Wooffie's off to the WTF at the O2 ...

Well ... can you believe it? I'm actually off to London tomorrow to catch my first ever real life glimpse of the Rafa-flesh. Tomorrow evening will be fabulous as the Rafateers are converging for a dinner and its going to be fantastic to all meet up.

I'm hoping to catch Rafa on the practise court on Thursday (Rafan is an expert now ... she can lead the way!!!) and on Friday, I will actually get to see the man himself play for the very first time. Can't wait. His opponent will be Novak Djokovic, so on Rafa's current form its going to be very, very difficult. But I shall totally enjoy the experience anyway.

Vamos Rafa!!!

Rafa didn't win yesterday ...

He lost against that twonk and that's all I'm going to say on the matter.

Rafateer in print ... (again!!)

Do you remember back in June our lovely Rafateer, Rafandready, actually met Rafa after he had to withdraw from Wimbledon. Well, yesterday (Sunday), she took the chance just to go up to the O2 arena to suss the place out and, well ... do a bit of Rafa-spotting.

She first shocked me by saying that she was watching Juan-Martin Del Potro on the practise court and describing him as ... HOT *yikes*. But then she gave the all important news that the rumour was that Rafa was due to appear to practise at 2.30 pm. And he did.

Not only did she give an account of her adventures on the Rafateer thread ... she also sent her summary to our favourite Rafa web-site, Nadal News. And Miri, who runs the site, went and posted not only her story, but her pictures too as a feature on the site!!!

http://www.nadalnews.com/2009/11/22/rafandready-reports-from-the-o2/

If that wasn't enough excitement, we saw later the posting of the video clip from Spanish news where they were showing Rafa practising, and there was a pan shot to the crowd ... and our Rafan was only in it!!!



To complete the picture, here's Rafan's video footage ...

Wooffie's question answered ...

Its worked again. Ask the world's most boring question and it gets answered. LOL

How are you coping with the cold and wet of London in winter?
Julie

RN: It is freezing!!! Today it was very windy and when we got out of the boat that takes us to and from the arena it was really, really cold!

http://timesonline.typepad.com/rafael_nadal/2009/11/questions-for-rafa-football-should-follow-tennis-and-have-video-technology.html

Rafa media day interview ...

Rafa gives this (quiet) interview to the BBC as part of the media day ahead of the World Tour Finals.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8371708.stm

After a year of pain, happiness in the No. 1 objective ...

In a week of revealing interviews, Rafa completes with another given to Neil Harman of The Times.

He's still incredibly open about his view on the Agassi saga, and again speaks of the pain of his family difficulties. The article ends with a lovely summing up ...

" ... I feel the hearts of the people.” And they feel his.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article6926050.ece

Let the World Tour Finals begin ...

Don't they look smart? Well, apart from that twonk on the end. Rafa poses with the rest of the competitors in the WTF in the pre-publicity before the start of the tournament.

Our boy wears a suit soooo well.

For everybody there are tough moments. This year, mine came ...

As the end of the year fast approaches, Rafa has seemingly finally begun to open up on how its really been for him. The greatest start to his season ever, the sadness of his parents break up, the injury and pain of losing his French Open title and being unable to defend his treasured Wimbledon.

This is a magnificent interview given to The Guardian ... here are just some stand out comments for me ...

"It was a hard moment for me," Nadal admits. "I can't play Wimbledon and it's my favourite tournament. I also lost at Roland Garros and I have a few personal problems. So everything coming together made it hard."

Nadal's gaze remains steady as he recounts the source of that turmoil. "My parents' divorce made an important change in my life. It affected me. After that, when I can't play Wimbledon, it was tough. For one month I was outside the world."

Nadal looks terribly young amid that quiet admission. "I am OK now," the 23-year-old says of his parents' divorce, "but you need time to accept. And it's more difficult to accept when you are outside home and don't know what's happening. At least the injury gave me time to be with my friends and family."

Severe tendinitis and the collapse of his parent's marriage undermined Nadal's composure at Roland Garros. "I played with less calm. One of the reasons was the pain in the knees. And I was down because of the divorce. Soderling played really well and he beat me. But I wasn't ready, mentally or physically, this year."

He comes out of this interview as he does always ... a fine, upstanding, candid young man. Vamos Rafa!!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/nov/17/rafael-nadal-interview-atp-world-tour-finals

I've cried enough ...

Rafa talked to La Vanguardia's Sunday magazine over the weekend. Its very serious and reveals Rafa's deeper side ... and he's cried enough.

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/41165122.html

Rafa's Parisian run ends against Nole ...

