Rafael Nadal

[Bombardiero]

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Nadal On Ronaldo: 'He Was One Of My Favourite Football Players'

Spoiler:

Nadal speaks about the Brazilian and Real Madrid's loss against Chelsea
Rafael Nadal has big fans around the world. But one attendee inside Manolo Santana Stadium on Thursday at the Mutua Madrid Open during his win against Alexei Popyrin was more familiar than others for the Spaniard: football legend Ronaldo.

“I always admire the top athletes,” Nadal said. “I am a big fan of sport. When I was a kid, Ronaldo was playing in Barcelona with my uncle. So yeah, [he was] one of my favourite football players of all time, one of the best players that I saw play.”

One of Nadal’s uncles, Toni Nadal, is well-known in the tennis world for his work as Rafa’s coach. “Uncle Toni” is now mentoring Felix Auger-Aliassime. But another of the five-time Madrid champion’s uncles, Miguel Angel Nadal, played football with Ronaldo for FC Barcelona from 1996-97. Another member of that team, Luis Figo, was also in attendance at the Caja Magica on Thursday.

You May Also Like: Nadal Beats Popyrin, Reaches 15th Madrid Quarter-final
Nadal is a big fan of Real Madrid, which was knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday by Chelsea.

“I saw the match. Like a spectator, I have to say I'm very proud of my team. Of course, I don't like to lose,” Nadal said. “With all the difficulties that we had during the whole season with, I don't know, 60 injuries, it’s difficult to be where we were until yesterday, fighting for the two most important competitions we [are playing in]: semi-finals in the Champions League, and still fighting for La Liga.

“For me 100 per cent Zidane is one of my favourite [managers], without a doubt. Great person, great values for Real Madrid. I think the season is doing great after all the bad luck with injuries that we had. [It is] difficult to ask for more. If I will be the one to decide, of course I don't have any doubt that Zidane is the right guy to prepare probably the next team.”

How To Watch

Since he was a kid, Nadal has always found interests outside of tennis. While the Spaniard has become known for his legendary intensity and fight on the court, he has enjoyed other things, too, including football.

“I was not the kind of guy or person that I was just focussed on tennis, tennis, tennis every single day. I was practising very hard, yes. I was focussed when I was on court, 100 per cent. But outside of the court I enjoyed all my life,” Nadal said. “I was able to do the things that my friends did, just I was not able to go party every Friday and Saturday. I was [okay going to a] party one Saturday every few weeks, but I had a lot of parties in my life, too. I went to the beach. I played football. I went to the cinema a lot of times. I spent time having dinners with the family, with everyone.

“I don't think I missed anything, honestly. The only thing that I can say, if they did 100 or 1,000 times, I did probably 100, that's all.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nadal-m ... y-reaction

[Damian]

Rafael Nadal Named 2021 Laureus Sportsman Of The Year

Spoiler:

It is the second time Nadal has won the prestigious award
Rafael Nadal reached the quarter-finals of the Mutua Madrid Open on Thursday, but that was not his only victory of the day. Later in the evening the Spaniard was announced as the 2021 Laureus Sportsman of the Year.

Nadal also claimed the prestigious award in 2011 and was a nominee in 2009, 2014, 2018 and 2020. The other nominees this year were Joshua Cheptegei, Armand Duplantis, Lewis Hamilton, LeBron James and Robert Lewandowski.


“I want to say thank you very much from the bottom of my heart to the Laureus Academy. I have had some amazing competitors,” Nadal said. “The rest of the sportsmen probably deserve the trophy the same as me, but this was the year for me and I can’t be happier.

“Winning the French Open and equalling the 20th Grand Slam of Roger Federer has been an unforgettable moment. It means a lot to equal my great rival, but at the same time, my great friend. It’s something very special after all the history we have had together on and off court.

“The pandemic that we are facing is something unprecedented and I want to send a message of support to all the families that have suffered or lost somebody.”

The Spaniard received a message of congratulations from WTA legend Martina Navratilova.

“What can I say to you that hasn't been told to you by countless others? But, for me, watching you play, watching you compete for every point as if it is match point, your total and utter commitment to the sport, your professionalism is off the charts,” Navratilova said. “People will be writing books about you so that they can teach others to do what you have done so well for, now almost 20 years. So, I salute you, I respect you, I love watching you play and I hope you never quit so you can win, maybe 30 Roland Garros titles. Anyway, congratulations.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nadal-w ... -year-2021

[Barty]

ATP Madryt 2021: 96. ćwierćfinał M-1000.

