According to some google mangling, Rafa is in San Sebastien as his father explains that he has "several businesses in Gipuzkoa and come with some frequency". What that means ... who knows??
But ... and its a big one ... he's wearing that bloody grey cardie again!!!
The photographs are apparently taken at a restaurant he popped into and put "steak and asparagus under his belt". Nice call Rafa. I quite often do that for Saturday night dinner.
He stayed over in San Sebastien last night and was quite dismayed at Real Madrid's battering at the hands of Barcelona in El Classico. As he was in Madrid to pick up another award today, I'm sure it was the topic of the day.
Rafa was only to have 7 days off before he starts practice again, but he has to cut that to 3 because of the charity matches he's due to play with Feds. Poor lamb ... no wonder he has no time to buy a new cardie ...
I've no idea quite what Rafa is doing in San Sebastien, but he's posted these lovely pictures on his Facebook page.
He's there with his father, Benito, some bloke called Joxan (who he is, I have no idea) and finally ... the elusive Uncle Rafael. We all know about Uncle Rafael, but personally, I've not seen him before. He was definitely with the family at the O2 over the weekend because I remember thinking "oooh ... wonder if he's Uncle Rafael as he has a look of Miguel-Angel). Anyhow, mystery over ... it is.
Now forgive me for raising this, but we have yet another variant of ... Pom Pom Ahoy!!
From the horror and illness of last year's WTF, to the injury withdrawal in the Australian Open, to the 11 months without a title ... look at what our boy did.
Well ... its with extreme disappointment that I have to bring an end to this exciting and marvellous week with a report of a Rafa defeat. But that's tennis ... huh? After the match that Rafa played against Murray, insider information we have from a friend of Denzy's cousin who works at the O2, was that the pair of them could barely crawl their way out of there when it was all finished. So frankly, they'd done a good job of beating themselves up for whoever was to face Feds.
Feds has been secretly practising all week at Queens and never put in an appearance at the practice courts - great for the fans, eh? Not! But its obvious he's been working on his backhand to try and counteract that shot that Rafa batters to death.
So the match starts and they are fairly evenly matched, with Rafa going 30-0 up on the Feds serve in game 7, only for it to come to nothing. But in the following Rafa service game, Feds pounces and then serves it out for the first set. To Rafa's credit, he kept himself in there and took a break on Feds serve at the same point in the second and he then served it out.
So the match goes into a decider, but on Rafa's serve at 1-2 down, and from having 2 game points, Rafa will be disappointed that he let that one go, and from Feds being a break up, its as if all the adrenalin that Rafa had been running on just seeped away, weary in the knowledge that his body probably didn't have it in him to fight his way back. He was spent at that point and lost the match, 3-6, 6-3, 1-6.
Whilst its disappointing that he lost against Feds, cos I loathe and detest him more than any other player - even the Sod, perhaps - Rafa should take so many positives from this tournament. Indoor tennis on hardcourts is the worst of all the surfaces for him. He hadn't played any tennis indoors this season and was unable to participate in his warm up event in Paris because of injury. He therefore hit this tournament cold, rusty and out of practice, but won all of his round robin matches. He beat Murray in that teutonic battle on Saturday, and levelled the match on Sunday by taking a set off Feds who hadn't lost one all week.
So all in all, that was a damn good showing from Rafa, so well done honey.
So that's it folks ... tennis done for another year ... its all over. Rafa has achieved more than anyone could ever dream of, himself included. 3 Slams, the elusive US Open, the Wimbledon-French Open double (again), his record breaking 18th Masters, the Clay Slam, the Sportsman of the Year as voted by his fellow players, re-gaining the Number 1. And the biggest achievement of all ... he met me. Hehe.
We've just *unclunked* and *unclicked* ourselves out of the rollercoaster.
It was a tight and even first set with nobody having any break points and it ended with the inevitable tie-breaker. That also became fairly even, but Rafa started to break slowly ahead and got it by 7 points to 5. He seemed on it early in the second too, with break points on Murray's service game, but Murray survived and as the set progressed, I thought Rafa looked slow and out of it, and he just wasn't moving. Dare I say it ... he looked tired. Rafa ended up being broken twice in that set and lost it 6-3.
But with Murray in the ascendency, from nowhere, Rafa got that break in the third. There were a couple of lazy drop shots from Murray, which were entirely the wrong decision to make. I just felt though, that there was a growing inevitability that at some point, he would get that game back. So I just wanted Rafa to try and win before he had to serve, and again ... where did that match point come from? But Rafa was made to serve it out ... and we've never been so quiet watching a match. And not unsurprisingly, that break came.
