Sports - Rafael Nadal #4 ~ Paris? London? Beijing? Venit, Vidit, Vicit. Now New York...

Sparkling_Diamond · 08-26-2008, 12:09 PM

WELCOME TO THE 4TH
RAFAEL NADAL
APPRECIATION THREAD

"For Nadal has a genius of mind as well as body. He has some sighting
system which locks him on to the baseline, he has a grip and an intensity
that has never been seen before. He blazes with aggression and then,
wondrously, drips with simple, generous happiness when the fire
has burnt out.
He is old-fashioned values in modern dress.
He is proof
that good manners do not demand short back and sides and a three-piece
suit - and that you don't have to knock on the front door if climbing up on
to the ledge enables you to thank your family."
(The Telegraph - July 8, 2008)

~

Name: Rafael Nadal Parera
Birthdate: 3-Jun-86
Birthplace: Manacor, Mallorca
Residence: Manacor, Mallorca
Height: 6'1'' (185 cm)
Weight: 188 lbs (85 kg)
Plays: Left-handed
Turned Pro: 2001
Coach: Toni Nadal
Singles Record: 323 - 74
Singles Titles: 31
ATP Rankings: # 1 // 6,700 pts
ATP 2008 Race: # 1 //1175 pts

- often referred to as 'Rafa', 'The King of Clay', 'The Raging Bull'

- parents are Sebastián Nadal & Ana Maria Parera

- he has one sister, Maria Isabel "Maribel" Nadal

- has been dating Maria Francisca "Xisca" Perello, a friend of his sister's,
for 3 years now and they've known each other since he was 5 years old

- he's a fanatic soccer fan and supports Real Madrid

- his uncle, Miguel Ángel Nadal, was a professional footballer who played
for RCD Mallorca, FC Barcelona, and for the Spanish national football team;
he was often nicknamed 'the Beast of Barcelona'

- though he plays left-handed, he's naturally right-handed

- good friends with among others Iker Casillas, who plays for the Spanish
national football team, Carlos Moya (tennis player and Nadal's mentor when
he was young) and Feliciano Lopez (tennis player).

- known for his unconventional wear, turning up in sleeveless tops
and Capri pants in a variety of colours.

- his shoes have the famous "Vamos Rafa" slogan written on the back
of them.

- won his first professional ATP match at age 15; he was only the ninth
player in Open Era to win an ATP match before his 16th birthday

- he broke Mats Wilander’s previous teenage record of 9 titles in 1983
as Rafa won eleven in 2005 at 19.

- finished 2006 unbeaten on clay (26-0)

- he was only the second 16-year-old player to break into the top 100
in the ATP entry system, after Michael Chang (June 6, 1988)

- in his Wimbledon debut, he reached the third round; at 17, he was the
youngest player to do so since 16-year-old Boris Becker in 1984.

- he claimed his first Grand Slam title at the French Open, in Paris, where
he became the second player after Mats Wilander to win in his first try

- at 19 years, 1 month and 22 days, he has become the third teenager
in history (since 1973) to reach No. 2 in the INDESIT ATP Entry Ranking,
joining Boris Becker (18 years, 9 months, 17 days) and Bjorn Borg (18
years, 10 months, 2 days) as the only teenagers to be ranked No. 2

- claimed his fourth consecutive title in Roland-Garros in 2008, tying
Bjorn Borg's record

- became first Spaniard to win the championship at All England Club
since Manuel Santana in 1966

- he is 115-2 on clay since the beginning of 2005

- he is 28-0 at Roland Garros

- he is the all-time best 22-1 lifetime in clay court finals

- in 2008, he followed in Rod Laver's and Bjorn Borg's footsteps to win
both Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back

- one of the youngest players ever to have won five Grand Slams

- has second-best winning percentage (.793) in finals in Open Era

...

sources: sportsline.com & atptennis.com

~

1. lovder&Mer (Barbara)ER

2. Sparkling_Diamond (Karen)

3. LostinKP

4. Icey_

5. merveille (Lara)

6. for orange skies

7. Kitty_Fantastico

8. Sawyer&Kate

9. christallh24

10. Ninfa_LostMD

11. ^andra^

~

~

"...Now we were watching an exuberant Nadal, flag in hand, hugging family members, climbing into the Royal Box to shake hands with Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain. From Wimbledon to the streets of London, this was a great moment, a moment of transition in men’s tennis and transformation in one player’s life. No one for a moment doubted Nadal’s mettle. He had waged tremendous battles here, but had never beaten the great Roger Federer here.

Until now.

