Celebrate 40 years of tennis with the special commemorative coffee table book, 'No.1.'
A must have for any tennis fan, 'No. 1', features exclusive interviews with No. 1s past and present, as well as never-seen-before photography over the past 40 years.
From Ilie Nastase in 1973, through to fellow year-end No. 1s Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Gustavo Kuerten, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in 2012, the book provides fans a unique insight into the emotions and mind-set of the world's greatest players as they battle to reach the summit of world tennis.
- Soft Cover with sleeve
- Exclusive interviews and images
Purchase for $29.99 at TennisWarehouseUSA & EU
Photos: (D Dipasupil/Getty Images)
The ATP Heritage Celebration at The Waldorf=Astoria on August 23, 2013 in New York City.
via ATPWorldTour
via Diego Leal
via Tanika Molvi
Tonight the 40th anniversary of the Emirates ATP Rankings, the ATP will host a ‘No. 1 Celebration’ on Friday, 23 August, in New York City. Current and former World No. 1s will be in attendance. Rafa is not included but he is a former #1. Perhaps he will show up! Starting at 8:20pm EDT on Friday.
Source: ATP
The Australian Open Store is selling a dvd of the Rally for Relief charity exhibiton with the proceeds going to flood relief. It is listed at 30 Australian dollars.
"Ss soon as the devastating images of the queensland flood disaster were beamed across the nation an exhibition match was planned to raise much-needed funds for all flood victims."
A galaxy of stars lined up to show their support including roger federer, lleyton hewitt, rafael nadal, novak djokovic, andy roddick, andy murray, kim clijsters, ana ivanovic, justine henin and caroline wozniacki.
This dvd is a poignant and powerful reminder of the ability of sport to unite the nation in its hour of need, and the ability of tennis titans to shelve their fierce rivalries to support those affected
By what tennis legend rod laver - who hails from queensland - described as a 'tragedy of international proportions'. Proceeds from all sales of this dvd will go to australians affected by the floods.
Buy this from the Australian Open Store Here!
DESPITE his loss in the Open quarter-finals, Rafael Nadal found time to answers more questions from his fans.
Are you ever a bit nervous about wearing such an expensive watch and have you ever broken it in any way?
Eleanor Borgelt, Victoria
RAFA: No, I am not more nervous for sure. It is built so that it doesn't break. Something amazing, believe me. I broke a few when we were developing it last year.
Hey Raf, in the next 5-10 years out of the players you have seen play who do you think will be ranked No.1 or close to it?
Barney Swarley, Victoria
Rafa, who is your favourite football player?
Jim Cowski
Messi is the best one in the world, I think.
Hello Rafa! I am a huge fan. What is your favorite tournament, not including the Grand Slams?
Amanda Grue, USA
I like Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Indian Wells and many others. We are very lucky to have great tournaments, well organised and with many great facilities and care for us.
I saw your Armani pictures, I didn't like them, that's not you. I follow you since 2005 and they look nothing like you. What do you think of them? Are you planning to do again something like that?
Dimitra, Sydney
I respect everyone's opinion. I think they are nice and different. Thanks for your feedback anyway :-)
Do you have any tattoos Rafa? If not, would you ever consider getting them?
Jack, Niddrie
Nope, don't like them
Silly question, when changing your shirts, why do you seem to always have some difficulty taking off and putting on your shirts as if they're too tight?
Quynh
Because they are tight and sweaty. They are custom made.
I want to ask do you sometimes really read some letters from fans. Do you think they are helpful? Thanks.
Goran, Croatia
I do read them, not all, but most of them. Also I read my Facebook and what fans (and non fans) write.
Who was your inspiration for playing tennis? Or was it just your choice to play tennis?
Karla, Victoria
It was only my choice and some influence from my uncle.
Hi Rafa. I've noticed you have picked up some Aussie sayings like 'no worries' and 'cheers'. Are there any you find really amusing or don't understand? Here are some Aussie words of encouragement: Go hard or go home!
Jillybean, North Queensland
Hahahahha. Yes. True. Benito is always there, too, with Ian, our driver, joking about it.
Sometimes, you are asked to commentate a match during your TV interviews. Do you enjoy commentating or do you prefer to watch as a spectator only?