I thought Rafa did well on his serve to take it to a tie-breaker and again, when he was down 1-4 in it ... you thought uh-oh ... but that's why he's a great champion, and he clawed his way back to eventually get his first match point. He didn't make, but got another. He then hit a devastating cross court forehand that landed plumb in the corner, and he came through ... he won.
Murray played a terrific game today and it was a great match to watch. I've no idea how Rafa will come out tomorrow and how much he will have left, and I fear for that. But he's there ... he's made the final, and anything can happen.
For the final time this year ... Vamos Rafa!! You can DO it!!!
We've been extremely spoilt to have Rafan bring us her wonderful reports and pictures from the O2, and here is her final input. Thank you so very, very much for taking the time to do this and share it all with us. And so glad that you were rewarded with your very own Rafameet ...
I’ve had another few sessions at the O2 – I went to the Rafa/Djokovic match on Wednesday but everyone already knows about that – I just went after work so no chance for practice watching or any extras, but I attach my Facebook photo album (my Flickr account has reached it’s monthly maximum!).
On Thursday and Friday I was off work – hurrah!
Thursday started in the fanzone drinking free Winter Pimms with fellow Rafa fan (and Maymo lover) Kim, while watching Berdych practice. After he’d finished, we went down to the Clipper pier in search of the elusive pom pom photos, but unfortunately Rafa had arrived early (shocking!) so it was to no avail. We found out from the security people that Rafa was due to practice at 4 pm, so we headed for the court. Toni arrived first, and I swear Rafa kept him waiting for about 10 minutes :-). He practised for about an hour, seemed quite grumpy and his doctor was with them. I don’t know if anything in particular is troubling him, or if he’s just fed up with something. For one the cold weather in London – there have been heaters on the practice court every day!
After Rafa’s practice, we went back down to the Thames Clippers. There were loads of Roger fans down there, and he was due; we prayed he would come out before Rafa so that they wouldn’t be there cramping our style LOL. Luckily he did come first – and I have to say that whilst I haven’t seem him practice at all in the O2 (apparently he’s been practising at Queens) and I thought it was a bit “treat them mean, keep them keen” towards his fans, he was lovely with them all when he arrived for the Clipper – probably about 10 of them had separate photos taken with him and he was doing autographs. Bearing in mind it was absolutely freezing cold, I thought he was a true gent.
Then…RAFA! The security guards had warned us he wasn’t happy, but said we could ask him for autographs etc, and he might say no (eek). I asked if I could have a photo with him and he said yes, though he said it would have to be quick because there were lots of people waiting on the boat. He also signed a photograph that I had with me of him with the Wimbledon trophy. We were so lucky again because really there was no-one about. He then had a couple of photos taken with the ATP drivers and headed down the gangway to the boat, while Kim and I screamed our way back up to the O2 and then home. Unfortunately the pom pom proved elusive – I am too short for both me and the pom pom to appear in the picture LOL.
Today I got up to the O2 for 10 am, and knowing that Rafa would probably practice at 11, I headed straight down to the Clipper and within 10 minutes – RAFAAAAAA! POM POM AHOY! This time I managed not to shake, didn’t ask for autographs etc, and focused on capturing that pom pom on celluloid (well, a memory card :-)). I wished Rafa good luck as usual and he waved and then dived into the car.
Straight up to the O2 and to the practice court and sure enough Rafa was due in 15 minutes. Of course word had already got round, so the end where Rafa has been mainly practising this week was full. I stood at the other end and just enjoyed the view rather than looking through the lens. Rafa practised for an hour and then went off with another good luck ringing in his ear.
Then – I am ashamed to say – I went and lied my bottom off…I had Level 4 tickets for the match today, so I went up to customer services and said that I’d had seats in Level 4 yesterday (true) but that I’d felt dizzy while I was sitting up there (not true, because I didn’t use them, I was too busy watching Rafa practice), and I had been told they’d be able to accommodate me at a lower level this afternoon. They said yes, and gave me a ticket court end in Row A. This is about 5 rows from the front as there is EE, FF, GG, HH before A for some weird reason.
Anyway, I settled in and enjoyed watching lovely Kubot and Marach beat Nestor and Zim (can’t spell the rest of his name).
