[lovder&mer]

WELCOME TO THE 1ST RAFAEL NADAL THREAD

FACTS

Name: Rafael Nadal Parera
Nicknames: Rafa, The King of Clay, The Raging Bull
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
Current ATP Ranking: 2
Singles Record: 309 - 73
Singles Titles: 29
ATP Rankings: # 2 // 6305 pts
ATP 2008 Race: # 1 // 1055 pts

HIGHLIGHTS 2008

Winner: ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, ATP Masters Series Hamburg, ATP Master Series Toronto, Barcelona, London / Queen's Club, Roland Garros*, Wimbledon*

Finals: ATP Masters Series Miami, Chennai

Semi-Finals: Indian Wells, Australian Open*

Quarter Finals: Dubai

*Grand Slam

more detailed here

~

"...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

QUOTES BY RAFA

“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.

QUOTES ON RAFA

"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

"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

by Babou

HIS OPPONENT'S QUOTES ON HIM

“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

"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. [/b]
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

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

07/21 Toronto Rogers Masters (H)

07/28 Cincinnati Western & Southern Financial Group Masters (H)

08/11 Olympics

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

~
"This year’s Wimbledon tournament was full of teenage girls
screaming at the sight of a sweat-soaked Rafa in action.
With his Mediterranean good looks and muscular
frame, he is a huge hit with the ladies. Throw in
his bulging bank balance and he could take his pick of models."

- N. Francis, The Sun

RAFA'S FANS LIST

1. lovder&Mer (Barbara)

2. Sparkling_Diamond (Karen)

3. LostinKP

4. Icey_

5. merveille (Lara)

6. for orange skies

7. Kitty_Fantastico

8. Sawyer&Kate

~

"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)

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.

[lovder&mer]

Rafa has done a great year and I just wish him to do great on Shangai's.

[NikNak]

Welcome to the board!

I edited the thread title just a bit.

[lovder&mer]

I'm a solitary Rafa's fan
I don't mind, he had to have his own thread!

[lovder&mer]

Nadal on Master Cup SF

[Sparkling_Diamond]

I should help you liven up this thread. The problem with me though is that if he loses I'm always pissed and I can't stand to see anything of him for weeks. I can't help it. It's a disease.

But I love him, really. I love it when after his match, he takes off his bandana and shakes his hear. I wish there was a slow motion ani of that. *sigh*

[lovder&mer]

Originally Posted by Sparkling_Diamond (View Post) I should help you liven up this thread. The problem with me though is that if he loses I'm always pissed and I can't stand to see anything of him for weeks. I can't help it. It's a disease. But I love him, really. I love it when after his match, he takes off his bandana and shakes his hear. I wish there was a slow motion ani of that. *sigh*

hey
Finally someone to make me company.
I can't be angry on Rafa for more than some minutes. I just feel connected to him. He is my fave player and I admire him so much as a person.
I'll add you to the list and if you want to contribute to anything in the OP, be my guest. What is your name btw?
I was traveling but I'm back to keep it alive loved you joined

He is doing great at Australian Open. He was playing awesome against Mathieu.
I hope you come around more times
loved your sig

[lovder&mer]

He didn't make the semi but I think he did a great tournament!!!!
vamos Rafa!

[Sparkling_Diamond]

I'm Karen. Yeah it's a bit late but I think we missed each other.

Rafa played an AWESOME tournament. Wasn't this his first semi-final in a HC slam? I think so...

Anyway, I'm not a very good art maker but I'll try.

What's your name BTW?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpsSgaOJ80Q



On THIS site you can find lots of animations. It's my paradise. Heh.

[lovder&mer]

Thank you so much Karen, I'm Barbara
I'll add some of them to the OP
He did A GREAT tournament, it was his first SF on HC. this year he will win Winbledom I know for sure.
I'll add some youtube links I have to the OP also, specially with the great plays he gives us
I've been off a little those days but hope to find you here more often

[lovder&mer]

Rafa's news:

Rafael Nadal has launched, in his native city of Manacor, his charitable foundation that will provide social assistance to underprivileged groups and cooperation with development. The tennis player himself described the foundation, which bears his name, as "the beginning" of his future. Nadal explained at the press conference to launch the organization that his implication in various humanitarian projects in the last few years and what he has seen and learned "on journeys all over the world" have led him to realise that, with his image, he can "contribute something to people who may need it, because there are places where everything is very difficult". "The time has come for me to create my own foundation and start steering the money that I can raise towards where I consider it most necessary," Nadal said. The social objective of the Rafa Nadal Foundation is "social assistance for the most underprivileged groups and cooperation for the development of the most needy countries," as explained by Carlos Costa, the tennis player's manager and also a member of the organization's committee. Costa added that the foundation's activities will be centred "above all on childhood and youth" as well as being "for the integration of discapacitated people and those who find themselves excluded by society, both in Spain and in developing countries". ALL IN THE FAMILY The Rafa Nadal Foundation will be presided over by the tennis player's mother, Ana Mar�*a Parera, one of the first people, Nadal says, to instill in him the interest to help the needy, to sponsor children in distant countries. His father, Sebastián Nadal, will be the secretary of the foundation and the committee members are to be Carlos Costa and his uncle and trainer, Toni Nadal. The tennis player explained that, to begin with, it will be the members of his family who will give momentum to the foundation, as his professional committments will not allow him to devote much time to the new organization. Nadal further explained that his aim is to devote himself fully to this humanitarian side in a few years time, after he retires from professional tennis. Nadal said in relation to his future that he would like to devote himself "to doing nice things, setting up a school and other things" that "occur" to him. "I give everything when I do things, in tennis and in life, and this is not going to be an exception," the tennis player stated. I'M IN DEBT TO SOCIETY Nadal declared that his intention is that the projects the foundation takes on should begin close to his own environment, "to try to help first the people that are closest, in the Balearic Islands if possible, in Spain, too, and afterwards in the rest of the world." "I'm a privileged person, someone lucky to be able to work at what I like and that things are going well for me, so I consider I'm in debt to society," Nadal affirmed. In a month's time, the Rafa Nadal Foundation will have its own website for receiving suggestions and proposals, and it is soon to sign an agreement with the Iberostar Foundation, the organization with which Nadal has collaborated in the 'Aprenem junts' campaign and which, EFE reports, will give help to the new organization. On the sports side, Nadal affirmed that he was well, "training hard and keen to get back to competing".

I loved he is aware a guy like him can do a lot to other people in the world. He is just more perfect to me than ever like a person

[natalie8you]

LOVE him!

[lovder&mer]

Hey Natalie, welcome.
Do you want to be added?
There is no way but love him, he is adorable. Hope to see you more often here, because Rafa really deserve much more than 2 fans at

[lovder&mer]

Rafael Nadal has won his first ever match on Dutch soil. Earlier today, he and Tommy Robredo beat the Spanish Davis Cup duo of Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco: 7-6, 7-5. Nadal will play his first singles match on Wednesday, when he faces Russian Dmitry Tursunov. For Nadal, who is expected to draw large crowds, this afternoon’s doubles match was more than a warm-up for the main event. Indeed, it was a matter prestige –while losing may be painful, losing to fellow-Spaniards borders on the unbearable. Nadal and Robredo showed themselves to be a good couple. They skilfully came back from a break behind in the second set to clinch the match. Source: Tournament press

Also a pic on Rotterdan

[lovder&mer]

So sad Rafa didn't make Rotterdan.
That was a great chance to earn some points
Anyway, never disappointed over Rafa. Let's wait and see Dubai in 10 days