More airport footage and a kids' clinic ...

Sigh.  Can our hormones take it?

Rafa jetting off to play tennis and an earlier encounter with the kiddies.  A winning combination ...

FeliWatch ...

He's got a new squeeze.

Alba Carrillo.

A model.

A 25 year-old-model.

Who's lost weight recently.

A single mother with a one year-old-son.

Who's happy to openly admit they are dating.

Whose 2013 New Year's resolution is to find a man.

Makes me want to stand on his un-hurt wrist ...

Yey!! Airport footage ...

Yey!! Airport pictures ...

It's been a long time a-coming ... but Rafa is on his way ... TO PLAY TENNIS!!!

source - @Chrissuarez and SER Deportivos Baleares

Gulp ...

You know we like thigh porn, but come on Rafa ... now you're just being ridiculous!!

*faint*

source : Getty Images/Jaime Reina via @RafaelNadalFC

Smokin' ... !!!

Sizzle in the Mallorcan sunshine, Rafa.  We always knew you were H.O.T.

source - via @RafaelNadalFC

Rafa relish ...

The picture is slightly sketchy in this this video, but here's a link to the Sky Sports version if you prefer.

To see more of those chocolate eyes and caramel skin. Hehe ...

Manacor practice ...

Here's Rafa in the Mallorcan sunshine continuing to practice hard today. And whilst yesterday we had the slightly worrying news that Rafa is still feeling some pain, the main piece of news today was Rafa's new racquet.

It was referred to in David Nadal's tweets of yesterday, and it seems that it was something Toni wanted him to do - which Rafa didn't agree with - but he's giving it a go anyway. Babolat say that the new racquet and new strings give Rafa “more power and more control” to his shots.

“More top spin, he already has a lot of that but he wants more,” is what Babolat have said.

You have to laugh about the cries of derision to this news. You know, the moans about him playing with an even bigger margin and even more defensive. Well I'll tell you what. Rather than Rafa playing to his strengths and terrorising his opponents with even more top-spin in order to perhaps break them down a bit quicker than before to save the mileage on his knees ... let's send him out there with a frying pan with a pink ribbon tied round the handle to make everything look so much prettier to assuage those who deride and tear his game to pieces anyway!

Just remind me again what tennis is about. Is it about winning? And doing what you do best in order to attain that win?  And improving on something that you do best to make it even more effective to get those wins?  Hmmm .. thought so.

Wonder if a pair of pink shoe-laces are quivering with anxiety about the total pulverisation of a backhand??

source : Reuters/Enrique Calvo via @RafaelNadalFC

Practice video ...

Here's a video clip of Rafa practising with Tomeu, his classical practice partner today.

With an arm around the shoulder, Tomeu reciprocates with a playful squeeze of the Rafa's knee. Ouch!!

For God's sake, Tomeu!! Can't you be a bit more careful than that!! Ask your rival, Pico. The way to greet Rafa properly is to squeeze his ass. I mean there's plenty to grab hold of there, not his poorly knee!!

By the way.  I have to say that this video is spec-tac-u-lar for bringing out Rafa's chocolate eyes and caramel skin.  The things that always make me go all of a dither.

(Hope you enjoyed that line hatahs ... I said it especially for you.  *mwah* )

Rafa's daily dose ...

"With my friend Tomeu Salvá! One of my classical practicing partners."

Oh Rafa, you're so funny. Tomeu is one of your classical practicing partners, as opposed to one of your Hip Hop ones or a Feli Disco Diva.

*wink*

And is Tomeu packing a suitcase of classical clothes to join Rafa in Chile? To keep an eye on the casual bromance with Pico, perhaps??

With caution ...

Rafel Nadal reconoce a @esportsib3tv que "Todavía tengo molestias en la rodilla" twitter.com/davidjnadal/st…
— David J. Nadal (@davidjnadal) January 29, 2013

Let's be with colm people, but Rafa announced in a TV interview today that he still has a sore knee.

