thousands of photos posted.

[gallery link=”file”]

Photos by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images, WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images, Mark Dadswell/Getty Images, REUTERS/Mark Blinch, REUTERS/Tim Wimborne, Quinn Rooney/Getty Images, GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images, Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, Cameron Spencer/Getty Images, Scott Barbour/Getty Images, REUTERS/Vivek Prakash, NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images, and AP Photo/Aaron Favila

Original Article

Rafa’s post-match presser transcript is up:

Q. How are you feeling physically?

RAFAEL NADAL: Fine. No, I’m tired, sure. Physically was the toughest match I ever played, if not the tougher. I am tired.

Q. Has this sunk in, the results, the magnitude of the match?

RAFAEL NADAL: Can you repeat?

Q. Has the results sunk in yet? How do you feel mentally as well as physically?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes. No, no, no, nothing to do on that, no? Just accept.

I think we played a great tennis match. It was I think a very good show, my opinion. I enjoyed being part of this event and this match. That’s the true, no?

I wanted to win, but I am happy about how I did. I had my chances against the best player of the world today. I played one against one. For a long time I didn’t felt that I was playing in less advantage than him, you know.

I didn’t play at lower level than him for a long time, so that’s a very positive thing for me. I am very happy about my mentality tonight, the mentality worked like in my best moments.

So very happy about the beginning of the 2012 season. That’s all that I can say.

Yeah, I had big chance for the 52, yes. I had that easy passing shot with the backhand. I miss it, yes, but I was 43 Love40 in the fourth, too. Anything can happen when the match is there.

Important thing for me, during all 2011 I didn’t play much like this. I’m happy I am in the real right way.

Q. If the day before the championship someone would say you would play a fivehour53minute match in the final, would you have been completely surprised that you could even compete?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, seriously, 20 hours before the tournament start for me I was more worried and try to play the first round, try to play the tournament, because I had a really strange thing, as you know, the Sunday afternoon.

So that’s past. I was lucky. Recovery was fantastic. I had very good people around me here working for me, doctor, physio, so that helps a lot, no?

If you are alone here, you don’t have this team around, is impossible to recover that. But I am lucky that I have all of this team around me. Without them, probably I gonna be at home two weeks earlier, no?

So very happy for everything. Very happy with my level during both weeks. Is the moment when I realize the whole tournament did I well. I did a lot of very positive things, much more than in 2011 for the most of the time.

I played more aggressive. I played with more winners than ever. My serve worked well. The mentality and the passion was there another time better than probably never another time.

So that’s very positive aspects on whole game that I am very happy, no? So I just lost the final of a Grand Slam. I am not happy to lose the final, yes, but that’s one of the loses that I am more happy in my career.

Q. Did you feel at any time in the fifth set the match was in your control? Given that he had to play so long against Murray a couple nights ago, were you surprised that he could stay with you that long?

RAFAEL NADAL: No. I didn’t have any doubt that he would be ready for that, no? But the match under control when you’re in the fifth set, when you won the fourth like this, you don’t feel the match under control in that moment. You are worried in every point, no?

Well, with the 42 was advantage because I felt very well physically in the moment. I felt with very positive energy, and I played a fantastic first point of the 42 with the forehand winner down the line after he had that return.

Is something unbelievable how he returns, no? His return probably is one of the best of the history. That’s my opinion, no? I never played against a player who’s able to return like this. Almost every time.

It’s true I had big mistake with 3015. But it’s not moment to think about that. That’s another just moment in an almost sixhours match. Forget about that knowing that I really had real, very real chances to have the title and to win against a player who I lost six times last year.

But I didn’t. I never put him in this situation during 2011, all 2011, so that’s another positive thing for me. I didn’t have mental problems today against him. I had in 2011 all these mental problems. Today I didn’t have. I compete with normal conditions against him, no?

So that’s another positive thing. Probably never say that many positive things after I lose. (Laughter.)

Q. You always said that Roger is the greatest that ever played the game. How great now is Novak?

RAFAEL NADAL: Now he’s the best of the world. That’s how great it is. Five Grand Slams, so the history says that he has a part in the history today winning five Grand Slams, winning a lot of titles, No. 1 of the world.

We’ll see where he arrives.

Q. You have been a part of two of the real epic battles in tennis history, this and the 2008 Wimbledon final. Is that something that you’re proud of or a reason why you think you…

RAFAEL NADAL: A pleasure. That’s means that I did a lot of things well to compete against best players of the world and winning on them, losing on them, but always having tough matches. And final 2008 Wimbledon and this one was very special.

For me it was a little bit more special the 2008 (smiling). But I really understand that was a really special match, and probably a match that gonna be in my mind not because I lost, no, because the way that we played.

So that’s happy be part of these two great matches, my opinion.

Q. Where does that rate? How tough was that? Was that the toughest match? Toughest game you have been involved in? Where does it rank?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think it’s the longest one that I played ever.

Q. Are you going to watch it again on videotape?

RAFAEL NADAL: Too long. (Laughter.) Highlights only.

Q. When you’re in that match, did you ever look at the clock? Did you ever look at the clock during the match, at the time?

RAFAEL NADAL: The time? No, you watch, you look around and you see the watch, five hours, four hours, three hours, finally five hours, 30. Seems like never gonna finish, no?

But that’s nice be there fighting, you know, trying to go to the limit, bring your body to the limit of his chances. Something I really enjoy, and I always said is good suffer, enjoy enjoy suffering, no?

So when you are fit, when you are, you know, with passion for the game, when you are ready to compete, you are able to suffer and enjoy suffering, no?

I don’t know if I express very well, but is something that maybe you understand. So today I had this feeling, and is a really good one. I enjoyed. I suffered during the match, but I enjoyed all the troubles that I had during all the match.

I enjoyed. I tried to be there, to find solutions all the time. I played a lot with my heart. I played a lot with my mind, and is something that is nice to be around and not just play tennis.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

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Photos by NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31326” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by Quinn Rooney /Getty Images”]

#1 vs #2 in a slam final. We are spoiled by how often that happens in men’s tennis these days – the chance to see the top 2 players in the world slug it out in a major final should be relished. Unfortunately for Rafa, this match up doesn’t work as well as him as the one against Federer. In fact, last year Rafa fans started to fully realize the pain that FedFans have felt for years. At times, tonight, it looked like we might be forced to deal with more of the same. It was an up and down match that ended with Nole winning despite Rafa having chances. But you know what? Rafa showed a hell of a lot more fight here than he did in Wimbledon and in 3 of the 4 US Open sets. He still has a Nole puzzle to solve, the margins are getting smaller, but Nole will get a huge burst of confidence after gutting out this win. Nole defeats Rafa in the longest slam final in history: 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5.

Summary:

Nole was shaky at the start – not getting any rhythm and sending balls out. Rafa took advantage and broke in the 5th game. Still not playing his best, Nole took advantage of Rafa getting more passive and broke back in the 8th game: 4-4. With aggressive play, Rafa broke in the 11th game and went on to serve out the first set.

Nole broke in a weird 4th game in set two. It took a while and many struggles to hold serve, but aggressive Rafa showed up again when Nole was serving for the set. Nole double faulted and we were back on serve: 5-4, Nole. Sadly, Rafa returned the favor to Nole – double faulting in the next game and giving him the second set.

Nole broke in the 4th game of the third to take a 3-1 lead. He broke again 8th game to take the quickest set of the match.

In the 7th game of the 4th set, Nole had triple break point. If he had broken, he could have served for the match next game. Rafa fought like hell, held serve and gave us a huge lawnmower. Oh, and he did this while it was raining and the roof started to close. They stayed on serve until a tiebreak which Rafa won.

Rafa was playing better in the 5th set. He broke Nole, but was broken back thanks to some rather regretful errors. Nole then broke again and served out the match.

Stats:

As it happened blatherings:

Nervous? Yep. Got my Rafa shirt on, my DC scarf, snacks…okay, let’s do this.

Rafa getting his pre-match warm-up on in the hallway.

Pascal in the chair. Neither guy wants to call the coin toss. Nole final does, wins and elects to serve.

From what they are saying, it’s hot and humid with a chance of rain…and therefore the roof being closed. Please, please don’t let that happen.

Rafa/Nole, never played here, neither has lost a final here, 3 for 3. More humid than it’s been here in 2 weeks

— Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) January 29, 2012

Game on! Nadal v Djokovic twitter.com/darren_cahill/…

— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) January 29, 2012

Rafa sends a forehand long: 15-0. Nole nets a backhand. Nole steps in on a short ball, winds up a forehand and sends it into the net: 15-30. Forehand winner from Nole: 30-30. Rafa sends a forehand long: 40-30. Cahill saying humidity keeping Rafa’s ball from bouncing high. Rafa guesses wrong on a second serve and Nole holds to start the match.

Ace! Nole sends a forehand into the net: 30-0. Nole’s serve return sails long: 40-0. Again and Rafa holds at love: 1-1. Both players running – point ends with Nole netting a ball: 0-15. Beauty of a return gives Rafa control of the point: 0-30. Nole into the net and his deep volley wins the point: 15-30. Ace; Rafa challenges, but it’s good: 30-30. Nole steps into a short 2nd serve return and knocks off a forehand winner: 40-30. Nole holds. Rafa having trouble returning serves out wide to his forehand.

Nole stops play to challenge the call a call and the ball was indeed out by a millimeter: 0-15. Nice serve out wide to Nole’s backhand and into midcourt to hit a forehand winner: 15-15. Rafa works a point well and moves Nole – finishes it with a smash winner: 30-15. Did Nole pull up a bit short there? Service winner: 40-15. Strong hold from Rafa.

Backhand penetration critical for Nadal. Going to have to find a way to do some damage with the shot to break losing pattern #ausopen

— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 29, 2012

Ace: 15-0. Rafa sends a backhand down the line wide: 30-0. Nice forehand winner from midcourt for Rafa: 30-15. Nole nets a backhand: 30-30. Ace: 40-30. A scrambling Nole sends a forehand wide: deuce. First crazy point of the match and Rafa has a break point. Fault. Rafa crowds the baseline, Nole backs off the serve motion to start again…and Rafa badly misses the return: deuce. Ace: game point. Fault, Nole challenges, but the call was good. Nole sends a backhand well long: deuce. Nice depth from Rafa draws an error: break point #2. Short angled return to Nole’s backhand – he sends the reply well long and Rafa breaks! He’s up 3-2.

After the break, Nole smacked his racket on the ground and changed shirts. In black now.

Serve is called out; Rafa challenges and is correct: ace. 15-0. Nole takes advantage of a floaty ball from Rafa: 15-15. Another long ball from Nole: 30-15. Nole drop shots, Rafa gets to it, but Nole flicks a winner off the reply: 30-30. The net cord pops Rafa’s ball out and Nole has a break point. Nice serve out wide and then paints the opposite sideline for a winner: deuce. Fault. Nole sends another ball out: game point. Deep return pushes Rafa back and his reply is short; Nole smothers it: deuce. Fault. Deep return of serve and Rafa frames it: break point. Fault. Nole sends a forehand well out: deuce. Excellent serve, short reply, winner: game point. That short return had a good angle and a lot of work on it: deuce. Service winner: game point. Nole works a point well and ends it with an angled volley winner: deuce.

Aggressive to break and passive to hold.Not how this goes, Rafa.Fix yourself.

— Ataraxis (@Ataraxis00) January 29, 2012

Good serve, forehand winner from midcourt: game point. Finally, Rafa holds! He was a bit more passive there and his serve dropped off, but Nole still hasn’t found his rhythm yet. 4-2, Rafa.

Rafa’s damper goes flying: 15-0. Nice return of serve and Nole’s backhand is wide: 15-15. Nole casuals a forehand winner: 30-15. Fault. Again: 40-15. It’s weird that the more casual Nole looks, the better he hits. Nole holds for 3-4.

I so love that Nadal is pouring every ounce of his being into this match. You can feel it. He’s not hiding from this challenge.

— Chris Oddo (@TheFanChild) January 29, 2012

Rafa’s forehand is long: 0-15. Excellent forehand from Rafa: 15-15. Fault. Nole frames a return: 30-15. Rafa nets a forehand: 30-30. Fault; Rafa challenges and it’s good: 1st service. Fault – for real this time. Nole nets a forehand return: 40-30. Longish rally with deep hitting from both ends after Nole steps up on a short ball from Rafa and he can’t handle it: deuce. Fault. Rafa sends a backhand long: break point. Nole’s forehand is wide: deuce. Rafa nets a high backhand: break point. Excellent serve out wide to Nole’s backhand and the return floats wide: deuce. Nole talking to himself. Pushed wide, Rafa sends a forehand out: break point #3. Rafa nets a forehand. Back on serve: 4-4.

Rafa suddenly looks lost, like he doesn’t have a target. Like Fed against him, he’s missing routine shots against Nole

— Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) January 29, 2012

Fierce forehand mid rally gives Rafa control of the point and he finishes it off: 0-30. That point was bonkers – and it ends with a wide forehand from Rafa: 15-30. Long rally ends with Rafa netting a forehand: 30-30. Nole bullies Rafa: 40-30. Nole holds for 5-4. Rafa will serve to stay in the set.

Nice body serve gives Rafa control of the point and he rides it out: 15-0. Seagull flock invades the stadium. Service winner: 30-0. Again: 40-0. Nole wins the battle of the angles: 40-15. Rafa sets up a backhand, but it’s out: 40-30. Nole looking casual again. I don’t like that. With a fierce forehand winner, Rafa holds for 5-5.

Nole sends a forehand long – that was a nice return of serve, Rafa: 0-15. Let. Fault. Nole pushes Rafa deep and then comes into the net to finish him off: 15-15. Rafa floats a backhand long: 15-30. Fault. Blistering backhand crosscourt gives Rafa control of the point and he finishes it off: 30-30. Beauty of forehand down the line and Rafa has a break point. Nole sends a backhand out and Rafa breaks for 6-5. (PLEASE HOLD!)

Service winner into the body: 15-0. Rafa working the body serve against Nole - it helped turn around their match in the Olympics, can it do it here? Rafa sends a ball out: 15-15. Nole’s serve return is out: 30-15. Beautiful angled volley winner from Rafa: 40-15. Fault. Nole hits a backhand return of serve winner: 40-30. Nervous play from Rafa, not from Nole: deuce. That’s better: game/set point. Took him three set points, but Rafa holds to take the first set 7-5.

80 minutes; 76% 1st in; 67% won on 1st; 42% on 2nd; 2 aces; 15 winners; 17 UFEs; 2/3 BPs; 5/6 at net.

In an hour and 20 minutes, Rafael Nadal takes a crucial but excruciating first set 7-5. Asks for “one banana and ice towel.” #AusOpen

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 29, 2012

Nole steps into a forehand and smacks a winner: 40-15. Serve and volley, but second volley into the net: 40-30. Nole holds.

STAT MAGIC RT @Infostrada2012 Nadal is 133-1 in #grandslam matches in which he won 1st set, only losing to Ferrer at 2007 US Open #ausopen

— Caroline Cheese (@CarolineCheese) January 29, 2012

Maria gave Rafa soft time warning.
Fault. Let. Fault: 0-15. Rafa nets a forehand: 0-30. Nice serve and Nole misses the reply: 15-30. Rafa misses a forehand down the line and has double break point against. Rafa…what did you say about Murray’s 4th set against Nole? That’s it, more aggressive play: 30-40. Long rally ends with a deep backhand from Rafa that Nole can’t get back over the net: deuce. Ace: game point. Rafa slices a mid-court backhand well wide: deuce. Nice serve down the middle and the reply is long: game point. With an ace, Rafa holds. *whew*

Backhand down the line winner from Nole: 15-0. Rafa nets a return: 30-0. Rafa pushes Nole deep and draws an error: 30-15. Nole sets up a forehand, but nets it. Nice serve, weak return, Nole into the midcourt for a winner: 40-30. Fault. Rafa nets a forehand and Nole holds for 2-1.

These closeups of their faces is nothing but tension.Jaw clenching kinda stuff.

— Ataraxis (@Ataraxis00) January 29, 2012

We rarely saw that 1st set level from Djokovic in ‘11. If Nadal doesn’t win it, I give him almost no chance. #ausopen

— Douglas Robson (@dougrobson) January 29, 2012

Let. Nole runs Rafa until he can fire a forehand winner: 0-15. Deep shot from Rafa heading out of court draws an error: 15-15. Backhand winner and a huge grunt from Rafa finishes off a long point: 30-15. Rafa sends a forehand into the doubles alley: 30-30. Rafa overhits a forehand: break point. Fault. Rafa challenges but it was long. Feirce return gives Nole control and he breaks for a 3-1 lead.

Forehand winner from Nole: 15-15. Lovely backhand from Rafa: 30-30. Big hitting from Nole: 40-30. Nole consolidates the break to take a 4-1 lead in the 2nd.

Nole smacks the shit out of it until he gets an error: 0-15. Ace. Nole challenges the call: it’s out. Nole nets a forehand: 15-15. Nole approaches on a deep forehand into the corner, but can’t volley Rafa’s reply over the net: 30-15. Service winner and Rafa holds for 2-4.

Fault. Nole challenges. It was just in: 2 serves. Fault. Players running side to side, Rafa hooks a short angle and Nole runs to get it…but the backhand is just out: 0-15. Service winner: 15-15. Rafa slices a backhand into the net: 30-15. Service winner: 40-15. Drop shot winner and Nole holds for 5-2.

Service winner: 15-0. Rafa nets a backhand: 15-15. Beautiful backhand down the line that Rafa follows into the net; he knocks off the floaty reply for a winner: 30-15. Fault. Nole gets the return back at Rafa’s feet and handcuffs him: 30-30. Short slicey ball from Rafa bounces and heads way out into the doubles alley like it was being chased by the cops: 40-30. Let. Nole hits a return of serve winner, but Rafa challenges the serve call. It was, however in: Deuce. Down the middle service winner: game point. Excellent return that Rafa can’t handle: deuce. Break point. Nice forehand from Rafa that Nole can’t do anything with once he chases it out wide: deuce. Nole nets a forehand: game point. Fault. Nole tees off on a second serve return, but nets it and Rafa holds. Barely. Nole can serve out the set now.

#AusOpen final roof update: the roof has been closed slightly. Perhaps anticipating some rain. #nadovic rafole

— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2012

Nole backhand crosscourt winner into the open court: 15-0. Rafa nets a forehand second serve return: 30-0. (That was weak and Rafa shows he knows it by dropping his shoulders.) Nole nets a forehand: 30-15. Fault. Nole into the net, nice passing attempt from Rafa, but Nole sends a volley into the open court: 40-15. Nole’s crosscourt backhand is out: 40-30. Aggressive Rafa! Deuce. Rafa gets away with a bad drop shot: break point. Fault. Nole double faults and we are back on serve. Nole is challenging…but it is out. On serve, 5-4. Rafa will serve to stay in the set.

There’s far too much Roddick against Federer in Nadal’s game against Djokovic. Tepid backhand slices and short returns get devoured.

— Craig Hickman (@CraigHickman) January 29, 2012

You noticed where Rafa was when he was winning points?Inside the court/net … not at the backstop.

— Ataraxis (@Ataraxis00) January 29, 2012

Rafa hesitates mid-point thinking Nole’s ball is long, but the rally continues. Nole nets the ball: 15-0. 15-15. Fault. Amazing return of serve: 15-30. That return sails long: 30-30. Good body serve that Nole can’t return: 40-30. Nole’s return is called out, Maria overrules, Rafa uses his last challenge… and the ball was good. Replay the point. Fault. Deep forehand from Nole draws an error: deuce. Rafa into the net, blistering pass from Nole: break/set point. Fault. Rafa double faults to give the second set to Nole.

66 minutes; 63% 1st servers in; 58% won on 1st; 47% won on 2nd; 3 aces; 2 doubles; 10 UFEs; 9 winners; 1/1 BPs; 4/5 at net.

Pascal warns Nole and Rafa on time between points

— Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) January 29, 2012

Bad looking drop shot attempt by Rafa: 30-0. Fierce forehand from Nole: 40-0. Casual forehand winner and Nole holds at love to start set 3.

After pulling Rafa wide to the backhand side, Nole goes for a forehand winner but it’s out: 15-0. Ace: 30-0. Angled winner from the net from Nole: 30-15. Nole sends a forehand long: 40-15. Fault. Nole pushes Rafa well wide: 40-30. Deep return from Nole and Rafa back-peddles, but is caught: deuce. Nole sends a return well long: game point. Forehand winner from Nole: deuce. Service winner: game point. Mid-rally and not pushed, Rafa sends a forehand long: deuce. Deep hitting and Rafa draws an error: game point. Rafa holds for 1-1.

Backhand down the line winner from Nole: 15-0. Nole’s shot is long: 15-15. Fault. Fierce forehand from Nole gets Rafa completely out of position: 30-15. Rafa pushes Nole and draws an error: 30-30. Fault. Rafa mistimes a backhand: 40-30. Fault. Fierce forehand and Nole holds for 2-1.

Cracks me up to hear Lleyton and Courier openly talking about what Toni is going to scream at Rafa as though it’s not a rule violation.

— Beyond The Baseline (@SI_BTBaseline) January 29, 2012

Right now, Nole’s regular patterns vs. Rafa’s regular patterns = clear win for Nole. Rafa will have to force himself out of his comfort zone in order to do force Nole to do the same.