On this rainy, gusty Sunday afternoon, then evening, a young man had grown, in stature and legend...

Rafael Nadal, the prince, had become Wimbledon’s king."

- nytimes

credit to rafaaydin @ vamosbrigade

~
BEIJING - As Rafael Nadal stood in front of the medal podium,
his nation's flag draped across his back like a cape, he looked
a little like a Spanish Superman.

In tennis, he is.

"Nowhere in my best dreams I can imagine something
like what I did this year," Nadal said. "I know how difficult
it is to win these things, and especially here, because you
only have one chance every four years."

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

by merveille

WINNER: ATP MASTER SERIES MONTE CARLO, ATP MASTER SERIES HAMBURG, ATP MASTER SERIES TORONTO,
BARCELONA, LONDON /QUEEN'S CLUBG, ROLAND GARROS*, WIMBLEDON*, OLYMPICS (BEIJING 2008)

FINALS: ATP MASTER SERIES MIAMI, CHENNAI

SEMI-FINALS: INDIAN WELLS, AUSTRALIAN OPEN*, ATP MASTER SERIES CINCINNATI

QUARTER FINALS: DUBAI

*Grand Slam

more detailed here

- QUOTES -

“I always wanted to be honest with myself and to those who have had faith in me.”

“The only way of finding a solution is to fight back, to move,
to run, and to control that pressure.”

“I am a little bit more famous now, but I have [some change] in my life.
I live in the same place. I have the same friends.”

“It wasn't the best moment to lose my serve.”

on Federer: “Look at his points. He is the No 1. That is
all there is to say. He is there to be beaten.”

"It's not only in one place, no? I have pain here...
In my famous ass." *press laughs*

"Winning a Grand Slam is very difficult: on grass, on clay ... on ice."

"I feel that we have to think about others. We’re lucky that everything is going so
well for us. We have to do something back for society. We’re lucky that we have a
good life and that we can do something that we like doing. Everything went our
way so we have to help people who are less fortunate."

"I was thinking : if I have to lose the set, lose 6/2, not 6/0, no?!"

"I'm 22. I'm no longer a young player, a young promising
player. I'm not a promising player anymore. Too bad."

Q: When you're fishing (at home in Majorca), what do you fish for?
Rafa: Fishes.

“For tennis, the slams are more important. For sportsmen, the Olympics
are more important. I win here for a lot of people, not just for me.”

"There are always things to improve, on clay, grass and
everything. It is an error to think that it is impossible to improve."

He has this different vibe. He goes from looking downright predatory to all
of a sudden having this big goofy smile. The energy, the passion is just dripping out of him.
When he's playing, it's hard to watch the other side of the court.
- Mary Carillo, Time Magazine

"Federer's game is all about elegance and flow; Nadal disrupts it like a
street thug crashing a cotillion. That he does so while oozing testosterone,
flexing his biceps in a sleeveless shirt, only seals the image of a man's man,
Marlon Brando to Federer's Fred Astaire."
- Simon Barnes, The Times

"His self-effacement, lack of self-indulgence and sheer joy at the
life he is leading make him a refreshing antidote."
- A. Kervin, The Times

“He beat me when he was just 14-years-old. I consoled myself
thinking that I had lost to a future Grand Slam winner.”
- Pat Cash

"Rafa makes us vibrate, it's a pleasure to see him on court. It's very good for
Spain that someone who is an example to young people has emerged. He's
going to encourage others and there will be more tennis players in future."
- Pau Gasol (Spanish basketball player)

“For Nadal, a match is war."
- Brad Gilbert

My kids adore Nadal. He is so very approachable and a true champion at heart. He
played some tennis with them on Mallorca, and since then Nadal is their hero.
When he had to leave Court One one day because of the pouring rain, he actually
stopped and signed autographs for some children in the crowd. He got really wet,
but he didn't care. He realised that these children came out to see him, and as he
only played a few games because of the rain, he thought the least he could do
was stop and sign their programs. As a father, I know what this means to children.
The game of tennis needs new young fans and players, and stars like Nadal
inspire the youngsters.
- Richard Krajicek

"To say that three-time Roland Garros champion
Nadal is a humble guy is an understatement."
- Inside Tennis

“Rafa was a very enthusiastic young kid that loved sport. I have always said
I like the passion in things. I do not like to see people who don’t have a passion for
what they do — this is what Rafa has, ever since he was small, and the intention
was to realize that potential.”
- Toni Nadal