"The knee is bothering me. The pain I feel will not let me do certain movements. Hopefully it disappears." was tweeted by Fernado Grisolia today.

This is where the stone drops to the pit of your tummy.

But then IB3's David Nadal added this ...

Rafel Nadal is used to playing with pain. If he starts to compete is that doctors have given the OK
— David J. Nadal (@davidjnadal) January 29, 2013

And Rafa added ...

Nadal-SER: "No sé si volveré a jugar al mismo nivel, ni me lo planteo ahora mismo".
— SER Deporte Baleares (@SERdepbaleares) January 29, 2013

Roughly translated meaning ... "I do not know if I will play at the same level, and I approach it now."

*Sigh* and what to say?? I know he still spoke of pain in the Mr Harmans' interview in December, and maybe naively, I thought more time away would well ... make it go away. But I guess there's always going to be pain, it's just the level that varies.

Here's the link to IB3 interview with some Google translated quotes taken from David Nadal's tweets ...

Rafel Nadal: "Now we have to see how competition tolerate pain, but you have to start playing"

Nadal: "The doctors say that all is well. My only goal is to hold the knee" 

Nadal: "I have wanted to start playing, hopefully the knee hold the tour," said a @ esportsib3tv 

Nadal: "I saw the end of the year because I have not in my TV channel Eurosport. I can not comment. But I congratulate the two, especially Novak" 

Rafel Nadal: "I am delighted that David (Ferrer) has got to be the 4. Hopefully reach 3 and play a Grand Slam final"

It's obvious all this has come from a good source, so it's kind of worrying - especially when Rafa's leaving for Chile on Friday. But what else can I say? I will be what it will be. It is what it is ... but let's make the most of every single second we see him back on that court.

Rafa's daily dose ...

"Practicing. In a few days I'll be in Chile!"

Good grief Rafa. Still out there on the practice court at Manacor tennis club, with darkness falling and under the lights? You must be taking this seriously,

In your tights and pink laced shoes.

Copying Feds, eh? Well, he doesn't quite turn out publicly in tights. That's something he reserves privately for Saturday nights and his birthday. ;)

The Return of the King ...

He's due to arrive in Chile on the 1st February, and on the basis of the utter snore-fest we witnessed today in the final of the Australian Open, the 5th February can't come a day too soon.

Characterless tedium ad nauseum. And ugly hair.

And so the Prince of Darkness now has 6 Slams (I mistakenly typed 666 Slams the first time of offering. I think I was right. :D ) But as was pointed out by Vernon today, four of his Slams have been won at the Australian Open. Yes, FOUR of his six Slams have been won at the same tournament. What is this guy? Some kind of s.l.o.w. hardcourt expert?? I mean ... where is the value in that?? What kind of so-called champion is this bloke when over half of his Grand Slam tally is won at the same tournament?? So let me see ... what's that phrase? Oh I know ...

"Take away his Australian Open titles and he's only left with 2 slams."

I know! He's pathetic.

And what do you think the erstwhile Peter Bodo might have to say about this? Something along the lines of ...

"One thing you never hear Djokovic speak about is how lucky he is to have a game that works so well on slow hardcourts, or how much it has helped him that the ATP Masters Series tour features six events (Indian Wells, Miami, Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris), at which Djokovic has collected 10 of his 13 Masters shields." 

"The success of the hardcourt events is one of the great business stories of the Open era, given that back at the dawn of the new age (1968), three of the four Grand Slam events were contested on grass. As well, the Australian Open was held in such low regard that many players skipped it. The Australian Open ultimately was saved and rehabilitated by a visionary move to change the surface it was played on to hardcourt and an ultimate move in location to Melbourne Park, and the Antipodean circuit, once more of a bloody long boat trip than athletic spectacle and in danger of becoming irrelevant in the new Open era, flourished along with it." 

"I don't want to belittle Djokovic's accomplishments in pointing all this out, I just want to add a little perspective to what seems to me his (and his team's) fairly narrow scope. There is no higher law saying there must be six Masters in a tennis season. The main beneficiary of this situation has been Novak. And there's no law saying that the blue hardcourts on which those tournaments are contested is the only legitimate kind of surface, never mind the idea that it's the only surface on which tennis can or ought to hold tournaments. And the main beneficiary of that underlying sentiment has also been Novak."

