Rafael Nadal

[bia2209]

This is Rafa's Post Match Interview after losing to Blake. Found it at www.asapsports.com

2006 TENNIS MASTERS CUP
SHANGHAI, CHINA

November 13, 2006

J. BLAKE/R. Nadal
6-4, 7-6

RAFAEL NADAL

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Do you expect that result when you came to see Tiger Woods this morning?

THE MODERATOR: He didn't go this morning. He went yesterday.

Q. Yesterday, did you expect that?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know is when I was visiting the golf, I wasn't think about today, no, I was thinking about the golf.

But today I know is a difficult match against James. I lost. I was losing the last two times. I know I can lose today, and I lose.

Q. So sorry you lost today, Rafa. Have you realized that James is the only one that holds the winning head-to-head record against you? Have you realized this record?

RAFAEL NADAL: We have more players with positive record against me. But, well, is one of the more difficult players.

But today the problem is not this one maybe, no? I was playing very good. I feel very good on court. I have break up in the first set for 4-3, playing very good tennis. Maybe he play a good game there because I was playing too good. I was losing the game Love-40 and I come back to deuce. I play very good points. And after, he play good points, too. I have my chance, but I can't convert.

In the second I was winning -- in the second I was winning 4-0, 4-1, 30-0. I can win the game for 5-1 and after that all change, no?

James play very good points, very aggressive some points in the decisive moments, important moments. But, well, if you are winning two breaks up and 5-4, for third time and serving for the second set, you cannot lose the set, no?

Q. James has a bit of a reputation of not being able to hold his nerves in a situation where he would have been down 4-Love. Were you surprised how he was able to come back, because he was surprised a little bit, I think?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know, no? When you are winning 4-0, you are thinking about you have a big chance for win the set, no? I was thinking if I am playing normal, I gonna win the set.

And he play good. He come back well. He play very good points. But, well, if you are winning 4-1 and two breaks, you have to -- you are dominating the second set and the normal you win the set, no?

Q. Given that you did not play for a few weeks before coming into the tournament and that you were injured, were you happy with the way you played your tennis today?

RAFAEL NADAL: I said before, no, I play very good tennis today. I said that before. I am happy with my game. The problem is not my game because I was playing very good with my forehand. I have a good passing shots. The same like a long time last year. So I feel comfortable on court. I feel playing good. I have very good feelings.

But in the important moments I lost my confidence, so that's decisive on the game, no? But I am playing well. I lose against Blake 6-4, 7-6. He is one of the best players in the world on this surface. I have a lot, a lot of chances for win the match. I don't know if I win the match. But for win the first, for win the second, for win the second three times.

That's it: If you are not convert -- if you are not with confidence in the moments of win the games, in the important points, you gonna lose because you are playing against the best players of the world.

Q. Do you think it has something to do with the fact that you didn't play a lot since the last week? You were missing competition, that you lose rhythm of competition.

RAFAEL NADAL: When you are playing a lot of tournaments, when you are playing often, you feel more comfortable on court always, no, because you are playing more games, more matches, more important moments. When you don't play a lot of tournaments, you have problems sometimes, no? But I don't have the best of luck in the important moments, no, in Madrid, no, in US Open, no here.

So you need think about that, why, why is happening that. You need try to improve in these moments, because the problem is not the game, is not the good game, bad game, because I am playing very good. That's it. Because I have chance in all tournaments, in quarterfinals in US Open, quarterfinals Madrid. I don't win the match, and I was playing good all times. And the problem is not the tennis. So the problem is a little bit confidence. Win one of the matches all change, no? So I hope win the next after tomorrow.

Q. You still have so many fans here. Yesterday I was talking with my friends about your perfect muscles. Has anyone told you that you have the muscles which look like popcorn?

RAFAEL NADAL: Si, okay. So what?

Q. How do you feel about your muscles?

RAFAEL NADAL: (Smiling). What can I say now? What answer you want? I feel normal like always. I don't look in the...

THE MODERATOR: He doesn't look in the mirror. ROFLMAO ;D

Q. So you are very good at many kinds of sports - of course tennis and football. I want to ask you whether you have some sports you not good at, you're poor in?