Then I noticed the customer services lady asking people in the very front row if they wanted to move, because you couldn’t see the baseline from that seat. Some said yes! So…I went and asked her if I could take one of those seats – and she said yes! And that’s how I ended up front row for the price of a Level 4 ticket (£22.50!). To save my honour slightly, I had originally asked at the box office if I could exchange my ticket and pay the difference, but they said no exchanges and no refunds – so that’s their bad luck!
The match itself was fabulous, once Rafa had got mad he was even better, I think it really fired him up. I loved being so close and able to see it all – and in fact I didn’t even take that many photos because I was just enjoying it.
At the end the whole Nadal family walked past – Mama is gorgeously slim and pretty, and I waved hello to Maymo. I’m so happy Rafa won – what a difference a year makes!
I had booked in for a cut and colour tomorrow afternoon – guess my hairdresser will be getting a slightly apologetic phone call saying I won’t be able to make it afer all.
Um…I think that’s all, I attach the pom pom pictures too!
Vamos Rafa, and thank you once again for so many lovely memories
Here's the link to Rafan's report on NadalNews ...
Sadly, I didn't get to see the match today because I am poor and can't afford to switch over to a Sky+box, and my fellow Rafateers haven't seen fit to raise enough cash to buy me one. Hehe. So I have to depend on ye-olde-video-recorder-thingy. Which I forgot to set today ... duh!! Equally, I couldn't finish work early, so I sat at my desk with livescores open and lovely Denzy giving me match commentary via the Rafateer thread.
It seemed that Rafa had his chances in the first set, but didn't manage to take them, but then of course, all hell broke loose towards the end of the second set. How I see it, Berdych hit a shot that Rafa considered was out and made a half hearted attempt to hit it, but immediately raised his hand to call out and he wanted a challenge. As he did this, the umpire Carlos Bernardes called "Out". Now effectively, he's calling the ball long as an 'over-rule' because the linesman never did. This then got to Berdych who challenged the the over-rule. Hawkeye showed the ball to be in by a gnat's whatsit, but then Bernades awarded the point to Berdych. At which point Rafa became incensed, because he'd stopped play to challenge, but Bernades opened his mouth changed things and the result should have been a replay of the point. Confused?? Anyhow ... I've never seen Rafa challenge so vociferously or involve the referee. Blimey, he's sexy when he's mad. And the rising intonation in his lovely Spanish speaking voice would make my knees buckle with desire if I was having an argument with him. ;-) Anyway ... Rafa was right, end of.
So Rafa won all three of his matches, he's through to the semi-final, and he'll face Andy Murray tomorrow.
Well ... she had the excitement of being at the Rafa vs. Nole match last night and today and tomorrow, she's there full time. She's had so many experiences, you would not believe it, and yes, I can bring the snippets of it all to this blog ... but it would be so much better to wait for Rafan's own report so that she can bring the lovely little nuances that only someone who's directly experiencing it can bring. We just have to be patient ... that's all.
But I have to say just a little something about today ... she was at the clipper terminal this afternoon when ...
SHE ONLY WENT AND MET RAFA!! AND HAD A PHOTO TAKEN WITH HIM TO BOOT !!!
*screams* He also signed a Wimbers photograph for her with his full signature. You know, that lovely photo of him with his collar up, holding the trophy tight to him. *sighs*
I've had a phone picture of her photograph sent to me, but lets be patient ... I'm sure she'll let me post it here. Only there's one thing to add ... her friend only went and cut off Rafa's pom pom from the picture!! grrrrrrrr ...
In an attempt by Sky Sports to bring a more light-hearted view of the players, they were asked some random, off the wall questions that Rafa only seemed able to give his dorky grin too ... (bless, I love it).
What was the name of the first girl you kissed??
RN - I don't know ... I have to think about that a leetle bit ...
What a funny old match that turned out to be ... It started out by being all of its much hoped for billing. Some great tennis, the boys matching each other toe-to-toe. Rafa was the first to break serve and we thought yesssss ... only for him to lose his own straight after. It was seemingly heading for a tie-breaker, when Nole experienced an issue with one of his contact lenses. I'm afraid things like that with eyes make me feel a bit queasy, but he was in some obvious discomfort and had to call a halt to proceedings.
So then the melee started, and there was the doctor on court, then Nole leaving the court, then did the doctor come back on court? The Tour Director came on court ... and amongst it all, Rafa broke and won the first set 7-5.