Haha ... did I get you going??

Excuse my little joke, but it's point was to highlight the ridiculousness of so much that has been said about Rafa. Of course you don't put down, discount or excuse any tennis players achievements, particularly when it comes to Grand Slams. A Slam win is a Slam win, regardless of what surface and how many times a player has won there. They all count and a grass court or hardcourt specialist has no greater value or worth than a clay court one.

So will Rafa's absence herald the dawning of a new era in comment when he returns?? I'd like to think his lengthy time away and the imbalance his non participation at major events truly shows the tennis world what has been missing. But I doubt it very much.

But let's ask ourselves if we really care? Well, personally I would like more respect put Rafa's way in terms of tennis reporting and commentary, but I seriously doubt it. However, above everything else we just want to see the bottle placement, the tucking of hair, the twanging of pants, the bouncing at the net, the Rafarun and the knee lifting "Vamos".

We want to see Rafa playing tennis.  And considering that bore-fest of today (that was one thing I wasn't joking about) ...  I.cannot.wait.

picture source : via @RafaelNadalFC

Rafa's daily dose ...

"Yesterday I had a dinner with my friends before going to Chile."

Yes folks, you read it correctly.

BEFORE GOING TO CHILE !!! *yahoo* *happydance* *spins on head and gives each reader a mighty High-Five*

Rafa's coming baa-aa-ck. Rafa's coming baa-aa-ck. Rafa's coming baa-aa-ck.

Swim 4 Good ...

My lovely friend, Rafan, posted this blog onto her Facebook today.

Enjoy, cos it's a very nice read.

But ummmm ... I love that picture above (even if - yet again - Rafa is wearing that favourite, old, grey cardie of his.)  *rollseyes*  

OK, it's Friday night, I'm on my second glass of wine ... but I think Rafa's neck is so kissable.

*run*

Rafa's daily dose ...

"I meet two great friends at the airport! Good luck in Vancouver!"

Awwwww ... a very handsome looking Rafa meets up with Marc and Marcel. He looks great!!

So M&M seemed to be confirmed for Davis Cup in February against Canada, but who knows who'll be in the singles? With Feli out for a few weeks with a wrist injury (I think), perhaps Fer will be asked to step up with Nico.

Anyhow for now ... have I said how handsome Rafa looks???

We're with you, ladies ...

source : Quinn Rooney/Getty Images via @RafaelNadalFC

Rafa's daily dose ...

"Last night I had a really good dinner with friends. Today practice!"

Nice to see Xisca with him, and glad he had a good time.

Rafa's daily dose ...

"In the locker room after practice."

Aaah ... Rafa checking his plimsolls after practice. :))

Forgive me for this, and it's very nice and stuff, but I actually prefer shirtless golf locker room pictures. Complete with a half naked Feli and Pico.

*dead*

Back to Barcelona ...

Rafa headed back to Barcelona yesterday to continue with his practice.

His partner was Pere Riba, as it had been reported that some of the Spanish players who had exited the Australian Open would make themselves available to help Rafa with his training, and Pere obviously did. I love how they are supportive of him.

And what do you think?? Looking good, moving well? I'm liking it.

And Rafa is to take to the court in Chile a day earlier than even expected. He's teaming up with his great pal, Pico Monaco, in an assault on the doubles. More miles on the legs for Rafa, and having the great fun of playing with his friend.

Who can't wait for Team Gorgeous?? VAMOS!!

Sibling sweetness ...

I may be late on parade in posting this picture, but whose hormones didn't explode when you saw this loving picture of Rafa with his sister??

"The last week I spent some time with my sister. The family is very supportive now."

... was his Facebook entry.

I love how they adore each other.

Exactly ...

via @RafaelNadalFC

Rafa's trophies ...

Rafa posted this wonderful picture on his Facebook today ...