Atchariya TH, email
I have not done it often. I did it at the US Open this year and it was nice, but I only did a couple of games. They have a great location.
I know athletes must eat a lot of carbs and protein, but are there vegetables that you really like? Other than french fries!
Jane Harper, USA
I do like salads very much
Have you thought about selling off your Aston Martin and Harley Davidson and giving the money to your foundation?
Eva, email
Good idea, thanks for the tip!
Your book - The Story of a Phenomenon - will there ever be an English version? We have been waiting ages. I would love to read it.
Val, UK
Not really. Not a great one, I have to say.
How do you feel as soon as you walk on the court, do you feel nervous or do you stay confident and say you can do this?
Daniel, Victoria
I can feel nervous many times. It is normal. Once the match starts then it goes well again.
Hi Rafa, do you still play as Roger Federer in tennis video games?
Jane
Hahahahaha. Sure do!
Rafa, do you think after your singles career is over, you may take up a doubles career in tennis? Or do you think it will be 'end of tennis' for you?
Ganesh K, email
No, I don't think so. I already play doubles sometimes.
 |
| Nathalia Merino |
Rafa's comments to the Spanish press...
"I do not like to retire. I did not retire because I did not have that much pain to leave. I retire when I cannot take the pain anymore. And today that was not the case. I did not retire because I could play, at a level X, I'm not going to say (what that is) but it did not give me enough to beat an opponent who played at a high level. Not retiring has been normal for me. There are many people aware of this and I do not like to retire. It leaves an ugly feeling and I prefer to keep trying. And with this level, I could not compete, in the conditions I was in.
Now is not the time to make assessments of whether I had little vacation or not. I believe that I did perfect and I think it is a cumulation of issues that have come together. In Abu Dhabi, I played well and in Doha I fell ill. Here this happened, just when I was better (...) I have to try to reach the level that I had before. Last year, I arrived well to Monte Carlo tournament. I know what I have. I don't have anything serious. It is a fiber tear. I know where it is located and I know what it is.
[On the 'Rafa Slam'] "It's not called that. It was a chance I had and I don't think there will be many more. But I do not live for this nor for records. "
English Press Conference
via yerangell
- Spanish Presser
- Spanish Interview with Banesto
- Ferrer's comment to the Spanish press..
"A match like this is not easy. He is a gentleman and he played injured. It's a great victory, but it's not the same. He played because we are friends and he did not want to make me the ugly one, but the most important thing is his health."
In his pre-tournament press conference last Saturday, Rafael Nadal said that it was “almost impossible” to win four straight Grand Slams. He said this even though he came to Melbourne as the owner of three of those Slams. It turned out that he was more than right. For the 42nd consecutive year, it was impossible for a man to pull it off.
Another thing we know is that Australia Day is not Rafa’s Day. Last year he lost under the fireworks here to Andy Murray. This time it was to David Ferrer. Both times Nadal was hampered by an injury. Ferrer was impressive, no doubt about it, but this result is nothing but a bummer. We keep coming up short. A Federer-Nadal final seemed to be a sure thing at the U.S. Open. Didn’t happen. A semifinal lineup of the Big 4 seemed to be a foregone conclusion when the evening session began today. Foiled again. The sense of deflation won’t go away soon. It may last through the rest of the tournament. There’s a hole in it now.
We’ve heard for years that Nadal’s physical style will make his career a short one. There’s been no evidence of that yet. But it has led to injuries at inopportune moments. In the two majors before his loss to Murray here last year, he pulled out of Wimbledon and was shredded by Juan Martin del Potro when he had an abdominal tear. Nadal may not pay as much as we think for his style in the long run, but it has already cost him. In this way he is the opposite of his rival Roger Federer in one more way. Nadal is the fragile one, the human one, the one who pushes too far, the one you watch anxiously, waiting for the worst. It can happen any time.
“That’s part of the sport,” Nadal said as he stared at his thumbs afterward, his red jacket zipped up around his neck. He tried to avoid talking about his injury, and never named it. He said he was tired of losing when he had a “problem,” and didn’t want to seem like he was making an excuse. Most of the time, Nadal looked down absently. But there was one moment when his eyes became fixed. He was thinking. It looked to me as if the defeat, the disappointment, was registering.
