Thread dedicated to phenom called Nadal and his fans in HUB
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Thread dedicated to phenom called Nadal and his fans in HUB
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Maddy, Nadal has won back-to-back FO and Wimbledon titles 2 times so far and Federer has done it only once and that too the FO title wasn't against Nadal but Nadal has a winbledon title against Federer...
This in itself is a GREAT ACHIEVEMENT BY NADAL.... :)
Link - http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/comme...ory?id=5358534Quote:
Rafael Nadal converts another doubter
Even the biggest Federer fans can't ignore Spaniard's tennis greatness
By Scoop Jackson
ESPN.com
I should have seen Rafael Nadal's true brilliance a long time ago. But I tried to ignore it. Ig'nant me.
Rafael Nadal has been far from invisible in recent years, but even doubters reach a tipping point and have to acknowledge what they see on the court.
Loyalty, especially in the omphalos of an epic rivalry, can do that to a person. It can block one from seeing true greatness even when it is omnipresent. Denial is for addicts, and I've been in denial too long.
For years, I have been so deeply engrossed in Roger Federer's reign that I pretended to ignore the emerging greatness of Nadal. Because Rafa became Fed's nemesis, his roadblock, the Droid to his iPhone, I never acknowledged him. Not like that. I knew he existed, but I never put him on Roger's level. I always felt that he just had Roger's number on clay. If Roger was Ali, then Nadal was Frazier to me: a great fighter, but not close to the greatest ever, just the one who gave the greatest ever problems.
But now, after watching him go through Wimbledon (and the French Open) like Larry King goes through wives, I've finally come to the place I should have been a long time ago.
Recognizing Nadal as one of the best tennis players ever was difficult. Even after he won Wimbledon in 2008 in the "greatest tennis match ever" versus Federer, I didn't allow myself to bow down.
Roger Federer has a big shadow, but Rafael Nadal is getting plenty of sun these days.
His game wasn't a thing of beauty. In a sport in which the art often is in the eye of the beholder, Rafa's style -- regardless of the success rate -- blocked me from coming over to "the dark side" of tennis. His strength overpowered his finesse. Before my conversion, I would always say that he was not better than the players he was demoralizing, just more physically gifted.
He relied on his strength the same way Andy Roddick relied on his serve. Nadal had one thing no one else had, and he used it to his advantage. To me, it made him one-dimensional. And one dimension doesn't equate to greatness. Not when one believes that Roger Federer is greater in his sport than Tiger Woods is in his.
Despite the genius of Nadal's footwork, John McEnroe's saying he "never gives an opponent anything," the spin on his shots that science still can't figure out, despite his passion, his "you have to kill me out here because I will never die" attitude and approach on the court, despite his inside-out forehand, his grinding baseline style, his speed and quickness, his ability to "outthink" the best players in the world on a regular basis, I would keep asking myself: "If you took that physical advantage away from Nadal, what would he be?"
Which was a stupid (reference "ig'nant" above) question to ask when evaluating someone's overall greatness. It's like questioning the greatness of Shaquille O'Neal without size or Floyd Mayweather without speed. But I was under a spell. Federer had me hooked.
At his current pace, Rafael Nadal could pass not only Rod Laver's Grand Slam total but also Roger Federer's.
But with Federer getting taken out (not losing, there's a difference) before the finals of the past two Grand Slams and me having to face the unacceptable realism that he has begun to slide, I forced myself to look at Nadal in a way I had refused to in the past. I had to finally appreciate.
I should know better than to underestimate challengers to the throne. I had faced a similar situation when Prince began invading territory Stevie Wonder had staked out with musical virtuosity. Need I write any more?
I ended up being wrong about that one too.
So here I am: a Nadal non-appreciator-turned-acknowledger, a Nadal adversary-turned-advocate. I never thought I'd succumb to Federer's Darth Vader. Never thought I'd be forced to give credit where credit is long overdue. But I have. He gave me no choice.
So my apologies, Rafa. Sorry it took me so long to become your witness. Now I see you for who you truly are and have been for the past three years, sans injuries and your parent's divorce. I can finally see past Roger's 16 Slam titles and fully appreciate the eight (and counting) you've claimed. And although Bjorn Borg, McEnroe and Rod Laver are the best I've ever seen, I (finally) realize that you are one of them.
One of the best I'll/we'll ever see.
Scoop Jackson is a columnist for ESPN.com.
what a article - the 'conversion' process has begun :clap:
brilliant article....
he is sure to brk federer's record...just 24 adhukule 8 grandslams
no matter....the "conversion" process is bound to happen..... :)
I just now saw that a poll has been created...wow....it is very difficult to choose...but I would like to vote for "Comeback after Injury" as all of his critics had written him off...
but it would have been nice to see this also on the polls...winning back-to-back FO and Wimbledon titles multiple times (yes...now he has 2 over 1 against Federer...) :)
Link - http://sify.com/sports/nadal-faces-h...grahbjjfe.htmlQuote:
Nadal faces huge battle to complete career Grand Slam at US Open
2010-07-06 17:00:00
World No.1 and Wimbledon champion Rafa Nadal has said that he faces a huge battle to complete his career Grand Slam at the US Open, - despite the backing of tennis legend John McEnroe.
Nadal, who won Wimbledon for the second time on Sunday, now aims to become only the seventh man to land all four Majors.
Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Don Budge and Fred Perry are the six who have triumphed in Melbourne, Paris, London and New York.
Nadal, 24, who has also won the Australian and French Open titles, has never gone beyond the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows, with the concrete surface of the US Open being least forgiving on his limbs, as he suffers from tendinitis.
"I hope to be ready, to be healthy. Last year, I had abdominal trouble, two years ago I was totally exhausted in the semi-final with Murray after the Olympics and winning here at Wimbledon," The Sun quoted him, as saying.