Fault. Nole’s return is long: 15-0. Rafa mishits a forehand: 15-15. Fault. Toni’s head is down and he looks nervous. Nole nets a backhand: 30-15. Another forehand mishit from Rafa: 30-30. Nole’s ball is called out, chair overrules, replay the point. Rafa sends a weak slice mid-court and Nole tees off on it: break point. Fault. Rafa picks on Nole’s forehand and then misses the change-up to his backhand. Nole breaks for a 3-1 lead in the 3rd.

Djoko the only player I’ve ever seen who can give Nadal chances & not pay for it. Amazingly, he looks like frontrunner now after iffy play.

— Tom Perrotta (@TomPerrotta) January 29, 2012

15-0. Service winner, but Rafa challenges. It was in by millimeters: 30-0. Service winner out wide: 40-0. Nole holds a love: 4-1.

All I can say is that if Nadal is going to get out of his own way and challenge a fifth set, he better not drop this set on his serve.

— Craig Hickman (@CraigHickman) January 29, 2012

At 4-1 in 3rd, @DjokerNole winning 62% of 2nd srv pts to @RafaelNadal 46% in match. In 13 of past 15 meetings, winner w/higher pct wins.

— Greg Sharko (@SharkoTennis) January 29, 2012

Short ball from Rafa and Nole steps in to smack a winner: 0-15. Service winner: 15-15. Forehand winner from Rafa: 30-15. Nole pushes Rafa back until he draws an error: 30-30. Cheeky drop shot winner from Nole: 30-40. Serve return is long: deuce. Nole nets a forehand: game point. Rafa holds for 2-4.

Again, Nole pushes Rafa deep and he can’t pass: 15-0. Rafa nets a forehand: 30-0. Service winner: 40-0. Nole holds at love.

Nerves can make even the fastest players slow. Nadal’s legs are as heavy as wet hay.

— Craig Hickman (@CraigHickman) January 29, 2012

Rafa nets a backhand: 0-15. Rafa sends a forehand long: 0-30. And that backhand went well wide: 0-40. With a forehand winner, Nole breaks to take the 3rd set: 6-2.

45 minutes; 53% 1st serves in; 50% won on 1st; 43% on 2nd; 1 ace; 10 UFEs; 2 winners

Rafa would have been nice if you’d held so you could start the 4th on serve.

Rafa about as despondent in that game as I’ve seen him (outside of World Tour Finals, of course)

— Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) January 29, 2012

0-15. Rafa pulls Nole out well wide, but Nole works his way back into the point and wins it: 15-15. Rafa sends a forehand long: 30-15. Ace: 40-15. Fierce forehand from Rafa: deuce. Rafa sends a a forehand well out: game point. Aggressive backhand from Rafa: deuce. Fault. Rafa nets a backhand: game point. Nole holds to start set 4.

That horrible forehand miss by Nadal at deuce will go down as an unforced error. But it wasn’t. Fear of Djokovic forced it.

— Tom Perrotta (@TomPerrotta) January 29, 2012

Backhand down the line winner from Rafa: 15-0. Fault. Deep return from Nole draws an error: 15-15. Nole’s backhand is out: 30-15. Rafa hits behind Nole, but he stays in the point. Rafa works it and sets up a backhand…that he hits way out: 30-30. Nole nets a return. Another deep return draws an error: deuce. Rafa smashes a winner: game point. With an ace and a yell, Rafa holds for 1-1.

Amazing how the stuff that works so well againstFederer doesn’t translate at all against Djokovic..RN doing all the running

— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) January 29, 2012

One difference between Nole and Fed is that Nole moves forward and cuts off angle on Rafa’s wide ad-court serve. Point flows from there

— Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) January 29, 2012

Ace: 30-0. Again: 40-0. Service winner…Nole holds at love.

Rafa, I’m eating my last allotted snack of the day – thus daring you to push this to 5 and making me regret eating so early.

Hey, a stress-free hold from Rafa! Woot!

Rafa paints the line with a forehand down the line winner: 0-15. Short return and Nole knocks it for a winner: 15-15. Beautiful forehand winner from Rafa: 15-30. Rafa nets a slice backhand: 30-30. Excellent serve and the reply is out: 40-30. A slight opening for Rafa in that game, but Nole holds for 3-2. On serve in the 4th.

Good serve down the middle: 15-0. Fault out wide. Nole’s backhand reply is long; Nole challenges and it was good (you could tell Rafa knew it was). Replay the point. Nice forehand that Rafa follows in to the net – Nole’s reply is out: 30-0. Fault. Rafa checks the line but doesn’t challenge. Hawkeye shows it was out. Rafa nets a forehand: 30-30. AggressiveRafa: 40-30. Fault. Serve out wide and winner into the open court. Rafa holds for 3-3.

Nole sends a dropshot into the net: 0-15. Handcuffed, Rafa sends a serve return well out: 15-15. Decent return, but Rafa nets the subsequent backhand – he’s not happy: 30-15. Rafa’s serve return goes into the net: 40-15. Fault. Rafa presses on a forehand return and Nole holds for 4-3.

Deep return gives Nole control again and finishes with a winner: 0-15. Excellent forehand that would have been a winner against 99% of the tour. Nole gets it back and handcuffs Rafa: 0-30. Good return, forehand winner into the open court: 0-40. Two fierce forehands in a row from Rafa: 15-40. Service winner: 30-40. Fault. Rafa hits a backhand down the line winner behind Nole: deuce. It’s raining. Ace. Game point. The roof is moving. Service winner and Rafa holds! He breaks out the lawn mower.

Crowd chanting Rafa. Ball kids drying court as players sit down.

Nadal is a marvel. What a will. And then the rain starts falling. Astounding.

— Tom Perrotta (@TomPerrotta) January 29, 2012

Rafa has left the court; Nole in his chair. I’m tense as hell. Both players eventually leave and seem to come out with fresh clothes one.

Rafa nets a ball: 15-0. Stretched, Rafa sends a forehand long: 30-0. Rafa’s return is out: 40-0. Good return from Rafa, but Nole still manages to take control of the point and fire off a winner. Nole holds at love: 5-4. Rafa will serve to stay in the match.

Rafa goes for a forehand, but he pushes it long: 0-15. Nole sends a ball out: 15-15. Nice serve and the return sails: 30-15. Nole nets a backhand: 40-15. Fault. Nole blasts a second serve return and follows that up: 40-30. Lovely angle and Rafa holds for 5-5.

Rafa survived 3rd set like this at US Open, before Nole rolled in the fourth. But 5th set is a different story mentally. Might be tougher.

— Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) January 29, 2012

Excellent serve down the middle and Rafa’s reply is out: 15-0. Nole sends a forehand out: 15-15. Rafa stands on the baseline, but can’t make his shot: 30-15. Rafa pains the line with a forehand and Nole’s reply is out: 30-30. Nole hits behind Rafa: 40-30. Rafa nets a backhand and Nole holds for 6-5.

Serve that Nole can’t get back over: 15-0. Nole sends a forehand long: 30-0. Nole doesn’t move his feet and sends a ball into the net: 40-0. Rafa holds at love. Tiebreak time.

Serve out wide and Rafa nets the reply: 0-1. Amazing point! I thought it was done a few times. 1-1. Rafa smashes a winner: 2-1. Fault from Nole. Rafa’s backhand is just long…it was playable: 2-2. Nole sends a forehand out and it’s mini-break to Rafa: 3-2. The net cord pops Rafa’s ball out of court – back on serve: 3-3. He was really going for that flat forehand. *sigh* Short ball from Rafa, Nole pounces, Rafa’s reply is out. He challenges, but: 3-4,mini-break Nole. Pure offense from Nole: 3-5. Fault. Long rally ends with Nole sending a forehand just out: 4-5 on serve. Nole runs Rafa, but nets a forehand when he had an open court: 5-5. Service winner: 6-5. Set point for Rafa on Nole’s serve. Set 4 to Rafa! We are going to a 5th!!!

How the hell did that happen? No, I don’t want to know. I’m just happy it did happen. First 5 setter between these 2 in a slam. My heart is beating a mile a minute.

88 minutes; 72% 1st serves in; 74% won on 1st; 58% won on 2nd; 2 aces; 1 DF; 11 winners; 18 UFEs; 5/5 at net.

Inspiring from Rafa. Nole couldn’t get over last nerve; also could have finished a couple of those points at the net, if that was his game.

— Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) January 29, 2012

Where the hell did that shot come from, Rafa? Nole had pushed him back with a lob and Rafa slaps a winner from eye level: 30-15. Nole’s serve is out: 40-15. Fault. Make that a double: 40-30. Ace and Rafa holds.

Sitting on my couch at home in Sydney loving every second!!! @RafaelNadal u r a god! No matter what happens!

— rennae stubbs (@rennaestubbs) January 29, 2012

Ace: 40-0. Nole’s shot is out: 40-15. Strong hold for Nole: 1-1.

Fault. Nole’s shot is called out, he challenges and is correct. Replay the point. Nole’s shot is out for real this time: 15-0. Nole’s return goes into the net: 30-0. I swear Rafa’s got the look of a wide-eyed mad-man as he waits for a ball to serve with. Another serve winner: 40-0. Rafa holds at love.

0-15. Nole casuals a forehand winner: 15-15. I always get nervous when he starts that casual stuff. Nole sends a backhand out: 15-30. Ace: 30-30. Rafa had a forehand lined up, but sends it into the net: 40-30. Nole holds.

This is the longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era - it used to be the 1998 US Open final at 4:54 (Wilander vs Lendl)

— dannykendall (@dannykendall) January 29, 2012

My guy won in that one…can the same happen today?

15-0. Nole staggers and nets a return: 30-0. Ace: 40-0. Nole’s return is out and Rafa holds at love.

Rafa popped a pill on that changeover? Or am I on crack? I’m surprised they both don’t need a full medicine cabinet at this point.

Rafa goes after a shot, but no go: 15-0. Nole nets a backhand: 15-15. Backhand winner from Nole: 30-15. Nole’s shot is out: 30-30. Again: break point…his first since the 3rd set, I think. Nole’s shot is out. Rafa breaks to take a 4-2 lead in the 5th.

Forehand winner from Rafa: 15-0. Fault. Nole return of serve winner: 15-15. Nole’s return lands in the net: 30-15. Rafa had an open court, goes for a backhand. It’s called out and the replay shows it was: 30-30. Nole hits a deep forehand that Rafa can do nothing with: 30-40. Rafa sends a shot long and he’s broken. Back on serve.

BTW, it’s time for the replay of the match to start on ESPN2. Oh.

Nole’s backhand is wide: 0-15. Fault. Long rally ends with Nole pushing Rafa wide and back, coming into the net and knocking off a winner: 15-15. Rafa nets a second serve return: 30-15. Fault. Rafa hits a slice backhand into the net: 40-15. Nole holds: 4-4.

Running, running, running…point still going on…finally ends on an error from Nole. He falls to the court exhausted. 15-0. (Rafa refused to look at the other end of the court while Nole laid there.)

OH MY GOD. That point gave me the church vapors.

— James LaRosa (@JamesLaRosa) January 29, 2012

Tired drop shot into the net from Nole: 30-0. Nole’s ball called out, but it was good per challenge: replay the point. Second serve and Nole’s deep return catches Rafa off guard: 30-15. Good return and bad forehand error from Rafa – he was hitting behind Nole and it could have been a winner: 30-30. Service winner: 40-30. Fault. Return of serve winner: deuce. Rafa’s backhand is out and Nole has a break point. Service winner: deuce. How did Nole get that serve back? Rafa handles it though: game point. Fault. *whew* Rafa holds for 5-4.

Tough hold. Nadal shold be running to the sidelines right now looking pumped up. Fake it till you make it.

— Craig Hickman (@CraigHickman) January 29, 2012

Long rally ends with Nole into the net to knock off a floater from Rafa: 15-0. Rafa nets a forehand: 30-0. Rafa’s return is out: 40-0.Double fault: 40-15. Strong hold for Nole for 5-5.

Forehand down the line winner from Rafa: 15-0. That one, however, went out: 15-15. Fault. Nole handcuff’s Rafa: 15-30. Nole’s lob is out: 30-30. Rafa on defense the whole point until he dumps a shot into the net: break point. Fault. Serve out wide, winner into open court: deuce. Rafa’s forehand is out: break point. Rafa saying he heard an out call during the point. Rafa sends a slice backhand into the net and is broken. Nole can serve it out next.

Rafa tried to play aggressive, but ends up netting a backhand: 15-0. Service winner: 30-0. Nole’s forehand is out: 30-15. He challenges, but the call was correct. Nole sends a smash into the net - he had the open court: 30-30. Fault. How the hell are they still doing this? Break point for Rafa. Fault. Nole pushes Rafa well wide: deuce. The net cord pops Rafa’s ball out: championship point. Nole wins.

Original Article

A little pre-final RafaLint….

Preview:

Interesting comments from Jim Courier:

“He’s a delicate player Rafa. When he’s confident, he’s the king of the world, but he vacillates,” Courier said. “He reminds me of some other players in the past like myself and Roddick that believed more in the work, than he does in his talent, and as good as he is. He should never question that.”

A practice photo from Babolat’s Facebook page.

Rafa had a nice dinner last night.

Warming up in the hallway.

Enjoy the match, everyone! Vamos responsibly. Unless things get really, really tight and then feel free to be a tiny bit irresponsible.

Original Article

Eurosport has kindly posted a video of Rafa’s pre-final presser:

And here’s a studio interview in Spanish:

[caption id=”attachment_31310” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images”]

The Bryan Brothers have been blogging for The Age (they seem to be rather buddy, buddy with players this year) and have done an article on what players are like in the locker room: Locker room a great place to meet the stars. Rafa’s one of the players mentioned:

Rafa’s personality has really blossomed over the years. He used to be pretty shy, but now it kind of feels like he’s a leader on the tour. He’s a bit more relaxed and voicing his opinions more often. You don’t see any of that in the locker room though. He’s probably the most intense guy in there. He usually has his headphones on and he’s pretty deliberate about how he does his taping. He’s got his routine down, like they all do. He practises the hardest before his matches, too. You watch Federer and he’s so relaxed, he hits around for 20 minutes or so, whereas Rafa will be hitting groundstrokes for 40 minutes.

He’s a really nice and polite guy. You don’t see him hanging out at the courts - he does his thing and gets out of there - but he always says hello. A couple of years ago, we saw him on a flight from Madrid to Rome, after he won the final there. We were on some budget airline, there was no first-class on this flight, so we were surprised to see him on it. There were all these kids on the flight, on spring break, and they couldn’t believe it when Rafa walked on. For the whole two- hour flight there was a steady stream of people wanting to get his autograph, and he signed one for pretty much everyone. Even the pilot came back. It’s probably the last time he’s flown that airline, but he came on with a bag of McDonald’s. He’s an incredible athlete. You see him at breakfast eating chocolate doughnuts. He must just be an amazing genetic specimen.

Articles:

• Facing Facts And Feeling Fine - a very nice blog entry about the semifinal match from a Federer fan.
• The Better Man - by Gerard Whateley (The Drum)
• Federer/Nadal: The Rapture, Once Again - by Brian Phillips (grantland.com - thanks to mafie for posting the link)
• Editors’ Picks: Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal - from tennis.com
• Tennis.com Digizine preview of the finals.

Video/Audio:

• iB3 report on the semifinal.

Photos:

• Patrick McEnroe tweeted a photo of Rafa practicing today.
• Flickr photoset from Brett Marlow.

Random:

• Martina Navratilova’s letter to Margaret Court
• Swiss master under fire for ‘neutrality’ - by James Paterson (backpagelead.com.au). An interesting read about the politics of the tour.

Original Article

After a practice session, Rafa did a pre-final presser today. Here’s the transcript.

Q. How are you feeling after your session on court just now?

RAFAEL NADAL: Fine. I practiced for two hours. So having day off yesterday, today I felt with energy to practice a little bit more. I felt that I needed to move well the body, to stay with rhythm.

I did, and I am happy, no? Enjoying these two days off.

So, he was moving his body well with rhythm. Nice.

Q. Did you stay up late last night watching the match the other match?

RAFAEL NADAL: I watched the second set, beginning of the third I went for dinner, and I came back after the 4-1 in the fourth and I watched the rest of the match.

It was that long of a match! I know I took a few naps. Luckily, I think I slept most of the 4th set.

Q. What did you think of it?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think the second set was fantastic. Was really impressive level from both of them. First set I didn’t see, but the fourth seems like Andy was very tired. He wasn’t ready to play the fourth, and Nole was much more fresh.

The fifth seems like Andy was very tired, too, because Novak have the control of the situation. But in the 5-3, Andy break with Love-40, so after he had fantastic chance. With a 5-4, 15-40, he little bit of mistake with the forehand in the return on the deuce on the 15-40; 30-40 was an amazing point. Djokovic finished with unbelievable forehand down the line.

Another point for Andy, big mistake to the net for him with his backhand. He didn’t miss not one backhand during all the match, and he missed in that moment. It was a tough moment for him.

After when that happens, playing for four hours forty-five, it’s normal you will be in trouble in the next game; Novak plays well and match was done.

It was an emotional match, and I enjoyed watching on TV.

It was so painful to see Andy fight back so hard in that 5th set only to have an awful service game to lose it all.

Q. Novak’s coach said yesterday that it’s unfair that he has only one day rest and you have two days. What do you think?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, that’s what it is. 2009 I played longer than him in the semifinals. I played more than five hours at very high intensity, too. I had only one day and Federer had two, no?

I was recovered for the final, so I think you can say it’s unfair, yes, but not crazy unfair.

Really unfair is the US Open when you don’t have day off between semifinals and final. That’s really unfair. If the match of yesterday happened in the US Open and the other semifinal is in straight sets, you are in big trouble for the finals.

Having one day off, I believe you are not in big trouble.

Not crazy unfair - love it. And I agree, the situation at the US Open is much worse especially for the poor soul who has the night match.

Q. What does it mean for you to face another time Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam final?

RAFAEL NADAL: For me what means is I am in the final of another Grand Slam, fourth in a row. Happy for that. The opponent at the end is the best player of the world today, so that’s why I played the last few finals against him.

So will be always a really tough match for me. He is the favorite after being No. 1 in the world and after playing fantastic and beating me the last six times. So just happy to be there.

For me, the tournament is really, really good. Right now I going to try to play my best tennis and fight every ball knowing that is going to be a tough one.

Yes, it will be tough, but it is winnable. Let’s just hope things fall the right way.

Q. Do you think with the changes you’ve made to your game in the off-season, the things you’re doing differently, can you surprise him tomorrow with some new things?

RAFAEL NADAL: I am trying to play a little bit more aggressive and hit more winners. You know, the improves that I want to do is not complete.

No, no, I didn’t practice a lot with that, so I need time to play with this aggressive plan during all the match.

Probably I need few more months and tournaments. But I am happy how I am doing, no? I don’t know if going to be enough for him. I going to try to play well like I did all the tournament.

I need to play a little bit better, in my opinion, to have chances, but I am happy about how I am doing. I think I’m in the right way to compete against the top players of the world. I did here winning against the No 6, against the No. 3.

So it’s is fantastic way to start season. Now is another big, big test. I don’t know if I am enough ready to win the match of tomorrow, but I believe that I can do it and I going to fight for it.

No matter what happens - thanks for fighting, Rafa.

Q. You remember what it was like of course last year coming in here going for the slam. It was at that stage. It’s slightly different now, isn’t it? You can understand what the expectation is like on Djokovic tomorrow because you’ve been there. Is that a tough thing to do?

RAFAEL NADAL: He is not playing for the Grand Slam.

Heh. Yes, Nole is under pressure, but the hoopla, hype and pressure Rafa had to win four in a row was much worse.

Q. No, no, but he’s the No. 1 player in the world and playing for three in a row. It’s a tough situation to be in.

RAFAEL NADAL: No is a fantastic situation to be. (Smiling) It’s really not a tough one.

No, I played for the three in a row US Open 2010. When you are coming with that confidence everything is a little bit easier, no?

I was a little bit unlucky here last year when I played for the Grand Slam. I didn’t feel the extra pressure for that. That’s true. I felt that I was ready to compete. I had an injury in the quarterfinals so I was out.

That’s it. Go home. Keep practicing. I think for him is an advantage, not a pressure, to be in that situation.

Rafa, honey, you weren’t playing for a Grand Slam…4 in a row isn’t a Grand Slam unless you win them in the same year.

Q. Novak’s coach said yesterday that it’s very difficult to make winners because the balls are very heavy. Do you feel that way?

RAFAEL NADAL: For him is being very difficult. Seems like he cannot do one winner. (Smiling.)

No, he’s playing very well, no? He’s doing fantastic tournament.

CheekyRafa is in the house!

Q. Do you feel with the ball it’s difficult to make winners?

RAFAEL NADAL: No. I feel it’s difficult to make winners when the weather conditions are cold. When the weather conditions are warm or hot, I think the ball is the right one.

When it’s cold, for example, the week before the tournament it was very cold here. The ball was very big, very heavy. I don’t believe today it’s happen.

So. It will be difficult for Nole to make winners, but not Rafa. I’m liking the way this is sounding.

Q. Novak has been having some trouble with breathing in the last two matches. Do you think it’ll be a factor tomorrow and something you can take advantage of?

RAFAEL NADAL: It’s funny, no? I saw the match yesterday on the TV she show on the Channel 7 when he was in the fifth set moving fantastically well, and they show images from two hours fifty before and seems like he was destroyed. Two hours fifty later he was in perfect condition.