RAFAEL NADAL: A lot. A lot. Maybe when I was a little bit younger I was playing good football, too, but now I lost all. Basket, bad, too. Golf, well, bad. But I can practice a lot, because if I practice, I gonna play very good. But I am not. I just play tennis now. Fishing isn't a sport? Snorkeling, like this, is not a sport. Maybe I'm just playing tennis now.

Q. Just wanted to ask you about Tiger Woods. You went and met him yesterday. What is this about all the tennis players? We also saw David Nalbandian there. What is this recent bonding between tennis players and golfers? Can you shed some light on it. What did you talk to Tiger about?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I love the golf. I always look Tiger on the TV. For me, he is an idol because he play always very good important moments. He has unbelievable mentality. So for me, that's very difficult. Is very nice.

Was very nice for me know him. He was playing the last round yesterday. He can win, and he come after one shot, he come to me and say, "Hello, Rafa. I am Tiger." And after four holes, hole 13 maybe - I don't know exactly - but he come, he play the drive, and after when the other guys was playing his first shot, he come to me and speak a little bit with me. He's very nice. Was very good experience for me, no?

Q. Federer was awarded the trophy, the cup, today, and also we interviewed the former No. 1, Michael Chang. As the youngest star in the tennis world, how do you see the generations of different stars emerging and then declining? What's your plan, your own plan, for your career?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, I saw Federer, his third time consecutive the No. 1. He's the best now. That's the truth. And, well, my plans on my career, I don't know, no? I plan now is improve my tennis. Always I have big illusion for improve my tennis. I always say the same, but that's the truth.

Well, I want to finish good this tournament, and after I gonna practice a lot, I gonna practice very hard for the next year. So that's my illusion now.


End of FastScripts

[sonya]

errrm...less sex,more english lessons,Nush!





GO BLAKE & NADAL!!!

[Annie]

Roger and Rafa held an exhibition match yesterday in Seoul, South Korea. Rafa lost But here are some photos especially for Nush

[LaFFy TaFFy]

thanks annie , needed my fix for the day lol

[safinbgfan]

nice photos ;D

[safinbgfan]

I`m searching for Rafa`s match against Verdasko in London this year! Someone help me?

[Patxy]

There you go! ;D
Nadal - Verdasco 3rd round match at the Stella Artois "Queen's Championships"

[nickitahot]

THIS IS FOR RAFAEL NADAL SPANISH FANS

WIN ONE DAY IN THE COMPANY OF RAFAEL NADAL!

Sport Man Pro is offering for the Spanish fans of Rafael Nadal the chance to pass one entire day in the company of the Spanish tennis player in Palm of Mallorca in the day December 13th with all expenditures paid.

The winners go from airplane to Palm of Mallorca and go to have the possibility to attend the practise, to beat balls with him, to lunch and much more! Interested? Here it is as to participate!

Just send 1 SMS with word SPORTMAN for the number 5559 or acess the website www.telecinco.es (there click the link "Promoción R. Nadal) until December 3rd and be ready for the award in day 13.

Good luck!

[safinbgfan]

Thank you,safinadal! Is there any video?

[bia2209]

I spent today at my journalism professors office and found a tresaure trove of old magazines. This article I translated from L'Equipe magazine before Roland Garros.

One or two of the pictures from the mag are missing (i had already found the others elswhere) i will see what I can do about scanning them. Meanwhile enjoy.

Especially you Nush.


Rafa Nadal is all smiles. He's on his way back to the hotel after his semi final win in the Monte Carlo Masters Series against Gaston Gaudio. Monte Carlo Bay is a ten minute walk away but like everyone Rafa prefers the shuttle. "It's become a familiar place for me." he confesses. The occasion to joke with the driver, who lost concentration and nearly ran over a cyclist.

[glow=red,2,300]On the Road with Nadal[/glow]

Since winning Roland Garros last year, Rafael Nadal has won all his matches on his favorite surface. We followed him step by step at Monte Carlo, the tournament that opens the clay court season.