"This year things might be a bit different. Now the most important thing is to rest then have three weeks like a pre-season practice in the US," he said. (ANI)
Link - http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010...l-nadal-tennisQuote:
Revitalised Rafael Nadal proves we were wrong to ever doubt him
• Spaniard hopeful of US Open success after short break
• 24-year-old has bounced back from injury worries
Simon Cambers
guardian.co.uk, Monday 5 July 2010 22.00 BST
Rafael Nadal has eight grand slam titles to his name, eight behind his rival Roger Federer.
When Rafael Nadal limped out of the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London last November having failed to win a set in three matches, the whispers were becoming more like murmurings. Many were convinced that we had seen the best of the Spaniard, that his troublesome knees could not withstand the torture of pounding the courts year after year. Eight months on the 24-year-old awoke today with what must have been an unparalleled sense of satisfaction after adding a second Wimbledon title to the fifth French Open crown he won in June.
We should have known better than to even consider the possibility that Nadal would not bounce back. This is a man whose competitiveness and intensity is unrivalled in the sport, a focus, a will and a huge talent that has been rewarded with eight grand slam titles so far, with the promise of more to come. Playing within himself is not in Nadal's DNA. Rather, everything is done as if his life depends on it.
"I love the competition, sport in general and I love to practise," Nadal said as he contemplated what makes him unique, a couple of hours after his 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 victory over the Czech Tomas Berdych. "You try your best in every moment. When I go to play golf I try to do my best. When I have a football match with friends and we play five-a-side, I don't understand why not everyone is running. I don't understand sport like this. When I go to play I enjoy running, finishing the match tired, to give it my all. It is a fun match with friends but that is what I understand is sport."
As he sits well clear at the top of the world rankings after back-to-back grand slam titles, it is that intensity which sets him apart from the rest. No one fights the way Nadal does. Every time a Roger Federer or an Andy Murray takes him on, they know that he will give every ounce of his being to win. It is a knowledge that drains his opponents of their belief. He is two grand slam titles ahead of where Federer stood at his age and, if he stays healthy over the next two or three years, who knows how many he will have by the time he calls it a day.
The only thing missing from Nadal's career is a US Open triumph. In each of the past two years, he has arrived in New York injured or mentally spent and yet still managed to fight through to the semi-finals only to run out of energy on the final weekend. This year, with the benefit of a brief holiday to come, he should be better prepared, so long as the intensive treatment to his knees that he plans to have in the next few days is successful.
John McEnroe is among those who believe Nadal can do it and it seems the Spaniard believes it too. "This year things might be a bit different," Nadal said. "Now the most important thing for me is to rest in Mallorca, to enjoy the summer and then have three weeks like a mini pre-season practice there. I will try to work as I did in December, which was very good for me. I will try to do the same and be healthy to play well in Toronto, Cincinnati and the US Open."
Nadal is already almost certain to end the year as the world No1, health permitting, and if he wins in New York, he will close the gap on those above him in the list of all-time grand slam champions, with the American Bill Tilden, who dominated the sport in the 1920s, next in line on 10. The ever-humble Nadal admitted that ending the year as No1 was a goal and that records will be important to him when he retires, but said his aim, as it always has been, is to simply keep improving.
"I don't know if I can improve but I have the motivation and the desire to improve," he said. "If it is not like this I don't want to play tennis any more. If I wake up one day and I go to practise without the desire and motivation to improve, then I will stop. That is why every day you go to practise 100% and if it is not like this and you only go to train then I don't like it. I want to learn, to improve."
Champion Nadal 8-) :clap:
irrepressible stuff.
nice name for the thread :)
i was just reading the article "rafa nadal converts" and it is already posted here. :)
Quote:
Wimbledon 2010: Rafael Nadal rising fast on list of all-time greats
The Spaniard is only 24 but, with eight grand slam titles to his name, he is moving up the rankings of tennis legends
1 Roger Federer Switzerland
Grand slam titles 16
Career achievements
Now regarded as the greatest player of all time, the Swiss was junior champion at Wimbledon in 1998 but did not win his first grand slam title until he was almost 22 when he beat Mark Philippoussis at Wimbledon in 2003. After that he soon made up for lost time, winning three more in 2004 and going from strength to strength, dominating the tour over the next few years with his all-court brilliance. He won five successive Wimbledon titles and five consecutive US Open crowns, and his fourth Australian Open victory in January took his tally to 16. When he won his only French Open title in 2009, he became only the sixth man to complete the career grand slam of all four major titles, Wimbledon and the Australian, French and US opens. His record of reaching the semi-finals or better in 23 consecutive grand slam events may never be broken.
Success at Nadal's age Federer had won six grand slam titles.
Verdict Though he trails Nadal 14-7 in their head-to-head meetings, it is pretty hard to argue with a man who has won 16 grand slams.
2 Pete Sampras US
Grand slam titles 14
Career achievements
Shot to fame in 1990 when as a gangly teenager he upset Andre Agassi to win the US Open, having beaten Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe on the way. Possessed arguably the best serve in the history of the men's game, especially his second serve, which he could hit anywhere from the same ball toss. Not as rounded as Federer or Nadal, with a limited backhand, his speed and athleticism were top-notch and his forehand almost as big a weapon as his serve. Seven Wimbledons, five US and two Australian titles helped him to pass Roy Emerson's total of 12 slams, which looked unbeatable – until Federer. A smooth volley behind his serve made him one of the last serve‑and‑volley exponents.
Success at Nadal's age His US Open triumph in 1995 took him to seven.
Verdict His failure to win the French Open means he may never be given the same credit as Federer.
