Sports - Rafael Nadal #4 ~ Paris? London? Beijing? Venit, Vidit, Vicit. Now New York... - Page 3

lovder&mer · 08-28-2008, 05:35 AM

Christal
I'm totally in love with his orange outfit. I hope he wears it at least to appear somewhere. He looks hot.

My favorite is this one also Karen

lovder&mer · 08-28-2008, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Questions for Rafa: throwing some shapes on the dancefloor and singing La Bamba
Send Rafa your questions

Hi Rafa, congratulations for your season 2008!!! The history of final to Wimbledon was unbelievable. I am exciting with your style to play tennis and I admire you for your personality in the court and off that. You're a model for me in my professional carrier for the way to perform! Please, tell me how you evaluate the chances for the Davis Cup Team of Spain in the semis with the USA match? I will support you in all the actions you are involved to have a big success! GOOD LUCK! The biggest fan from Romania, Dana

RN: Thanks a lot for this. Not much more I can say

Hi Rafa, why do always choose to receive instead of to serve? Do you like to be under pressure? Do you work better when you are one set behind? Ahmad Fuadi

RN: I prefer to try to break in the first game. It is something I have always done since many years. It use to work more before I have to say. I prefer not to be under pressure and that's one of the reasons I like to break early. But if I am I try to handle it in the best way possible. Regarding the last question, I prefer to work better when I am ahead. Much easier, believe me.

Hola Rafa! When you are away from home for a long time, you probably miss a lot of people. Who do you miss the most? Virginia Huynh

RN: My sister, my father and mother and in general my friends and family.

Rafa, do you remember when you sang karaoke of the song "La Bamba" on some French TV show before 2007 French Open? Now whenever they play that song, on the radio, or even on Arthur Ashe stadium, I have to smile because it reminds me of you. Is there a song that makes you smile whenever you hear it? What is the silliest thing that you have ever done that you can remember? Thanks! U2onair, NY

RN: Yes, that was at Roland Garros a couple of years ago. That was probably one of the funny things I have done in public, I suppose, apart from my early days press conferences with all the "invented words".

Hola Rafa! Felicidades! I wanted to thank you for answering the questions that your fans write to you because it shows your respect for us and also gives us a little bit of an opportunity to get to know you better. I have many questions, but this is one that I have never heard asked of you before. First of all, I love to dance A LOT! I was wondering if you are a great dancer and if you like to dance? It seems logical to me that you would be a great dancer because you have such great footwork on the court! Gracias! Karmela Lucero, Albuquerque, NM

RN: I think I am an OK dancer. Not great but can do something decent on a dance floor.

Congratulations Rafa for many wonderful accomplishments this year and good luck in New York. My question is concerning the internet. Do you ever browse the blogs and websites that discuss tennis? Teresa

RN: Yes, I do. Specially the ones in newspapers.

Hi Rafa! I was wondering what the very best moment of your life has been so far. Also, Congrats on becoming Number 1! Alex

RN: This is a very tough questions. I have been lucky enough that playing tennis I have had great moments. I could not point out one or two. Too many. But this year it has been really special

Have you considered using a stun gun on or at least shooting a rubber band at reporters who ask you questions that reveal that they know nothing about you, such as why you're wearing tape on your knees? Tracy, Alabama

RN: No, I have a lot of respect for everyone. As long as they are not bad intentioned it is OK with me.

Hi Rafa, I have been watching you play all year and you are just getting better! I've seen you play at Wimbledon the last 3 years and you are pleasure to watch. Congratulations on getting to No 1 well deserved, even though I love Roger and hope to see him return to his usual great form soon. Good luck at the US Open. I too get blisters and sore fingers when I play tennis but not on my feet, how do you cope with the pain? Sue

RN: Tough, really tough, specially if they look like the one I had in Rome. No excuse, I lost and that's part of the game, but really tough to cope with. I had a lot of help from doctors and my physio Rafael Maymo.

Congratulations on all your success! It is a true pleasure to watch you play. My question is: What is your relationship with Roger Federer like when you are away from the tennis courts, and has this changed any since you have swapped positions in the rankings? Good luck for the rest of the US Open! Tina, Northern Ireland

RN: My relationship with Roger is very good. We are good colleagues and get along well. Our relationship hasn't changed at all since we swapped positions. He is a great guy.

Hi Rafa, did some players (men or women, actual or former champions) congratulate you for your number 1 ranking? Mathilde, France

RN: Yes, many of them and I thank them a lot for that.

Hola Rafa! Congratulations on a terrific year so far and at last the well deserved No 1 spot. I'm sure like me all your fans are delighted. My question is, if you had to sit next to someone famous, from the past or present, on a 13 hour flight who would you choose and why? Good luck in the US Open - we know you can do it. Sharon

RN: I have been asked this question before and believe me when I say I have not an answer for this. I like to sleep on the planes so I suppose it would not be a good place to get to know anyone...

and this

Quote:

TV comes first, so I play last

Hi Everyone,

One more day here in New York and happy to be writing today this blog. Don't ask me why but today I feel like I have the time I need to do so and got something to tell you that is important. It was my second consecutive day without playing and tomorrow I play again.

One thing that is kind of weird is that I played my first round on Monday and my next match, my second round match, is tomorrow, Thursday, and it's the last match!!! Not second or third or even fourth ... last match.