However, the most ridiculous thing about it was that Nole's problem became elevated to an "equipment malfunction". Now OK, this issue was taking longer to sort than what's allowed in a medical time out and nobody wants something daft like a default because of an usual situation. But Rafa took it all in his stride until he became incensed because the umpire, Steve Ullllllriiiiiiiiich was hastling Rafa to hurry it along when Nole was having over 7 minutes to sort his problem.
Cue a field day from the commentators and seriously, I know Rafa is slow, I know he bends the rules and he should hurry it up ... but what about some common sense from the umpire and why don't the commentators just give it a rest with all of this. Enough already!!
No fault of Nole's, it was just a funny occurrence but it did hamper him and his play, and when Rafa raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set, there was an air of inevitability about it all. Rafa won out, 6-2 in the second. Rafa seemed pleased with his result, however, and its two wins from two for now. Tomas Berdych awaits him next.
I've been bringing you our lovely Rafan's O2 reports, and today she was at the practice courts watching Berdych. At the end of practice he just walked on by and wouldn't give any autographs so she said "Good luck Rafa!!" as he walked off. Hehe ...
It seems that Rafa has written a public 'letter' to Carlos Moya ... to express his feelings and emotion upon him retiring from the game ...
Friend of everybody
Now that Carlos has said goodbye to tennis I feel emotion and sadness. I appreciate him as a tennis player. He was one of the greatest we've had, someone who brought something different: a tennis boom in Spain since reaching the Australian Open Final. Then, as a person, for me is a sad day because having a friend with you during tournaments and long hard seasons helps tremendously. With Carlos I've always had an excellent relationship. All the moments we spent together are unforgettable. I appreciate everything he has done for me since I entered the circuit with 15 or 16 years old, when I was a dwarf. I was a little shy and he made me feel like one of them. He helped me a lot with everything. Having a friend in difficult times of nervousness, someone to talk with, and much more experienced than me, helped me a lot.
This is how everything started. I met Carlos when I was 12, in Stuttgart. I was nervous, as usual, he was someone I admired, who I've always watched on TV. The first contact with him was strange, complicated, as it's normal in children. Fortunately, Carlos is very easygoing and open, and he makes you feel comfortable right away. The following day, though he had lost, I had the opportunity to train with him for an hour. I was 12 years old! What an opportunity! It was really impressive for me.
What did he teach me? When speaking, nothing. With his attitude, many things. I can talk about his attitude towards me, which is a good example. To have one fellow Mallorcan so successful at what he does and at the same time so down to earth, as he was with me, it would be difficult for a lot of people to accept. It would be normal for him to want to mark distance. But the opposite happened. He always supported me and stood by me in many difficult moments. His behavior in tennis is not for everyone to reach. And it shows in all the friends he left in the game. He will be remembered as one of the best people in the circuit. He is a friend of all, one who had an excellent behaviour on and off the court. I'm lucky. For me, it's the partner that goes, but I keep the friend.
As Carlos told Rafan ... ;-) Rafa was today presented with both his ATP Year End Number 1 award, along with the Stefan Edberg Sportsman of the Year award ... a very proud moment, and Rafa looked completey delighted.
Erm ... I think the glass one is the Number 1 Trophy and the trophy looking trophy is the Sportsman award. Whatever ... erm ... actually, I've got that the wrong way round. *doh* He was proudly watched by his family and team and I sincerely hope that we will get to see you holding these trophies many times to come, Rafa. Vamos!!
Che bello!! Our lovely smooth faced, thick haired (??) *cough* Rafa is currently donning the pages of November's Italian Vogue. He does look chiseled boned, with his glorious white teeth ... a bit like me-self on a Monday morning. Hehe ...
This is a brief translation of part of the article ...
A portrait of the best tennis player in the world
Twenty-four year old Rafael Nadal Parera, or more simply "Rafa", has won so many tennis titles that even the biggest sporting ego would be contented.
Literary critics see him as the incarnation of the concept of Dionysus, the God of terrestrial passions and enthusiasm for life, and place him alongside his sporting rival, Roger Federer, or the god Apollo; in recent years their sporting rivalry has become famous, and on world tennis courts they have provided some of the most spectacular shows ever seen. And yet Nadal's temperament, possibly not by accident, is modest and quiet.
At 15 years of age he was ready for his debut in a major tournament, one in his own country, in Mallorca. I met him before the tournament at the sports club. He was introduced to me by his mentor and fellow countryman tennis player, Carlos Moya. Rafa didn't look me in the eye and shyly introduced himself. "I hope to win a game in ATP; that would be a dream", he told me, even too modestly.