3 Roy Emerson Australia
Grand slam titles 12
Career achievements
The Australian dominated in the 1960s and actually won a record 28 grand slam titles in all, 16 of them in doubles, making him one of the all-rounders of the men's game. Though his record of 12 is perhaps skewed by the fact that half of his wins came in Australia at a time when few of the world's best players made the long journey around Christmas time. All of his titles came before the professionals were allowed in, but that should not take away from his tally of six Australian Opens, two Wimbledons and two French Opens, and many of those wins came against Rod Laver, who was widely regarded as the best ever until the era of Federer. A serve‑and‑volley player at heart, he still managed to adapt his natural game to the clay of Paris and he was one of the first players to really espouse the virtues of sheer fitness.
Success at Nadal's age No grand slam titles.
Verdict Far better than he is given credit for, but the professional era certainly helped his cause.
=4 Rod Laver Australia
Grand slam titles 11
Career achievements
Nicknamed the Rockhampton Rocket for his style of play and the town he hailed from, the left-handed Australian was regarded by many to be the greatest before Federer came along, and by many even afterwards. Laver was an exceptional athlete, with a brilliant topspin forehand, helped by a massive forearm. Laver remains the only man to win the grand slam – in 1962 and 1969 – an achievement all the more remarkable because the second time was as a professional, having not played on the regular tour for many years until events became open to all in 1968. His ability to take defeat as well as victory made him loved by his peers and the public alike and there are many who will still say he was the best of all time.
Success at Nadal's age Five slam titles.
Verdict He lifted the game to another level and will anyone ever again win the grand slam twice?
=4 Björn Borg Sweden
Grand slam titles 11
Career achievements
The Swede with the coolest mind in the game. Borg took the use of topspin to another level in the 1970s, dominating both the grass courts of Wimbledon and the clay courts of the French Open. Five successive titles at Wimbledon from 1976 endeared him to the British public, who loved his looks, style and the contrast with Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe. With stamina to burn and an icy temperament that never looked like it would crack, he was nigh unbeatable on clay, winning at Roland Garros six times, and three times he won the French and Wimbledon in the same year, something only Nadal, now on two occasions, has done since.
Success at Nadal's age All 11 of his grand slam titles.
Verdict Would have won more titles if he had even played in Australia, his only failure was not winning the US Open.
6 Bill Tilden US
Grand slam titles 10
Career achievements
The American was one of the first men to really employ the use of a big serve, thanks in part to his 6ft 2in frame, which at that time was well above average and which prompted him to be affectionately called "Big" Bill Tilden. Though he played in the 1920s when there was no Australian Open, he racked up the titles, especially at the US Open where he was triumphant seven times, six in a row between 1920 and 1925. He also won three Wimbledon titles to reach double figures and later wrote several coaching manuals that were used for many years to come.
Success at Nadal's age Yet to win a grand slam title.
Verdict Always hard to assess an era so long ago, but he dominated for a decade, which can't be bad.
=7 Rafael Nadal Spain
Grand slam titles 8
Career achievements
Like Laver and Borg before him, the Spaniard has taken the game to a new level with a style of play that no one has ever produced before. Hitting the ball with an almost outrageous amount of topspin but with venom to match, Nadal was a well-built teenager who won his first grand slam title at the age of 19, when he claimed the first of five French Open titles to date. His athleticism is unmatched and no one covers the court the way he does. With one Australian Open and a second Wimbledon title today, he joins Ken Rosewall, Fred Perry, Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi and Ivan Lendl on eight grand slam wins.
Link - http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010...bledon-legends
Link - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8787017.stmQuote:
BBC pundits on Rafael Nadal's win over Tomas Berdych
The matador Nadal tames Berdych
By Boris Becker
Three-time Wimbledon champion
I've seen Rafa Nadal play better this week but whenever he needed to raise his game, at the end of each set, he did, he went up a gear.
Maybe Berdych was overwhelmed at being in a Grand Slam final but he's got the game and the power, which you can't learn, and it's just a case now of putting himself into semis and finals and earning the experience.
We've been expecting him to break through for a couple of years but [fellow Czech and eight-time Grand Slam winner] Ivan Lendl also came through late and he went on winning for a good few years.
We shouldn't forget how good Rafa is - he's got the best footwork and that extreme forehand grip and if you're a fraction too late on it it's impossible to get it back, it really is an impressive shot.
He's won the French and Wimbledon twice now in the same year and that speaks volumes, that's an almost impossible thing to do.
If he's physically able he can dominate tennis as Roger Federer has done these last few years.
By John Lloyd
Former GB Davis Cup captain
You felt Tomas Berdych had to win the first set but he was a bit nervous when he came out and Rafa Nadal's standard was so high from the beginning. Rafa just didn't let him in, Berdych's weapons were neutralised.
Rafa plays the big points well, that's what champions do - when they're break point down, their first serves go in, and he does it over and over again, that's why he's so great.
When anyone's up against Nadal, they look across the net and know everything has to be almost perfect, so they go out of their zone and try a bit too much. You want to play the way you usually play, but end up looking at who you're playing.
It was the same with Andy Murray in the semi-final, as soon as he lost the second set you thought 'he can't realistically win three in a row against Rafa', because Rafa's standard never drops, it's the same pressure over and over again.
Berdych seems to have got the mental aspect right because he also reached the semi-final of the French Open this year, but to win a Grand Slam he has to improve a few things, such as when to come forward.
As for Rafa, he's a crossover star - whether you like tennis or not you love this man. The look, the way he interviews, the brand of tennis, the fire and passion on court. When is he ever going to wind down? He looks like he could go on forever
Winning Wimbledon after the French Open is amazing because that is the toughest four weeks in tennis - winning two Grand Slams in the space of four weeks on surfaces as different as clay and grass is unbelievable.
He could now go on to beat Roger Federer's number of Grand Slam victories (Nadal now has eight, Federer has 16) - he's that good, absolutely. Although, while Roger Federer's domination may be over, we can't count him out of future Grand Slams.
But Rafa's got to plan it right and it will be interesting to see what tournaments he plays before the US Open - winning that will be a huge ambition, but even when he wins easy, that style of play takes it out of your body.