From a technical point of view it doesn't make much sense but I do understand it is a TV thing and also the tournament has told us that it is because they wanted me to experience the night match and the crowds here at that time. I understand although as I say it is strange to have such a big gap during a tournament to play.

So a calmed day that I thought would be shorter at the tournament. It is always the same with me. I intend to come back early and in the end always something comes up. I practiced not too early, at 12.15 noon with Tomeu my friend who is here as a hitting partner. I had planned to come back to the hotel at 2pm or so. But in the end, once again I only managed to get to the hotel by 6pm.

The reason for that is that I had a meeting with Ivan Ljubicic. Ivan has recently been elected and appointed as the European Player Board representative. We had a meeting and went through the stuff that the board has been discussing at the meetings in these past days. Things have changed. The president of the ATP left, he resigned, I suppose since he knew he did not have the support of a lot of people, and I believe that things will go better now.

We have had lot of talks lately and I see now that the players are more together. The meeting today with Ivan is one more example. There is an open channel of communication now open with our representatives and we can get things done together. It was important to meet and our commitment is there. I am happy to spend time trying to help improve the game. Now we know what's cooking and we can give our input since we are in the Player Council.

Hopefully we can work for the better of the game.

Sparkling_Diamond · 08-28-2008, 06:15 AM

Quote:

RN: My sister, my father and mother and in general my friends and family.

Cute! I like that he mentions his sister first. I remember they asked Maribel in an interview somewhere if she does things for him like getting him drinks and she answered that he tries to get her to serve him but refuses and tells him to get off his ass and do it himself.

Typical sibling relationship, but since he explicitly mentions her, and first I think they're really very close.

Quote:

That was probably one of the funny things I have done in public, I suppose, apart from my early days press conferences with all the "invented words".

LOL. And he doesn't 'invent' words now or what?

Couple of pics to make this page prettier:

lovder&mer · 08-28-2008, 06:34 AM

I always have a lot of fun in his blogs and press conferences. He is just funny.
If I was Xisca would bother me a little that he never mentions his gf to anything. It is not like no one knows about her. the whole world knows. I think their relationship is a bit weird

He spends few months at home and in December he always travels with his family... I am definitely not jealous of her...

Sparkling_Diamond · 08-28-2008, 06:46 AM

I know you're not jealous of her; I agree their relationship is a bit weird. But I guess the saying 'blood is thicker than water' really applies to him.

His family above all and maybe he does feel like he has to 'protect' Xisca? Who knows?

merveille · 08-28-2008, 06:57 AM

I actually prefer that he never talks about his gf. I don't know...I always look at celebrity couples who talked about their love in truest colors and in the end it didn't work out. I can't help but laugh and think what kind of giant tools they are/were

I don't remember about Rafa's match but yesterday I watched some matches and seriously there were so few people in the audience I felt sad for the players

Definitely not Grand Slam worthy.

lovder&mer · 08-28-2008, 07:07 AM

I mean if I really liked Roddick or Murray (as I like Rafa) I would be jealous of their gf... what I meant is, Rafa doesn't seem to be strongly invested in this relationship and I might be totally wrong because I'm millions of miles away from them... but others really seem to appreaciate their partners and Rafa seems just careless. For me it seems like she is a friend of him which he comes to kiss and do whatever else... weird.

Sparkling_Diamond · 08-28-2008, 07:35 AM

You know, I think Rafa is still a kid in many ways. The mature treats I see in him are mostly just his respectfulness and his ability to concentrate on court. For the rest? Still think he's just a boy, still lives with his mommy, likes his Playstation, likes playing soccer on the beach. Having a very serious relationship doesn't fit that pattern imo. I could be wrong of course. He must love Xisca but I don't get the impression she's his #1 priority. And maybe I'm selfish as a fan but I like it that way. Tennis should be the main thing on his mind during tournaments or before important ones.

lovder&mer · 08-28-2008, 07:51 AM

Yeah, I agree with you, maybe he is not mature enough to deal it. Who knows. What I do know is I think their relationship is weird... and I that I can't wait to watch he playing again

I miss Rafa on court.

Sparkling_Diamond · 08-28-2008, 09:12 AM

I think I'm going to tape the match so that I can watch him tomorrow. I suppose he'll play around 9 PM.

lovder&mer · 08-28-2008, 11:25 AM

I suppose so. I have a massage and I will probably arrive at home at 9pm

today is Nadal's day

everybody on my work knows when is nadal's day

Sparkling_Diamond · 08-28-2008, 01:24 PM

^I don't talk about Rafa in public. They don't understand my obsession anyway.

lovder&mer · 08-28-2008, 01:53 PM

^They don't understand me either. they think I have a crush onhim or sth doesn't matter how much I say otherwise.
The calendar for 2009 is on ATP site
ATPtennis.com
along with 2010
ATPtennis.com
and 2011
ATPtennis.com

According to my prevision he will play
4 Grand Slam
9 1000
and if he has to pick at least four 500 tournaments I think he might play:
Dubai
Barcelona
Hamburg
the fourth I have no idea

christallh24 · 08-28-2008, 01:54 PM

Ha! Funny, K

!

I've tried not to let my Rafa love get to Jordan/Federer heights. Now, those were obsessions.

Barb, what makes it Nadal Day? Any day he plays?

lovder&mer · 08-28-2008, 01:56 PM

^Yes Christal.
When he plays is Nadal's day

I was never this obsessed by any other player as I'm to Rafa, but I like Sampras more than him... and also Martina