So is difficult to imagine that he has these problems. I don’t know.

Oh, Rafa. Please don’t go there. People said the same thing about you in that Wimbledon match against Del Potro - that you were moving awfully well for someone who had to stop for a foot problem. That kind of finger-pointing makes me uncomfortable. Yes, Nole looked better later on, but maybe he’d just willed himself to work through something? Or maybe he was just pissy before? I often think the slumped shoulders, slow movement, yadda, of a lot of players is more mental than anything else. Besides, your good buddy Andy often goes from half-dead looking and holding on to various body parts to hitting winners in a nano-second too.

Of course, Rafa could have just meant that, even if Nole was having a few problems, they didn’t seem to be serious enough to affect the final, and I just ranted for no reason.

Q. Andy said last night that he thought he had closed the gap on the top three. Do you feel there has been a little to choose between yourself, Roger, Novak, and Andy now?

RAFAEL NADAL: He never was very far. That’s the true. He’s playing well. He always played fantastic. He’s unlucky not to win a Grand Slam yet.

Yesterday he lost another very good opportunity, in my opinion. Because winning two sets to one, winning the third set, probably losing a lot chances, and then winning with 7-6 — to win a tournament like this and to play against player like Djokovic, you cannot start the fourth set like this.

It’s the moment to play with more intensity than ever, not start with 3-Love down and two breaks in five minutes. That way you lose the match. You want to win the tournament, you cannot start — you can lose — the other can beat you, but you cannot lose in the beginning.

But he’s playing well. He’s playing fantastic. He deserve to win a Grand Slam. He was unlucky at the end, but the only negative thing for me in his match is the beginning of the fourth.

When the other have more doubts, is in really trouble, you make for the opponent easier than what should be, no? That’s my feeling.

For the rest, he can be No. 1 at the end of the season. I don’t have any doubt on that. The level is there. When you are able to play how many, five Grand Slams in a row playing semifinals or final, it’s only a mental thing.

The rest of the things are there. He started the season another time playing very well winning a tournament, playing semifinals here, and few points away to win against No. 1 player of the world.

He’s ready for everything.

“Only a mental thing” - to me, mental things are often the hardest ones to get over.

Q. Can you remember a situation that you were in like that when the expectation was to go on and win a Grand Slam and you got very close and how you coped with that situation manage your mind? Because as you say, so much of that sport is what happens in the head.

RAFAEL NADAL: I was lucky in that situation, because I really didn’t had that pressure or that feeling to win a Grand Slam.

And the first time that I went to play a Grand Slam with the feeling that I can win Grand Slam, I won. That’s the true.

Because we talk about the Roland Garros 2005, that’s the really first one. Few months ago I really started to play well, I really started to win, and was in the first Grand Slam that I arrived with real chances to win.

Before, wasn’t the chance. I played in Australia and make Round of 16 against Hewitt with chance to be in quarterfinals, but knowing that I don’t going to win never, no? But in that moment yes, and I won. So that’s a little bit of lucky that I was there.

I did. And after winning one, it’s easier win two. After win two, it’s easy to win three.

And he also hasn’t lived under the pressure of a whole country desperately wanting slam winner for their home slam. I honestly can’t fathom the pressure Andy has to deal with during Wimbledon. (And hell, the rest of the year the way the British press seem to want to disown him as soon as he loses.)

And, to further your enjoyment and help you fill the time until tomorrow’s final, here are some pictures:

[gallery link=”file”]

Photos by AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, and REUTERS/Vivek Prakash

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31287” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by NICOLAS ASFOURI/ AFP/ Getty Images”]

It’s time for more question and answers from Rafa and The Age:

Question from Lisa: Hi Rafa, My husband and I went to Melbourne for the first week of the Australian Open. I took my copy of your book hoping to get it signed but missed the chance. My question is, if you are out with your friends having dinner and relaxing does it bother you if fans come up to you for autographs and photos? Would you prefer to interact with fans when you are ‘on the job’? Good luck in the final!

Rafa says: No, it doesn’t bother me at all. Sometimes if I am in the middle of my grilled fish I would prefer that they come as soon as I am done, otherwise it gets cold…. :-)

Do not let Rafa’s fish get cold, people.

Question from Miri: How many Australian Open towels do you have now? ;)

Rafa says: I haven’t count them, and I give them away to team, etc. But around 10? :-) Don’t tell the tournament though…. ;-)

I won’t tell a soul…if you get me one.

Question from Maureen: Dear Rafa, Firstly ,many, many congratulations on your fantastic victory today. What an incredible and amazing performance and what a great start to your season. I wanted to ask what kind of music you listen to when preparing to go on court. I understand you were using music to maintain focus during the firework display. Is it inspirational music or music to help remain calm? Or is it Spanish music to remind you of home? I wish you every success in the Final and thank you for giving us all so much.

Rafa says: Many thanks. I listen to Spanish speaking music mainly.

And do you dance and sing along while listening?

Question from Jean: Hola Rafa, I loved your book and admire your tremendous mental toughness, humility and kindness. Thank you for being such a great role model. What changes (if any) do you think are necessary in the tennis industry in order for the sport to remain commercially healthy? Gracias

Rafa says: Thanks for your nice words. This is something it would take me a long to time and words to explain. Let me just tell you that what we are trying to do is for the good of the future generations since I am sure they won’t affect me since my career will be over. We have to think on the young players coming up.

And make it commercially viable - to go back to the question.

Question from Ben: Hey Rafa, Do You think You Are A Chance To Win The Australian Open This Year?

Rafa says: I am in the final so I suppose I have some. But I know it won’t be easy!

Nope, not going to be easy. A final shouldn’t be.

Question from Jacklyn: Dear Rafa, Congratulations on being in the finals!!!! It is always great seeing you and Roger play against each other! Now, you remember during one on-court interview, you said you will do the interview shirtless if you get into the finals! So, my question is, are you ready to be shirtless for that interview? Can’t wait! Remember to be aggressive, Rafa! Don’t stand 20m behind the baseline! Standing at the baseline is good enough ;) Vamos Rafa! Plenty of good luck! VAMOS!

Rafa says: I thought they would forget…. We’ll see. I am a man of word but also a bit shy… and don’t like to show of! ;-)

Uh-huh. Sure you don’t like to show off. Not even just a teeny, tiny little bit.

Question from Juliette: Hi Rafa, Do you have a favourite poem or poet? I remember when you read part of the famous poem at Wimbledon in 2008 with Roger, I like that poem a lot and I enjoyed hearing you read it with your lovely Spanish accent (Spanglish!)

Rafa says: That was at Wimbledon and they made me read that poem that you find at the entrance of the centre court. It was nice although tough for me to understand the words.

And difficult to say a few of them too. Reading out-loud in a foreign language? Not easy.

Question from John: Barca or Real Madrid?

Rafa says: Real Madrid, but I admire the way Barça plays nowadays

Someone who didn’t already know the answer to that one? Shocking!

Question from Krishna: Rafa, I’m a great fan of you. Since my childhood you were my hero. Congrats on your win against Federer and all the best to your finals. When will you come to India again..? We are eagerly waiting for you!

Rafa says: I would love to!

Hopefully he’ll get to visit some of the kids who went to the school there to see what kind of impact it has on their lives.

Question from Diana: Amigo, if you reach the final, God willing, whom would you prefer to see on the other side of the net?

Rafa says: I would prefer to see the one that will play less good… They are both great players so not really going to say this or that.

This. That.

Question from Kylie: Dear Rafa hi, you are by far my favourite pro tennis player not just because of your great tennis abilty/success but because of your obvious compassion for people. I have two teenage children and I constantly am pointing this out to them, so thank you for your grace and good example. I have also recently had major surgery so am loving watching you in the Aust Open through my recovery - good luck you can do it!!! Ps. what is the thing with touching the net as you change ends? Regards Kylie

Rafa says: Many thanks for your kind words. Hope you feel better soon. I just change ends and nothing more.

Yep. Nothing unusual about how you change ends…like always doing your best to make sure you do so last.

Question from Flynn: If you are losing, what is your best tactic; play aggressive and take risks or be consistent and let your opponent make the mistakes? Hope you win the Aussie

Rafa says: If I am losing (or wining) what I think is on the next point, how to win it. For that I might have to change tactics or even strategy but the most important thing is to win the point. If clearly things are going well then you change less things.

The number of non-stop decisions and adjustments players have to make on the court always earns my respect.

Question from Steve: HI Rafa, How do you manage yourself in the extreme heat?

Rafa says: We haven’t had that this year in Australia. But the other day I had some ice around my neck in change overs to try to keep the heat down. You also have to hydrate.

Not just around your neck. You were working that ice towel like a pro and get an A+ for creative ice-towel positioning from me.

Question from Anni: Hola Rafa. I am a really bad tennis player, but I love playing. I am always being told to watch the ball as it hits the racquet, but find this supremely difficult. I have watched you and other top players in slow motion and it seems that you mostly do watch the ball hit the racquet and you head turns to see where it has gone much later. Is this conscious?

Rafa says: This is very important, to have fun! Yes, you have to watch the ball otherwise you can’t impact well and it will be a mess. Keep your eye on the ball always!

*takes down notes for first tennis lesson*

Question from Pablo: Hi Rafa, I’ve got two questions. First, is there anything of your game that you consider a bad habit, something you don’t want to do but still do it unconsciously? Second, which position do you like playing in football, striker, midfielder or defender? Keep the good run going!

Rafa says: Yes, I sometimes tend to go back and that way I give up too much space. If I play closer to the line should be better. As a football player I love to play as a striker, but I think I did well staying in tennis.

Again: thank you for picking tennis!

Question from Diana: What are the best and worst aspects of playing against Roger Federer in a Grand Slam Tournament?

Rafa says: Roger is with Rod Laver the best player of all times from my point of view, so to play against him is always special, a special challenge and something different. You can imagine that there are many things you have to be worried about. And it is true that defeating him, when it happens, is something that gives me extra confidence due to the difficulty of the rival.

Keep working Laver in their Rafa - working that home crowd.

Question from Prashant: Rafa..i am a huge fan. Your passion, sportsmen spirit, humbleness are so inspiring. For me you are the best champion. My question is that yesterday when you played Berdych, you played much better when you were close to baseline. You even returned his serves well. Why don’t you regularly play that way?
2. Throughout your career, pick one player who is most difficult to play against.

3. Did you have any tennis player who inspired you when you were young.

Rafa says:
1 - I know I have to try to play closer to the baseline but don’t forget that the rival with the heavy balls push you back. But you are right.
2 - I think Roger has been the most difficult always
3 - No, i never had tennis players that inspired me although I did watch Carlos Moya since he is also from Mallorca and I became good friends with him.

Sometimes, I wonder if he just feels like screaming: if I felt I could play inside the court more often, don’t you think I’d be doing it?

Question from Niamh: Hi there Rafa! Thanks a million for answering our questions during the Australian Open…..you are really great! Many congratulations on your 5 very great victories in the tournament…..I really hope that you will win the trophy, Rafa…..I really love to see you biting your trophies! When you are playing in tournaments, which do you prefer…..the first few days, when the tennis club is very busy with lots of players, or the last few days, when there are very few tennis players at the club? Thanks a million, Rafa and good luck against Roger. Best wishes for really great health, happiness and luck for 2012,

Rafa says: THis is a very good question. I like both weeks for two different reasons. The first week every players is there so it is nice to eat, spend time with the other players and the friends. You know we have lunch, the locker room is busy so it is nice since you talk a lot with everyone, etc. But is is also nice the second week since it means you are at a very important stage of the tournament. You also see the juniors that are playing, the wheel chair players which are amazing how the play and also since it is more relaxed in terms of people around. So both of them are good although very different

Love that he mentions the wheelchair players. At the end of the of the US Open practice sessions I’ve seen, he had to walk past some wheelchair players on his way off the practice court. He walked very, very slowly and watched them the whole way.

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31283” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by AP Photo/ Aaron Favila”]

Articles:

• Fireworks - by Steve Tignor (tennis.com)
• Nadal Beats Federer, Reaches Second Australian Open Final - from the ATP
• Nadal Vs. Federer: Breaking It Down - by Craig O’Shannessy (New York Times)
• Nadal stifles Federer’s fire - by Alexandra Willis (Australian Open)
• Nadal again proves Federer’s nemesis - by Michael Gleeson (Sydney Morning Herald)
• Roles reversed as Nadal downs Federer on superior shotmaking - by Jon Wertheim (si.com)
• Breaking down Nadal, Federer - by Matt Wilansky (ESPN.com)
• Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s rivalry never gets old by Chuck Culpepper (The National)
• Rafa, Roger, Nole Rank Highly In Bloomberg Power 100 List - from the ATP

Video/Audio:

• A unique view of match point.
• Audio of a post-match interview in Spanish.
• Great catch by a ball kid!

Photos:

• Oodles of match photos from Zimbio.
• Two sets of match photos from the AO site: one; two.
• They also shared some via Facebook.
• Photo sets on flickr from: Diario El Carabobeño; Lola Alaminos; ljology.

Original Article

A few of the many, many photos of the semifinal against Federer.

[gallery link=”file”]

Photos by WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images, PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images, REUTERS/Tim Wimborne, Cameron Spencer/Getty Images, REUTERS/Darren Whiteside, Lucas Dawson/Getty Images, Quinn Rooney/Getty Images, Lucas Dawson/Getty Images, Scott Barbour/Getty Images, Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images, REUTERS/Tim Wimborne, REUTERS/Vivek Prakash, Martin Philbey-Pool/Getty Images, and NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images

Original Article

Rafa wants to share how he feels about winning that semifinal match:

Original Article

Highlights from the AO site.

No way he can…no…not possible…oh he reached it…but he can’t actually hit a good shot from there…oh crap, he did! Amazing!

Posted by ESPN.

Post match interview - English:

Rafa’s semifinal presser via Eurosport:

There’s also an excerpt on the AO site, and here’s the transcript.

Q. Congratulations. How do you think you have succeeded to turn this match around tonight?

RAFAEL NADAL: Thank you very much. Well, I think he started playing aggressive, very, very high level at the beginning of the match.

Always you can do a little bit more, no? But I really felt that when he plays like this, it’s almost impossible to rise there to that level, no?

But after the first three games I started to have the chance to hit balls, to play with a little bit with my rhythm, so I started to hit a few good forehands so I felt that the point stays.

So before one shot winner, another shot winner, so almost impossible for me, no?

After that moment I felt that the level start to be closer and closer. I had the break in the 42, and for the rest of the set I think anything can happen.

I felt at the end of the first set that my level was there, close to him. For moments I felt dominant at the end of the first set. That gives me confidence.

You know, finally I lost the set, but even the first game of the second that he had the break he was playing with the wind in his favor, so he played fantastic game, first game of the second.

But that moment was a little bit more calm, because in just the first game of the second set I felt that I had chances on my returned, too. So was very important to have break back in the next game.

But in general, after that I think I started to play aggressive. I started to play my game finally. I had the chance to move him a little bit more. Open the court from his forehand after changing to his backhand.

I didn’t play as I played hundreds of times against him. I didn’t play all the time against his backhand like I did a lot of times.

Today I think I played more normal match, playing in his backhand, playing in his forehand, too.

I really wanted to do that before the match, because I felt that in the last match against him in London he played very aggressive with his backhand, so he was very inside the court. Was very difficult for me to find, you know, spaces to move him, no?

Even the final of Roland Garros, the same. He played more aggressive with his backhand. On clay is different. You have more time.

But today went on court with the idea change a little bit more the direction against him, and in my opinion it worked well. Because I think he was a little bit tired.

He’s quite the chatty Cathy today! But it only worked well because Fed was tired? Not because it was a good strategy? *tut tut*

Q. When you’re in a match like that and he has started so well, can you draw on your experience to having beaten him now so many times in Grand Slam matches? Can that be an inspiration for you even when he’s playing well?

RAFAEL NADAL: Any moment is different, and what happened in the past is past. Last match against him was 6-3, 6-Love in 50 minutes.

Heh. Will Rafa ever stand a chance at the WTFs when they are played indoors on hard court?

Q. That’s not a Grand Slam.

RAFAEL NADAL: Not Grand Slam, different conditions. What give me more calm is I play best of five. I play not indoor. I play outdoors. That’s always a little bit more advantage for me, because when you play indoor, when you play best of three, he plays aggressive. Is very difficult to come back when he start like this, no?

Playing best of five outdoor, you normally have more time to do things and to try to find solutions and on the problem that he’s causing, no?

So in general, I am happy about how I did. I think I played a good match with some mistakes, as usual. But I tried to play aggressive with my forehand, trying to hit winners with my forehand.

I did for moments. For moments I had few mistakes with the backhand. But I am trying with the backhand to not go behind the baseline, to stay in the baseline, to hit the ball earlier than before.

That’s something that I am working on and something that we believe that I have to keep improving, to don’t lose court, to play more inside. It’s working well.

I a, very happy about my result on these two weeks. I did much better than what I thought, what I dreamed for three weeks ago. So very happy for everything. It’s a fantastic victory for me. Very, very happy playing against the greatest of the history in semifinals, big match on Rod Laver.

It’s one of the victories that’s gonna stay in my mind forever, no? It’s a fantastic way to start the season. Very happy for everything. He deserves to be there because, in my opinion, he was a little bit unlucky for the last year and a half in a few matches.

He was a little bit unlucky in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon; a little bit in the semifinals on the US Open. So he had the chance to win more Grand Slams the last year and a half, and he lost a few matches that he really had chances to win.

Today he had his chances, too. So the match was close. Anything can happen there. I won.

It was a close match…which is what made it fun (and stressful!) to watch.

Q. You celebrated like it was a final. Did it feel like that to you?

RAFAEL NADAL: No. Didn’t feel like that. I feel like semifinals match of Grand Slam. That’s a very important match for me. Start the season with the final here is a fantastic start, and that’s give me a lot of confidence. That’s give me a lot of calm. At the same time, that’s give me confidence about how I working.

You know, I working in few things that are working well. With nothing of practice, just thinking a little bit about what we have to do to be better player. I really didn’t had the chance to practice a lot. I practiced one week and a half in Mallorca.

Seriously, Doha was a very important tournament for me. Qatar I think I played very, very well there, because I arrived without preparation. Play four matches there was decisive to my preparation for Melbourne, no?

So was a very important tournament. And for the rest, just these kind of matches actually better like this, because I played not bad the second half of the season in 2011. Not bad, but not very well.

So I really need to win points to stay in the top positions of the ranking. Because the final of the US Open give me calm, yes. But for the rest I had a few struggling results in Masters 1000.

That’s a lot of points for me. It’s a fantastic way to start the season.

Yes - he’s already gained 840 points.

Q. I guess the question is whether or not you feel like you’re playing aggressive enough with the forehand and more inside the court with the backhand and feeling calm enough if you have to play Novak this time to get over on him again.

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I happy about how I am doing. Any time to do this during all the match, as I am doing for moments for moments I am playing a little bit like before but when I am able to play inside, to play aggressive, I think the things are working fantastic.

I don’t know if it’s gonna be enough against Novak or against Andy. But what can I say? I’m very happy about my tournament. I gonna try my best to try to play a fantastic final, and hopefully I will have my chances.

But if the opponents play better than me and he beat me, I gonna go home very happy about my tournament. I gonna go home knowing that the way that I am working is working very well, and keep working on this way. Probably this way give me a good success in the next months.

It’s all positive from here.

Q. You said when you were interviewed on the court that if you were told before the tournament that you had made the final you would not believe it. Is that because of the injuries you have had or what?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I explained before the tournament. I explained that after my match on the first round of Monday, not what happened the Sunday before on my knee, something very strange.

But that’s why, because Sunday afternoon, 24 hours to play my first match, I was in my room crying because I believe I didn’t had the chance to play Melbourne.

So it was a very, very tough situation for me, these hours. Two weeks later I am here in the finals, so is a dream for me because having very bad expectations 24 hours before the first match, and now two weeks later I am playing well. I am in the final.

Always play Grand Slam final is very good news. I played last four Grand Slams I have been in the finals, so is a great effort, I think.

Very good new.

Q. How is that knee feeling?

RAFAEL NADAL: I am feeling great. No problems.

Yay!

Q. Do you think having the extra days to recover on the final will be a big advantage for you? Having the extra day advantage for the final? Your opponent plays tomorrow night.

RAFAEL NADAL: I am fine physically. I believe that they are strong. They are feeling very well, very fit, so not gonna be decisive, no?

When happens like the US Open that you play the day before, yes, because if you have five hours match, four hours 30 match, next day you can be destroyed physically, no?

But one day in the middle, if it’s not something very, very crazy, you will not have problems. I had that four hours 30 match two nights ago. I was in perfect condition today.

So you can have a tougher match, yes, but four hours and a half is a lot. The recovery is very good, and they don’t have problems on that, no?

If you play a match like I played in 2009 against Verdasco semifinals, maybe yes, you can have a little bit troubles for the final. But that’s something not usual.

Not usual at all…or he’d be dead from exhaustion!

Q. Roger says he has the impression that you play your best tennis against him. Do you have that impression, as well?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think sometimes. London I didn’t play my best tennis. I play my best tennis against him when I am ready to play my best tennis. I don’t play my best tennis because it’s Roger in front. I play my best tennis because I am ready to play my best tennis.