[1] Rafael Nadal d. [Q] Alexei Popyrin 63 63

[Kamileki]

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Po raz pierwszy w swojej karierze, Rafael Nadal nie zagra w 3 kolejnych SF M-1000 na cegle.

[Grzesznik]

Beast Mode

Beast Mode skończyło się na Young Beast
Sasza rulezzz!

[Damian]

How ‘The Outlook Of The Match Changed’ For Nadal Against Zverev

Spoiler:

Five-time champion bowed out in quarter-finals
Top seed Rafael Nadal was left ruing his missed opportunities after bowing out of the Mutua Madrid Open quarter-finals to an on-song Alexander Zverev on Friday.

The World No. 2 led Zverev 4-2 in the first set, but the German broke straight back after a spate of uncharacteristic errors from Nadal. The Spaniard then had a break chance at 4-3, but flubbed a forehand to give his opponent a lifeline back into the set.

From there, Nadal said, the match completely turned. The 2018 champion Zverev rallied to win 6-4, 6-4 and book a place into the semi-finals.

You May Also Like: Zverev Claims Third Straight Nadal Victory
“I’m leaving Madrid with an overall positive feeling, but at the same time with the ugly feeling of having played a match like this today against a great player,” Nadal admitted in his post-match press conference. “I think for most of the first set, I was playing better than him. And this is the negative part; while playing better than him in the first set, I still lost 6-4.

“This is very difficult to understand, especially for me. When this happens to me, it’s usually in the opposite way – I find a way to win sets even though I’m not playing my best or as good as the opponent.”


Nadal fired only six winners across both sets, and more than doubled the unforced error count at 17. His normally deadly forehand only generated four of those winners, and 10 of the errors. By contrast, Zverev fired 28 winners – including 18 off the forehand – to dictate the outcome.

“I felt like I was playing better for much of the first set, but after a couple of errors – unjustifiable errors at the worst times – I found myself down a set,” Nadal said. “The outlook of the match changed there, both for me and for him. I knew then that a lot of suffering was waiting for me [in the second set], and for him, the knowledge that he just took a huge step forward during the match.”

The five-time Madrid champion was quick to give his opponent credit for putting him in uncomfortable situations throughout the match. Zverev claimed his third consecutive victory over Nadal, and the first on clay, to improve his ATP Head2Head record to 3-5.

How To Watch

According to Nadal, part of what makes the World No. 6 such a tough opponent to face is his huge serve. Zverev’s average first serve speed was 25 kph faster than Nadal’s (217 kph to 192) on Friday and bounced much higher in Madrid’s high altitude.

“It’s not that I wasn’t able to find my ‘minimum level’, it’s that you’re playing against someone whose serve gets you into big trouble,” Nadal said. “Every serve goes above 220, so in conditions like these I have to return like six metres behind the baseline and even then I’m still hitting the returns at shoulder height.”


After a bad day at the office on his home turf, Nadal was eager to look ahead to the rest of the clay season as he prepares for the Internazionali BNL d’Italia and Roland Garros. He is aiming to add a 10th title at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome, and extend his record haul in Paris to 14 titles. Victory in Paris would also put Nadal at the top of the all-time Grand Slam winners list with 21 major crowns.

“Where the clay season stands is very simple: quarters, champion and quarters. And now comes Rome,” Nadal assessed. “That's all there is. I’ve been able to reach quarter-finals in Monte-Carlo, win in Barcelona and reach quarter-finals here, and I feel like I’ve been moving forward.

“We’ll see what happens in Rome. For me, the objective before Roland-Garros is to go to Rome and win it. That’s the truth.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nadal-m ... y-reaction

[Bombardiero]

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

Nadal Makes 95-Year-Old Manuela’s Dream Come True

Spoiler:

Spaniard delighted fan after his quarter-final match
Early this morning, Rafael Nadal received a very special message. Before playing in the quarter-finals of the Mutua Madrid Open, the Spaniard read some heartfelt words on social media. Among his 15 million followers on Twitter, somebody’s message stood out over the rest.

“Today, my grandmother, at 95 years of age, will fulfil her dream of seeing you live,” wrote Carlos Carrizosa, the grandson of the protagonist of this wonderful story. “She is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and she told me that before she forgets what tennis and you mean to her, she wanted to see you live. I hope that she enjoys this day as much as I’m enjoying it.”

You May Also Like: Nadal: 'This Is Very Difficult To Understand, Especially For Me'
Carrizosa’s grandmother, Manuela Navarro Esteban, was hugely excited as they made their way to the Caja Mágica on Friday. There, they were able to see the winner of 87 ATP Tour titles and one of the legends of modern sport in the flesh in Madrid.