“If I can accept both the high moments and the low moments,” he said, “then I can play my best again.”
High moments and low moments. You have to accept the latter in order to savor the former.
High moments and low moments: Isn’t that what Nadal gives us, too? More than any other legendary athlete I can think of, even as he’s winning, he holds out the possibility of disaster. He plays matches on razor’s edges and always seems one lunge away from his next injury. With every mad scramble across the court, he seems to be taking a day off of his career.
The flipside is that while Nadal knows that disaster is possible, hope is as well—not just excellence, but hope, which is deeper. When he won the French Open in 2006, he thought back to that January, when he had been forced to pull out of the Australian Open. Because of that, it became the French title that meant the most to him. Nadal runs the gamut of emotions; for better and worse, we run them with him. We, or at least, I, run that same gamut every day of my life anyway. Nadal is not an athlete I look to for perfection, for something above the normal run of humanity, the way you might look to Federer. I look to Nadal for the human, for the striving, for the victory that’s tinged with the possibility of defeat every step, lunge, and swing of the way. There's a reason he can win three straight Slams and yet still say that winning four straight can't be done. That's just life.
High moments and low moments: One can't mean anything without the other.
Nadal knows this, and those of us who write about and follow him understand it better because of him.
More Articles:
- Nadal says sweep-ending injury not serious
- Nadal walks precipice in search of perfection
- Nadal Is Noble in Defeat
- Nadal walks precipice in search of perfection
- Rafa Slammed, Hurt, Goes Down Fighting
- Nadal loses to Ferrer in quarters
- Australian Open: Nadal coy on injury after Ferrer loss
- Injury woes end 'Rafa Slam' quest
Q. What can you tell us about the injury? What did David say to you at the end of the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: I can say nothing about the injury. Seriously, I would prefer don't talk a lot about the injury.
Tonight, first of all, I don't know nothing. Second thing, for respect to the winner and to a friend, I prefer to talk about the match. I think he played at a very high level. I just congratulate him and wish him all the best for the semifinal. I think he's doing a fantastic tournament. If he keep playing like this, he going to have a good chances.
What David told me at the net is for me and that's it.
Q. How emotional is it for you tonight?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, is a difficult day for me. I lost in quarterfinals another time. So I tried my best. I couldn't do more. Tonight I think I played against a great player, a great opponent. Today I really can't do more than what I did. So he played at a very high level, and I wasn't able to compete against him tonight.
Q. It's going to be difficult for us to write a piece without appreciating how well you could move. It seemed to us you couldn't move as well as you would like to have been moving tonight. Is that a fair statement?
RAFAEL NADAL: You see the match?
Q. Yes.
RAFAEL NADAL: So you are ready to write everything. I don't have to tell you about what I felt on the court because I tried my best all the time. But is obvious that I didn't feel at my best. I had a problem during the match, in the very beginning. After that, the match was almost over. So that's what I can say.
But you know what, for me is difficult come here and speak about. In Doha I wasn't healthy. Today I have another problem. Seems like I always have problems when I lose, and I don't want to have this image, no? I prefer don't talk about that today. If you can respect that, will be a very nice thing for me. Thank you.
Q. What was the problem, though?
RAFAEL NADAL: You are listening me? I can't tell you which problem I have. First thing, because I don't know. That's my answer.
Q. What you achieved in the last year was nothing short of amazing. Does this break your heart a little bit that it had to happen like this?
RAFAEL NADAL: The tennis career, you have higher moments and lower moments. I had almost all the time very, very happy moments and very nice moments in my career. That's part of the sport. Last year I was very lucky. I was healthy most of the year. I was playing unbelievable during all the year.
This year I did I think all the right things to start the season playing really well. And, seriously, I was playing like this in the first exhibition in Abu Dhabi. After that starts the problem. Was a difficult month for me, no?
That's part of the sport. Accept; keep working; try my best in the next tournament. That's what I can do.
Last year I had a fantastic year. This year the year just start. Last year in the beginning I had problems, too, and finally was the best season of my career. I think is almost impossible to repeat that. But remain a lot, and remain a lot to have hopefully really good moments, and at the same time, too, really negative moments.