That’s what I can say. Normally when I play against Roger it’s because I am playing my best tennis because I always was in a finals or was in a very important matches, and having a good confidence because I have won a lot of matches before.

It’s true I played a lot of good matches against him during my career, so is something fantastic. But I believe that he played a few fantastic matches against me too during his career, during our rivalry, no?

So I enjoy playing against him. It’s always a special feeling because our matches always have been special, and especially today after a lot of ones, a lot of important moments for our careers.

So our relationship always have always been in a very positive way. So for all of this facts our matches are special, no?

I think hopefully we will repeat soon.

*fingers crossed*

Q. Would you rather play Andy in the final than Novak?

RAFAEL NADAL: I prefer the player who gonna play worse that day. (Laughter.)

That’s what I can say, no?

Love it! Practical, honest, cheeky…and so Rafa.

Q. What are your thoughts on the other semis, and how closely will you watch that match having in mind Andy changed his coach and Djokovic had so much success against you last year?

RAFAEL NADAL: Both players are top players, very, very high level.

The level of tennis of both players is fantastic, so gonna be a fantastic tennis match tomorrow. I gonna watch the match, because it’s gonna be a fantastic show, my opinion.

Both are playing very well. Novak has the advantage that he won the last two Grand Slams. He’s No. 1 of the world. He’s coming with big confidence.

But Andy is doing really well. Only lost one set at the first match of the tournament. After that, he won all the matches you cannot say easy, because nothing is easy but with very comfortable result.

So when you win with a comfortable result, it is because you are playing well. That’s true. So both players gonna have chances. The player who will play better tomorrow gonna be the winner.

I’m so conflicted. Looking at recent head-to-head, I’d prefer to have Andy in the final. But then, I have to admit, part of me would be sad to see him lose yet another slam final. Also, Rafa really, really needs to get Djokovic in order to get him out of his head. That will only happen if he plays him. So…I dunno.

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31220” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by WILLIAM WEST/ AFP/ Getty Images”]

Getting up at 2:30am for a tennis match the day before I have a big meeting at work? Only for Rafa and Roger – their history, their class and their excellent tennis. The match started with Federer on fire. He broke his first chance and rode that break until 7th game. They stayed on serve and Federer took the set in a tiebreak. Things then got scarier as Rafa was broken at love to start the 2nd. He broke right back and they stayed on serve until the 6th game. Another break sealed the set for Rafa: 6-2. There was another trade of breaks in the 3rd and it too ended up going to a tiebreak. Federer fought back (and Rafa got a bit nervy) from 1-6 down, but Rafa ended up serving it out: 7-6(5). They both held serve in the 4th until Rafa broke in a hard fought 9th game to give himself the opportunity to serve for the match. It was a tight final game, but Rafa held and wins: 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5),6-4.

Stats:

As it happened blatherings:

I barely woke up in time!

Fed serving to start the match. Rafa tees off on a serve return, Fed smacks a winner: 15-0. Ace: 30-0. Forehand winner: 40-0. Fed into the net, Rafa’s passing shot is wide and Fed loves at hold.

Fault. Deep forehand from Rafa draws and error: 15-0. Let. This time, it’s a fierce shot from Fed that draws an error: 15-15. More deep balls from Fed and Rafa nets a backhand: 15-30. Fault. Fed smashes some short balls from Rafa, but defense keeps him in the point and Fed muffs a forehand: 30-30. Fed’s backhand goes long: 40-30. Fault. Fed smacks a weak second serve return and Rafa’s reply sails long: deuce. Deep forehand out wide gives Fed control of the point and he capitalizes: break point. Fed rips a backhand winner and breaks Rafa for a 2-0 lead.

It’s early, but I feel the need to say: first serves in, please, and hit the darn balls deeper.

Deep winner followed by a drop shot winner: 30-0. Rafa works a rally well, but it ends with a backhand error from Rafa: 40-0. Stunning return of serve winner from Rafa: 40-15. Rafa into the net but he can’t get his volley back over and Fed holds for 3-0.

i can’t possibly imagine that anyone is not watching match between rafa and roger!!! even rethinking dinner:))) #champions

— victoria azarenka (@vika7) January 26, 2012

Aggressive play from Rafa and Fed mishits a backhand: 15-0. Fed goes for a cutesy dropper, but it lands in the net: 30-0. Deep return draws an error: 30-15. For now, the net cord declares its allegiance to Rafa: 40-15. Rafa sets up a backhand, but sends it into the net: 40-30. Deep hitting draws an error from Fed and Rafa’s on the scoreboard: 1-3.

Nice passing shot, Rafa! 0-15. Rafa’s return of serve is well out: 15-15. Rafa’s passing attempt goes into the net: 30-15. Fed controls a point from start to finish: 40-15. Another easy hold for Fed: 4-1.

Huge start from Roger, clean, heavy and attacking with shot and positioning …Rafa will come though, he knows no other way.

— roger rasheed (@roger_rasheed) January 26, 2012

Fed nets a backhand: 30-0. Rafa pulls Fed wide and he replies with a forehand down the line winner: 30-15. Fed nets a forehand: 40-15. Rafa runs back to return a lob, gets there, but butchers the reply: 40-30. With an ace, Rafa holds for 2-4.

On his way in, Fed nets a forehand: 15-0. Deep shots from Fed and Rafa can’t stay ahead of them: 15-15. Rafa works a point well, but then sends a forehand out: 30-15. Fed serves and volleys, but sends the volley into the net: 30-30. Fed sends a forehand wide: 30-40. With a backhand passing shot winner, Rafa breaks to put things back on serve!

I think Fed has played better coming into this match, but I almost think that’s irrelevant when he plays Rafa. #itsallmental #AusOpen

— Rob Koenig (@RobKoenigTennis) January 26, 2012

Forehand winner from Rafa: 15-0. Backhand shank from Fed: 30-0. Deep shots draw an error: 40-0. Another shank and Rafa holds: 4-4.

Rafa sends a backhand long: 30-0. Rafa nets a second serve return: 40-0 (but at least he was stepping in). With an ace (per chair overrule), Fed holds for 5-4.

Rafa sends a racket out for re-string.

Fed sends a backhand return of serve well out: 15-0. Fed sends a backhand out: 30-0. Per Cahill, conditions are cooler, but the courts are still playing medium, medium fast. Fed’s return is out: 40-0. Fault. Love hold for Rafa: 5-5.

Also, per Cahill, Rafa uses a 1.35mm string – one of the thickest you can buy.

Rafa nets a forehand: 30-0. Nice volley of a good passing shot from Rafa: 40-0. Rafa barely gets a serve return back, but Fed flubs the dropper off the floaty shot: 40-15. Fed holds for 6-5 and I’m already out of the running for a signed racket from Ryan Harrison.

Fed into the net, Rafa on the defense, Rafa hits a backhand winner: 15-0. Return of serve winner: 15-15. Forehand winner from Rafa: 30-15. Fed’s serve return sails wide: 40-15. Long that time and Rafa holds. Tiebreak time.

Fault from Fed. Rafa sends a backhand long: 0-1. Deep return from Fed draws an error and he gets a mini-break: 0-2. Fed sends a backhand return out: 1-2. Rafa sets up his shot, but nets his forehand: 1-3. Fed’s serve is called out, he challenges, it’s in, replay the point. Ace: 1-4. Aggressive hitting/play from Rafa: 2-4. Rafa’s serve called in, Fed stops play and challenges. Ball was in: 3-4. Fed into the net and hits a deep winning volley: 3-5. Again: 3-6. Fed nets a backhand: 4-6. Forehand winner from Rafa: 5-6. Fed has another set point, but on his serve. Fault. Rafa sends a backhand out and Fed takes the first set: 7-6(5).

56 minutes; 79% 1st serves in; 71% won on 1st; 75% won on 2nd; 20% receiving points won; 1 ace; 11 UFEs; 10 winners; 2/4 at net; 1/1 bps converted

From their 27 meetings, that was only the third 1st set decided on a TB. Federer won them all.

— Jonathan Overend (@5livetennis) January 26, 2012

Backhand down the line winner from Fed: 0-15. Fed pushes and moves Rafa: 0-30. Aggressive forehand approach shot, but Fed passes: 0-40. Aggressive play from Fed and Rafa can’t get the ball back. He’s broken at love: 0-1.

Hewitt claiming the half the court (the Melbourne half) is actually uphill and thus advantageous….. fed 7-6, 1-0

— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) January 26, 2012

The hell?

Fed into the net and Rafa hits a running forehand passing shot winner: 15-0. Fed sends a backhand wide: 0-30. Fed challenges an out call, but it was out: 0-40. Fault. Rafa breaks back at love: 1-1.

30-15. Fed pushes Rafa deep and draws and error: 30-30. Aggressive play from Rafa and he finishes it with a midcourt forehand that Fed can’t quite get back: 30-40. Fed talking to his camp? Weird. Service winner and Rafa holds for 2-1.

Fed runs Rafa and finishes with a forehand winner: 15-0. Nice second serve and Rafa sends the reply well out: 30-0. Service winner: 40-0. Love hold for Fed: 2-2.

Fed pounces on a short ball: 0-15. Fed sends a backhand well out: 15-15. Deep shot from Fed draws an error: 15-30. Fault. Fed tries to run around to a forehand return and his shot is out: 30-30. Fed hugs the baseline and draws an error: 30-40. Fed sends a forehand well out: deuce. Again: game point. Another forehand out and Rafa holds.

Aggressive play from Rafa and Fed nets a forehand: 0-15. Beautiful return at Fed’s feed as he ran into the net: 0-30. How the hell did Rafa stay in the point and hit a winner off that?? Triple break point. Service winner: 15-40. Fault. Rafa had a shot, but sends the backhand into the doubles alley: 30-40. Backhand passing shot winner and Rafa breaks for a 4-2 lead in the second set.

Crazy point ends with Fed flicking a winner from the net: 0-15. Return of serve is long: 15-15. Rafa nets a forehand: 15-30. Fed nets a backhand return: 30-30. Again: 40-30. Rafa consolidates the break. He leads 5-2.

Fireworks. Rafa puts on jacket to keep warm; Fed leaves the court.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so focused and awake at 5:15am.

— Brodie (@MindTheRacket) January 26, 2012

Shift started at BP for Federer at 2-2; pressed on a forehand, and on another in that game. Rafa out of jail, running like a madman now

— Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) January 26, 2012

Not sure I have ever seen a running winner CROSSCOURT from such a wide position as in that incredible sixth game. Rafantastic.

— Jonathan Overend (@5livetennis) January 26, 2012

Double fault: 0-15. Fault. Beautifully placed forehand by Fed, Rafa replies, Fed muffs 2nd volley: 0-30. Backhand return of serve winner from inside the baseline from Rafa. Triple set/break point. Rafa breaks at love to take the second set (double checks): 6-2.

32 minutes; 81% 1st serves; 65% won on 1st; 67% on 2nd; 1 ace; 17 UFEs; 15 winners; 36% receive pts won; 3/7 at net; 4/6 bps won

Jim Courier said Rafa was bounding up n down the Rod Laver hallways w headphones on during the fireworks. Great way to stay in the zone!!

— nic (@nic_knack) January 26, 2012

30-0. Fed hits a backhand that’s called out, but the chair overrules and is correct, replay point. Fault. Second serve ace: 40-0. Fed doesn’t really move to a ball at all and Rafa holds at love.

Did Fed’s back get cold and tight during the fireworks break?

Fed sends a forehand out: 0-15. Double fault: 0-30. Double fault: 0-40. Deep ball from Fed draws an error: 15-40. Fault. Rafa nets the second serve return: 30-40. Nice forehand winner from Fed: deuce. Service winner: game point. The net cord shows Rafa some love: deuce. Horrid forehand from Rafa: game point. Fed sets up a shot, but nets it: deuce. This time, the net cord loves Fed: game point. Fed holds: 1-1.

Service winner down the middle: 15-0. Rafa hits behind Fed for a winner: 30-0. Fed sends a forehand serve return well out: 40-0. Fed nets a drop shot attempt and Rafa holds at love for 2-1.

Rafa’s passing shot is wide: 15-0. Ace out wide: 30-0. Ace down the middle: 40-0. Service winner: 2-2.

Forehand winner from Rafa: 15-0. Fed hits some nicely angled balls of his backhand: 15-15. Fed nets a second serve forehand return: 30-15. Fed’s backhand return of serve is just long: 40-15. With a service winner, Rafa holds for 3-2 in the third.

Beautiful angle from Fed: 15-0. Service winner: 30-0. Again: 40-0. Double fault: 40-15. (He should have challenged the first serve call – hawkeye shows it was in.) These guys are amazing. Freaking amazing. Wonderful point ends with the net cord pops Rafa’s ball way up and Fed can’t adjust in time: 40-30. Rafa tries to run around for a forehand return and sends his shot long. Fed holds for 3-3.

Fed sends a backhand well wide: 15-0. Fed digs out a deep wide ball, sends the ball into mid-court and Rafa’s reply is out: 15-15. Fed runs Rafa until he can hit a forehand winner into the open court: 30-15. This time Rafa’s forehand into the open court is long: 30-30. Rafa sends a forehand out: break point. Rafa? Why you hitting your leg like that? Fed goes for a backhand, but it’s just out: deuce. Aggressive play from Fed: break point. Ace down the middle: deuce. Tried to go down the middle again, but it clips the net. Double fault. Service winner out wide: deuce. Fault down the middle. Rafa sends a forehand long: break point. Fault down the middle. Rafa plays short. Fed does not. Fed breaks for a 4-3 lead in the 3rd.

Fed smashes a winner: 15-0. Fed’s forehand is long: 15-15. Double fault: 15-30. Rafa gets his passing shot low to Fed’s forehand: 15-40. Rafa breaks right back! 4-4

Clijsters watching in the stands.

Fed sends a forehand well out: 15-0. Fed sends a forehand long: 30-0. Rafa nets a backhand: 30-15. Hard hitting rally ends with the net cord sending Fed’s ball back into this side of the court: 40-15. Rafa holds for 5-4.

Lleyton just chose Rafa out of the two to fight for his life, in response to Jim’s question.

— nic (@nic_knack) January 26, 2012

Nicely angled backhand that Rafa can’t do anything with: 15-0. Service winner: 30-0. Again: 40-0. Fed sends a forehand out: 40-15. Serve and volley – Fed holds for 5-5.

Rafa pushes Fed back and draws an error: 15-0. Beautiful angled backhand return of serve from Fed and Rafa can’t get it back over: 15-15. Fault. Forehand winner from Fed: 15-30. Fault. Aggressive hitting from Rafa ends with a forehand winner: 30-30. Fed nets a forehand: 40-30. Rafa holds for 6-5.

In @RafaelNadal #Federer rivalry, in best-of-5 set matches, after splitting 1st 2 sets, 3rd set winner is 7-0 in H-to-H. #AusOpen

— Greg Sharko (@SharkoTennis) January 26, 2012

Ace: 15-0. The net cord still loves Rafa: 15-15. What looked like an ace is called a let, but Rafa challenges the call. It was out by millimeters. Second serve. Rafa’s backhand goes into the net: 30-15. Fault. Moving up, Fed sends his forehand into the net: 30-30. Deep, heavy forehand from Rafa draws an error: set point. Fault. Short return of serve and Fed knocks off a winner: deuce. Fault. Rafa’s return of serve is out: game point. Fed holds for 6-6. Another tiebreak…

Fed moves forward, but nets his backhand: 1-0. Smart play by Rafa and he finishes it at net for the mini-break: 2-0. Service winner from Fed: 2-1. Fed’s backhand down the line is just out: 3-1. Fed sends a backhand well wide: 4-1. Beautiful backhand passing shot from Rafa: 5-1. Fault. Fed tees off on a forehand and nets it: 6-1. Beauty of a backhand winner from Fed saves one set point: 6-2. Fault down the middle. Rafa nets a tentative backhand: 6-3. Aggressive play from Fed: 6-4. Service winner: 6-5. 3rd set to Rafa! 7-6(5).

Strong holds from both guys to start the 4th.

Rafa into the net on a short ball and fires off a forehand winner: 0-15. Fed pushes Rafa deep and wide: 15-15. Fed nets a forehand: 15-30. Fed into the net and knocks off a nice volley winner: 30-30. Beautiful cross-court backhand winner from Rafa: 30-40. Service winner: deuce. Ace: game point. Another good serve and crisp volley and Fed holds for 2-1.

Rafa sends a forehand out: 0-15. Service winner: 15-15. Fed sends a backhand return long: 30-15. Forehand return this time: 40-15. Aggressive Rafa holds for 2-2.

When holding 2-1 sets lead (in b-of-5 matches), @RafaelNadal is 8-1 vs #RogerFederer. #AusOpen

— Greg Sharko (@SharkoTennis) January 26, 2012

Fed’s backhand is out: 0-15. Rafa sets up his shot, but nets the backhand: 15-15. Fed nets a forehand: 15-30. Passing shot winner: 15-40. Fault. Service winner: 30-40. Fed into the net, Rafa makes him hit a few volleys, Rafa’s backhand is out: deuce. Ace: game point. Fault. Nice rally ends with a forced error from Rafa. Fed holds for 3-2.

Federer 2-3 on serve…love that nadal camp is passing around a towel for their sweaty palms…

— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) January 26, 2012

Fed sends a backhand well out: 30-0. Forehand passing shot winner: 40-0. With an ace, Rafa holds at love.

Rafa’s shot is out: 15-0. Fed dropshots, Rafa’s lob reply is out: 30-0. Rafa’s forehand is long: 40-0. Backhand return of serve winner: 40-15. Fault. With a forehand down the line winner, Fed holds for 4-3.

Fed’s forehand lands in the doubles alley: 15-0. Amazing point ends with Rafa’s angled volley called out – he challenges, but the call is good: 15-15. Fed again wins the battle of the angles: 15-30. Fed nets a backhand: 30-30. Fed’s backhand return of serve is long: 40-30. Nicely angled backhand return of serve from Fed and he follows it with a backhand winner into the open court: deuce. Fault down the middle. Net cord pops Rafa’s ball up and Fed hits a winner off the floater: break point. Fault. Fed had his shot, but sends the forehand out: deuce. Forehand winner from Rafa: game point. Another and Rafa holds: 4-4.

Another “how the fuck to do they do this stuff” kind of point ends with Rafa’s backhand (from out of position) going just wide: 15-0. Fed’s backhand is out: 15-15. Deep shot from Fed and Rafa’s lob reply is long: 30-15. Rafa pulls Fed out wide and then follows up with a down the line winner into the open court: 30-30. Another aggressive rally from them both ends with Fed netting a backhand: 30-40. Fault. Deep forehand from Fed draws an error: deuce. Beautiful forehand from Fed, but Rafa makes him play one more to win the point: game point. Rafa pulls Rafa Fed out wide to his forehand and gets an error: deuce. Forehand cross-court passing shot winner….on the run: break point. Fault. Fed sends a backhand wide and Rafa breaks for a 5-4 lead in the 4th. Rafa to serve for the final next!

Both players fighting so hard in that game. Hard hitting, lovely angles…goodness I love when they play each other.

15-0. Deep return of serve from Fed followed up by a touch drop shot winner: 15-15. Fed sends a forehand long: 30-15. Rafa misses an easy forehand: 30-30. Fed’s return of serve is out: match point. Rafa’s attempt to thread the needle with a passing shot is just out: deuce. Fault. Rafa sends a forehand long: break point. Weird ass point – net cords, floaty lobs…Fed brain farting…deuce. Excellent return of serve draws an error: break point. Fed nets a backhand return of serve: deuce. Fed sends a backhand well out: match point #2. Fed sends a ball long and Rafa wins: 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4.

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31215” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/ AFP/ Getty Images”]

It’s no surprise, but Rafa’s on the player entry list for Indian Wells.