But Carlos and Manuela could not have imagined how much more they would enjoy their day, all thanks to the power of social media.

At 3pm, Manuela was in one of the seats in the Manolo Santana Stadium taking in the intense atmosphere. Just a few metres from the court, Manuela got to enjoy the power of the Mallorcan close up. Although Rafa ultimately did not reach the semi-finals, the support from one of his biggest fans was just as strong as it has been for his greatest victories.

Despite being unable to celebrate a victory for her favourite player, who was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by the German Alexander Zverev, Manuela was able to enjoy a special moment with the 20-time Grand Slam champion.


At the end of the match, having been knocked out of the ATP Masters 1000 event, the Spaniard was delighted to meet Manuela, who was patiently waiting at the exit to the locker rooms. Behind the scenes in the Caja Magica, minutes after competing in front of all the fans, Nadal dedicated some of his time to one of his biggest fans.

They shared a conversation in which they were able to exchange words of affection. Nadal met one of his most fervent supporters, contemplating what he represents to so many generations of fans. And Manuela, simply delighted to see him play live, then had the pleasure of meeting him face to face.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nadal-f ... 021-friday

[Bombardiero]

Coś na zasadzie "a teraz wytłumacz babci, dlaczego przegrałeś z Niemcem"?

[Damian]

Dzień przerwy:

[Lucas]

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

Niepowodzenie Rafaela Nadala w Madrycie. Hiszpan ma do siebie duże pretensje

Spoiler:

Rafael Nadal miał do siebie duże pretensje po porażce z Alexandrem Zverevem w 1/4 finału turnieju ATP 1000 w Madrycie, zwłaszcza za sposób, w jaki przegrał pierwszego seta. - To dla mnie trudne do zrozumienia. Zwykle dzieje się odwrotnie - mówił.
Marcin Motyka
Marcin Motyka
08 Maja 2021, 07:13

Rafael Nadal
PAP/EPA / Rodrigo Jimenez / Na zdjęciu: Rafael Nadal



Rafael Nadal skomentował zdobycie nagrody Laureusa. "Nie mogę być bardziej szczęśliwy"
Rafael Nadal nie wygra drugiego z rzędu turnieju w ojczyźnie. Po tym, jak przed dwoma tygodniami zwyciężył w Barcelonie, z imprezą w Madrycie pożegnał się w ćwierćfinale po porażce 4:6, 4:6 z Alexandrem Zverevem.
Po meczu Hiszpan miał do siebie duże pretensje, zwłaszcza za pierwszego seta, w którym roztrwonił prowadzenie 4:2. - Myślę, że przez większą cześć pierwszego seta grałem lepiej niż on. Mimo to przegrałem 4:6 i jest to dla mnie negatywne - powiedział, cytowany przez atptour.com.

- To dla mnie bardzo trudne do zrozumienia. Zwykle dzieje się odwrotnie - potrafię znaleźć sposób na wygranie seta, gdy nie gram na swoim najwyższym poziomie bądź nie tak dobrze jak mój rywal - dodał.

ZOBACZ WIDEO: #dziejesiewsporcie: Tak się bawi Hubert Hurkacz. Wszystko "na luzie"

ZAMKNIJ
- Pierwszego seta przegrałem po kilku nieuzasadnionych błędach w najgorszych momentach - kontynuował. - To zmieniło perspektywę meczu. Wiedziałem wtedy, że w drugiej partii czeka mnie dużo cierpienia, a on miał świadomość, że właśnie zrobił ogromny krok naprzód.

Tenisista z Majorki w piątek miał problemy z serwisem Zvereva. - To nie jest tak, że nie potrafiłem odnaleźć swojego choćby minimalnego poziomu. Chodzi o to, że jeśli grasz z kimś, kto tak serwuje, jesteś w dużych kłopotach. Każde jego podanie przekraczało 220 km/h, więc w takich warunkach musiałem cofać się o sześć metrów za linię końcową, by returnować, a i tak uderzałem piłkę na wysokości ramion.


Dla Nadala był to trzeci w tym roku turniej na kortach ziemnych. Czwarty rozegra w przyszłym tygodniu w Rzymie. Będzie to zarazem jego ostatni występ przed wielkoszlemowym Rolandem Garrosem (30 maja - 13 czerwca).

- Udało mi się dotrzeć do ćwierćfinału w Monte Carlo, wygrać w Barcelonie, być w ćwierćfinale w Madrycie i czułem, że idę do przodu. Zobaczymy, co wydarzy się w Rzymie. Celem tam dla mnie będzie zwycięstwo przed Rolandem Garrosem - zapowiedział.

https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/tenis/93768 ... -pretensje