By Greg Rusedski
Former world number four
Once Rafa Nadal got the initiative it was one-way traffic - Berdych created a few break points but couldn't convert them.
Rafa is just so determined and focused. In the first round Rafa played great but all of a sudden he struggled, needing five sets in the second and third rounds and we were thinking we might get a Brit in the final. But Rafa was sensational from the semi-finals on.
Berdych was not the same player as we saw against Roger Federer in the quarter-finals and Novak Djokovic in the semis, but the combination of Nadal's 'leftie' serve and his brutal hitting is very difficult.
If you want to compete you have to get the mix right, not just hit from the back of the court. Berdych has to add that dimension, he always had problems leaving the baseline.
Five years ago we talked about him being a top-five player and challenging for Grand Slams, so it's taken a while, and I'd like to see him improve his movement forward and learning when to come in.
Rafa's a great ambassador for the game, he says all the right things and him and Roger are the best thing to have happened to men's tennis. Rafa knows what to say, how to behave and how to react with fans.
And Rafa can win the French Open and Wimbledon one after the other because he can adjust and has the strongest mind - when people were writing him off because of injuries, he came back better.
Unfortunately for all you Federer fans out there, this guy's going to be number one for a long time.
Rafa's organising his schedule better and if he stays healthy - which is a big question, your body starts breaking down when you reach 26 - Federer's number of Grand Slam victories will be in jeopardy.
superb articles, thnx for posting them Leo :clap: .......lets breakway from the rest to form a Rafa island :-)
i think comeback from injury is the greatest thing Nadal has done - but lets see the voting
Link - http://www.sportinglife.com/tennis/n...al_122941.htmlQuote:
FEDERER v NADAL - WHO'S THE GREATEST?
By Andy Schooler
Roger Federer has rewritten chapter after chapter of tennis history over the past seven years.
Pundits, fans and even players expected many of his figures to stand for a considerable length of time.
Yet now the talk is of those records themselves being surpassed by none other than one of his contemporaries.
Rafael Nadal's Wimbledon victory means he is now halfway to Federer's all-time record haul of 16 Grand Slam titles - the record many will always judge the sport's greatest by - and set the debate about who's the best back in motion.
As renowned coach Nick Bollettieri said this week, "it's utterly extraordinary that we can even pose the question," yet that's exactly what I and many others are now doing.
Will, in just a few years' time, the brilliant Nadal be regarded as an even better player than the remarkable Federer? Many already feel it's more than a possibility.
For example, in the immediate aftermath of Sunday's final, Greg Rusedski said: "Federer's record is in danger if Rafa can stay healthy."
Nadal's injury record, of course, will be a key element as to whether he can usurp Federer's incredible tally.
I've long written on this site of my concerns for Nadal and his chronic knee problems and although he's managed to win both the French Open and Wimbledon in the past two months, it would be foolish to suggest he's now fully healed.
The problem was mentioned by Nadal after his five-set win over Philipp Petzschner in SW19 and he was even saying in the second week that he "didn't know" if the knees would hold up.
Schedule management will be crucial for Nadal in the future. He's already made one good decision by skipping Barcelona during the claycourt season this year. It will now be interesting to see what he does on the less-forgiving hardcourt surfaces in North America.
That brings us to another point that will be a big determining factor in any future 'who's the best' debate.
Nadal's least successful surface has been hard and he's yet to claim the US Open title.
He admitted after beating Tomas Berdych in London that success at Flushing Meadows is now a major goal for him.
By winning in New York, Nadal would become only the seventh man to win all four majors; without it many will always rate Federer above him.
It was something I always pointed out in the Pete Sampras-Andre Agassi debate in the 90s. Agassi, of course, won on all four surfaces; Sampras - despite his huge haul elswehere - could never win on the clay of Roland Garros.
Moving on, and head-to-head record is another key stat which is sure to play a big part in the Nadal-Federer argument.
I've lauded Federer to the roof in the past but have never really had an answer for those who have pointed out his poor record against Nadal.
The Spaniard now leads their series 14-7 and although the majority of those contests (12) have taken place on Nadal's favoured clay, there's no doubting who's been best in recent years - Nadal leads 6-1 over the past two and a half seasons.
If our debate to focus on the question of style, Federer would be widely picked as the greatest. His shot-making took the game to a new level, while his movement has been a major factor in his success (and his lack of injuries).
Yet Nadal's more defensive game is hardly without its spectacular shots and it would be harsh to suggest he's not as entertaining to watch.
Many of the points raised above are ones which cannot provide a definitive answer to 'who's best' for some time yet.
So where are we right now? Well, a good reference point is surely age.
Nadal's Wimbledon win - his eighth at Grand Slam level - came a month after his 24th birthday.
At 24 years and a month, Federer had just won the 2005 US Open, his sixth major.
But it was what happened next that really boosted his position among - or should that be above - the other greats.
In the two seasons that followed, Federer won six of the eight Grand Slam titles on offer.
Nadal will do extremely well to match that but if he does, then surely tennis will be looking at its greatest ever player.
yes...comeback from injury is the greatest....he silenced his critics...and answered them on the court... :)
thank you.. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by MADDY
Link - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...041837420.htmlQuote:
Hard Work Behind the Scenes
Rafael Nadal's coaching team reveals the secrets of his fitness
By BARRY FLATMAN
At full stretch: resilience training is important to prepare Rafael Nadal for the strain of playing, especially on clay.
When Rafael Nadal first emerged on the ATP World Tour just before his 16th birthday, his new rivals in the locker room shared expressions of both amazement and fear that somebody so young could look so strong.
[b]Within a couple of years esteemed champions such as John McEnroe and Boris Becker were using terms like 'freak' and 'monster' to describe the Majorcan. They were not being derogatory, but rather expressing wry praise together with a certain amount of envy. The boy with the bulging muscles was clearly destined to become a who was going to leave an indelible mark on the sport.