Articles:

• Win or lose, it’s a good start - by Rafael Nadal (The Age)
• Mythbusters: Federer-Nadal Edition - by Carl Bialik (Wall Street Journal)
• Federer-Nadal Rivalry Adds Another Chapter - by Christopher Clarey (New York Times)
• Previewing Federer Vs. Nadal - by Geoff MacDonald (New York Times)

Video/Audio:

• Laver has say on Nadal-Federer from Eurosport
• Chris Evert and Chris McKendry preview the Rafa/Rog match…in case you want to be annoyed by US TV announcers.
• Hawkeye: Length key as Nadal faces Federer from Eurosport

Random:

• Review system challenges top men at Australian Open from the AP via USA Today

David J Nadal was a tweeting fiend this morning - tweets followed by a mangle:

Entrevista de @IB3noticies a Toni Nadal. Muy interesante. Toni Nadal: “Rafel jugó muy bien contra Berdych, sobre todo a partir del 3 set…

“…Podríamos haber ido dos sets abajo, con el set-bol en contra, en el segundo, pero también es verdad que el 1ro lo podríamos haber ganado

Toni Nadal: “Lo mejor es que acabó jugando muy bien, especialmente en el cuarto set”

TNadal: “Rafel está teniendo muy buena evolución en el torneo. Nos planteamos hacer una serie de cambios en el juego, tuvimos que tomar esta

…decisión después de Londres, no pudimos entrenar todo lo que hubiéramos querido en pretemporada por los problemas de hombro…

de hombro y al final nos ha costado un poco más. En el primer torneo del año llegó muy justo de preparación, pero

pero aquí las cosas han ido saliendo mucho mejor, sobre todo han salido bien con el tipo de juego que queríamos hacer”, Toni Nadal dixit

Más de Toni Nadal en Ib3: “Rafael ha hecho más golpes ganadores que el año pasado, ha jugado más adelante, ha restado más adelante

en según que momentos y para nosotros es una victoria muy importante”

Toni Nadal sobre Federer: “Con Federer hemos jugado muchas veces y nos conocemos mucho. La preparación es siempre la misma…

…pero aquí no hay secretos, aquí hay que intentar igual que el martes, jugar bien todo el tiempo, estar en buena

estar en buena posición de piernas, moverse mucho. Federer es ligeramente favorito, en esta la superficie juega mejor que nosotros

peor creo que si Rafel juega igual que el martes y con la misma agresividad tendrá sus opciones”, ha dico Toni Nadal

Más de Toni Nadal: “Federer está jugando muy bien, ha ganado todos los partidos muy fácil,

contra Del Potro no hubo color. Le salió un partido muy bueno. Es verdad que Del Potro no estuvo muy acertado en ningún momento

pero la verdad es que desgraciadamente para nosotros Federer no se acaba nunca”, dice Toni Nadal

Toni Nadal en Ib3: “Soy un entrenador bastante normal, no conozco secretos, la verdad es que después de jugar 26 partidos contra Federer

…no hay muchas posibilidades de dar la sorpresa. A Federer lo conocemos bien, es un jugador bueno en todos los aspectos del juego

…y lo que hay que intentar es estar más adelante en el juego de lo que nos colocamos la última vez en Londres, donde jugamos muy mal”

TNadal: “En Londres jugó retrasado, Federer nos ganó muy fácil e intentaremos que esto no se repita”

Toni Nadal sobre la nueva discusión Rafa-Bernardes: “La razón la tenía el árbitro. Rafel no tenía derecho a reclamar el ojo de halcón

porque Rafel se había movido y la norma es muy clara en este aspecto. Y Rafel le recriminaba que la bola era muy clara

y que él desde la silla le tocaba verlo. Los nervios del partido te hacen estar más tenso y Bernardes no vio una bola

fuera muy clara, pero ya está, pasa muchas veces. Pero la razón en la discusión la tenía Bernardes”, piensa Toni Nadal

Y Toni Nadal sobre Djokovic: “Queríamos que ganara Ferrer, por un doble motivo. Por amistad con David y porque ya nos venía bien

…que Djokovic perdiera. Djokovic está jugando muy bien, aunque el otro día mostró en algún momento cierta debilidad”, finaliza Toni Nadal

Mangle:

Interview with Toni Nadal @ IB3noticies. Very interesting. Toni Nadal: “Rafel played very well against Berdych, especially from September 3 …

“… We could have been two sets down, with the set-bowl in hand, in the second, but it is also true that the 1st we could have won

Toni Nadal: “It is best that ended up playing very well, especially in the fourth set”

TNadal: “Rafael is having very good performance in the tournament. We propose to make a series of changes to the game, we had to take this

… Decision after London, we could not train all that we wanted in pre-season shoulder problems …

shoulder and in the end cost us a bit more. In the first tournament of the year came very fair preparation, but

but here things have been going much better, especially have gone well with the type of game we wanted to do, “Toni Nadal dixit

More Toni Nadal in IB3: “Rafael has done more winning shots than last year, played later, has reduced below

depending on which time and we are a very important victory “

Toni Nadal on Federer: “With Federer have played many times and know a lot. Preparation is always the same …

… But there are no secrets here just have to try that on Tuesday, play well all the time, be in good

be in good standing of the legs, move around a lot. Federer is a slight favorite in the surface played better than us

I think if worse like Rafel plays on Tuesday and with the same aggressiveness will have their options, “Toni Nadal has doctor

More Toni Nadal: “Federer is playing very well, has won every game very easy,

against Del Potro had no color. He left a very good game. It is true that Del Potro was not very successful in no time

but the truth is that unfortunately for us, Federer never ends, “says Toni Nadal

Toni Nadal in IB3: “I am a pretty normal coach, I know secrets, the truth is that after playing 26 matches against Federer

… There is much chance of a surprise. A Federer we know well, is a good player in all aspects of the game

… And what to try is to be later in the game than the last time we put ourselves in London, where we played very bad “

TNadal: “In London he played delayed, Federer easily beat us and we will try that this does not recur”

Toni Nadal on Rafa’s new-Bernardes discussion: “The reason was the referee. Rafel had no right to claim the Hawkeye

because Rafel had moved and the standard is very clear on this. And Rafel reproached the ball was very clear

and he played him from the chair to see it. The nerves of the game will be more tense and do not see a ball Bernardes

was very clear, but that’s it often happens. But the reason had it in the discussion Bernardes, “Toni Nadal thinks

And Toni Nadal Djokovic: “We wanted to win Ferrer, for two reasons. For friendship with David and because we already had been well

… That Djokovic lost. Djokovic is playing very well, although the other day showed some weakness at some point, “Toni Nadal ends

Original Article

You can really see the shy Rafa in this video of his meeting with Rod Laver - such an awkward set-up and it’s like they don’t quite know what to say to each other:

There are also some photos from the AO site.

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31203” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by NICOLAS ASFOURI/ AFP/ Getty Images”]

Articles:

• Racquet Reaction: Nadal d. Berdych - by Steve Tignor (tennis.com)
• Australian Open Day 9 recap: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer set for semis clash - by Courtney Nguyen (si.com)
• In Nadal Vs. Berdych, Conditioning Makes a Difference by Geoff MacDonald (New York Times)
• Nadal flips Berdych to book Fed date a few days early - by Michael Gleeson (Sydney Morning Herald)
• Rafael Nadal next up for Roger Federer - AP via ESPN
• Federer and Nadal to Meet in Australian Open Semifinals - by Christopher Clarey (New York Times)
• Australian Open semifinal to speak volumes on Federer-Nadal rivalry - by Bruce Jenkins (si.com)
• A Crucial Meeting For Two Champions - by Steve Flink (tennischannel.com)

Video/Audio:

• You might need a cigarette after watching this video.
• Achoo!
• Audio of an interview in Spanish

Photos:

• Random photo gallery from the AO.
• Match photos from the AO.
• Oooodles of match photos from Zimbio.

Random:

• Excuse me, I know this is off-topic (well, there’s a few seconds of Rafa in there), but it’s DAVEEEED WITH PUPPIES!

Original Article

Photos from the quarterfinal match against Berdych.

[gallery link=”file”]

Photos by VIVEK PRAKASH/AFP/Getty Images, Mark Dadswell/Getty Images, GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images, Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images, WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images, and TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/AFP/Getty Images

Original Article

Match highlights via the AO site.

Amazing shot:

Match report:

Posted by ESPN.

Post match interview in English:

[caption id=”attachment_31153” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by GREG WOOD/ AFP/ Getty Images”]

Here’s a video excerpt from Rafa’s presser. And the AO has kindly posted a transcript:

Q. The level of play tonight was quite exceptional. How did you manage to turn the match around, do you think?

RAFAEL NADAL: At the beginning wasn’t exceptional for me.

No, no it wasn’t.

Q. For him maybe?

RAFAEL NADAL: Maybe, but I think the level of the third and fourth set for me was very, very high, top level for myself playing on these courts. Very happy about how I finished the match. I think I finished playing at very, very high level.

The first set especially I felt that I started the match too nervous, no? I wasn’t able to hit the ball long. My movements weren’t enough strong, enough fast.

It’s true is difficult against a player like him, because you don’t have chances on return. He hit the ball very, very hard and very flat. Very difficult to find the rhythm.

But I had to do it a little bit earlier, no? I was a little bit unlucky at the end of the first set. I was lucky with the 5-4. I saved that three points, four set points. But I was unlucky with the 5-All, because I believe that ball was out.

The umpire was right. I didn’t discuss with the umpire his decision, because I know that if we had the rule book and we read how the rule is, he’s right.

But I am not happy. They are there to make something, not just to call 15-All or 15-30 all the match. That’s the only thing I’m unhappy about.

The rest, I know he’s right. I came back to the middle. But, you know, is natural act, because in the 5-All, seriously I saw the ball out, and I believed that the line called something. For sure wasn’t like this, but that is what I believe at that moment and I stopped.

But anyway, very happy with anything. Semifinals is fantastic result for me. Start the season with semifinals in the first big tournament of the season is very good news.

The level is very positive, much, much better than the end of the season. The character on court, the way to win the points, everything was much more positive, so I’m very happy.

I’m very happy with anything too.

Q. With Novak being No. 1 and now when you play Roger it’s 2 versus 3, is it still as special as it ever was for you to play Roger?

RAFAEL NADAL: The numbers are important, No. 1 and No. 2, No. 3, No. 4. The ranking is important, but when we talk about a player who won 16 Grand Slams and I won 10 and we played a lot of matches between each other and all ones, in very important moments for our careers and very high moments.

So the match is special. I don’t know how many we played, but the most were finals or a few semifinals in a Masters Cup.

But for everything, for what represents the match, all the matches against him are special and will be special even if we are 20 against 25.

Yep, it’s not the ranking that makes the matches important, it’s the history.

Q. Five hours and 40 minutes with Verdasco, four and 16 minutes with Berdych, but two different matches. One celebration tonight; the other more rhythm. Which was hard are for you? Which one was more tiring? Is it more difficult for you to recover now or not?

RAFAEL NADAL: I want to believe that was harder in 2009, but I am three years older.

Heh.

Q. That’s why I’m asking.

RAFAEL NADAL: No 2009 matches; 2009 was much harder. Was harder, I believe. After the match I really couldn’t move next day. I hope tomorrow I will be able to practice with normal conditions, but not perfect condition, but I will be able to practice.

2009, the day after, I wasn’t able to practice. That’s important.

I still don’t understand how he came back to win that final. Don’t understand it at all.

Q. Why were you nervous in the first two sets against a guy you had won nine matches in a row against?

RAFAEL NADAL: Every match is completely different, and every situation is completely different, too, no?

I was nervous because he was playing well. I thought that I didn’t put enough balls in when I was returning, so I only had a break point in that second game, so — two break points.

For the rest, I felt it was really important match for me, because quarters to semis is a big chance. You start with very good feeling the season. You know, quarterfinals is not a bad result, but at the same time is not a good one, no?

Semifinals is a good one. Is start of season being in the four best of the first important tournament of the season. So is very good way to start the season.

That’s why maybe I start the season a little bit nervous, and that’s human. That’s what it is. But the attitude was positive, because was the right one to overcome the situation.

I did, and finally I think I finished the match playing at one of my best — fourth set was one of my best levels on this kind of surface, returning inside the court, making a lot of winners from with the first ball, the return, having serve, and winner.

So that’s something that I really miss a little bit, especially second part of the season last year. The first part of the season was positive, but winning with a different way, not that way.

So most important thing too is the character. How I acted on court was completely the right one tonight. For moments at the second half of the season last year wasn’t. Was not the perfect one. Today was the perfect one.

That last set was pretty perfect. :) So was the fact he didn’t let the horrid line-calling undermine his concentration and determination.

Q. I would guess that you probably against Roger are going to have to play how you played in the third and fourth sets rather than the first and second, because maybe he won’t give you a chance to come back in the match.

RAFAEL NADAL: I will try my best from the beginning. I tried my best from the beginning tonight.

Sometimes the things didn’t work as good as you would like, but that’s the sport. I will try from the beginning if happens the same than tonight.

So I will keep fighting with positive attitude, and the normal thing is lose. But if I play like the third or fourth set, hopefully I will have my, you know, my chances.

Always playing in these kind of surfaces he’s the favorite. His level is fantastic, and he won today a fantastic match against one of the best players of the world, Del Potro. So he’s doing very, very well. Did he lose a set yet?

From the little bit I saw of the Fed/DelPo match, Fed was playing very, very well.

Q. No.

RAFAEL NADAL: No. So he’s doing well and he’s playing fantastic and he had a fantastic end of the season last year. So he’s coming with confidence. It will be a very, very difficult match for me, and I will try.

But for me, the most important thing I had the calm. The feeling of the level of my game during all the tournament was really satisfying. Even if I lose, I come back home with very positive feeling about how I played, and for sure the result is good.

For me, semifinals after two years with troubles, injuries, is, you know, I must be happy for that.

The quarterfinal injury curse is broken!

Q. The last eight times you’ve played Roger in a Grand Slam final you’ve won six of those. Does that fill you with confidence going into the next match?

RAFAEL NADAL: No. I prefer that, but, no, every match is different, and I know I will be on court playing against probably the best of the history, playing well him.

So obviously my only way and my only chance to win is play aggressive, play very well, and to play to a limit. That’s what I gonna try.

And we all know how hard you try, Rafa.

Q. Still Rafa, to play best of five seems an advantage for you, to be honest. I mean, you won the last four times you’ve played against him, best-of-five sets, and he’s 30 years old. Okay, great class, great talent, we know it. But physically normally you’re stronger, or no?

RAFAEL NADAL: If happens the same than in the Masters Cup three months ago the physical performance doesn’t affect. (Laughter.) Hopefully will never repeat.

If the match stays strong and the physical performance affects on the result, hopefully that’s gonna be a little bit advantage for me or not, because he’s very fit.

He never had the physical problems. No injuries, no problems. Very good, you know.

Heh. I think the no injuries thing might bug Rafa even more than the way Fed can seem to stop and start playing without losing rhythm and confidence.

Q. Just on that point about the umpire’s decision in the tiebreak, do you think that Hawk-Eye has stopped umpiring as they used to? They’re a little bit concerned about making decisions because they know they have the camera?

RAFAEL NADAL: I like the Hawk-Eye. I like the idea. But, yes. I agree with you. I think, you know, that with the Hawk-Eye the umpires have much less pressure than before.

Carlos is a fantastic umpire, one of the best on tour. But for everybody the work when now is match is much easier. They don’t feel the pressure than before, because at the end, if you want to stop, you stop.

So that’s why sometimes I miss more overrule. Because happen before I had to stop one point. One ball was clear out, and another ball there. You can see like this. I had to ask the Hawk-Eye, because remain more overrules on the umpires. That’s my feeling.

I actually think they feel more pressure on the overrules and that’s why they do it less. Now, there’s something that can prove them wrong, so unless they feel 100% certain, they don’t overrule.

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31145” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by REUTERS/ Daniel Munoz”]

In his quarterfinal match at the 2012 Australian Open, Rafa played Tomas Berdych. It was a tight first set with Berdych holding serve much easier than Rafa. At 5-6, Rafa had to fight off 4 set points to force a tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker a very bad call (and a failure to timely challenge it), gave Berdych a set point and he took it: 6-7(7). Rafa broke in the 4th game of the second set and followed that up with an emphatic hold. He got another bad call in his next serve game when a service winner was called out and, upon overrule by challenge, a replay was declared. He was broken and the set back on serve. Rafa got an early mini-break in the tiebreak, but much like in the first set, gave it back with short play. Berdych, however, played a bit tentatively and Rafa took advantage: 7-6(6).

After trading breaks to start the 3rd set, they held until Rafa broke in the 5th game. This time, he managed to hold on to the advantage and, despite some nerves, served out the set: 6-4.

Rafa broke to start the 4th set and his play looked, in general, so much better. He actually had some good serve returns! Woo! Rafa broke again in the last game to take the match: 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-3.

Stats:

As it happened blatherings:

Berdych won the toss and elects to serve – which he holds easily. Rafa’s serve is a bit more difficult, but he does hold. Good serves saves some break points and Berdych holds for 2-1. (Okay, I’m caught up now.) (Okay, I’m not – Rafa holds.)

Killer return of serve winner from Rafa at 0-40! But Berdych follows with an ace to hold for 3-2.

Rafa sends a ball long and Berdych has a break point. Berdych’s return of serve is long: deuce. Berdych nets a backhand: game point. Pushed back, Rafa sends a slice backhand into the net: deuce. Berdych moves Rafa wide and goes into the net, but his backhand into the open court is long: game point. And again – Rafa holds.

Ace. Return of serve well out: 30-0. Ace: 40-0. Berdych holds at love: 4-3.

Pulled wide, Rafa hits a forehand down the line winner: 15-0. Berdych creates an opening, but nets the backhand: 30-0. Beautiful backhand passing shot from Rafa, Berdych can barely get a racket on it and Rafa knocks off a winner: 40-0. Rafa holds: 4-4.

Watching TV on a little tablet instead of the big TV because the stream is a point ahead. #choices

Nice forehand winner from Berdych: 15-0. The net cord pops Rafa’s ball back into his half of the court: 30-0. Cross court forehand winner from Rafa: 30-15. Rafa totally mishits a backhand: 40-15. Service winner for Berdych and he holds: 5-4. Rafa acted like he wanted to challenge (after thinking too long), but then changes his mind.

Bernardes always sounds full of ennui when he calls out the score.

Berdych’s ball is called out, but then corrected and they will replay the point. Nice forehand from Rafa draws an error: 15-0. Berdych’s ball is called out, Berdych wants to challenge, but Rafa says it was good: 15-15. Berdych nets the serve return: 40-15. Rafa smashes an overhead and holds for 5-5.

Berdych hits behind Rafa, but it goes long: 0-15. Rafa sends a forehand long, but challenges and it is out: 15-15. Excellent serve out wide: 30-15. Berdych into the net and hits a deep volley winner: 40-15. Strong hold for Berdych for 6-5.

Rafa comes in off an okay approach and Berdych nails the passing shot: 0-15. Return of serve winner: 0-30. Second serve. Rafa nets a passing attempt: 0-40. Berdych tees off on a forehand and it smacks the net: 15-40. Second serve. There is no way Rafa should have won that point. He was on the defense and hitting short balls the whole way. How did that happen? 30-40. Second serve service winner…Berdych challenges but it’s good. Deuce. Nice cross-court pass from Berdych and Rafa can’t scoop it all the way back up over the net: break/set point 4. Nice serve out wide followed by a forehand winner into the open court: deuce. Berdych sends a forehand well wide: game point. Another error from Berdych and Rafa holds. Tiebreak for the first set.

Berdych into the net and knocks off a winner: 1-0. Berdych sends a forehand long: 1-1. Again: 2-1. Rafa’s return of serve sails long: 2-2. A beauty of a serve out wide, Rafa barely gets a racket on it and Berdych handles the floater: 2-3. Rafa forces an error: 3-3. Rafa moves Berdych back and forth and then smashes a winner: 4-3. Second serve for Berdych. Forehand down the line winner from Rafa – mini-break: 5-3. Rafa’s serve return is wide: 5-4. Second serve. Return of serve winner from Berdych – back on serve: 5-5. Berdych into the net and hits a winner: 5-6. Rafa challenges way too late. The replay shows it was out, but Rafa wait too late. Ace and the set goes to Berdych.

Rafa is pissed, but I don’t think he has a valid argument here. He’d hit the ball back, looked at the lines person, Berdych had already hit his winning reply and then Rafa raised his hand. Rafa says he thought the ball was called out. Hmmm. Still think the chair made the right call.

Double break point for Berdych. Rafa needs to get past that call. Berdych into the net and sends the ball right into it: 30-40. Ace: deuce. Berdych nets a backhand: game point. Second serve. Another return of serve is out and Rafa holds for 1-1.

Rafa lines up a tight passing shot, but nets it: 15-0. Beauty of a forehand winner from Rafa: 15-15. Speedy shot from Berdych and Rafa’s reply is well out: 30-15. Rafa picks on Berdych’s backhand and then hits a forehand winner to the other side of the court: 30-30. Ace: 40-30. Berdych hits a winner behind Rafa to hold for 1-1.

Rafa pulls Berdych wide on the backhand side and draws an error. Rafa goes for a forehand passing shot and nets it: 15-15. Drop shot that Berdych can’t do anything with once he gets to it: 30-15. 40-15. Backhand down the line winner from Berdych: 40-30. Rafa holds for 2-1.

Good serve, short return, winner: 15-0. Forehand down the line winner from Rafa: 15-15. Berdych sends a backhand down the line wide: 15-30. Short ball from Rafa, fierce reply from Berdych, Rafa nets: 30-30. Forehand winner from Rafa: 30-40. Berdych out of challenges, but doesn’t realize it and challenges an out call on serve. Winner and Rafa breaks!

Rafa into the net and knocks off a winner: 30-0. With an ace Rafa holds at love…and I’m loving his body language right now. 4-1

Berdych follows up with a love hold of his own for 2-4.
Berdych nets a ball: 30-0. Again: 40-0. Another love hold. Rafa’s up 5-2.

Ace. Two missed service returns: 40-0. And….another love hold. This one for Berdych. Rafa serving for the set.

Deep return of serve and Rafa’s forehand sails long: 0-15. And again, but with one extra shot in there. Rafa needs to get a darn first serve in: 0-30. And he does – Berdych’s reply is long: 15-30. Rafa’s serve is called out, he challenges, it’s in. Rafa’s not happy he didn’t get the point and will have to replay. Second serve, Berdych into the net and knocks off a winner: 15-40. Second serve. Berdych hits a return of serve winner…oh, no. Rafa challenges and it’s out. One break point saved. Rafa on defense the whole point and Berdych breaks. On serve: 5-4.

Forehand winner from Berdych: 15-0. Rafa dropping the ball short: 30-0. Short return of serve, Berdych into midcourt and knocks off a winner: 40-0. 5-5.