So this is one of bad ones, one of negative moments. That's part of the sport. I think I am very, very lucky sportsman about what happened in my career. And I have to accept the fantastic moments that I had during a lot of years with the same calm that when I have problems. And if I am ready to accept both things with I think let's say everything the same, I going to be able to come back and play my best tennis another time.
Q. How do you think David will get on in the semifinals?
RAFAEL NADAL: He's playing fantastic. But I think he's not the favorite. But if he keep playing like this, hopefully he can have a good chance to be in the final or win the tournament. I would love. Is a fantastic person. Is a close friend of mine. So I wish him all the best.
I think that Andy is playing very good, too, but David is playing at high level, no? If he's able to keep playing like this, I think he gonna have a good chances. I hope that. I wish him all the very best.
Q. After what happened in Doha, coming here a little bit late...
RAFAEL NADAL: Coming late?
Q. You were ill in Doha and came to Melbourne a little bit late.
RAFAEL NADAL: I didn't came late. You are wrong. I was here one week before the tournament. Is more than enough.
Q. The question is, with you being ill in Doha, then what happened after the Tomic match, did you feel that maybe this tournament wasn't meant to be, wasn't destiny to win?
RAFAEL NADAL: I tried my best in Doha. Was a difficult week for me. Here, seriously, before the match of today I started to feel that I am playing much better and I am very healthy and don't have no problem in general. So I was happy about happened during the first week because I was through without being perfect.
I started the second week with a very good match against Cilic and improving my level every day. Seriously, I was practicing much better than in the beginning of the tournament, and I felt ready to play this quarterfinals. But wasn't the day.
Q. What will be your next tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know yet. I have to think a little bit about everything and we will see what's going on in the next weeks.
Q. We appreciate your fair play, and we understand what you're saying. I just would like to know if you didn't have in front of you a friend of yours, would you have kept till the last ball and point to stay on court or would you have left a little before?
RAFAEL NADAL: I hate the retirements, so this wasn't the day. I did last year. I hate that moment. I didn't want to repeat that.
Q. The match against Cilic showed you were recovering well. Did you feel anything unusual the last couple days?
RAFAEL NADAL: I felt fantastic the last couple days. I practiced very good yesterday. I had a fantastic warmup today before the match. Only feeling that I can say was very positive. I started the second week, and when the second week started, everything was better and better for me: the health, sweat, the level of tennis. Everything was better and better.
Q. Earlier today Andy Murray said there's a number of guys on tour who on any given day can beat each other: yourself, Robin, Roger...
RAFAEL NADAL: I didn't understand.
Q. He said any one of the top six or seven players on any day can beat each other. Do you think after the year you had last year, our expectations of you are probably higher than yours, given the evenness of the top six or seven players?
RAFAEL NADAL: For me there are much more than six or seven on the tour that can beat everybody. I think is more than these few. In general, the expectations, I don't know which expectations you have about me. I have my ones. I have my goals. Probably we think different ways, no?
I live day to day with myself. You see everything from outside. I know how difficult is everything. Probably, you know, not exactly the same. This part is difficult, no? This part is very competitive. You have to have be in perfect conditions to win. The season is always crazy, very long. You can't have time to rest and come back to prepare perfect in a season. That's this game. Only the best players, only the more prepared players physically and mentally are ready to be here and to be in the top positions a long time.
My expectations, I said before the tournament, I said before the year start, is enjoy every day and practice hard every day with same illusion, humble and motivation that I did all my career. So that's my principal goal, in general, no?
I lost in quarterfinals today. We'll see what's happen in next tournament. I'll work hard to be ready.
Q. Can you tell us your feelings tonight compared to this time last year?
RAFAEL NADAL: Is different because last year was the knees. I had a problem, big problem, in the knee in the past. So was hard for me to have another time the same. I didn't see a solution in that. Is not the case.
I came last year after probably six, seven months really hard for me of injuries and of problems in general. So was a hard situation. This year everything is a little bit different. I have three more Grand Slams at home, a few more Masters 1000s and a few more tournaments.
I can say nothing wrong because I had a fantastic time last year. Not possible be all the time at hundred percent. Not possible all the time to have all the positive factors together to win in every tournament.