"A pleasure to receive the visit of Ricardo and my KIA's friends. Thank you very much for your support!!"

KIA have obviously been a sponsor of Rafa's for a long time ... 11 Grand Slam titles' worth. :D

But seriously ... I would absolutely love to be able to see Rafa's Grand Slam trophies. We've all lived through the agonies of watching him win most of them, so it must be fantastic to see them all together.

*Goes away and puts on Bucket List"

Rafa's daily dose ...

"This week I was practicing at the Real Club de Tennis in Barcelona! I appreciate the treatment they have given me during these days :)"

Wow Rafa. Working hard on the cross trainer if the way that t-shirt is sticking to your back is anything to go by.

*thud*

And now Rafa adds Chile to his schedule!!

Estoy encantado de confirmar mi participación en el torneo de Viña del Mar en Chile. Me gustaría agradecer a los... fb.me/v4YyNvoG
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 17, 2013

The Viña del Mar tournament in Chile is actually the one that had been rumoured for over a week now that Rafa would play. But then with the announcement of his participation in the Brasil Open, I did wonder if this had gone away.

But noh! Rafa announced that he would be playing via Twitter as follows [rough translation] :-

"I'm delighted to confirm I will be participating to the Viña del Mar tournament in Chile."

I'd like to thank the tournament's organisation for inviting me and I'd like to say that I have many fans in the Andean region, and at last I'll be able to go there in person to meet them and play my first tournament since the injury which has kept me away from court for so long."

"Thanks so much and see you in Viña."

So Rafa's comeback won't be in Acapulco, it won't be in Sao Paulo ... it will be in Viña del Mar, with the tournament starting proper on 4th February.

Blimey-O-Riley. It'll be here before we know it.

So Rafa will play Chile and Brazil consecutively, then he'll have a week's break before going to Mexico. Now then. I fully expect there to be some negative fall out from this (we are talking about Rafa, after all), with much wailing and gnashing of teeth that he's playing too much too soon - blah, blah, blah. But I tell you what was worrying me ... When it was just Acapulco before going to Indian Wells and Miami, I was much more concerned that Rafa would have precious little match play returning from injury before hitting the hardcourt Masters with its full complement of the Men's tour ready and waiting to try and pick him off. And then BANG ... he would be straight into the European clay court season with all those points to defend prior to his most important Slam, the French Open.

So whilst it may be a fair amount of tennis on his return, I actually think it's a much better schedule to prepare him for Monte Carlo and what comes after. He needs to have confidence in that knee, he needs some match play under his belt, his needs some wins against his name, and he needs to find his all important rhythm.

I feel positive about it, and I think it's a good move. Now then, just exactly how many hours is Chile behind the UK?? VAMOS!!

Rooster Red Rafa ...

Rafa from practice yesterday ...

Rafa's looking H.O.T. ...

These pictures are of Rafa and the team at the Real Tenis Club in Barcelona.

I've really enjoyed looking at them for a couple of reasons.

Namely, its absolutely fantastic to see Rafa with the Team again. Great to see him with Maymo, Tuts and Carlos Costa.

And the other reason is that Rafa is looking absolutely and utterly ... SPLENDID!!!

picture source via @SitTanyusha

Rafa's successful final doctor's checkup ...

Can we take any more positive news?? Don't worry, Loose Lips hasn't been talking, but RFET today also posted this official report of Rafa's final medical examination with Dr Cotorro in Barcelona today.

And the word is that Rafa is progressing favorably. It's great that nobody is going into raptures about it, I think the information released is sensibly measured, but there seems to be an overall satisfaction with Rafa's progress and that is just simply, great.

I've posted a Google mangle of the RFET article as follows ...

"Rafael Nadal has confirmed his return to the circuit this coming February, after successfully passing a final medical examination which has gone on Wednesday at the premises of the Mapfre Medical Clinic Tennis in Barcelona, ​​under the supervision of their personal physician and head of the Medical Services of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET), Dr. Angel Ruiz-Cotorro." 