Now, of course, Mr. Nadal is world number one and the first player this year to officially qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, which will again be contested at London's 02 Arena in November. He also remains the benchmark of strength and power in his sport that others seek to emulate.
Mr. Nadal has been troubled by fitness issues in the last couple of years with most of the concern focusing on his knees. In 2009, pain in his legs prevented him from defending the Wimbledon title he won two years ago and struck again in January when he was forced to retire after two sets of the Australian Open quarter-final against Andy Murray. It is therefore testament to his huge determination that he was already got his name down for the prestigious climax to the tennis year, one of the most arduous calendars in sport, which weaves its way around the world for ten testing months.
It is also testament to the work of his fitness and conditioning team. Angel Ruiz Cortorro, Joan Forcades and Rafael Maymo may not be names that are familiar to the legions of Rafa fans, but the trio has been hugely important throughout the Spaniard's career. They have always preferred anonymity, letting Mr. Nadal's exploits do the talking. And like so many support teams of leading sportsman, they fiercely guard the secrets of the training facilities and the weeks of preparation.
Accurate break-downs of actual training sessions and chronicled performance records are closely guarded secrets. Team Nadal sees no upside to revealing confidential information that could prove useful to his rivals.
Natural Strength
Those close to Mr. Nadal are prepared to divulge that he is an individual endowed with huge natural strength. Genetically speaking, this isn't so surprising. One of his uncles is the once-fearsome Migel Angel Nadal, or the 'Beast of Barcelona', who during his time at the Nou Camp won five La Liga titles and the European Cup along with 62 international caps for Spain. His career and reputation were founded on tremendous physical displays.
Like his uncle, Mr. Nadal appreciates the value of training and preparation. Dr. Cotorro is the Barcelona-based doctor who treats several tennis players and has long enjoyed the confidence of the Nadal family. He describes Mr. Nadal as a "very special athlete," with abnormal amounts of energy and explosiveness. "He mixes the explosive pace of a 200-meter runner with the resistance of a marathon runner," says Dr. Cotorro.
Like Dr. Cotorro, Joan Forcades is rarely seen in the players' entourage during tournaments. In fact he is a physical education teacher from the player's hometown of Manacor. Twelve years ago, Toni Nadal, Mr. Nadal's uncle and coach, asked Mr. Forcades to devise a training program to bulk up his nephew.
Mr. Forcades continues to supervise the serious training his young protégé conducts during the brief off-season that follows the ATP World Tour Finals and the Davis Cup final. Base camp is in the Nadal family residence in Manacor on the Torre del Palau, at Ruby Rector Square, near the Church of Virgen de los Dolores. Here Mr. Forcades has overseen the installation of a state-of-the-art gymnasium, complete with several high-tech machines.
"We work on different types of movements, with changes in speed and direction. That's how we improve his speed of movement, so Rafa can change direction quickly and easily," says Mr. Forcades. "We also use a 'bosu' [an inflatable training ball with one flat side] to work on coordination, footwork, movement and balance."
The physical work is at its most intense during late November and December. Unlike Andy Murray, Mr. Nadal does not pound the running track with multiple repetitions of 400-meter sprints to build up cardiovascular strength. The state of the Spaniard's knees dictate a lot of the training. Instead Mr. Nadal prefers high-impact aerobic work. In the weights room he does compensation work for his arms and back. And, unsurprisingly for a native of the Mediterranean, the swimming pool and the sea also figure prominently in his training regime.
Court Work
If Mr. Nadal is able to get home for a week or two between tournaments during the course of the season, the work is more focused on the tennis court with short sprinting routines as well as repetitive drills with the racket in hand. Mr. Forcades says: "Mostly we train towards more aggressive tennis to improve his footwork, coordination and explosive strength. The aim is that he doesn't wear himself out in matches."
Resilience is paramount in the Nadal training regime. He will often work with a balance board to boost the responses of muscle and improve reaction time. "You have to work on hip strength, particularly on clay when points on last longer," says Mr. Forcades. "Resistance is very important and we have to improve Rafa's recovery time."
Mr. Maymo is part of the regular support crew alongside Uncle Toni. He is the physiotherapist who prepares Mr. Nadal for matches and then supervises the hugely important warm-down or recovery period. Several hours of stretching is a very important part of the daily routine both as a warm up, an exercise in itself and then recovery.
Mr. Forcades says: "Rafa works on his joints in the morning when he gets up. Then he does lots of stretching. Afterwards there is also lots of hydrotherapy where he submerges his body first in a hot bath, then in an ice bath."
Finally, there is the all-important issue of diet. During weeks of competition, the majority of any athlete's intake revolves around carbohydrates, in the form of pasta, together with fresh vegetables. Mr. Nadal is also known to be a great fish eater, which is his main source of protein. He is allowed treats such as chocolate, salty Majorcan biscuits named Quely and his grandmother's special cake. He never drinks tea or coffee and is not allowed to eat meat on the day before a match.
According to his team, Mr. Nadal is a self-motivated individual when it comes to exerting himself on the tennis court. But occasionally he requires some cajoling when it is time for more mundane exercise in the gym. Tennis is perceived to be an individual sport. But without his support team, it is unlikely that the Spaniard would be the world number one.
Mr. Flatman is the tennis correspondent of The Sunday Times.
Link - http://www.telegraphindia.com/110070...y_12650797.jspQuote:
Nadal joins the greats
World No. 1 says he wants to improve on every surface
Neil Harman
Rafael Nadal crushed the challenge of Tomas Berdych to become Wimbledon’s first £1 million title-holder on Sunday and match Bjorn Borg’s 32-year record of straight-sets wins in finals of the French Open and at the All England Club in the same year.
Borg, who won £19,000 for his efforts in 1978, was in the front row on Centre Court as Nadal, the 24-year-old world No. 1, defeated Berdych, of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in two hours and 13 minutes of tennis higher on tension than it was on stroke-making.