Forehand winner from Rafa: 15-0. Second serve return sails long: 30-0. Second serve. Rafa sets up a forehand and nets it: 30-15. Nice reflex volley from Rafa: 40-15. Deep shot from Berdych draws an error: 40-30. Rafa holds for 6-5.

Berdych’s shot is long – little fist-pump: 0-15. Short return from Rafa and a deep shot from Berdych draws an error: 15-15. Rafa’s shot is just out: 30-15. Beautiful backhand passing shot winner: 30-30. Double fault (which Rafa fist pumps – um): break/set point. Nice serve out wide and Rafa floats a sitter reply that Berdych handles easily: deuce. Again: game point. Berdych into the net and Rafa passes with a beautiful running forehand! Deuce. Ace…Rafa challenges, but it’s good: game point. Rafa pushed, but Berdych holds: 6-6.

1-0. Rafa’s return of serve goes long: 1-1. Berdych sends a ball long - mini-break to Rafa: 2-1. Second serve. Berdych nets a shot: 3-1. Berdych’s shot is well out: 4-1. Forehand winner from Berdych: 4-2. Ace: 4-3. Second serve. Beautiful angled return from Berdych gives him control of the point – back on serve: 4-4. Service winner down the middle: 5-4. Floaty second serve return from Rafa and Berdych again makes him pay: 5-5. Another good serve out wide: 5-6. Short ball from Rafa, but he handles the reply as Berdych comes into the net: 6-6.

Ataraxis00: Rafa is too far back. He should have a ticket to sit in the stands.

Berdych nets a backhand: 7-6 – set point, but on Berdych’s serve. Berdych’s shot is long - second set to Rafa!

*doing a bit of a tension walk off* *I need snacks*

Berdych holds to start set 3.

Berdych drops, Rafa slides and grabs his foot – thinking it just got jammed in there on the slide: 0-30. Rafa nets a ball: 0-40. Ace: 15-40. Berdych breaks to take a 2-0 lead.

Berdych’s ball is long: 0-15. And now he nets a backhand: 0-30. And that forehand was long: 0-40. Passing shot winner from Rafa and we are back on serve.

Forehand winner from Berdych: 15-30. Rafa serves and volleys a winner: 30-30. How dare Rafa bean Berdych by hitting a fault that bounces off the backboard and hits him! No handshake for you! ;) Second serve return of serve winner: deuce. Is Rafa’s second serve getting even worse? Berdych sends a ball well wide: game point. With an ace, Rafa holds for 2-2.

Berdych totally butchers a volley: 0-15. Rafa can’t get a serve return back: 15-15. Berdych asking for the trainer? Forehand winner from Rafa: 15-30. Rafa’s second serve return is out – he’s not happy: 30-30. Forehand winner: 40-30. Rafa’s return of serve paints the line, or does it? Lines person was unsighted. Berdych challenges, but it’s good: deuce. Rafa nets a forehand: game point. Double fault: deuce. Rafa’s lob passing shot attempt is long and he drops his head: game point. Rafa moves Berdych well and draws an error: deuce. Berdych’s forehand is out: break point. Rafa breaks to go up 3-2.

Berdych upset about something – I think he wanted a bad ball taken out of play during that last game when I thought he was calling for the trainer. Chair asked him if it could wait and he said yes. Now he seems to be regretting that decision and taking it out on the chair. Not too heated, just upset.

Fierce forehands from Berdych: 15-15. Service winner: 30-15. Rafa on defense until Berdych errs. Rafa holds for 4-2.

Net cord pops up Rafa’s ball, Berdych tees off on it – is it wide? Rafa challenges and it is: 15-15. Service winner: 30-15. Rafa sends a forehand into the doubles alley: 40-15. Berdych holds for 3-4.

Rafa holds at love: 5-3.

At deuce, Rafa frames a serve return into the seats: game point. Beautiful passing shot from Rafa: deuce. Good return and Berdych’s reply is long: break/set point. That return goes long, however: deuce. Another service winner: game point. And again. Rafa had his chances, but Berdych holds for 4-5. Can Rafa serve out the set?

Rafa flubs a forehand: 0-15. Berdych steers a forehand wide: 15-15. Ace: 30-15. Deep serve return from Berdych, but he flubs a mid-court volley: 40-15. With an overhead smash, Rafa takes the third set: 6-4.

I think the boy is a bit pumped.

Nice passing shot: 0-15. Pulled wide, Berdych nets a forehand: 0-30. With a running forehand passing shot winner, Rafa breaks to start the 4th set.

Service winner: 15-0. Rafa’s forehand is called out, the chair overrules, Berdych challenges, the ball is good: 30-0. That forehand was clearly out: 30-15. Rafa into the net after a deep forehand and knocks off a winner: 40-15. Service winner and Rafa holds for 2-0.

Ace: 15-0. Fierce forehand winner from Berdych: 30-0. Another nice one: 40-0. Rafa swats a return well out and Berdych holds for 1-2.

Rafa holds, oh no, he doesn’t. That call was bad: 15-40. Now he holds.

Gilbert is saying there’s a magnet in Rafa’s knee bandage? Huh?

Rafa had a break point, Berdych storms the net and Rafa can’t get the passing shot over the net: deuce. Rafa’s second serve return is out: game point. Rafa hugs the base line and then pulls Berdych out of the court with a short, angled ball: deuce. Second serve return winner: break point. Not that one – he retreated and hit short: deuce. Serve way out wide takes Rafa out of the point – he hangs in for a bit, but Berdych wins it: game point. Berdych nets a forehand: deuce. Ace: game point. Double fault: deuce. Brain fart by Rafa – he taps his forehead: game point. Berdych’s shot goes into the net: deuce. Fierce backhand winner from Berdych: game point. Rafa sends a volley wide and Berdych finally holds for 2-3.

Berdych drop volleys, Rafa barely gets to it and Berdych volleys a winner: 0-15. Nice one-two from Rafa – serve out wide, hit into open court: 15-15. Rafa’s shot is out: 15-30. Short ball from Rafa and Berdych unleashes: 15-40. Beautiful forehand winner: 30-40. Berdych should not have been able to challenge after hitting the return. The call sucked, but the challenge was late. Forehand winner – deuce. Berdych sends a ball long: game point. They were all over the place on that point, but it ends with a Rafa winner – he holds for 4-2.

Beautiful return of serve and break point. But he nets the next one: deuce. Another amazing return of serve: break point. And, he mishit that one: deuce. Rafa’s backhand passing lob attempt lands in the doubles alley. Rafa had chances, but Berdych holds for 3-4.

Berdych can’t do anything with a dipping passing shot: 15-0. Double fault: 40-30. Let. Second serve. Berdych tries to tee off on the return and nets it. Rafa holds for 5-3.

Running forehand passing shot winner: 0-15. Berdych attempts a drop shot, Rafa flicks a winning volley: 0-30. Berdych nets a forehand: triple match point. And he takes it! And there’s jumping and fist pumps! And I’m so tired and have to go to work now! But jumping and fist pumps!

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31139” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by PAUL CROCK/ AFP/ Getty Images”]

More questions and answers have been added to The Age.

Question from Richard: Hi Rafa. Just before you serve, the ball boy will pass you 3 – 4 balls, which you inspect before throwing back 1 – 2 of them. What are you looking for in the balls you decide to use? Why have you rejected the other ones? Are the balls you throw back then continually rejected for the remainder of the game? Thank you.

Rafa says: I am looking normally for the newest one if I want to go for a faster serve. New balls are faster and we try to look for those to hit faster, But there could be times where I hit slower ones and then I look for an older one.

New = fast; old = slow. True with balls. True in life.

Question from Lee: What do you think of your chance in the Australian Open? I think I have my chances but only if I reach the final.

Rafa says: As far as I know I have a very difficult match tomorrow and it is only quarterfinals! That’s the only thing I am thinking right now.

Is the first part of the answer somehow mixed in with the question? *confused*

Question from Domino: Hola Rafa, Being a professional tennis player and the #2 in the world, I am curious as to how do find the time to answer your fans in blogs while being in a grand slam, and also doing Facebook and having a Twitter account? Surely, you must have someone help you w/this, like a personal assistant back home in Mallorca! Vamos & buena suerte at the AO

Rafa says: I spend time here at the hotel and I know this is part of the things I have to do. Sometimes I do it before dinner like today or after dinner. Twitter and FB are easier since my team helps me also with the pictures and posting it.

So, it’s an obligation. Hope he has a bit of fun with it too.

Question from Paola: Hola Rafael……my question is simple, when your fans give you some presents during the tournaments, do you take them with you or do you leave them in the hotel??? Waiting for your answer I wish you all my best for the Australian Open…..obviously I hope you still have with you the plush I gave you in Rome last year!!!! Besotes…

Rafa says: It depends what gifts are they. If it is chocolate some times it doesn’t make them home…. I have to look in the dictionary for the word “plush” :-)

Oh, Rafa. :D

Question from Kali: Hey rafa! im a huge fan of yours and i think you’re one of the greatest tennis players ever, not only because you win all of the time but you are kind to everyone including your opponents. my question is do you ever wish that you hadn’t had become a tennis player and rather become a football player? thanks and good luck for this years Aus open!

Rafa says: No, I am happy with being a tennis player and the choice I took when I was 12. But clearly if I wouldn’t have been a tennis player I would have loved to be a soccer player. But again, I am happy with the choice I made.

And I’m happy too - because I’m a stereotypical American who doesn’t watch a lot of soccer.

Question from Artemis: Hi Rafa. My question is, what would be a typical diet for you leading up to competition to give you the energy to play the long hours & to stay hydrated? Cheers

Rafa says: Pasta and maybe some fish. No meat or heavy stuff before matches.

No upset tummies on court!

Question from Joshua: Rafa mate, just wanted to ask is this something you mean to do or is it force of habit, before every serve you seem to have a routine: bounce the ball with your raquet, adjust your shorts, wipe the sweat off your nose, move your hair behind you left then right ear. playing well mate good luck!

Rafa says: Hi Joshua. I suppose you are an OZ? Right? ;-) Yes, it is a routine that I always do.

An Oz? Heh.

Question from Pablo: Hi Rafa, in comparison with 2011, what do you think you need to improve the most, your serve or your return? Keep improving this second week!

Rafa says: I still think my serve is one of the things I need to improve but that’s not the only thing. Thanks!

Always great illusion to improve.

Question from Martha: Hola Rafa, How are you? I hope your Knee is doing well, I’m a huge fan, I’ve been reading your book and you have no idea how much you inspire me, you are the reason why I started watching tennis! I speak Spanish too, because I’m from Mexico. I know you speak more than one lenguage, is there any other you would like to learn? Good Luck Rafa, we love you!

Rafa says: Knee is better, thanks. Thanks for reading the book and the nice comments. I would love to learn other languages, maybe French? My uncle speaks German so maybe also German? Chinese seems to be too difficult.

Tonal languages boggle my mind!

Question from Antonio: Ciao Rafa ! After the exceptionally bad umpire decision in Isner v Nalbandian match, do you still trust Kadir Nouni if you had to play under his control in this tournament ? Should there be a review of how this specific issue is managed ? [In CONTEXT of the score, noise & over ruling BY UMPIRE, Nalbandian gave appeal in good time] Would you consider in union with the other players to refuse to play under Kadir Nouni’s control ?

Rafa says: We all make mistakes, come on! You are a bit tough on people. I am sure you also make mistakes.

Every day, every day.

Question from Ben: Hi Rafa, you are currently 6 grand slam titles below Roger Federer who has the record. You are also 4 years younger than him which means that you may be able to keep playing tennis for some time after Roger retires. Do you think you will ever be able to make a new record for grand slam titles and is this a goal of yours?

Rafa says: I don’t know but I don’t look at that. For me it is important to win titles and for that I need to work hard, stay healthy and be able to compete. The rest I always say, it comes.

Thinking about records is too much pressure. Just play.

Question from Kay: I got your book as a Christmas present & have taken it to the tennis everyday to sign without success yet. Even tried today after your fantastic win, I would love for u to sign it. I will be at the tennis again mon,tues, wed any chance of u doing signings somewhere for your true blue fans???

Rafa says: I am there every day playing or practicing. Would love to sign it but I really don’t think on how.

He can’t sign for everyone - he wouldn’t have time to play!

Question from Vishal: Hi Rafa, I am a BIG fan of yours. You and Roger have changed my feel about Tennis. Your humbleness inspires me. Do you know that you have fans around in Pakistan as well? If you are facing an opponent at the start of a tournament and find the opponent very easy to beat, and that you are dominating, does it ever cross your mind that you ease it up a little on him? Or do you keep your aggression?

Rafa says: That’s great, thanks for your nice words. I do know there is a lot of interest in tennis in Pakistan. Regarding aggression, I don’t think I do so, i simply play and try to play my best. You would be surprised how matches can change and very fast! Better to finish it up fast or slow, believe me.

I’m always surprised at how fast matches can change. It’s freaky at times.

Question from Judson: Hello Rafa. Greetings from Singapore.

1. There has always been talk about different hard court comes with different speed and bounce. So does that affect the strategy when you approach the game

2. Do u have different strategy when playing against the same opponent on a slow hard court and a fast hard court.

3. I often see you sliding even hard court. How can I train to slide on hard court. ( there is no clay court in my country)

Rafa says: Sure there are always differences. Strategy, way of hitting the ball, serve, return, etc. Everything is different even the sliding which is not very healthy to do on hard courts.

Speaking of freaky - it always worries me when I see a player sliding on hard courts!

Question from Atakan: Hi Rafael, I want to learn what is your plan for retirement? You are one of the famous face in the world at the moment but after retired many tennis player disappers. We want to see you on TV long time. What’s your plan for the future? Please come to Turkey Istanbul Cup Tennis Games. Good luck in Australian Desert

Rafa says: My plan for the moment is to play and I am not thinking in retirement as you can imagine, specially being 25! No plans for the future at the moment!

How many times is the retirement question going to be asked in this Q&A?

Original Article

Rafa and his sunscreen out having a hit before the quarterfinal.

[gallery link=”file”]

Photos by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images and Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Original Article

Rafa’s quarterfinal will be the night match in Melbourne tomorrow. Oye. Tuesday is going to be a tough day at work for me.

Articles:

• Racquet Reaction: Nadal d. Lopez - by Hannah Wilks (tennis.com)
• Nadal sails into last eight - by Alix Ramsay (australianopen.com)
• Nadal shrugs off the pain to prove doubters wrong and keep his rivals on notice - by Jake Niall (Sydney Morning Herald)
• Nadal cruises into Aussie Open quarters after straight sets win over Lopez - from the Daily Mail
• Rafael Nadal rolls into quarterfinals - AP via espn.com (pssst - most players tape their ankles, especially on hard courts).
• Nadal and Federer march on in Melbourne - from cnn.com
• Rafa’s meltdown - an attempt at humor that’s about as good as mine usually are from espn.uk

Video:

• Europsort match report

Photos:

• Yummy Rafa practice pictures
• Match photos from the AO and from Zimbio.
• Day seven photos via the AO’s Facebook.

Rafa does social media:

• Rafa let us know he was very happy to be in the 2nd week of the AO.
• He also encouraged us to vote for the brothers Gasol in the NBA All-Stars ballot.

Lastly, Rafa was watching the Clijsters/Li match from the sidelines yesterday. Here are two photos:

[gallery link=”file”]

Photos by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31112” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by Scott Barbour/ Getty Images”]

More questions and answers up on The Age. (I’ve edited some of the more rambly questions down to the actual question.)

Question from Isabelle: Hey, Rafa, I have a question for you! I’m actually going to Mallorca this summer for a month and I was wondering if the native people there also speak English? I don’t know any Spanish except for “Vamos!’, so do you think I should start learning some Spanish sentences? Gracias!! :)
Isabelle

Rafa says: Yes, people speak there English and German since Mallorca and the whole Balearic Islands are a very touristic place and specially from countries with those languages. So no problem there. But you could also learn some Spanish, it is always good to speak languages.

It is. And some of us try, but it’s difficult when you are old! (Well, and don’t have a lot of free time.)

Question from Suzanne: Rafa Hi, Rafael, do you have some favourite countries to play tennis tournaments? Apart from W-I-N-N-I-N-G the tournament and increasing your Art of Tennis, what makes these countries special to you? Do you get a chance to take a few days and explore regional Victoria; boating, fishing and relaxing on the Gippsland Lakes while visiting Melbourne for the tennis? Suzanne

Rafa says: Well, this is a very good question and a difficult one to answer since I have many favourite tournaments for more than what they mean in tennis. For example, I love Indian Wells since we have great golf courses there, the people treat me really well, and also Monte Carlo for the views, the sea, or Barcelona since it’s played at my club. But I also love this one here in Melbourne. The whole thing. I mean there are many great places we are lucky to go to.

Always the diplomat…plus, he always hates the comparations.

Question from Isabelle: Hey, Rafa, I was just thinking. You and Roger should join forces to take down Djokovic. You and Roger are Real Madrid and Djokovic is Barcelona. You and Roger need to start beating Djokovic and Real Madrid needs to start beating Barcelona!! The two of you should think about what shots you can use to exploit Novak’s possible weaknesses. People say he has no weakness, but everybody has one, and it’s up to you and Roger to find his! Roger is very smart and you are very observant, so together, you’re unstoppable. I think this may be the best advice you have heard all day. You guys can thank me later for this brilliant plan.
Isabelle

Rafa says: Let’s not forget tennis is an individual sport and you go out there alone … but thanks for the tip… :-)

I did say he was a diplomat, right?

Question from Lee: Hi, Rafael. I would like to know if or what charities you support. I think you are the kind of person that is a giver not a taker, and it would be interesting to know in what ways you help people in need.
Take care,
Lee

Rafa says: I have my own foundation which is taking care of charities. We focus on children who need help and can get it through sports.

And, in case anyone’s forgotten it, here’s the foundation’s website.

Question from Morina: My question is, when you go to public places, for example: the aquarium in Melbourne, restaurants, cinemas and other places, do you queue to get in like other people or do you have special access?
Morina

Rafa says: Sometimes I obviously queue and some other times like at the aquarium here in Melbourne a couple of days ago, they were waiting for us and they lead us through the whole aquarium. Believe me, I have no problem in queuing.

He queues obviously?

Hola, Rafa, I’m a huge fan of your powerful game. I think you have biggest forehand I have ever seen. Massive! Having watched your matches against Djokovic, it appears that it’s nowadays hard to hit through him, the ball keeps coming back deep. Therefore when playing against Djokovic one should often finish the points at the net, IMO. Do you agree and have you practised your transition game (volleying) in order to beat him? Good luck for the year 2012.

Rafa says: I think it is not as easy as just going up to the net. Most of the times you see the ball pass next to you.

And sometimes, the passing shot hits you in the face arm.

Question from Natasa: Please, Rafa, tell me, what’s your game goal this season, what’s “new” that you want to bring in your play?

What is the hardest thing you need to overcome during the match with top 5 players?

Natasa Radulovic

Rafa says: Thanks, Natasa. My goal is to improve my game, stay healthy and be competitive. If I have that I know I can be able to win tournaments which in the end is what it counts. And the hardest thing against top 5 players is everything. That’s why they are up there, they are the best.

What’s Rafa’s goal again? I keep forgetting…

Question from Pablo: Hi, Rafa, I’m a big fan from Argentina. A few weeks ago Gaston Gaudio said after he beat you in Buenos Aires you broke all your racquets in the dressing room, have you ever done something like this since you became a star? Good luck for the rest of the tournament!
Pablo, Argentina

Rafa says: Yes, I heard the story. Knowing Gaston I am sure he was kidding and probably joking with the journo who took it serious. I never broke any racquet, believe me.

And there goes that big “controversy”.

Question from Yvonne: Do you have any more plans to model for Armani or any other designer??
Yvonne Stanley

Rafa says: No, that thing is over.

*fingers crossed that this means he keeps his chest and tummy hair!*

Question from Virginia: Hi Rafa! Do you wear sunscreen? Do tennis players wear sunscreen or are you all used to the sun by now?
Virginia

Rafa says: Yes, we do to protect our skin. Skin cancer is a serious thing.

Very. Rafa already has so much sun damage…

from Aini: My question is: I heard you got a Harley Davidson bike back home in Manacor. Do you get to ride it much in the off season?

If I were to visit Manacor, what are the interesting places for sightseeing that you can recommend to me?

Regards,
Aini Idora from Malaysia

Rafa says: I never rode it yet. It is still at the shop!

Since he’s said (in his bio) that riding a bicycle makes him nervous, this doesn’t surprise me.

Question from Wilda: Rafa, you are my favourite male tennis player. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA and would like to know when you can come here? All your fans here would love to see you. You could also visit with Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf while you are here. They live here too.
Wilda Walker

Rafa says: It is not far from Indian Wells but so far I haven’t had the time to go. Maybe one day if things don’t go well at the tournament.

Is it mean that I hope he never goes (while an active player on the tour)?

Question from Fernando: Vamos, Rafa, Vamos. My question is, why do you use all your strength on your first serve, say 95 or 100 per cent? Instead, would it be better to use 75 or 78 per cent of your power hitting the ball, trying to place it in the right places? But you are the great maestro Rafa. I am always with you.
Fernando

Rafa says: Sometimes, yes, you are right. We try to chose the speeds and the shots according to what is the strategy for that point.

Ohhh…strategy.