"He seems to be only getting better."
- John McEnroe

"Watching Nadal is like turning on an electric light."
- Santana

"It did not surprise me that he had the mental strength to
gather himself for the fifth, but this was still an incredible
match to win. We have a new king of tennis."
- Boris Becker

"But it's unbelievable how he puts so much pressure
on an opponent. They must think, "What I got to do, hit
three lines to win a point?" We can learn from that and
put it in our tennis."
- Ana Ivanovic

"He makes his brain work more than his legs.
He's the smarter player on the tour. "
- Mats Wilander

"What Nadal has done on clay over the past three years is nothing short of remarkable.
To be as dominant as he has been, winning 100 out of 101 matches! That's one of the greatest achievements in the history of tennis,
and I don't feel like it is recognized to the extent it deserves."
- Pete Sampras

"Actually I walked up to Rafael Nadal. And he is probably
my favourite tennis player to watch and I walked up to him
and I was like, 'I just want to meet you and don't want to
take a picture or anything, I just want to meet you.' And I
told him, 'I watch you all the time when you play tennis and
I love watching you play tennis.' I told him good luck. That
is probably the only person."
- Michael Phelps

"I think that he's probably the cleverest guy on Tour. Of
course he relies on his fitness too, but so does everybody else.
His fitness starts in his heart more than anything.
Of course he's strong, but I'm not sure he's stronger than
anybody else, he just wants it more."
-Mats Wilander

"If he hadn’t competed in the Games as a tennis player but if he had chosen
another sport, there’s no doubt that he would have gone for gold as well.
Nadal is a sportsman through and through
and more and more, he’s becoming a fantastic ambassador for the tennis sport."
- Richard Krajicek

“Personally I'd hope so because he's a great guy. What he's done, how he
plays on all surfaces, he deserves to be world No.1. There's no doubt that
his name should be up there with the greats of the game.''
- Lleyton Hewitt

"What he did to (Roger) Federer in the final of Roland Garros, isn't something any other tennis
player in the earth would do. Rafa destroyed Roger at France and later earned the Wimbledon
title, which is far from his favorite surface. I believe that was an extraordinary effort.
Nadal definitely deserves to be #1 in the world."
- Lleyton Hewitt

"I'm not as familiar with mental requirements for other sports, but I
can't believe there could be an athlete better (mentally) than Nadal."
- Jarkko Nieminen

“He's probably still one of the best players of all time
and he's never been No. 1 in the world.That's incredible, and it shows incredible
heart that he's kept the No.2 ranking for so long. It shows incredible kind of
mental fortitude to keep pushing, keep getting better, keep striving for that No. 1
ranking. He's proven he's, by far, the greatest No. 2 of all time.”
- James Blake

Look, I’m not sure if it’s just his forehand. Let’s say it’s more his movement than
anything else. His forehand and backhand [it] seems are never going to break
down really, especially on clay. I can’t see people talking about his backhand
being a weakness. It’s amazing what kind of pace he can get off the backhand
and how good his slice has become. People underestimate his game entirely.
- Roger Federer

“You know, there's so many different ways to assess speed. You got guys that are
tremendously fast, but they only use their speed defensively, then you really don't
care about how fast they are because they're only going to have to run more. You
got other guys that can use their speed offensively, but if you get them on the
defence they can't hurt you on the stretch, so you can take a point over early and
they can be fast but never turn a point around. Nadal has the ability to run as fast
as the best of 'em, but on the stretch actually hurt you. You know, he can
transition those points into offence. That makes you sort of walk on egg shells.
He draws out errors that I think normally you wouldn't make against any other
player, which is a credit to the way he plays the game”
- Andre Agassi

“Nadal is marking an epoch. No other player has done what he has done.
It is normal that the rest of us are put a bit on one side. I even think it is good for
us, as that way we try to follow, even just a little, in his footsteps."
- David Ferrer

"Rafael Nadal is the one that amazes me most: his determination and
power are unique. I had the opportunity to practise with him when he was
15 years old and he seemed like a real veteran with the power he had. At
some time he will be the number one. Rafa is the Ronaldinho of tennis and
we’re not finished hearing about him"
- Gustavo Kuerten

"It's impossible not to be motivated by him.....
He motivates every one of us."
- Tommy Robredo

"We feel very proud with having the number one and although it is
impossible to reach his level we will try."
- David Ferrer

"Rafa is a great person. Mind, I’m soaping him because I want to win
when I play Playstation with him tonight.”
- Nicolas Almagro