And yet there are some titles which are special to him: "Wimbledon 2008 was fantastic for me; it was a boy's dream that became real. Then, winning against Roger Federer 9-7 on the fifth set was truly special".
Giorgio Di Palermo, L'Uomo Vogue, November 2010
Here's a link to the article ... and we've already tasked Rafan with the endless trips to Victoria Station to get us a copy. ;-)
We've been so lucky to have our Rafan reporting down at Ground O2 this week, and yesterday was absolutely her best day yet. Not only did she have the experience of the two matches of Nole and Berdy and Rafa and Roddick, but some fabulous practice court experiences, seeing a number of the players and ... Pom Pom Ahoy!! Read on and enjoy ...
Monday 22 November
I arrived at the arena at 11.15, after having had a more leisurely morning than recent days, and met up with Kim and two of her friends . We then bumped into another lady who we met last year at the WTF so we were quite a happy little group! One of Kim’s friends is a huge Murray fan (and in fact has won a hit with Jamie Murray in a competition!) and so she wanted to know where the Clipper was to see if we could see him arrive. We went down there and as usual the ATP cars were lined up and we got chatting to a really nice bunch of drivers, they were all laughing at us and giving us little snippets about how they shake Rafa’s hand every day and how they had him in his car yesterday etc. Not that we were jealous much.
While we were waiting one of the ATP Clippers came in and Verdasco, Ferrer and Murray all disembarked. Ferrer and Nando walked straight past (Nando waved) but Murray came over and signed a few autographs So then of course we got to wondering when Rafa was arriving…but I had tickets for the afternoon session and really did want to watch Nole against Berdy so in the end I decided to go in and see the match. Berdy is not in form so it was an easy win for Nole. Diego Maradonna was in the crowd and when Nole mentioned him in the on-court interview he got roundly booed – hilarious! That World Cup “Hand of God” is stuck in the memories of us Englanders!
I knew Rafa was practising at 5 pm at the Sponsor Village so I hot-footed it down there, only to get a text from Kim saying he was due in on a Clipper at 4.30 so I raced down to the pier. Angela and her friend were already there, together with a bunch of Vamos Brigaders. And then (earlier than 4.30!) RAFAAAAA! Pom Pom Ahoy! He didn’t stop for autographs as he was ushered through, but we wished him “Good Luck Rafa” and he smiled and said thank you. The picture I took was rubbish but Angela got a really good one.
Then it was a quick run up to the practice court again, and I managed to manoeuvre myself to the front. Pat Cash was on the court with some small children and another ATP trainer, they were doing hits with the little ones. Then at 5 …. RAFAAAAAA! He practised again with Marc for a good hour and then kicked two balls into the crowd (I didn’t get one) and waved as he went off.
After that I met up with another two friends - Pearl and Mrs L - for a coffee before Rafa’s match! We timed it perfectly as we got into the arena just as the doubles match finished (sorry if that offends any doubles fans). Then came the build up, and then the match! I was up in the gods, but in Row A and had a brilliant view. The good thing was that because I couldn’t take any “good” photos I actually sat and watched the match properly rather than through a camera lens, and it was so good! You could tell Rafa was nervous during the first set but A-Rod’s serve was unstoppable as well, and I think Rafa’s first serve % was pretty poor. When he got broken again at the start of the second I thought “oh nooooooo”, and was so pleased when he broke back, but then had some nervous moments during the TB, hurrah that he came through. He was playing much better by then and I think A-Rod was starting to tire, so luckily the third set wasn’t toooo nerve-wracking, though when Rafa was serving for the match I was a bit on the edge of my seat. Then a lovely on-court interview for Rafa and a long trek home for me.
I haven’t had chance to upload/download (whatever it is) any photos from yesterday yet but to be honest my best photos are still from Saturday so you aren’t missing out on much. My Flickr account has been updated with some photos from Sunday though.
I have managed to get a good ticket for tomorrow night’s match against Nole. Today and tomorrow I’m back at work, and then off again on Thursday and Friday and hopefully will be able to bring you some more Rafanews.
Once again, Rafan has been published in Nadal News and here's the link ...
All aboarrrrrrrrd!! Blimey! were we all strapped tightly into that rollercoaster last night then?? Rafa started the match what seemed fairly brightly, and had a couple of break points, but to no avail. His own service game was littered with errors and two double faults, the second of which cost him the game. Roddick then started to play pretty well and made life uncomfortable indeed for our Rafa and he took the first set 6-3.