The life of an irresistible clay court star ( 54 matches won and counting) and sex symbol number one of the planet tennis, is everything but a dream. A routine that repeats itself one week after another: airport, official shuttle, official hotel, shuttle, tournament, players lounge, locker rooms, practice courts, match, press conference, shuttle, hotel etc. And it goes on like this until the Sunday and the now classic win over Roger Federer ( he’s beaten the Swiss in their three confrontations, in finals, in 2006 at Dubai, Monte Carlo and Rome.)

In between, Rafael Nadal will have shot a commercial for a Korean car company, presented an umpteenth collection of tee shirts with his face and famous Vamos! on them and responded 602 times to the question “What does Federer have to do to beat you?”

The schedule is tight. There is no time for fooling around. After the lesson given to Federer in the Monte Carlo final, you think he spent the night haunting the night clubs and casinos of the Riviera. Wrong.

“In any case, I don’t like him to party too much.” says Toni Nadal, his uncle and coach. No, the Sunday night of his victory in Monte Carlo, Rafael drove to Barcelona.



Once at his hotel, Nadal can enjoy the balcony of his room with a view on the Mediterranean and the Principality and take advantage to advance in his reading of the Da Vinci Code. " I think I'll go see it at the movies." And if some players come to Monte Carlo accompanied, with wife and children or like Gael Monfils, with friends, the Spanish star occupied room 1029 all by himself. His girlfriend stays in Mallorca.

Even though he got his driver’s license this year, it’s his father Sebastian that is driving. In the back, his mother Ana Maria and his little sister, 15 year old Maria Isabel. More than six hours by car at night.

They arrived to Barcelona at 5 am. Rafael’s first match at the Barcelona Open was not until Wednesday but on Monday morning at 10 30 am he had to appear at an event organized by his sponsor. Everywhere he goes Rafa is chaperoned by a Spanish foursome.

His uncle and coach, Toni Nadal. Never too far from Toni, is the newest member of the clan, Juanan Martorell, Rafa’s physical coach since last November. A necessary presence since the series of little problems that Rafa had at the end of 2005. A foot injury had forced him to miss the Shanghai Masters and the Australian Open.

With Martorell, Rafa is keeping it in the family. Martorell used to work with Carlos Moya. Rafa’s mentor and also at the football club of Mallorca where Rafa’s uncle Miguel Angel finished his career.


"It's hard to feel lonely with the entourage that follows me." the spanish champions says. Saturday he was able to take his distance from the rest of the Nadal clan: mom, dad, uncle Toni, agent Carlos Costa and co. , to watch from the restaurant the semi final of his biggest rival, Roger Federer.



Whenever he can, Rafael Nadal checks his email, writes messages and send text messages. If not, he can always watch his own explotis on DVD. At each Masters Series, the ATP offers each player his last match on DVD. Otherwise, as far as movies go, Rafa is into comedies or huge blockbusters like Gladiator.


The third member of the foursome, the always well dressed Carlos Costa, Rafa’s agent at IMG and ex number 10 in the world.

Finally, the chaperon of the chaperons, Benito Perez Barbadillo, ATP press director, particularly charged with the “product” Nadal. ( his colleague Niccola Arzani takes care of Roger Federer) When a Spanish tabloid journalist dared to ask, “Rafa, in bed are you more forehand or backhand?” Benito took care of shutting him up.

He is Mr. No No No It’s not possible.

A photo shoot for the cover?

“Ok, but two minutes.” He’s got his stopwatch in hand.

And meanwhile, Rafa takes everything with a smile. He signs as many autographs as he can and proves himself as quick in the hotel as on the court. He takes the steps four at a time, as if at the very top, Roger Federer was waiting on him for his weekly lesson about tennis on clay. How long is it going to amuse him?

[LaFFy TaFFy]

thanks bia, made me feel abit better, even though halfway through i had to go puke

“Rafa, in bed are you more forehand or backhand?” LMAO

[Annie]

thanks B, good read and cute pics ;D ;D ;D

Nushkin, told u go stop experimenting!!!! See..now you have a vertigo and have to go throw up

[LaFFy TaFFy]

haha annie, my cause of vomiting was a tummy bug i had all night, but your versions sounds better

[bia2209]

are you really sure the two things aren't related??

[safinbgfan]

Great read