We are pretty good friends, we know one another and get on well. I remember that when I lost to Fernando
González in Australia, having had to retire because of cramp in the fifth set, Nadal came over
to me in the locker room. I was shattered, in a very bad way, and
he put his hand on my shoulder and said: "Don't worry about it, the
same thing happened to me two years ago when I was your age."
Things like that fill me with pride and I really value them."
- Juan Martin del Potro in June 2007

"I think Rafael's incredible. Getting to No. 1 in the world, as he will on
Monday, is something I have to commend every single person that's got there.
Because there is no easy way to get there. There's no fluke winning one slam,
winning one tournament to get to No. 1. You have to prove yourself as the best
in the world. With our ranking system, it's over a one-year rolling calendar. So
for the last year, on Monday, he's been the best player in the world. And that's
just a phenomenal feat. So I got to commend him. I'm happy for him. It's been
just about everyone's goal, is to get to No. 1 in the world. Everyone's dream.
I hope it's all he's dreamed of. I hope he stays for as long as he deserves it.
It's tough to say how long it will be 'cause it seemed like when Roger was in the
middle of his, it would never end. But everyone's human. Everyone's bound to
have some bad times, some ups and downs. You never know. There's so many
things that could happen: injuries, illness, lack of confidence, or he could continue
improving. The rate he's improved in the last year, two years, is incredible. If
he keeps that up, then, yeah, his reign can be very long. I'm proud of
him and really happy for him to be No. 1 in the world.
He's deserved it over the last year."
- James Blake

08/25 New York US Open (H)

09/15 Davis Cup Semifinal*

09/22 Bangkok Thailand Open (IH) ??

10/13 Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid (IH)

10/27 Paribas Masters (IS)

11/10 Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai (IS)

11/17 Davis Cup Final

~

PREVIOUS THREADS

#1. Because he's our #1.
#2. Because Roland Garros, Wimbledon & #1 position? 2008 FTW!
#3. Because Playing Like A Raging Bull, This Hot #1 Stormed His Way To Gold!

Want to be added? Just ask

Got an art/quote to submit to the OP? Don't hesitate and PM the thread starter with it.

Sparkling_Diamond · 08-26-2008, 12:13 PM

Well, I hope I don't have to change this title soon.

*Babi* · 08-26-2008, 12:55 PM

I loved the new thread Karen
Thank you

merveille · 08-26-2008, 01:21 PM

TFTNT K

The OP is sooo pretty

And the last animation with the ball on his head and his brows is übercute.

Sparkling_Diamond · 08-26-2008, 01:57 PM

You're welcome.

I like the OP as it is now too, not going to change too much anymore.

ETA - the OOP for tomorrow is out and Rafa isn't playing, woot! Our chico will be happy with an x-tra day of rest.

supersoad1 · 08-26-2008, 03:51 PM

good for nadal

christallh24 · 08-26-2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparkling_Diamond (View Post)

...the OOP for tomorrow is out and Rafa isn't playing, woot! Our chico will be happy with an x-tra day of rest.

Oh, well, that's good! But, why isn't he playing? Doesn't matter matter, I guess...another day to practice can never hurt.

Great OP Karen! I haven't had alot of free time or have felt well in the last few days to post alot. I'm glad I haven't caught y'all in the middle of a convo.

I did want to reply to some of the last few posts in the previous thread, though. I feel the same as you about Rafa winning the USO, Karen. I would love for him to win, but I don't know if he's going to have enough in the tank. We shall see.

Was I the only one slightly confused about some of his answers in his after match presser? Is he feeling pressure or is the pressure the same? He's playing well, but is a little tired, but hasn't found it hard to adjust from being back from Beijing, but isn't tired like he wasn't tired when he had to go from all his clay court events to...grrr....okay, Rafa. Maybe it's the pain medicine I have to take, but I was kind of having a hard time following him.

I liked reading the blog. My favorite was this one...

Hi Rafa! I am 61 and have a wonderful daughter but if I had a son I would have wanted him to be like you because you are such an example to all young people in your humble manner, your courtesty to everyone, your consideration for your fans but especially your respect for your family. Do you think it is possible for a top player to remain at the top of the game and be married and have children? It seems to me that many of the top tennis players in the past have not been able to do this and have not performed so well when they married. Perhaps you have to devote all your concentration to tennis to be at the top? Thank you. Anne Dow.

Do y'all really think that's a sixty one years old lady? Or maybe a younger jealous fan that has heard certain rumors of a certain gorgeous tennis player maybe getting engaged to a long-time girlfriend.

I think I have too suspicious of a mind.

Gotta go. My Step-father is here to use my computer.

