Rafa and Xisca ... *sighs*

I know these things are really cheesy ... but don't we just love this couple?

Armani Rafa in colour ...

Black and white is nice, but someone has taken the trouble to colourise this ... hhmmm ... likey!

*Thud* and *Envy* ... guess which is which ... ??

US Open kit ,,,

It seems that Rafa is also Going Blue for the US Oooo ... pen.

ROFL

If it brings him the same sort of luck he got last year *prays* then I love it!!

Nice of Djokovic ...

... to give Rafa a piggy-back to show off his French Open trophy whilst the evil mother looks on. :D :D

I DON'T wish him all the best for the rest of the season ... jajajajaja

... jajajajaja ... indeed Rafa. This subtlety was lost on me first time round when Rafa went to pick up his trophy for the ITF Number 1. Maybe it was because on a night that should have celebrated all that he achieved in 2010 which is what went towards him picking up this award ... all the bandwaggoner Andrew Castle could talk about was Djokovic.

Good shout, Rafa!!

The Relentless Optimism of Rafael Nadal ...

Rafa's interview after the Wimbledon final once again showed him in the best possible light ... as it would. Because he's entirely natural, nothing is ever forced from Rafa ... and he speaks the true.

So I would urge you all to read this article, which gives a wonderful insight to the strength of character that Rafa has. And once you've read it ... watch the video below ... Just to remind us who is ... Rafael Nadal.

VAMOS!!

Rafabook !!!

I wasn't really bothered too much about Rafa's impending book. But now I've seen the cover and read the write ... "Hello Amazon, Wooffie calling ...

Rafael Nadal is nearly ready to release his autobiography, recently posting an update and a picture of the book’s title page to his Facebook followers.

On Thursday, Nadal posted, “Hi everyone, after a year working with the well-known writer John Carlin, I want you to be the first to know that the book is due in August and and I want to share with you the title page. What do you think about it? Also, very soon I’ll release the first chapter only for you . Rafa”

The title page shows a closeup of a serious-looking Nadal, with the words “RAFA: Rafael Nadal and John Carlin” at the bottom of the page.

The autobiography will reportedly center around Nadal’s career accomplishments, including behind-the-scenes stories of his most notable victories.

In April, non-fiction publishing director Adam Strange of Sphere, who had bought UK and Commonwealth rights to Nadal’s memoir, had said, “It’s a real treat to have this book as I’ve been a fan of Rafa’s for some time. The world number one is a ferocious competitor on court and yet manages to display a grace and humility off it that is completely charming, and quite unusual in today’s sporting world. His list of achievements and records is extraordinary.”

Strange had added, “Along with the rest of his millions of fans worldwide, I’m very much looking forward to finding out what makes him tick. Rafa is an intensely private person and until now he’s not talked openly about his personal and family life.”

Sphere’s current release date for the book is August 23, and according to Strange, Sphere anticipates that the memoir will be very successful.

“I don’t think any player since Agassi has really captured the tennis world in the way Rafa has, so we have really high hopes for the book,” Strange said.

Amazon’s product description for the book reads:

What makes a champion? What does it take to be the best in the world at your sport?

Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest players in the history of tennis, has the answers. In his memoir, written with award-winning journalist John Carlin, he reveals the secrets of his game and shares the inspiring personal story behind his success. It begins in Mallorca, a small island on the Mediterranean Sea, where the tight-knit Nadal family has lived for generations. Coached by his uncle Toni from the age of four, taught humility and respect by his parents, cherished by his exceptionally close extended family, Nadal has managed the uncommon feat of becoming an acclaimed global celebrity while remaining an unfailingly gracious, relentlessly hardworking role model for people in all walks of life.

Since he embarked on his tennis career ten years ago, the twenty-five-year-old Nadal has had a meteoric rise, becoming the youngest professional tennis player ever to win all four Grand Slam titles. He collected his first one, the French Open, in 2005 at age nineteen, and from there went on to win Wimbledon, the Australian Open, and, most difficult of all, the U.S. Open in 2010. His memoir takes us behind the scenes, sharing the highs and lows of his career, from winning the Wimbledon 2008 final, described by John McEnroe as “the greatest game of tennis” he had ever seen, to the family problems that brought him low in 2009 and the numerous injuries that have threatened his career.

With candor, heart, and intelligence, Rafael Nadal takes readers on his life’s dramatic and triumphant journey, never losing sight along the way of the prize he values above all others: the unity and love of his family.

Are you looking forward to the book’s release? Will you be picking up a copy?

Hi ho, hi ho ... its back to work you go ...

Well Rafa ... no more snogging Xisca on the beach for you as its back to work.

Hair is looking good though, honey ...

Smooch ... kiss ... *envy* ...

Rafa and Xisca got down to some *smooch* action on their day on the beach.

*sighs* ... Here's a newspaper scoop on it ...

The day at the beach ...

So after beach football, Rafa hung out with his pals and Xisca ... what a grand day out!!!

Rafa moves on to beach football !!

Rafa's action packed holiday continues with beach football. Watched on lovingly by the lovely Xisca and a bevvy of other Mallorcan lovelies ...

Bore!! .. erm ... Fore!!

Rafa played in a golf tournament over the weekend and guess whot?? He won!! Moving on ...

Back to the boys and Rafa's toy ...

Nice to see the jet ski is getting some action ... :D

First the boys ... now its his girl ...

They are just gorgeous together ...

The Rafateers Forum ...

I've talked several times about The Rafateers. They are my pals, my buddies ... ladies who I first met by posting on a tennis thread on the BBC and it has evolved into something that includes daily contact, days out, but most of all ... going to tennis tournaments to watch and support our lovely Rafa. Bless him ... its all down to supporting him that we all found each other and I know I am going to have these friends for a very long time.

Its not been an easy ride on the forums we've posted on. There are plenty of other people who don't like him out there ... the Hatahs ... and its been difficult keeping jolly on our own thread whilst abject hatred has been going on "out there". When the BBC forum we all met on announced it was closing down earlier in the year we were welcomed with open arms by another fledgling one ... 606v2 ... which to my shame now, I championed on here.

It eventually turned out to be every bit as bad as what we had left behind.

But guess what? I've created our own forum ... The Rafateers ... http://www.therafateers.com It is a forum designed specifically for the fans of Rafa. We run it ... and we decide. No longer will we have to put up with the negative comments and the dreadful, hateful things said about him.

But enough of that ... lets concentrate on the positive. If you're out there supporting Rafa but no-one in your real life shares your love of Rafa. If you're dying just to talk to someone about him, in a safe environment, amongst friends and people who share the same views but also want to have a great laugh whilst you're at it ... if you even come to this blog every day just for the latest on Rafa ... then why not take a look?

Everyone is welcome ... we would love to see you there ... so dive in, don't be shy ... please come and say hello.

This is us ... The Rafateers Hope to see you soon!

1948 ...

Loving the picture ... think 1948 was the last time the Olympics was held in London. But hey ... Rafa looks grrr!!

The boys' holiday ...

Good old Rafa ... a treat for the boys and a treat for us!!