Last year happened in almost every one. This year we start with a little bit of unlucky. I gonna work hard to come back and to keep having chances and to compete against the best players and to keep being in the top positions of the ranking, so...
I love playing tennis. I love the competition. And I love, in general, the hard moments because you are ready to change the situation working hard, working every day with a goal and with illusion.
Q. You said your preparation was good for this year. Was the vacation long enough after London?
RAFAEL NADAL: The vacation long enough? No, one day is enough, you think? Never is enough. With this sport you never have vacations enough. This part is special for different things. This factor is one of the special things that makes the tour hard and difficult. Only the best players mentally prepared are ready to be here long time.
I said before, wasn't a problem of holidays, the start of the season. The only problem was a little bit of unlucky. In general, I had a virus. When you have a virus, your body goes down and you have more risk of everything. That's probably what happened. That's the simple thing.
Now we have to accept. I said 100 times. But the only thing I can say is, accept the situation and work to try to have another very good season.
Q. How did the fireworks display disrupt your rhythm?
RAFAEL NADAL: Nothing, nothing, no.
I am devastated. Everyone knows what happened. Rafa Nadal was defeated by David Ferrer in straight sets. The Rafa Slam dream is unrealized.
Rafa injured himself during his opening service game, where Ferrer broke him. As soon as I saw Rafa go off court, go back on court his face said it all to me. I knew that he was hurt, this was serious.
Although he courageously came back and tried to compete with all his heart, but his injury took the best of him physically, Rafa spirit endured. But his body & mind were at conflicts.
If anyone thought that Rafa didn't want this Rafa Slam, just take a look at his the agony in his eyes, filled with pain. The Gladiator wounded.
Rafa has given me so many great memories as a tennis fan, he has given me hope in times where I needed it the most. His heart, never give up, never surrender attitude is what I love most about him. I only hope this injury isn't damaging to Rafa in the long run, anymore than damaging his dreams..
If anyone dare question this man's heart, loyalty to his profession & his respect for his fellow sportsman..
Vamos Rafa!
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Rafael Nadal ESP (1) | 4 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| David Ferrer ESP (7) |  | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Match Summary | ||||
| Nadal(ESP) | Ferrer(ESP) | |||
1st Serve % | 69 of 104 = 66 % | 50 of 73 = 68 % | ||
Aces | 2 | 8 | ||
Double Faults | 1 | 2 | ||
Unforced Errors | 34 | 32 | ||
Winning % on 1st Serve | 38 of 69 = 55 % | 36 of 50 = 72 % | ||
Winning % on 2nd Serve | 13 of 35 = 37 % | 13 of 23 = 57 % | ||
Winners (Including Service) | 19 | 44 | ||
Receiving Points Won | 24 of 73 = 33 % | 53 of 104 = 51 % | ||
Break Point Conversions | 3 of 9 = 33 % | 7 of 15 = 47 % | ||
Net Approaches | 17 of 23 = 74 % | 19 of 25 = 76 % | ||
Total Points Won | 75 | 102 | ||
Fastest Serve Speed | 207 KMH | 198 KMH | ||
Average 1st Serve Speed | 179 KMH | 178 KMH | ||
Average 2nd Serve Speed | 142 KMH | 149 KMH | ||
Photos:
View here as a Slideshow
Rafa and Roger hit the same practice court - Australian Open 2011
via australianopentv
Video:
via NadalwinLive
via tsumayuki
Photos provided by newscomm, banesto facebook
Getting ready for the toughest match yet
Rafael Nadal
Hello everyone,
What am I going to write about today? I am really running out of stories. Just to tell you what I have done - I suppose some people will say, so what!?!?!?!
Let me then talk about the tournament. I see Andy [Murray] and Novak [Djokovic] very strong, but also Roger who really played very well today. It is a very interesting tournament here. The first grand slam of the year and the place where normally surprises occur. So far it looks like Roger and Novak are not ready for that and that the semis will be interesting.
I have a tougher match tomorrow than what people think. David [Ferrer] is a very, very good player and has started the year in a very good way winning the event in New Zealand. So, not easy at all. And Andy is playing amazing and tomorrow has an interesting rival.
Tomorrow I play at a good time, a time that is really nice. It will also allow my fans in Europe to follow the match since it will be 9.30 am in CET or 8.30 in the UK. Hope to be here tomorrow writing rather than on my way to the airport....
Thanks
Rafa
QnA
Being favourite doesn't add to the pressure
Rafael Nadal
Hola Rafael! I just want to tell you that you are such an amazing champion and I am having a wonderful time watching you play tennis! As you have spent quite a lot of time with Roger Federer over the past few months, did you get the chance to see his twin girls? Siga así campeón y mucha suerta para todo! Anne-Claire, Paris
I have seen them, but not because of the matches we played - they stayed in Dubai this winter during the two exhibitions. Very cute both!
Dear Rafa, congratulations for your fourth round victory! Do you ever watch replays of your own match to see where you've done well and not done so well, or do you just focus solely on your next opponent? Best of luck for your next round! Qing Qing, China
Sometimes I do, but it is not something I usually do.
Congratulations for your match against Marin Cilic, Rafa! Fantastic! I keep reading about how your friends make you do things when you lose on the Playstation, (like when Carlos Moya made you run in the street in Umag), but what is your revenge if they lose to you? Good luck against Ferrer! Cedrine
Many thanks. I make them also do things in the same way. Something that should stay between us!
Hola Rafa. You like routine and are superstitious. Do you like to stay at the same hotel for each tournament, and do you ask for the same room?
Once again many thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. Much love, Clare x
No, I am not superstitious. I have my routines, thats all. I normally stay at the official hotel and I don't mind changing rooms.
Hola Rafa! In the build-up to the charity matches you played in December, it was really nice to read the interview your mother gave about her role within it. She must be so proud of you, but are you also proud of her with the work she is putting in to your foundation, and can you describe more about her role? Love, Jules xx
Yes, sure. She is taking the foundation very seriously and working a lot. The Madrid exhibition was a lot of work and she was on top of every single detail. She was coordinating all efforts and she also did a lot of interviews to promote the event. She only did interviews as president of the foundation.
Hola Rafa! Even though you're in Australia, did you manage to watch the "big" match on Sunday, Real Madrid vs. Real Mallorca? If so, what are your thoughts on the result and can you explain a bit more on your involvement with Real Mallorca. Jim
I did. I was divided there since I am a fan of both teams and my uncle Miquel Angel is the second coach of the Mallorca team.
Hi Rafa. How do you go about trying to ‘pick’ your opponents' first serve direction? Do you try to look for differences in the serve action or do you look at tendencies and stats for what players like to do in different situations? From what I've read, Sampras tended to try to read his opponents' serve action while Agassi studied what players liked to do in different situations - unless he noticed a give-away clue like Becker's tongue pointing to where he was going to serve! As a fantastic serve returner, I'd be fascinated to hear your approach. Many thanks and best of luck for the remainder of the tournament, Robin Jackson
It depends on the opponent. Sometimes you can't read anything and you take a chance on going to one place. Other players I know them well and I think I know where it goes. And others you can read it.
Hey Rafa - if you overcome David Ferrer (which I’m sure you will!) you face the winner of Andy Murray and Alexandr Dolgopolov. Do you prefer the easier game against Dolgopolov, or would you rather test yourself against Murray? Do you feel more proud when you win a tournament when you have beaten better opponents? Thanks! Sam
I don't think a semi-final is an easy match in any case. However, as I say, I have a very difficult match tomorrow against David and that is the only thing I am thinking abut right now.
Hi Rafael! As you are ranked No 1 in the world, does that add more pressure to you to win every tournament you play in, as you are the favourite and expected to gain success? Would you say pressure is a good thing? Good luck with the rest of the Australian Open! Neill
No pressure for me, believe me. The pressure is to win a match and to play good to win the tournament if possible. The ranking comes with results, not the other way around. The pressure is to win!
Rafaaaa! I am a big fan and have supported you for years. After Spain won the World Cup you were one of very few people allowed into the dressing room afterwards to celebrate with the team. If you win another major tournament, who would you most like to join you in celebrating your success? Anyone in particular from the Spanish national team? Love Maria
I would love to have them all in the locker celebrating, for sure! But I don't see that possible