Sparkling_Diamond · 08-27-2008, 12:23 AM

Quote:

I did want to reply to some of the last few posts in the previous thread, though. I feel the same as you about Rafa winning the USO, Karen. I would love for him to win, but I don't know if he's going to have enough in the tank. We shall see.

Yes, I am not confident at all about the US Open. Plus, I'm on another forum too and there's a guy there who's actually AT the US Open and this is what he has to say about Rafa (he saw him training yesterday, the day before too btw+his match):

Quote:

- Another substandard practice session from Rafa. He looks totally bereft of confidence, it's puzzling considering how well he's done recently. He's having lots of little conferences with Uncle Toni during practice, much more than usual.

Meh, I have the feeling we'll have to change the title (hopefully only) next week.

Sparkling_Diamond · 08-27-2008, 01:46 AM

Rafa's blog!

Quote:

My respect for Andy Murray and why money is not important

Hi everyone.

Another of those days today where we don't play. Not only that, since tomorrow I am not playing either so it makes it a kind of funny day. Yesterday it was a match day and therefore the routine is more or less the same as every day I play. Warm up in the morning and wait to be called to go on court. After that the usual press conference, pictures with the US Open Series trophy and back to the hotel.

Talking about these US Open Series, i "only" played two events and had the luck to win it. I won Toronto and made it to the semifinals in Cincinnati. That allowed me to have the same number of points as Andy Murray but since I defeated him in Toronto the head to head made me win the thing and now I have the chance to win the biggest prize money in tennis. Some people do not really appreciate the game that Andy has. He is really good, very good.

Coming back to this prize money thing, the other day someone asked me about this fact. Do we really think about the money when we walk on court, and the answer is clear and simple without sounding arrogant. We really don't think about it when we step on court. We want to win. The most important thing is the honor to win a certain title. No chance to think about the amount of money at stake on the final of Wimbledon. The most important thing is to win the title and I am sure this is the way most of the players think. I hope no one misinterpret what I am saying.

Anyway, today was that kind of day where you practice and at the same time you have some time off without thinking about the next day and the match to come. It is way more relaxing and it allows you to have some time off and do things that normally you can't do. As a matter of fact I went to play some golf after practice with Tomeu Salva, a friend of mine since we were kids that sometimes travels to tournaments with me and also helps me as hitting partner, and Benito my PR Manager.

We had a good time and we came back to the hotel around 8.30 pm. I went out for dinner with a big group of people including Sergio Garcia the golfer who also came earlier in the day to my practice. We hit some balls and arranged to go out tonight for dinner with some friends. We talked a lot about golf. I have to say I love that sport and with people like Sergio giving you some tips, it is easier to improve. At least on the theoretical part... the tough one is when you go out and play...

Rafael Nadal from the US Open - Times Online - WBLG: My respect for Andy Murray and why money is not important

Love the praising of Andy.

*Babi* · 08-27-2008, 05:52 AM

Thanks for the blog Karen

Well... Rafa isn't playing good this is fact but we really don't know what caused it. May be mental tiredness or something else... that can be solved by these days off he is taking. I still think he will win USO eventually maybe next year and I think he will make at least semi this year.

About changing the title... I voted for this one because I really didn't like the others but the truth is I didn't understand well the Venit, Vidit, Vicit part

and I think there is no need to change, even if he loses, soon we will have another thread by the pace we are moving here.

Sparkling_Diamond · 08-27-2008, 06:22 AM

Veni, vidi, vici is what Caesar wrote.

It means 'I came, I saw, I conquered'. I just adjusted it so that it's 3 sg.

Anyway, I want some training pics.

*Babi* · 08-27-2008, 06:43 AM

Thanks for the help

I didnt see any yesterday practice pics

Sparkling_Diamond · 08-27-2008, 06:52 AM

He's on JustJared again btw, but it's just pics of his 1st match so...

Everyone here should vote on the AskMen poll for Rafa btw. He's nominated for the Top 49 Most Influential Men of 2008.

I usually don't care for these kinds of polls but it's RAFA.

Here's the link:

Top 49 Men of 2008 - AskMen.com

*Babi* · 08-27-2008, 07:03 AM

I will vote for him Karen. He is influential

Sparkling_Diamond · 08-27-2008, 07:48 AM

He definitely is.

I was just looking at some pics of the past days and he's just so expressive with his face. Almost Jim Carrey level LOL.

The eyebrow. <3


Fan Forum > General Discussion > Sports > Rafael Nadal #4 ~ Paris? London? Beijing? Venit, Vidit, Vicit. Now New York...