For all Roddick's good play, he was helped in no small part by some terrible Rafa errors, and his big shots of the forehand and his new serve were not firing at all. When Roddick broke again in the second set, sorry to say this, but I thought it was curtains for Rafa as he hadn't had a sniff at the Roddick serve since the first game. But he broke straight back and the set headed to a tie-breaker.
Clunk, click ... that was me getting myself strapped in. Rafa, however, was starting to feel his way into the match and find his form a little better and thankfully, he pulled off the breaker by 7-5 points. I somehow then felt - as you do with Rafa - that he was going to win this match. He was obviously lacking practice, rhythm, range and finesse after a 5 week lay off, but I felt Roddick tired and lost his momentum. Rafa broke and took the match with a third set scoreline of 6-4. Phew ...
The stars came out to watch him play last night - and no, I don't just mean Rafan, Pearl and Mrs L - Kylie decorated Rafa's box along with a couple of actresses who weren't recognisable to me. And oh ... Diego Maradona graced with presence. Nole next ... now that will be one heck of a match and Rafa will have to get a whole load better ...
Its now only minutes away till Rafa steps on court for this year's World Tour Finals and this video just gives us a few vignettes of his year to date. I am sick with excitement and can't wait to see him.
Come on Rafa, you can do it, you can DO it!! *screams*
We have been fortunate over the past couple of days to have first-hand reports from the O2 from our lovely Rafan. She's brought us all the Rafanews along with her own lovely photographs.
But I have to laugh because she's now managed to find her way into this Spanish TV clip ... *rofl*
Following on from yesterday, we are lucky that we have a first-hand reporter-at-large bringing us all her first-hand experiences of this year's WTF.
Here's Rafan's second report ...
Buenos noches a todos!
So another day at the O2! Another early alarm call , got to the O2 at about 10.45. Bought a programme (£10) - this year it's a total rip off - you can get the souvenir programme for £10 but then (if you want it) you also have to buy another daily programme for £5 each! No free OOP or anything like that. Rip off!
Anyway, I met up with my friend, and we asked the security people where and when Rafa was playing. This time they weren't playing ball and said players just turned up where and when they felt like it. Ha! Did they really think we'd fall for that?! So we headed down to the fanzone and spotted a photographer...hmmm, wonder who he was there for? We asked him, and sure enough Rafa was expected. Then another very kind security man came up and showed us the practice schedule - Rafa was going to be in the Fanzone for half an hour, and then onto Sponsor Village. Then we saw Rafa Maymo and said hello! He confirmed Rafa was due - and sure enough along he came. Security around him, and swift entrance onto the court. Hitting with Marc Lopez again, and as Wooffs predicted yesterday - the match face was on today. No more of the larking around.
I have to say - the Fanzone isn't that great for watching and rubbish for photos! Lighting is really weird, and the seats are set back a bit too far from the court. But not to worry, it was Rafa! As soon as he left that court we ran to the Sponsor Village and Rafa was there already - secret tunnels behind the scenes!
He practised until 1 pm, so another 2 hour session. No footie today, just full on serious Rafa. Him and Marc played a set, couldn't tell you who won as there are plants and goodness knows what in the way. There was a bit of a strop at Uncle Toni at one point, but I think it's just that Rafa was being perfectionist and getting cheesed off with a double fault, ball into the net etc. He took it as competitively as a match.
After Rafa had finished I had a bit of a wander back to the Fanzone and saw the paintings. I'm glad I went to the gallery previously as they are all displayed behind glass in a row - I definitely got to see them at their best.
Then, via Starbucks for a warming coffee, I had a walk down to the Clipper pier. Saw Novak coming off the Clipper - all wrapped up and surrounded by his entourage, and he completely ignored my feeble "Novak, Novak" and ineffectual flapping of my programme and . Carlos Moya next but he was clasping a pink blanket, which I assume contained his baby daughter, so no chance of an autograph there.
So then I had a decision to make...wait around for 4 hours and go and watch tennisssss (I had a ticket in the gods to see Feds against Ferrer) or go home. So I chose the route and went home. What a waste of money, but I had had enough, my feet were killing me and it was .
Unfortunately that meant I didn't get to see the lovely Mrs L and Pearl, but I am actually going to watch some tennis tomorrow so hope to meet up with them then.