Berdych could not dig as deep when it mattered as he had in defeating Roger Federer, the holder, and Novak Djokovic, the world No. 3, in the quarter finals and semi-finals respectively.
Nadal accepted that he had been more nervous than he expected in his fourth Wimbledon final in five years. He had lost twice to Federer and defeated the Swiss in a memorable climax in 2008 before returning Sunday having missed the championships last year through injury.
It may have had something to do with being the underdog against Federer, but the firm favourite against Berdych, the No. 12 seed. “If you are not nervous in a Wimbledon final, you are not human,” Nadal said.
“I was a little bit lucky in a few moments but I have just tried my best in practice, in the matches all the times. Every one of these is more special and this was not an easy year for me. To finish with the trophy here is really amazing. I didn’t expect anything before the match, except to fight on every point like it was the last.
“If you want to play well, you have to find a way to win. I move very well on this court and that is very important for me. It is important to play on grass a little bit more aggressive than on the other surfaces. But the main thing is to want to improve all the time, on all surfaces. Now it is time to enjoy the beach, fishing, golf, friends, party and Majorca.”
Nadal also had a word of praise for the Wimbledon crowds. He was astonished that, on semi-finals day, on Friday, they appeared to be split almost down the middle in support for him and Andy Murray, the British No. 1.
“It is the best crowd of the world,” he said. “More respect they have that for every player. For sure the crowd supported Andy, but they were supporting me a lot as well. That is unbelievable. I can only thank them for that.”
With his victory, Nadal joined Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Ken Rosewall and Fred Perry as a holder of eight Grand Slam singles titles. He has won eight of his past ten finals and has won the past five he has contested.
Berdych rises to a career high of No. 8 on the ATP Tour this week. “There are not that many weaker parts to his game,” the Czech said of Nadal. “I tried to play my best. It was really tough to find some special tactic to beat him, it was just to concentrate on myself, start well and hope I found some little chances. But he took them, not me.
“I need to grow up a little, get a bit more experienced and be more patient on court. The biggest difference between us was that when he got a chance, he just took it.
“He gave me one [break point] in the second set, one in the third set, and none of them I can bring to my side and just make a break. That just shows how strong he is.”
AhA - manasu vechuttAnyA, manasu vechuttAnyA! ini yaarum thadukka mudiyAdhu!Quote:
World No. 1 says he wants to improve on every surface
neenga kannu vaikaatheenga :twisted: :PQuote:
Originally Posted by Plum
http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2010/0...d-big-matches/
Why Rafael Nadal Wins Key Points And Big Matches
Rafael Nadal is one of the best players in the world because he has a very smart plan on how to play key points.
The perfect example of that were the two tie-breaks he won against Nicolas Almagro today in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros.
The first tie-break was played in a very controlled way (playing high percentage tennis) but the second tie-break was a masterpiece of tactics and intelligence.
Here’s what happened:
1. Nadal played a serve & volley on the first point. Almagro returned the serve on the T with a sliced backhand and Nadal had an easy volley. This was Nadal’s only third serve & volley in the match so far.
He played the first one on a break point in the first set and won it easily too as Almagro of course didn’t expect Nadal to serve & volley.
The reason why Nadal serve & volleyed on the first point of the tie-break was because Almagro returned most of the serves down the T with a sliced backhand.
Nadal recognized the pattern and knew that Almagro would most likely return the serve with a slice again. Combine that knowledge with a surprise approach to the net and Nadal has simply outsmarted Almagro.
2. Almagro took control of the rally in the second point and had Nadal stretched out wide on the forehand side. Nadal has neutralized those attacks in most cases (my best guess is in 9 out of 10 times) with a loopy cross court shot to Almagro’s backhand and that’s what Almagro was expecting.
Nadal knew that and decided to play a wrong footing counter attack forehand down the line which Almagro was not expecting. Again, Nadal outsmarted Almagro.
3. On the third point, Nadal again played a shot that he has never played until that point in the match. He attacked Almagro’s second serve with an inside out forehand and of course surprised him again. That was a third point in a row where Nadal played shot that surprised Almagro…
4. Nadal served the fourth point of the tie-break and stretched Almagro wide. Almagro returned the ball down the middle and the most obvious shot for Nadal was to play to open court.
But again Nadal played a shot that was not expected by Almagro – the short cross court wrong footing forehand winner. 4-0 to Nadal…
5. and 6. Almagro won next two points with very aggressive forehands where Nadal didn’t stand a chance.
7. He again took control of the seventh point where he attacked Nadal’s backhand from which Nadal played a neutralizing deep shot in most cases until that point. But he again chose a shot that Almagro didn’t expect – a very aggressive counter attacking backhand cross court shot which was a winner.
8. On the eighth point Nadal played one of his favorite patterns of play (choosing a tactical combo with the highest probability of winning the point): he served out wide, forced a sliced backhand return from Almagro and won the point with an inside out forehand winner.
9. With a 5:2 lead he again attempted a courageous backhand counter attacking shot but missed it.
10. He made a backhand winner from behind the baseline on the final point of the tie-break.
And that’s what Nadal does to his opponents on key points. He is very intelligent and recognizes the patterns of play that happen most of the time during the match and then plays something else on purpose. Those are his aces up the sleeve and he simply outsmarts his opponents on key points.
It’s what really separates the top few guys in the rankings from the guys who are ranked slightly below.
It was a joy watching Almagro taking Nadal without fear and I hope he learns some new ideas from that match and eventually reaches the rankings and success that he is capable of.
8-)Quote:
Originally Posted by leosimha
Link - http://www.eworldpost.com/raefel-nad...ayer-2626.htmlQuote:
Raefel Nadal…A complete player
After this year’s Wimbledon championship it could be said that Raefel Nadal is emerging as a complete player. Federer could not put up a good show may be due to his injury but at the end of the day these are counted just as excuses what actually matters is the victory.