"Tests confirm that the recovery of Rafa is progressing favorably. Medically, we are in the final stages and the results have been very satisfactory, and the expected return to the Tour is as planned," said the doctor after practicing ultrasound check of the clinical course of the patellar tendon to Mallorcan tennis player, absent from the competition last seven months because of an injury to his left knee." 

The injury has prevented Nadal from participating in the last two Grand Slam tournaments, including the Australia Open this year, in addition to the London Olympics and the last Davis Cup final in Prague. The Spaniard, who will drop to No.5 in the world after the Melbourne tournament, will follow a specific schedule to finalise details of preparation towards his reintegration into the circuit in February in South America."

I feel that this news merits a long awaited ... "VAMOSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!"

Maymo's School of Photography ...

As if we needed it, but here is proof positive that Maymo also moonlights as Rafa's official photographer.

*happydance*

Oh how I've missed little Maymo too.

However ... I'm kind of wondering whether Maymo was actually filming the little video clip that Rafa posted today.  If so, then you should actually pursue this sideline of cinematography cos it doesn't suck anywhere near your picture taking, Maymo.

*giggles*

Con mucha ilusión de volver a Brasil!

Rafa posted this cheery video of himself today, saying that he was happy to be back soon in Brazil !!!

Something that has also resonated around the Rafa community today too, Rafa. We're all starting to feel so much more heppy. ;)

And I'm loving the red trackie top, honey!!

More Barcelona practice ...

Good to see Rafa back out on the practice court again today.

His partner was the young Canadian player, Steven Diez, who obviously enjoyed the experience as his tweet describes.

Of course his friend, Flavia, was also on hand to keep an eye on him and to say how motivating it was to have Rafa near by.

Good training session this morning with @rafaelnadal. It's been an honor to train with him. Here's a pic. Cheers twitter.com/diezmonge/stat…
— Steven Diez (@diezmonge) January 16, 2013

A sight for sore eyes ...

After the Christmas comeback disappointment, the stomach virus, the Australian Open withdrawal, the Manacor Tennis Club pictures and the general yada, yada, yada ... here he is. On a tennis court.

And he looks great.

Rafa's happy ...

David Nadal tweeted us some quotes from Rafa today ...

Rafa Nadal: "I'm happy to return to play in Brazil"

— David J. Nadal (@davidjnadal) January 15, 2013

Nadal: "And especially happy to return two weeks ahead of schedule. That means things are going well"

— David J. Nadal (@davidjnadal) January 15, 2013

"That means things are going well ..." Oh, I do so hope so, Rafa. Fingers crossed.

Woot!! Rafa to return earlier than expected ...

I'm not really wooting - well I am, sort of, but still nervously - as we get even more hopeful of Rafa's recovery.

Twitter was awash with news this morning that Rafa is to come back to the Tour slightly earlier than expected. Yes, we've all read the rumours that Carlos Costa was negotiating with the Chile tournament, but it is confirmed that Rafa will participate in the Brazil Open at Sao Paulo from the 11th to 17th February.

Christopher Clarey of the New York Times tweeted this ...

Rafael Nadal's camp has confirmed to me that he WILL return to #tennis, after nearly 8 months, at Sao Paolo event starting Feb. 11 #ausopen
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 15, 2013

And he seems to be hinting that Rafa could come back even sooner than that ... but there's nothing substantial at the moment.

There is also the possibility that Rafael Nadal could return even earlier than Sao Paulo. Unclear for the moment #tennis
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 15, 2013

A good move by Rafa? Yes, I think so if he feels up for it, and let's face it, that knee has to be tested somewhere. Sao Paulo and Acapulco could prove to be the test and work out that he needs. The rest of the Tour will be well into their season by the time he gets back, and whilst I'm not expecting much from him in the Indian Wells/Miami Masters, he has to have been able to put some work in somewhere before the European clay season starts.

Let's hope we can keep up with this positivity.

And the practice continues ...

Rafa is obviously happy to keep up with the practice publicly as @XaviBonastre tweeted this picture of him today.