Question from Usaid: Rafa, were you a shy and less talkative boy in your childhood, or were you a naughty and screaming one?
Usaid Ghauri

Rafa says: Less talkative, I would say. A bit too shy.

Still a bit shy.

Question from Usaid: Hi, Rafa, If there is a movie being made about you, which Hollywood actor, you think, would best portray you?
Usaid Ghauri

Rafa says: I have no idea. You should ask the producers over there. They know well the market

“…and I have no interest in coming up with a name” - at least, that’s the way that sentence ends in my head.

Question from Elise: I know that you love to go fishing and have said that you enjoy the tranquillity, but I also know that you have a lot of excess energy and keep moving all the time. Do you really sit still when you are out fishing? Best of luck in the tournament!
Elise

Rafa says: Yes, believe me, I love to sit and wait for the fish. It is the whole thing of being out there on the sea, the calm, the beauty, I don’t know I just love it.

Awww. I wonder if his time on the sea are his main non-fidgety moments in life?

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31103” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by PAUL CROCK/ AFP/ Getty Images”]

Day 5 of Rafa’s Q&A for El Mundo is up. From the mangle, it appears* that:

• He’s not sure where the turning point will come in his mental battle against Djokovic (who is playing well).
• He doesn’t feel he’s at the end of his career, but has been on the tour for quite awhile so is closer to the end than the beginning.
• He’s not sure if a one-handed top-spin backhand would add a lot to his game. (I think. I got confused.)
• He never broke a ton of racquets after losing to Gaudio. Gaudio must have been joking.
• He hasn’t had time to go fishing while in Australia.
• It might be a wee bit more difficult to play friends, but they know it’s a sport and what takes place on the court stays on the court.
• He doesn’t think he’ll be a golf champion, but loves playing it.
• He’s trying to play more aggressively.
• Someone seems to think Rafa has a confident look on his face now, but Rafa doesn’t feel the look has changed.
• It would be healthier and easier on the body if tennis was only played on grass and clay.

*All conclusions mine based on a dubious translation and may or may not have any relation to reality.

Original Article

Eurosport has put video of Rafa’s post-match presser up:

So happy the bit about the shirt was just as cute as I thought it would be. And now I understand what he was saying too! (Thanks for the heads up, Jenny.)

Original Article

Video from ESPN:

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31088” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by REUTERS/ Vivek Prakash”]

Rafa’s 4th round presser transcript is up:

Q. How good is it for you physically that you’ve had straight-sets matches so far?

RAFAEL NADAL: I want to say the same than the other day, no? Physically it’s important. More important thing is play well, no? If you win in four sets and your feeling is fantastic, you know, works very well.

So it’s positive winning three sets. Yes. The most positive thing is the feeling is positive during all the tournament and happy about how I am playing and enjoying the tournament. I’m in quarterfinals. That’s very good news.

I need video or audio of this…because if he said “news” instead of “new”, I’ll pout.

Q. Do you feel like you’re improving, getting better with every match?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah. I think I started the tournament playing really well this time. Sometimes in a few tournaments I feel that I am improving day by day. But this time I felt that the first day I played well, and second, two days ago I played well. And today I played another complete match in my opinion, serious match.

But now I arrive to quarterfinals. Is the moment to keep playing well and to try to go a little bit more. That’s all. In general, I am doing the right things. I am in the right place, right moment.

So now remain to keep playing well and to try, if it’s possible, to improve a little bit. But I am happy.

Please improve a little bit and smack Berdych…with a passing shot.

Q. How did you feel about your serve in this tournament? In the US Open you said you need more free points with your serve. How did you feel it in this tournament?

RAFAEL NADAL: I played a few matches against a player, against a few kind of players that I really needed to serve a little bit slower for the start of the game.

Today, especially on the deuce, I tried to serve with a lot of spin against the backhand of Feliciano, because if I serve faster against his forehand or fast against his backhand, for him sometimes it’s easier to block the return. The ball come back a little bit faster, and I don’t have no one interest to play against him this way, because normally he return the serve with a slice if I have a good kick, and for him it’s much more difficult to return a slice from here than from here.

So that’s why I tried to serve a little bit lower, and higher to try to get the position under control with my forehand on the second shot, no? The goal against him always is, you know, his best way to try to beat me is play aggressive sometimes, no?

If he goes to the net, he has the chance to go to the net with his slice backhand, with his forehand, and I try to make that not happen, to make sure that that will not happen, no? And put in first serves inside and with spin I have always the first shot with my forehand, and I have the chance to control the point from there.

So I take out his chance there. That’s why. But the serve is working well. Good percentage. Few free points in important moments. That’s all.

Heh. No one interest to play against him this way. That’s all.

Q. I wonder if you had watched any of Tomic in this championship, and just get your assessment of how he plays the game.

RAFAEL NADAL: He understand the game. His position on court is fantastic. He’s young, and probably he’s doing great mentally, my opinion. He stays very relaxed with, in my opinion, positive face, even when the match is tough for him, in tough moments of the match, I saw him always with calm and accepting everything really well.

That’s the right tactic to be a champion. Probably he’s one of these players that have a very good chance to be there. For sure after, in terms of the game, he need to improve things. Sure, he’s young. How old is him? 19? 20? Need to keep improving things, in my opinion. But with 19 years old he is No. 30 of the world winning three very tough matches here against three players with very good level.

The normal evolution is to saw him, I don’t know if this year, in the top 10, but probably this year, next year.

Is that in your opinion, Rafa?

Q. What are your thoughts on Lleyton Hewitt making this run at this stage in this tournament?

RAFAEL NADAL: I admire him a lot. I think he deserve all the respect of the people who love this sport and respect and admiration of everyone, because after having, I don’t know how many, five surgeries, six surgeries, something like this, keep having the, you know, the motivation to run, to fight every ball. Even if the body don’t have the perfect answer, is something fantastic.

I was yesterday at the hotel watching the match, last set, and even if I have a good relationship with Raonic, his coach is from Spain so I am close to him, you know, I really get emotional when he finished. He goes to the floor. He was really showing out his emotions, so is something fantastic at this moment of his career after having fantastic career, you know, keep having this motivation and this illusion to win a third-round match. That’s unbelievable.

So I wish him all the best for the rest of the season. I hope his problems will be fine. He’s one of the more charismatic players on tour. I always liked him, his spirit of competition.

Today he is an example to follow for a lot people.

I know that to a lot of people Hewitt is too “in your face”, but I’ve always admired his “to hell with you, I’m going to do my best to win this” attitude - kind of the same way I always felt about Connors. And that, like Rafa said, he’s still out there trying that hard after all the surgeries and set-backs is amazing.

Q. Were you involved in the design of the T-shirt?

RAFAEL NADAL: I am not Sharapova. (Laughter.) Maria is doing. I am just say, on these things, I like; I don’t like. I say it’s okay.

But what’s happen a lot of times? Because I have to say that one year and a half ago, and I don’t remember. We arrived here, I saw the T-shirt, and I didn’t remember that I approved that. But anyway, I like it. If not, I don’t gonna to wear.

Cheeky Rafa with the Sharapova comment. Love it! One year and a half go when he arrived to the AO? Was it played at a different time of the year then? I’m confused by Rafa’s timeline.

Q. You mentioned Milos’ coach is Spanish. Have you spoken to him during the tournament?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I spoke more with the coach and with Milos, too. But he’s doing great. In my opinion, he stayed a little bit more nervous than what he must do in the few moments, like in the previous match against Petzschner. Probably yesterday he was a little bit too anxious.

But seriously, with this serve, forehand, and not bad movement, if you are just a little bit smart and try to keep improving your game, you have to be in the top positions of the ranking.

And he is young. He has everything to be there. Only problem is the injuries, in my opinion, because for the rest he has everything to be there.

I don’t have any doubt that he will be fighting for important tournaments very soon. His movements are good. He need to go to the net a little bit more often. His serve is, for most of the time, impossible to return and he has a very good forehand.

So if his mental part works well, I don’t have any doubt he will be there.

“If his mental part works well”…oh, Rafa. I know it’s mean, but a huge part of me hopes your English always stays the same.

Q. Would it mean a lot to you to make it through the quarterfinals here this year after the last two years you dropped out of the quarterfinal stage?

RAFAEL NADAL: Hopefully not happen this time. (Smiling.)

No, every year is different. I had a bad experience last two years here. It’s tough have to go out of a tournament like Australia in quarterfinals.

In 2010 I retired because I couldn’t continue. Last year I decided not to retire, but I had a problem in the second or third game of the match. So I played one complete match with very bad feelings.

Hoping for no bad feelings this year. None whatsoever.

Q. You play against so many different kind of players. What goes on in your mind if you’re playing against a player of your own country? Is it emotionally different or the same?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, it’s not emotionally different, no? Just Feliciano today is one of my best friends on tour. That’s the game. That’s the sport. You understand that’s only a game. You understand that everybody wants to win; everybody wants to finish the match with the best result.

That’s it. But emotions are similar, you know. It happens very often. Nothing new.

Nothing new. He’s had a lot of experience in crushing the dreams of his friends.

Original Article

Highlights via The Australian Open site.

The whole match is available at www.PartidoaPartido.com.

On court post-match interview (English):

Photos from today’s match against Feli.

[gallery link=”file”]

Photos by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images, GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images, REUTERS/Vivek Prakash, TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/AFP/Getty Images, Quinn Rooney/Getty Images, REUTERS/Daniel Munoz, Lucas Dawson/Getty Images, and REUTERS/Tim Wimborne

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31040” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by Cameron Spencer/ Getty Images”]

For his round of 16 match at the 2012 Australian Open, Rafa played good friend and world #19 Feliciano Lopez. It was kind of a flat feeling match with neither player showing their best. For one thing, Rafa was having a heck of a time converting break points. Luckily, however, he also wasn’t giving Feli many opportunities to break. Rafa is through: 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.


Stats:

As it happened blatherings:

TheFanChild: Factoid: Feliciano Lopez is the only left-hander to have defeated Rafa 2x. That said, he’s never won a set from him on a hardcourt. #ausopen

Rafa wins the toss and elects to receive. My cat clearly doesn’t understand RafaTime excitement. She’s asleep on my lap snoring loudly.

I think the knee tape is growing. It needs to go on a diet or pretty soon Rafa’s whole right leg is going to be wrapped mummy style.

genny_ss: In the Spanish TV they’ve mentioned that though he can practice without it, he feels safer w/it in the match.

Sorry, I was distracted by dealing with my cable company so I could see the match in HD. But Rafa had 3 break points but couldn’t convert. Feli holds to start the match.

TV coverage switches from Tennis Channel (which I finally have in HD again) to ESPN2. Which is, instead, showing basketball. Thank goodness for ESPN3.com and streaming.

Rafa sends a forehand well out: 0-15. Good hitting from Feli and Rafa nets a backhand: 0-30. I don’t think that serve landed inside any line… Feli nets a ball: 15-30. Feli’s shot is out: 30-30. Rafa into the net and Feli nets his backhand passing attempt: 40-30. Nice serve followed by a forehand winner and Rafa holds for 1-1.

Feli goes for a forehand nets it: 15-15. Rafa’s cross court backhand is wide: 30-15. My stream freezes and it’s 30-30. And Rafa has a break point. Excellent serve out wide that Rafa can barely get a racket on: deuce. Double fault: break point. Another good serve: deuce. Forehand winner from Rafa: break point. Wonderful serve down the middle: deuce. Feli nets a backhand…break point #7 in the match for Rafa. Feli double faults so that Rafa can finally convert on a break point and take a 2-1 lead.

Trainer out for Rafa - he’s taking off left shoe. Looks like a quick cut of some tape and then adding a bit more - maybe it was a bit tight.

There’s some serious sounding screaming outside my house. Serious sounding. I’m going to go call the police…

While talking to cops, both guys hold. And there’s screeching car bakes and blood curdling screams going on behind my house. Cops are sending a patrol car to the apartment complex parking lot behind me.

Rafa holds at love for 4-2.

Feli’s forehand is out: 15-15. Ace down the middle: 30-30. Rafa works on moving Feli, but sends a forehand long: 40-30. Feli floats a forehand long: deuce. Feli sends a forehand to the middle of the doubles alley: break point. Rafa nets a forehand out wide return of service: deuce. Feli into the net and Rafa sends a backhand passing shot well wide: game point. Double fault: deuce. Rafa nets a forehand on a return of a second serve: game point. Feli aces for 3-4.

Rafa working the ice towel like a pro.

Feli’s forehand is well long: 15-0. Again: 30-0. Ace: 40-0. Rafa runs around a backhand to hit….a mishit forehand almost into the crowd: 40-15. This time, the tactic is successful – forehand winner to hold: 5-3.

Feli’s backhand is long: 0-15. Feli serves and volleys…and is passed: 15-30. (Cop sirens followed by ambulance sirens in my neighborhood. Not sure what’s going on, but glad they are there to deal with it.) Rafa stops play to challenge a call and is right: set point. Lovely volley behind Rafa: deuce. Second serve and Rafa’s reply sails long: game point. Feli holds for 4-5.

Feli moonballs a forehand well out: 15-0. Rafa has an open court, but nets his forehand: 15-15. (Toni mutters.) Rafa pushes Feli wide and draws an error: 30-15. Feli nets a backhand and Rafa holds to take the first set: 6-4. He only dropped 4 points on serve (if I heard announcer right).

54 minutes; 83% 1st serves in; 85% winning on 1st; 75% on 2nd; 2 aces; 0 doubles; 8 UFEs; 8 winners; 3/4 at net; 1/9 break points converted

Cahill just said Rafa could be the fastest guy ever to close the net. Don’t think I’ve heard someone say that before.

Feli nets a ball: 30-40. Good serve, it’s deuce and Rafa’s talking to himself. Double fault: break point. Another break point and this time Feli nets a shot - Rafa’s up 1-0 in the second.

Rafa pushes Feli wide and draws an error: 15-0. The sun is really bugging both of them on the ball toss on the far end of the court. Rafa mishits a forehand: 15-15. Feli’s shot is out: 30-15. Rafa holds.

Feli holds at love for 1-2.

0-15. Feli pushes Rafa very deep and wide (don’t go there) and draws an error: 0-30. Longish rally ends with Rafa sending a backhand long: 0-40. Feli sends a return long: 15-40. That return went into the net: 30-40. Booming forehand return of serve from Feli and he breaks to put the second set back on serve: 2-2.

Rafa’s backhand down the line dips down and kisses the baseline: 0-15. Feli gets Rafa out of position and then comes into the net to knock off a volley winner: 15-15. Rafa goes for a forehand, but nets it: 30-15. Feli’s backhand is wide: 30-30. Feli sends a backhand well wide: 30-40. Excellent stab drop volley from Rafa and his angled reply goes wide: deuce. Feli nets Rafa’s passing shot: break point. Deep shot from Feli and he storms the net; Rafa’s reply is well out: deuce. Feli into the net and shows off his reflexes: game point. Feli holds.

Beauty of a forehand down the line winner from Rafa: 40-0. With an ace, Rafa holds at love: 3-3 in the second.

Double fault: 0-15. Rafa totally mishits a serve return: 15-15. Feli pushes a volley wide and then rolls his eyes back into his head: 15-30. Ace…Rafa challenges and the ball was in by millimeters: 30-30. Rafa standing way back in the shade after returning serve, Feli into the mid-court and sends his shot wide: 30-40. Feli nets Rafa’s passing shot attempt and Rafa breaks for a 4-3 lead.

Rafa’s winning the battle of creative ice towel positioning.

Deep forehand from Rafa draws an error: 30-0. Lollipop second serve and Feli sends the reply well out: 40-0. Another return well out and Rafa holds for 5-3.

Forehand down the line winner from Rafa: 15-30. Feli pushes Rafa deep and draws an error: 30-30. Nice serve: 40-30. Feli runs Rafa well and holds for 4-5.

Longish rally ends with Feli sending a shot long. He nods seriously. 15-0. He does it again and gives himself a thumbs up: 30-0. Double fault: 30-15. Second serve, but Feli sends the reply well out: 40-15. Another second serve. Rafa holds to take the set 6-4.

2nd set: 52 minutes; 71% 1st serves in; 88% 1st serve points won; 43% on 2nd; 1 ace; 1 double; 4 UFEs; 4 winners; 1/2 at net; 2/5 break points converted

Rafa into the net and breaks to start set 3.

Rafa’s passing shot is out: 30-30. Rafa’s backhand down the line passing shot is out: 30-40. Second serve. Forehand down the line winner, Feli challenges, but the call was good: deuce. Feli’s backhand sails and Rafa holds for 2-0.

DavidLawTennis: Rafael #Nadal has rendered the ‘slice’ a futile tennis shot against him. every time #Lopez plays one to his forehand, the point is over.

newballsplease: This is the first match I’ve seen of Nadal’s this week that’s given me doubts about his chances of winning this tournament.

Feli holds for 1-2.

With an ace followed by a forehand winner, Rafa holds at love for 3-1.

Backhand winner from Rafa: 15-15. Forehand one this time: 15-30. Feli nets a backhand: 15-40. Nice serve out wide followed up with a winning volley: 30-40. Ace: deuce. Game point. Rafa nets a ball and Feli holds for 2-3.

newballsplease: You can complain about Nadal’s break point conversion rate, but to be fair Lopez has actively saved most of them with great serving.

Nemesis photographing Rafa on changeover. Looking non-sweaty as usual.

Rafa’s forehand is called out, Rafa challenges, but call is correct: 15-15. Another forehand down the line is out – this one by quite a bit: 15-30. Rafa has tape on his left side. Just saw a glimpse. Rafa holds for 4-2. (Update: Not tape on his side, it was probably a shirt tag: picture.)

Rafa breaks for a 5-2 lead. He’ll serve for the match next. And he does with a solid game. Rafa through: 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

Original Article

Everyone ready for Rafa’s match tonight? It’s not too far away… Meanwhile, here are some lovely photos from Rafa’s practice session yesterday. Which was Saturday. Even though today is Saturday for me. AO, screwing with my brain.

[gallery link=”file”]

Photos by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31027” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by PAUL CROCK/ AFP/ Getty Images”]

Rafa’s next Q&A for El Mundo is up. From the mangle, it appears* that:

• Rafa likes hot weather, and the change to his racket weight is almost imperceptible but has mounted something…(um, help on that one, please?)
• If he could only win one slam for the rest of the career he’d take any of them. Well, maybe Wimbledon because he has more relevance.
• He’d love to represent Spain in this year’s Olympics. In fact, it would be an honor.
• He has to play the mandatory tournaments. Non-mandatories and exhibitions help him prepare for the big ones.
• He’s not sure the future of tennis is the freaky tall guys - there’s always been some of them about. He does want the future of tennis to have less play on hard courts.
• Something about getting somewhere with the right training that has me baffled.
• Every serve is important and he thinks about each one.
• He goes out and about like a normal person despite fans - for whom he is grateful.
• A player’s game not their attitude and gestures on court is what’s intimidating.
• Off days are no different: training, rest, time with Maymo, and then dinner with the team.

*All conclusions mine based on a dubious translation and may or may not have any relation to reality.

Original Article

Someone doesn’t take teasing about Real Madrid very well. ;)

(Thanks to RafaNadalUnoffi and RafaelNadalFC for tweeting.)

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31011” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by PAUL CROCK/ AFP/ Getty Images”]

Today’s recommended reading:
“Soy feliz jugando al tenis. Soy feliz sin jugar al tenis” - an interview in Vanity Fair (by Marta del Riego). Here’s the mangle. (Thanks for tweeting, Atch2.)

Articles:

• Racquet Reaction: Nadal d. Lacko - Hannah Wilks (tennis.com)
• Lacko no match for Nadal - by Darren Saligari (australianopen.com)
• Nadal’s novel idea fails to inspire Wozniacki - by Emma Quayle (Sydney Morning Herald)

Video/Audio:

• Nice video with Rafa talking about meeting fans.
• Audio interview in Spanish.
• A bit of presser video from the iB3.

Photos:

• Match photos from the AO site.
• Lacko match photos via Zimbo.
• Day 4 practice photos also via Zimbo.
• Really nice set of photos on flickr by William Kwan.

Original Article

Okay, everyone. Hop on the bus! It’s time to go on a field trip to the aquarium with team Nadal:

Posted by The Australian Open.

Lovely people that they are, the AO folks have also put up an image gallery of high quality photos.

And, Rafa posted a very quick video of him petting a stingray to his Facebook.

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_31005” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by GREG WOOD/ AFP/ Getty Images”]

The Age has added ooodles more Q&A to their page:

Question from Mark: Rafa, I view your groundstrokes to be some of the best in the game, especially since you can use them to win the French on clay, and then a few weeks later Wimbledon on grass. May I ask a technical question about your racquet choice - do you prefer a head-heavy balance, or a head-light balance? And, do you change your racquet balance at all for different surfaces? Thanks

Rafa says: I have a head-light balanced racquet but I added a few grams on the head to gain a bit more power.

And, I swear, every commentator this week has had a different opinion on whether the amount added actually makes a darn bit of difference.

Question from Yan Kuang: Hi Rafa, I am a big fan of your forehand. Do you pull your racquet to the contact point? When do you transfer your weight, before or after the contacting with the ball? Enjoy the game and keep injury-free. It doesn’t matter you are No. 1 or not. You are always our hero.

Rafa says: I would say during the impact.

Does that answer the first part or did he skip the first part and answer the second just to keep us on our toes?