And yes - I spoke to Carlos Costa this morning who said Rafa would be getting his World No 1 Trophy on Tuesday night. It's getting so easy to just speak to these people .
*sniff* The ATP paid a lovely tribute to Carlos Moya today to mark his retirement from the game. It was led by our lovely Rafa, his apprentice, his Mallorcan compatriot ... his friend.
He started in English, but then said it was too difficult and so resorted to say all the sentiment he wanted to convey in Spanish. Our lovely Pearl was there this afternoon to see it all, and she said that he said how much he owed to Carlos, how they had spent years together ... and how he would miss him. Bless Rafa, he did appear a little choked.
The very best of luck to Carlos ... and I am sure that he will stay in Rafa's life in some capacity ...
Oh the ignominy ... can you believe it that the players have finally voted Rafa as their Sportsman of the Year, an award that smug Feds has had for the past 6 years, and the raison d'etre for all Feds *fanboys* for excusing away all of his arrogant and crass behaviour. And for that award to go to Rafa, oh ... its too sweet beyond words.
Whether its nothing more than a popularity contest or not, its voted for by the players, and Rafa has won it ... so well done you, Rafa!!
Whilst Rafa is the end product, we're all well aware that there is a well honed team around him that all play their part in making Rafa what he is today. And its testament to them that his own natural talent has reaped the rewards it has.
The Times has put together this nice article about them all ...
At the Court of King Rafa by Neil Harman
Nadal comes to London – with the team that keep him world No. 1
Speaking to those who know him better than anyone else could, Rafael Nadal is as easy to work for as a man of gentle manners should be. When the No 1 player in the world walks into the spotlight and prepares to do battle in his meticulous manner, he knows that everyone else’s work has been done properly. Now it is his turn.
Of course it is not easy. How can it be? Having to play the game supremely all the time is one thing — the overriding thing — but so much of being the best at anything is how to deal with the forces pulling you one way and the other.
The media need to be placated, send in Rafa; the sponsors want someone to slaver over, send in Rafa; the beautiful woman over there in the corner of the restaurant wants her T-shirt signed . . . you know it by now.
On the court, as preparations wind down for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals that start tomorrow, he is the undisputed No 1, with a lead of almost 4,000 ranking points — the equivalent of winning two grand-slam tournaments — having won the past three majors and Masters 1000 events in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome. He could easily extend that lead next week because he has no points to defend, having lost all three round-robin matches in southeast London a year ago.
But if the 24-year-old were playing for 1,000 points or none at all, Nadal’s approach would be the same. Rafael Maymo, Nadal’s physiotherapist for the past four years and the man who sleeps in the room next to his most of the year, sums it up. “Rafa does all that he has to do to be, if not the No 1, one of the best in the world,” Maymo said. “We try to help him but the main and only important person there is Rafa.”
The interest in Nadal can be overwhelming. It is astonishing how the 24-year-old takes it all in his stride and the others fall into line. Costa, a former professional, is responsible for delivering on Brand Rafa and he describes it as thus. “Rafa gives things to many people with his tennis,” he said. “He is incredibly easy to work with. I do not think that is always typical in tennis.”
Toni’s confidence has grown along with his increasing mastery of English. Like Nadal, he is shy in unfamiliar company and reluctant to speak about his nephew in terms that are too glowing. The ground rules are there: no throwing of the racket; no stepping on the backs of shoes when you put them on; no disrespect to your opponent. These are like the Nadal tablets of stone.
“The most important things, you can’t control, like your health,” Toni said. “You must be prepared for this. I always try to prepare Rafael for everything.”
Fun and games: Maymo, the physiotherapist, left, and Nadal plot strategy in an impromptu bout of foot tennis, with an adoring Wimbledon public in thrall. Photo by Graham Hughes for The Times
As constant as the team are, so is the scrutiny of Nadal’s physical situation; ie, his knees, which makes Maymo’s contribution all the more crucial. “Of course I read about his injuries and I try to forget about most of it,” his fellow Majorcan said. “How it is with Rafa now is how it was when I joined him four years ago — the main thing for us is that Rafa is happy, fit and can play. You can’t do anything about what is written. I have the confidence of Rafa and I am confident in him. Other things are superfluous.”
Behind the scenes
Toni Nadal, 49 One of three brothers of sporting excellence. Read history at university, taught himself how to coach tennis and realised that his nephew had a rare talent, aged 3. Although a natural right-hander, Rafael was made to hold his racket in his left hand and the rest is history.