Nole was in imperious form today against Rafa and ran out a very comfortable winner, 6-2, 6-3. A ball called called 'out' by umpire - lovely Mo - but not by the linesman which would have given Rafa a break point in the opening came was challenged by Nole, and Hawkeye called it in ... much to the disbelief of both Rafa and Mo who had both seen the ball clearly long. So the chance went amiss, although it was fairly equal until Nole broke in the fifth.

And that was it ... Nole went on to win the next 7 games and played some blinding tennis. Rafa was powerless against it and although he didn't play particularly badly, he was no match for Nole today.

We're still looking for that confidence-boosting victory ... next up ... The Masters Cup and my countdown to actually seeing Rafa. *yikes*

Rafa post match interview ...

Here's Rafa discussing his victory against Tsonga yesterday ...

Rafa routs Tsonga ...

You could have forgiven us for doubting Rafa in this one. Tsonga in good form, the defending champion, in front of a partisan Parisian crowd ... and Rafa playing woeful at best.

But this was the day that the 'real' Rafa did indeed show up. Tsonga started magnificently and could have broken Rafa in his opening service game, but he hung on. Tsonga's tennis in the first set was about as good as he could play, but Rafa was up to it and broke to take the first 7-5. Rafa struggled at 0-40 down early in the second, but played some blinding, effective, attacking stuff and broke in the eleventh game to then serve out and win the match ... again at 7-5.

Tomorrow Rafa faces his buddy Nole, who knocked out that git, the Sod.

I am so happy for him ... hopefully this will be the turning point he needs to give him confidence that has been so sadly lacking of late. Vamos Rafa!!

Rafa squeeks past Robredo ...

Rafa only just nudged it past Tommy Robredo, coming out the 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 winner, as Robredo stood to serve out for the match ... and bottled it - thank God!!

The 'real' Rafa seemed to turn up for the final 2 games, but I'm glad he did. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga awaits in the quarter-finals.

Cheeky Marat ..

Video clip attached shows a bit more of the dire events of the Almagro match, but wait till the end as Rafa rudely keeps Nico waiting and when he comes out and bends over to put something in his bag, Marat has left the court and can't resist just slapping that "famoos ass".

Know the feeling ... like I should be so lucky ...

Dreadful ...

An utterly appalling display by Rafa in his first round match against fellow Spaniard, Nicolas Almagra. Rafa had to save 5 match points and Almagro - through cramp - was barely standing by the end of it. Rafa ran out the winner in a 3-6, 7-6, 7-5 scoreline. Vid clip attached shows snippets of all the day matches.

"She's" in town ...

Well ... it now seems a customary event in that the fragrant Xisca joins Rafa in Paris. I've copied the link below, but if you ask me, it looks like they're arguing in pictures 1-6. Tsk Rafa!!!



http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/vtpC0g2B4PP/Rafael+Nadal+in+Paris/BqixEuaGQLf/Rafael+Nadal

Rafa the matinee idol ...

I totally LOVE this photograph. Reminds me of the old 1940s studio shots for film stars. Adorable ...

And here's the link ...

http://www.purepeople.com/article/nadal-safina-tsonga-et-les-autres-les-stars-du-tennis-comme-vous-ne-les-avez-jamais-vues_a43493/1

Rafa honoured by French Academy of Sport ...

Rafa was honoured last night by the French Academy of Sport for his spectacular achievements in 2008. Most noteably, winning "their" tournament for the 4th year in succession after pulverising Feds.

Another nice suit, Rafa. *winks*

Here's the video clip ...

Rafa's also been quoted that he doesn't hold any grudges against the French crowds. Gentleman that he is ... Pity you can't say the same about those uncouth Parisians.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5j5h4avIATUyCgMOoHN8WgAujQNmw

And what of Uncle Toni ...

We haven't seen or heard much of Uncle Toni since the USO, but he's quoted here in a small article in the link attached.

I've put it through Google translation and for whatever is said about the coaching, the schedule, his tactics, the fact that he's never played tennis competitively, Toni has helped to raise a fabulous tennis player and fine young man - and for all of it, its been done out of love ...

"I've always claimed that my nephew was a mixture between effort and kindness, because success should not be understood unless it is accompanied by a correction. I've always wanted Rafa out, and a good player, also a good person. I wanted a get a mixture effort and kindness and an example for youth.

What really matters is happiness, but the dilemma is how to achieve it. I have always tried to have him present to the family and friendship, basic elements in the life of a person. The good people enjoy life more than others."

http://www.marca.com/2009/11/04/tenis/1257347174.html

Rafa appears on CNN Talk Asia ...

Whilst Rafa was playing at the Shanghai Masters, he gave an interview to CNN Talk Asia which was aired today.

Typically, he was nearly an hour late - rude Rafa - but here it is to enjoy ...