Question from Rachel McGuigan: Hi Rafa! I absolutely love watching you play tennis and I’ll be praying that you win the Aussie Open! I am a left-handed tennis player and can easily see the advantages. What aspect of your game has the greatest advantage due to being left-handed? Also, your outfit choice is boss. Mucho amor, Rachel

Rafa says: I think that on the advantage I can serve wider and the right handed guys can have more difficulty since it is the decisive point.

Interesting that he says that’s the best thing about playing lefty and yet his serve isn’t considered that good by many because he has coordination problems since he’s not serving with his right. Wonder how bad he’d serve with his right? Also, was he serving with his right when he was playing two hands off both sides? I’m guessing so. That would mean he didn’t start serving left-handed until he’d already been playing tennis for years. I’m sure this is an obvious observation, it just really struck me. (Yes, I’m still tired and punchy.)

Question from George Karanfilovski: My question relates to the complaints many male tennis players on the ATP tour seem to be making regarding the scheduling of tournaments and the distribution of prize money. What are your views on these two issues and of any other issues that I’m not aware of?

Rafa says: I think it is too long to expose here and there has been some problems about this so I prefer to keep discussing these things internally. Sorry hope you understand.

He’s learned his lesson.

Question from Belen Mateo: Rafa, compared to your participation in the tournament last year, how do you see yourself right now? Are you feeling healthier and more confident? Best of luck this year!

Rafa says: I am playing well and feeling good. Having said that this has only started basically. Tomorrow I have a very tough match against my friend Feli.

Will you have to play your best to have your chances, Rafa?

Question from Mariam Ibrahom: hey Rafa, i am a really huge fan and i have been supporting you for a while. i really love tennis and i use to play for about 5 years when i was younger, i am 15 now and wanted to know from a perspective of a professional and you being my idol would it be too late if i started again? I wanted to become a professional once upon a time but people keep telling me its too late, what would you say?

Rafa says: You never know but it is true that you could find your self much behind other kids your age that have a lot of experience competing. I won my first pro match at that age and I’d been competing for many years. But as I say you never know so give it a try and most important thing enjoy!

I can’t imagine winning a professional anything at 15.

Question from Agent Z: thankz for reading and can you answer this? Which kind of racquets do you prefer for a lefty?

Rafa says: I use Babolat.

And just what answer did the asker expect?

Question from Sherling: Congratulations on your win over Tommy Hass this afternoon. How do you feel about the chance of winning your 2nd Australian Open and your 11th Grand Slams? Vamos

Rafa says: Still very very far. My next rival, Feliciano Lopez, that’s what I am thinking on right now.

Awww….he’s thinking about Feli. Oh. The match against Feli. Never mind.

Question from Thien Nguyen: Hey Rafa, very big fan! Your heavy topspin forehand stroke is very distinctive, with the heavy topspin and the racquet ending up around your head. Ever since you have become so successful, I have noticed a lot of players at my local clubs using type of forehand more frequently, and many newer pros seem to use this type of stroke as part of their game as well. How do you feel about making this type of stroke so popular that kids will now learn to play like Rafa, and you have changed the way people will play tennis from now on?

Rafa says: It is funny and nice to see. Each ne has to try to hit the best they can. Don’t copy! I didn’t! :-)

But…but…I thought your dad said to copy?

Question from Gareth Carr: Of the 4 grand slams held around the world each year, which is the hardest to win and why?

Rafa says: All of them I would say! Believe me this is the truth!

Then I shall believe it to be the true.

Question from Janelle Wanzek: Hola Rafa!!! I was wondering how do you prepare for your matches. Do you have a ritual? Also what goes through your mind when you are down during a match and how do you get it back? Muchas Gracias y Buena Suerte

Rafa says: Yes I do have my organisation and the things I do like to warm up, eat 2 hours before, prepare my equipment, racquets, tape my ankles, etc.

Does he have a ritual? Does he have a ritual? *trying not to giggle*

Question from Pip Coomes: How much do you plan a point before you serve? Once you have served are your shots more based on instinct or is your mind always thinking of what shot to play next? Also what is it you love so much about the Aquarium? Good luck in Melbourne. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2012

Rafa says: Thanks Pip. I do think about the next serve and what I have to do. It is part of the game plan. Then you know what you have to do on each situation that can vary during the point!

Regarding the aquarium, I went yesterday and it is amazing to see all those fish. I love it and had a great time there.

Rafa and fishies…so happy together.

Question from Raquel: Saludos Rafa! Congratulations on your win vs Haas and best of luck for the rest of the tournament. You speak at least three languages. What language do you ‘speak’ in your head when you play? Castellano, Catalán, Mallorquín?

Rafa says: Catalan and Mallorquin is more or less the same. I think in both Castellano and Mallorquin, it depends.

Interesting. I would have figured he’d mainly think in Mallorquin.

Question from Magenta: Hi rafa. I’m a really big fan of yours and I love watching you play. I was wondering if you have always had your little habits like before you serve when you tap your toe and put your hair behind your ears? And does it help you concentrate? Good luck love Magenta

Rafa says: It is part of my routine, let’s put it this way.

Heh. Okay.

Question from Nicole Jones: Hi Rafa, I am a dedicated supporter of yours and you bring me so much joy with your victories! I also have so much respect for your sportsmanship - you are such a gentleman and a lot of sportsmen can learn from your fantastic attitude. I would like to know what you do to console yourself or lift your mood after a loss. I find that I am so disappointed just as a fan at times when you have bad luck so wonder how you deal with the highs and lows of being on the professional circuit.? Thank you and all the best for 2012!

Rafa says: Thanks very much for your comments. It depends on the loss I do one thing or another. If it has been a bad loss I try to analyze what happened and spend some time on my own thinking.

*pictures sad Rafa sitting on his own thinking* *wants to hug something*

Question from Gajendra Bhansali: Hello Rafa, a very big good luck to you for Oz open. My question is you complain of long ATP calender, that takes a toll on your body. So my suggestion is why don’t you simply skip the tournaments like ATP 500 and even ATP masters 1000? They are not mandatory I suppose as far as my knowledge goes. So what’s your take on this? Bye good luck I am your greatest and craziest fan and concerned about your health, that’s why such a suggestion or question. For me you are the greatest. Please do reply. LOVE YOU

Rafa says: Thanks Gajendra. Well it is not as simple as you might think. First of all you have to play the 1000 events because they are mandatory events. If you don’t play them your ranking suffers since they all count and if you don’t play you get a zero pointer. You also have to play mandatory 4 of the 500 events. The problem is that there is no off season and it all depends on the number of matches you play during a year. Not easy to solve. Too long to explain here.

I love it when people who don’t even bother to look up the scheduling rules give suggestions on scheduling.

Question from Patricia Giralt: Why don’t you travel with a cook to take care of your diet? I guess when Djokovic changed his diet he does not even sweat that much when Rafa is sweating profusely. It used to be the opposite. Don’t you think changing your diet may help you as it helped Novak?

Rafa says: I am good the way I travel and there are great restaurants every where we go. I don’t think there is a real need for that.

aka - I can get gambas and nutella anywhere!

Question from Jane Harper: Hi Rafa, I sure hope your knee is feeling better. That must have been so frightening. I want to ask a fun question. What is your favourite Christmas carol?

Rafa says: I don’t know. I suppose the usual ones in Spain.

What? Don’t want to tick off the various intense Christmas carol camps out there?

Question from Olivia: Hi Rafa!! How are you? Do you spend any time reading your timeline in Twitter, and have you thought of answering to fans’ questions directly? We would love that if it’s possible! Good luck for your 2nd round match and the entire tournament!

Rafa says: Sometimes I do but not always. Simply too many messages and in English most of them so that makes it more difficult.

Far, far, far too many - and many of them full of hate. I wouldn’t bother if I were him either.

Question from Naomi Wallace: Rafa, I have read many times that you like fish. To watch (at the aquarium), to catch (on your boat), and to eat (whenever you can). Is there something about fish in particular, as an animal, that makes them so special to you, especially to watch? Is there something about the way a fish moves so quickly, turns so quickly, that you would like to emulate on court? Please win the Olympic gold for Spain (and Kentucky, where I am from). Best wishes.

Rafa says: It is a very good question. I do love fish and in all forms you describe but I never stopped to think about it the way you say. I think it is beautiful and love to go to aquariums. I might even go today if I win and finish not too late. But believe me I don’t try to emulate them swimming! I am actually a bad swimmer.

Bad swimmer. Heh. Is that why he always wants to be able to see the bottom?

Speaking of Kentucky, I wonder if he’s been to the aquarium that’s in Kentucky, but near the Cincinnati tournament? Rafa, I’ll take you there! I’ll even cover the admission fee. :) It’s worth it for the jellyfish chandelier alone.

Question from Stephen Lew: Dear Rafa, Great to have you back in Melbourne. How many languages do you speak fluently? When you talk to Roger Federer, which language(s) do you use to speak together?

Rafa says: I speak other than Spanish, Mallorcan (sort of Catalan language) and my “funny” English. Roger and I speak English, oh well, I try to speak English….

Awww. Rafa, your English is funny…but it’s also very good.

Question from Ferid: Is your goal to win Australian Open? And what you think if you make an event in north Africa like Tunisia.. Its always in Europe or America, don’t forget your fans in Africa Rafa.

Rafa says: My goal once I am competing is to win but…. I would love to play there once. I know I have a lot of fans from there! I see that on my Facebook page.

But… but nothing!

Question from George Karanfilovski: My question relates to the complaints many male tennis players on the ATP tour seem to be making regarding the scheduling of tournaments and the distribution of prize money. What are your views on these two issues and of any other issues that I’m not aware of?

Rafa says: Tough to respond to this question in few lines! But clearly it is an issue that has been addressed.

Nope. Not going to get him to talk about that.

Question from Zeti: Hola, Rafa :-) 1. What’s is your favourite childhood storybook and superhero? 2. What is your favourite subject in school? 3. What’ is your favourite colour? Vamos, Rafa ! Be the no.1 again :-) All the best & Good Luck.

Rafa says: 1. None. 2. Sports. 3. Blue.

3 parts! OMG, he answered all three parts!!

Question from Zahra Costello: Hello Rafa. I was wondering if you had noticed how famous the little rolling bag you used in Abu Dhabi had become? It’s now on twitter with hundreds of followers.

Rafa says: Funny isn’t it? I can’t believe it. I just didn’t have another one and carried that one day. I normally carry my wires, laptop, PS3 etc there.

It cracks me up he carries his PlayStation around with him. Don’t hotels usually have ones you can rent/borrow/hell-they’d-give-it-to-him-free?

Question from Belen Mateo: Rafa, compared to your participation in the tournament last year, how do you see yourself right now? Are you feeling healthier and more confident? Best of luck this year!

Rafa says: I am feeling well although it is only the beginning and if I keep winning there is a long way to go.

Yep, babysteps.

Question from Usaid Ghauri: It definitely troubles a person after a defeat, especially when you know that you could have turned it to a win. So what is your feeling at the moment when your opponent hits the match point? And how do you manage to control that frustration, if there is any?

Rafa says: Wow, tough question. It all depends how the match goes. If it has been an easy match for the rival is different than if we are playing close and it could go either way. If the guy has been better you just go there to the net, shake hands, congratulate him and wish him good luck! You can be sure that I gave my 100% though.

Which is worse? Having your pants beaten off you or losing by the skin of your teeth? Is one worse right away but a different one worse in the long run?

Question from Arshad Khan: Rafa, I am one of your greatest FANS. I don’t remember even missing one single match of your on TV. I have question about game with Novak .What changes are you making to encounter Novak attack both side. I have watched your US open final 10 times. In 3rd Set you started slicing more, I guess keeping the ball Low and slice him more keep NOVAK off grad of attaching. You are one match away from getting into his head. He has a week personality compare to you and Rogers.

Rafa says: Thanks for this. I think the analysis of the 3rd set is right but it would be very long to comment the whole match. It changed a lot in every set!

Boy did it. Especially different from 3rd to 4th. :(

Question from Judith Forde: Hola rafa. Did you know that the bag you used in Middle East has its own twitter account called @RafasRollingBag. We all miss it. Are you going to bring it on court again?

Rafa says: Hahahahahahaha. I didn’t know but I read something here. Not thinking in bringing it out again but will certainly talk to Nike about it!

Sadly, I doubt the bag’s ever going to be on court again.

Question from Olga: First, we BELIEVE and know you will do your best and we pray your health will allow you to do your best. I guess it’s really a family question and if it is too personal it’s okay. How does all the travelling and the time away from home impact everyone, even those travelling with you? Seems to us like the schedule does need to be changed. Look forward to seeing you in Indian Wells and NY at the Open. Take care, all the best, Olga

Rafa says: Well, I travel with a nice group of people and besides from working we are all good friends and get along pretty well. This is good and necessary for me. Then my family also comes sometimes to tournaments and I really enjoy when they a around. I miss some people obviously but I know this is also my job and I am very fortunate I have to say.

He likes having his peeps around.

Question from Adam: Greetings, our champion. We live in NJ, in the USA and you need to know how many people support you for the US Open as well as the rest of the tournaments and my Mom and a friend will be in Indian Wells. We all hope you exceed your own expectations and your health stays well. My question: How are there differences in hard court surfaces and their impact on the game? Also, how much does the weather impact play? Thanks and DO WELL! All the best, Adam from Montvale, NJ

Rafa says: Hard courts are tough on the body and this is a problem for our future, when we stop playing. We have also addressed this issue to our reps since we have to take care of the health of players. Regarding the weather, the best example is the last 2 years at the Us Open where it rained so much that the final has been played for two consecutive years a day after initially planned. Also all the mess with the previous rounds.

I can’t read the word “future” without hearing it my head how he says it.

Question from Kelly M: Hi Rafa! I find you an inspiration, and when I am afraid or think I cannot do something I think of your dedication and fighting spirit and it helps me to get motivated, gives me courage and I give all my energy to my task. How does it feel for you when you hear that you are inspiring your fans in this way? Thank you for being such a fabulous role model!

Rafa says: Many thanks for these kind words. For me is an honour to hear this and I am very thankful. Sometimes I hear people that say that to me and they are fighting health problems and to me that is something amazing since that is really important. What I do is only sport and i believe not comparable. Life and health is much more important and serious.

Indeed.

Question from Zoe: I live in England and I know how much of a euphoria there is at the time of when Wimbledon is about to start, how does it compare to the atmosphere in Melbourne for the Australian Open? Also in the UK, if we find a 4 leaf clover it is considered to be very lucky, do you take anything with you that you feel is lucky for you on your travels?

Rafa says: I think it is different in a way but still this is a very big event, a very important event and there is a lot of attention to it. Regarding the lucky thing I don’t take anything.

And here I was going to send him an “Epic Win” colored Ugly Doll Lucky Ucky. (No I wasn’t.)

Question from Mary Cotta: You have many fans around the world and they all want to see you become number one again. Are you focusing on reaching the top this year or do you think that this will be just a consequence of playing good matches and doing your best?

Rafa says: For me the important thing is to win matches and tournaments. This is the priority.

Take care of what you can and don’t sweat what you don’t have direct control over.

Question from Matthew Levine: First I want to say that you are the best no matter what the rankings say, and you inspire me to work as hard as I can on the tennis court. What are you working on to beat Novak? Last year you had opportunities in every match to come out with a win but he just won the big points. Would you ever consider playing doubles with Roger? It would be great for tennis!

Rafa says: I am actually working on everything to beat my next rival tomorrow. I don’t really think of anything else since every match is very difficult and I could potentially find Novak only at the final, still far away. Regarding doubles with Roger, I would love to. I hope one day we can play.

I hope so too.

Question from Jolanda Torn: My question is not about tennis, more about how you cope with all the attention all day every day. Do you really keep friendly all the time? And if u wanted to get angry to a very irritating fan, how do you deal with this frustration or doesnt it frustrate it you at all? Good luck with this year!

Rafa says: Thanks Jolanda. I tryt to be me always and be nice with people the same way they are with me. I have to be thankful always since thanks to the fans we are also here with all this attention.

He’s far more patient than I could ever, ever be.

Question from Arthur: Hi, Rafa my question for you would be are you gonna talk in french this year in the ceremony of the french open I believe that you gonna make it and make history is what you love to do. So i’m wondering if you gonna do it in french and i can’t wait till july love ya and God Bless.

Rafa says: I learn some words in French every year. I hope I have the chance to do so, that would mean I played the final and I have the mic ! :-)

And maybe it will be a working mic!

Question from Sarah Fry, Southampton: Hello Rafael. If you could win just one tournament this year (obviously hope you win more) which one would be the most important for you and why?

Rafa says: This is a tough one since I would love to win any of the Grand Slams, they are the biggest on the tennis calendar. But I give importance to all tournaments I play.

Yes. They are all special and all make you feel like home. We understand.

Question: Rafa you had answered Federer winning the wimbeldon in 2008 making a point that wimbledon is not any more Roger’s arena. Answered your critics in 2010, who wrote you off in 2009, after you came back from your injury winning 3 slams. 2011 is where Novak had a great year against you. When will you answer Novak, this year? Because we know that nothing in the world is as strong as “your mind”.

Rafa says: I hope I can “answer” as you say pretty quickly!!!! ;-)

Lickety-split!

Question from Sarah: Thank you ahead of time for answering my question and being so gracious to your fans. We all LOVE you! You are now an Idol to many many people now. Do you still have an Idol or a person that you admirer?

Rafa says: Thanks Sarah. I never had idols to be honest with you. Liked many people and specially followed sports, but no idols.

This really seems to be an important thing with him - having no idols. It’s something he’s never really wavered on.

Question from Kathryn: How do I stop dreaming about you. I dreamed last night we were going to Hawaii. Don’t get wrong…they are lovely dreams. OK in all seriousness, what do you plan to change this year so you can kick Novak’s butt and knock him down a few pegs? Love, Love, Love watching you.

Rafa says: I normally don’t dream about me.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! I’m sorry…that related to the question how?

Question from Melis: I have some questions for Rafa from Turkey.
1. When you will retire from tennis, Do you want to become a tennis coach like your uncle?

Rafa says: I don’t think so but you never know.

2. Why do you want to write your autobiography book and is it’s timing important for you?

Rafa says: Because I felt I could say things about me that people wanted to know and thought it was a good opportunity now.

I know that people say it’s about money and it probably is. But I also wonder if winning the USO felt like the finishing of part one of a story for him, you know? Career Slam complete.

Question from Goran: Hello Rafa, since I work in school it’s very important for me to motivate my school kids. I was wondering, what does motivate you more - positive feedback, like praise when you do something good, or do you respond better when you are told what you are doing wrong? Greetings from Croatia!

Rafa says: The best thing is to give example to them and work hard, teach them to enjoy what they do and to enjoy it.

It’s all about enjoyment.

Question from Catherine: When the press continues to emphasize your mental ability in regard to playing matches against Djokovic, does these make you mentally tougher, create more pressure or have little if any effect?

Rafa says: It really doesn’t matter. I know how things work and I know what the situation is. I don’t need to hear it from anyone except maybe from Toni.

And if it did matter, would he let on?

Question from Cynthia: Hi, Rafa. I enjoyed the section of your book in which you described your passion for olives – and what you did to get your hands on them when you were a small child. Are there any types of olives which are your favorites? Are there any that you don’t like as much? Or do you love them all? :-)

Rafa says: I love olives, really. Always eat them. I love the Spanish olives, they are a bit bigger than normal. But I like the taste of them.

But…green or black? I need to know. Because black olives, meh. Green? OMG I LOVE THEM!

Question from John Kiprov: Why are you the only player out there that always mentions his own injuries? For example,” A train ran over me but I managed to play a great game. A piano fell twenty stories on my head but I still managed to play a great game”. Why do you do this? It seems that after every match you bring this nonsense up.

Rafa says: I don’t think I talked about any injury yesterday. But what do you want me to do if I was injured, had a strain on my knee and get the question from the media? If I am not asked I don’t say and if I am asked I have one thing clear: I don’t lie, I never lie! Would you prefer me to lie?

Anyone got a Eurythmics song stuck in their head now?

Question from Harshit Nigam: With the showcase of winning last year’s Davis Cup Final, had it boosted your confidence once again? Will we find our old Rafa back on business once again?

Rafa says: Yes, definitely that has been helpful. I am back but we have to see how it goes and respect every rival.

Always.

Original Article

[caption id=”attachment_30994” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo by Scott Barbour/ Getty Images”]

There’s a new Q&A up on the El Mundo site. From the mangle, it appears* that:

• There’s no time table on change in the tennis world. He’ll just keep on working on his game.
• Tomic could be this year’s surprise high finisher.
• Something about forcing food (and the US being very different) that I think means he eats local food when he travels on the tour.
• It should be very difficult for someone to win a Grand Slam.
• When a bug gets on your court, you give it to a ball kid to put someplace safe.
• He has an intention to reach the final, but things happen and if you get outplayed, you get outplayed. Just move along and start working for the next tournament.
• He keeps in contact with his DC mates during a tournament, but they all are concentrated on their tournament.
• The knee was a shock, but is fine. He saw Baggy break the rackets on TV. He would never do such a thing himself, but to each their own.
• He didn’t see the Isner/Nablandian match, but saw pictures after (huh?). It’s always difficult to come back after a long match like that.

*All conclusions mine based on a dubious translation and may or may not have any relation to reality.

Original Article