Carlos Costa, 42 Works for IMG, one of the world’s best-known agencies. He was runner-up at the 1992 Italian Open and reached the fourth round at the French Open and US Open that year. He is charged with signing Nadal to his biggest sponsorship deals.
Rafael Maymo, 32 Formerly a physiotherapist with the B team of Real Mallorca. Went to Barcelona to take his physiotherapy exams; on the same course was someone who knew that Rafael Nadal was looking for a travelling physio.
Rafan has now managed to write her own report, so I'd thought I'd post it here so anyone reading can have it first hand.
Equally, there's Rafan's link to her Flickr account as I'm sure you will all love to see the super photos she's taken. As she's at the tournament tomorrow, Monday, Thursday and Friday, I'm sure she'll add to it so you can all enjoy the fabulous pictures she is sure to take. I've added her Flickr account to the Links on this blog and equally in a shameless plug, we will be discussing her experiences and having a crack (which we do daily anyhow) about Rafa on our BBC 606 thread which is also to be found in the links.
Anyhow ... this is Rafan's lovely report ...
So, as Wooffs reported earlier, I went to the O2 today, on the "off-chance" that I could get lucky and see Rafa practising. I arrived at about 11 o'clock and went down to the Fanzone, but it wasn't open yet, and will be opening tomorrow when the tournament starts. So I walked back to the original court which was there last year, and spied Tomas Berdych warming up with Lukasz Kubot, so as they are two of my many I thought I'd look on .
Then a kindly man informed me that Rafa would be practising later on that very court - and not only that but he would be practising with Verdasco - yippee! So with much excitement I hung around until 1 pm when Rafa appeared (barely 5 minutes late!) with Fernando - who has a lovely new haircut .
I got the impression that they had already done their warm up elsewhere as the first thing Rafa did was a shirt change! But damn my camera - it just wanted to focus on the netting up round the court rather than the the players behind the netting . Anyway...Rafa and Nando went straight into playing a match - I think they played a set and I think Rafa won...but I couldn't be sure . It seemed all very competitive and there was much concentrate.
At one point they hit a ball out which came towards me and I caught it! Rafa and Uncle Toni asked for it back - so, with a crowd behind me, Rafa looking at me, and a quivery girlie throw , I managed to just about lob it over the netting and almost fainted with relief. Uncle Toni said "thank you". Aaah.
After they'd played a few games(about half an hour), Fernando left and Marc Lopez was the next victim. Woooh they were hitting that ball hard, but really good natured and lots of fun. Rafa shouted "Come on!" after one point and Marc! was trying to outdo him with a loud "Vamos".
After another hour time was called...and a very, very competitive game of football tennis started, which ended up with Rafa on the floor following lots of shouting, gesturing and arguments about who may or may not have won the point (I assume!).
I would say it was a very happy Rafacamp today - everyone seemed in good spirits, there was loads of laughing, Rafa looked good and fingers crossed for some wins this week. I attach some pictures for your perusal.
Through Rafan's excellent Rafateering skills, as advised earlier, she was tenacious enough to know where each of the players were practising and at what time, so she was able to take an early position to await the arrival of Rafa and Nando ... *screams*.
Amazingly, Rafa was only about 7 minutes late, and we can exclusively report that ... Nando has had his hair cut!! Woo hoo!! They hit together for about hour an hour and at one point, a ball was hit out of the court and Rafan managed to catch it. The boys asked that she throw it back, which she did, and Uncle Toni said, "Thank you" to her for doing so. *yikes*
As she's not filed her own report yet, I don't have any updates on how Rafa was in practice or how his shoulder was holding up ... hopefully I can update this post later. But when Nando left the court, guess who came on to carry on the practice with Rafa? Yep ... none other than Marc!
Rafan reports that Rafa was very smiley and had a good laugh today (and these pictures are testament to that), and at the end of practice, the fans were treated to 15 minutes of tennis football. What a first report and how lucky was she to witness it? I think that come tomorrow, Rafa will be in full blown serious mode at the start of the competition, so it was nice that she got to witness a more light hearted practice.
I have to say ... I cannot believe what a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, what I saw was actually a very sick man, sick of the heart I believe. But here he is back on form again, enjoying his tennis, and enjoying his life. Smiley, happy Rafa ... nothing warms the cockles more. Can't wait now for it all to start now ... Vamos Rafa!!