It was said that Nadal is a better player on clay court but he has improvised and played well on the green grass too. Winning the Wimbledon is the dream of every tennis player. By winning this title he not only proved that he could play well on grass surface but also achieved his biggest dream. His best match in this tournament was against Andy Murray. Though the final match was quite erratic for him. He could feel the pressure. It just took him around 133 minutes to become the champion. Injuries are always a reason to worry for the players. Before the match began Nadal was also worried about his health. Besides this he was also worried about the surface. Grass is not considered to be his specialty but as it is said, where there’s a will, there’s a way. There’s no doubt now that Nadal possesses all the qualities of a champion.
:cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by wrap07
:clap: wow...what a detailed analysis given by the tennis pro... :notworthy:
thank you...wrap07... :)
Link - http://blogs.bettor.com/Rafael-Nadal...f-Grass-a15627Quote:
Rafael Nadal: King of Clay en route to becoming King of Grass
Posted By: Christopher Mayers Posted In: Tennis 6 hours, 8 minute(s) ago
Rafael Nadal: King of Clay en route to becoming King of Grass
Rafael Nadal Parera, nicknamed ‘Rafa’, is a left-handed Spanish Gun hailing from the town of Manacor on the Spanish Mediterranean island of Majorca. He started playing tennis at the age of three, when his uncle and coach to date, Toni Nadal, an ex tennis pro, introduced him to the racket. He recognized the natural talent Nadal had for tennis and started coaching him. Noticing that the boy played forehand strokes with two hands, Toni made him switch from Right-Handed to Left-Handed. This explains Rafa writing with his right hand and being Left-Handed at the court. His impressive winning streak at the ‘Roland Garros’ French Open from 2005 to 2008 earned him the title of ‘King of Clay’. His loss to 23rd seed Robin Soderling in 2009 in the fourth round of the French Open brought an end to his 31 match winning streak on clay. The match, which was termed as one of the biggest upsets in tennis, brought Nadal down from No. 1 ranking that he held for most of that year. In June 2010, Nadal regained his lost pride when he beat Soderling, now 5th seeded, in a straight sets victory of 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Nadal’s strong arm helped him clinch his 5th French Open title and 7th Grand Slam.
Nadal is often compared to Björn Borg due to his clay court dominance. This doesn’t come as a surprise as his coach Toni admired the Swede. "Because I remember Borg," Toni Nadal said, "Borg was the best. It's difficult to win a point against him.” After his 5th French Open title, he is only one title behind Borg’s record of six French Open titles.
His major victories in the French Opens already proved Rafa’s strength on clay court. What wasn’t expected by most was that the young player could also score on grass, that too against Roger Federer, ‘The Greatest Player of Tennis’. In a fierce battle of archrivals, Nadal beat Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7 to clinch his first Wimbledon title in 2008. In what was the longest and perhaps the most dramatic final of all time, Nadal proved the evolution his game was going through.
Grass courts are both slower and slipperier in contrast to clay courts. The players that generally do well on grass courts are the serve and volley players. Due to the bad bounces that often occur on grass courts, the speed with which the shot is returned matters the most on such courts. As a result, the aggressive players gain a distinct advantage over defensive players. Generally, the players that are great on clay courts aren’t so good on grass courts, and vice versa. The grass courts used in Wimbledon are 100% rye grass courts. This makes the courts even slower compared to the other grass courts.
Nadal, who is known for his ferocity, is basically defensive in his style of play; hence he gains advantage on clay courts. But the left handed shots don’t come naturally to the right handed Nadal. As a result, he struggles with serves and volleys, a major advantage on grass courts. At the same time, his chronic knee problem is somewhat subdued on grass courts, thanks to the easy on knees rye grass. Playing style on grass also means taking shorter fast steps which prevents any major strain on the knees.
Despite the fact that the odds of winning on grass were against him, the Spaniard scored again. This time he beat Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 to clinch his second Wimbledon title. This victory came unexpectedly, especially to his critics. A major part of this success was impacted by him improving his ground shots. This tilted the advantage on low bouncing grass courts to his side. Although Tomas’s immense serve power was a force to reckon with, it couldn’t stop Nadal from lifting the Wimbledon title. This victory was the 8th major crown for him and came at an age of just 24. This makes him halfway through to Federer’s 16 Grand Slams. The young player, although majorly powerful on clay, is still evolving, as was proved in his Wimbledon win. He surely has a long way to go, but the future seems bright for him if he can effectively tackle his knee problem and put more control in his game. His known defensive style has also seen a shift towards an aggressive one during this year’s Wimbledon. The prospects for Nadal to join the club of those few dominant on both clay and grass are high if he can get more wins on grass. His evolving game might in the future lead him to become ‘The King of Grass’.
Link - http://blogs.bettor.com/Nadal-versus...-player-a15653Quote:
Nadal versus Federer; who is a better player?
Posted By: Christopher Mayers Posted In: Tennis 1 hour, 13 minute(s) ago
Nadal versus Federer; who is a better player?
Two world class players; one known as Rafael Nadal and the second Roger Federer have taken tennis to a whole new level.
All through the last decade, both of these tennis players have ruled men's tennis nearly solely. With massively distinct individualities as well as styles, they have each casted their positions in the records of tennis history and maintain to make their mark.
Their contestation is remarkable. Each has taken full advantage exceedingly, from the other around the net on a number of important events.
Federer took advantage from having a real contender authenticate his charm after Andy Roddick turned out to be a much smoother nut to break, while Nadal's advantage has come with his embodiment, in the run of brilliance and his turning even brilliant in the process.
There are grumblings and rustling from tennis fans as well as some major critics of the game. A question that is beginning to put on some actual weight, should Nadal not anymore be taken as the Agassi to Federer's Sampras, but a lot more than that? Should he begin to be looked more like the same and less of a colleague?