It looks like Dr Cotorro and Maymo are looking on.

The presence of his doctor obviously means that they are still keeping the knees under observation, so cautiously goes - as always - but the news of Rafa adding Brazil to his schedule next month seems more positive.

Flashback ...

I enjoyed finding those pictures of a young Rafa in Australia 2005 which I posted the other day.  And I'm enjoying these too ... of Rafa winning the French Open in 2006. Thankfully, I was around to see that.  I'm loving Rafa's clay encrusted shirt in the top picture ... its like a piece of modern art.  Painted with passion and   tons of energy. 

Rafa was entirely emotional in this 2006 victory because with his foot injury that had him out at the start of the year and him missing the Australian Open, he wondered if he'd ever play tennis again.  And he also didn't know if he'd ever again lift a Major.  He did.

I'd love this to be prophetic and for #hi8tory to repeat itself ... and wouldn't it be brilliant if after all these long months, we see Rafa staring down on that French Open trophy again? 

Rafa's busy day ...

Look who Flavia Pennetta had for a bit of company down at the gym today? And she was quite happy to tweet to let us know. Flavia and Rafa have been friends since the days of her relationship with Carlos Moya, and she herself is recovering from wrist surgery. So was she his mystery date in Barcelona today?? ;)

Also published today was a tweet from Irish tennis player, James McGee.

Great to get 2 hours of hard practice in today with @rafaelnadal Loved every minute of it. More tomorrow! #Vamos twitter.com/jamesmcgee01/s…
— James McGee (@jamesmcgee01) January 14, 2013

Hard practice today and more of the same tomorrow? That's good news. It's noticeable though that Rafa has returned with the strapping under his left knee. But he's playing tennis.

There's still no official confirmation that Rafa will be going to Chile, starting 4th February, as it's been reported over the past few days that Carlos Costa is negotiation for him to appear there. I still personally want to keep cautionary about all this, but it's a little more positive than seeing pictures of Manacor Tennis Club, don't you think?

Rafa tweets the Australian Open ...

The @australianopen already underway. I miss being in # Melbourne! Hope you enjoy the tournament!
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 14, 2013

Rafa tweeted the Australian Open's twitter account to say how he was missing Melbourne.  Of course, they responded as we are all feeling ... we miss Rafa too.

We miss you too Rafa! RT @rafaelnadal: The @australianopen already underway. I miss being in # Melbourne! Hope you enjoy the tournament!
— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2013

Rafa's daily dose ...

"On my way to bcn."

So Rafa is taking his short hair and his week long beard growth to Barcelona.
I won't speculate as to what he might be doing there ...

Rafa at the Australian Open - 2005 ...

Browsing through VamosBrigade this afternoon, I came across a photograph linked by mamasue, of an 18-year-old Rafa at the Australian Open back in 2005.

These are images before even my time as a fan, having fallen out of love with tennis and barely even giving it a look-in at that point. It was from his 5-setter against Lleyton Hewitt, which co-incidentially, one of our forum members (Womble) mentioned having actually seen back then. No wonder she's a Rafa fan ...

Rafa lost the match 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-7, 2-6 - a tie-breaker away from victory.

I have to say it's a bit bitter sweet looking at these pictures today. All the talk is of the Australian Open draw ... but Rafa's not there, and once again, we don't feel part of it.  And to be honest,  I'm not sure if it's getting easier or harder, not seeing him compete at major competitions.

Notwithstanding that, his image, persona and sheer charisma continue to shine through, and when you look at this young man and consider the power of his play against the man who turned out to be a finalist that year ... no wonder he turned the tennis world upside down. And no wonder he generated the kind of reaction he did ... from those who love him, and from those who continue to hate.

As I said, it's bitter sweet actually seeing these images, but I'm glad I have as I'm looking at them for the first time.

They were taken by Clive Brunskill (who else?) and Adam Pretty, for Getty Images Sport, and I just think they capture marvellously, the young, raw Rafa in all his glory.

I hope you too, enjoy ...