Some may study this surprised and amazed. How can you put them side by side when one has half the overall quantity of Grand Slams? How can you even think about them as equal?
While comparing them in terms of their class and greatness, there is a need to first consider the factors that assess the level of greatness, particularly when putting the real stars of the game side by side.
Of course, the Grand Slam numbers the greatest factor, but at times that portion of a player's bequest, can out shine other important achievements that are fairly as significant, yet go hardly detected or recalled.
For example, Nadal will presumably add a slide of extra World Tour Masters thousand championship trophies to his professional life of eighteen, all by age twenty four.
One of the greatest luminary characteristic of the Federer/Nadal competition is that it is the only particular contestation in the open era, in which the presumed better player with more Grand Slam titles has an important losing history in both overall games and more noticeably, the Grand Slam events themselves.
Whether it was McEnroe / Borg, Sampras /Agassi, Rosewall/Laver or any other pair their track records were either quite similar or totally opposite.
At the moment, this argument has Nadal ruling with a 14-7 triumphing record, and more significantly, a 6-2 (5-2 in finals) history in major finals. Generally, Nadal leads 10-3 on clay court and both the players are tied 3-3 as far as hard-courts are concerned where as Federer is ahead with 2-1 on grass courts.
While the general history is unquestionably telling, it is the Grand Slam finals where the actual debate bears water.
With three victories at Roland Garros, and one success each at the grass court Grand Slam event as well as the Australian Open tournament, Nadal has proved that he can knock down Federer on all kinds of tennis courts, on the other hand Federer has hammered down Nadal just on the grass courts of Wimbledon at the All England Club.
On top of everything, Rafa hold a 7-3 record against the tennis master Roger Federer in the final matches of the World Tour Masters championships (6-3 Masters 1000). Now those victories are mostly, if not all of them, on clay courts but they are victories nevertheless.
Keeping all these stats aside, the truth of the matter however is that Roger Federer is definitely a legendary tennis star as far as his comparison with the 2010 Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal is concerned, there is certainly no one superior to one another in terms of class and flair of the game of tennis. Federer has the slam history, but Nadal is definitely a better player overall in terms of their match history as proof.
US open truimph panni 10 GS thandattum, appuram compare pannalam :lol2:
Does Nadal have an unfavourable head-to-head record with *any* player, at all?
Andy Murray?Quote:
Originally Posted by Plum
Link - http://blogs.bettor.com/McEnroe-Tips...or-Slam-a15564Quote:
McEnroe Tips Rafa for Slam
Posted By: Jonatthen Richard Posted In: Tennis 16 hours, 12 minute(s) ago
McEnroe Tips Rafa for Slam
Tennis legend, John McEnroe, has tipped Rafael Nadal to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same year at some point during the course of his career.
McEnroe says that Nadal is one of the leading figures in a gifted generation of sportsmen that has seen the standards in tennis raised to new heights. Nadal is about to embark upon a quest to win the US Open to go with his French Open and Wimbledon titles.
The American says it is really not beyond the realm of possibility that Nadal will win all four events during a single season at some stage during his career. This is something that has eluded some very good players in the past and is something that only the fittest and most agile professionals can complete.
Nadal has a lot going for him if this is something that he is going to do during his career. However, there are many reasons for pessimism, which could crop up at some point and halt Nadal in his quest to complete the Grand Slam.
Style and Form
McEnroe has always been an admirer of the way that Nadal plays. He argues that Nadal has one of the best techniques in tennis, which makes him difficult to play against. His style allows him to put whip and dip on the ball, which wins him a lot of points that he could rightly be considered out of.
He's never been in better form throughout his career. He is fit, playing well and very agile. This allows him to go from Slam to Slam carrying the same energy and enthusiasm, which is created by wins and confidence.
Nadal will now have the belief that he can win all four tournaments in a single season. He has still to win the US Open for the first time but he looks like the best player around at the moment by an absolute mile and this will give him confidence within himself if there are any small doubts.
Reasons for Pessimism
Nadal has been in very good form and fitness before but his knees have always been a part of his body that have gone wrong at the worst time. His knees will be really tested on the hard courts of the US Open and this is something he will have to keep an eye on.
Although there is a very good chance that Nadal could complete a full Grand Slam, it's very important to remember that he is playing in one of the best generations in tennis history. This makes it very difficult for any player to win more than maybe two events in a row because there are so many players who can win.
Some would also argue whether Nadal has the consistency to win four Grand Slam events back to back. You have to remember that other players are always going to raise their game when they play him and this is what nearly tripped him up at Wimbledon. He has to keep performance levels high.
Advice
Nadal is as capable as anyone else who has completed a Grand Slam of tennis wins in the past. He has the technique, the confidence and the fitness. The real test will be when he faces someone who wants it just as badly as he does.
If you can get good odds on this eventuality then it is worth a little bet but you have to consider how difficult a Grand Slam would be for someone playing professional tennis at this moment in time because it would take a real majestic run of form and wins.
No..it is 8-3 for Nadal against MurrayQuote:
Originally Posted by Sanjeevi
8-3 against Murray. The man just doesnt leave anything to chance :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanjeevi
But it will take atleast another 2 years for him to reasonably match Fed in Hard Courts and Wimbledon(oru 3-4 titleAvadhu jeyichA dhAnE King of Grass Aga mudiyin..) adhu varaikkum namma ipdi kELvi kEttE samAlichukkalAm.
adhukkappuram nenaichA dhAn....:shaking:
Nadal has a record of 4-3 against Del Potro and has a 2-3 record against Del Potro on Hard Courts...
Rightu appO Del Potro dhAN "King of Hard Courts" :yes:
:lol: :rotfl: :lol2: idhuvum paathudalaam...Quote:
Originally Posted by Plum
:lol: adhu romba hard aachEQuote:
Originally Posted by leosimha
hmm...hard for people like us...but not for Nadal... :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanjeevi