Posted: 22.03.09 15:06. Post subject: Пресса знает всё! :)

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:06. Post subject: Пресса знает всё! :) (продолжение)

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:06. Post subject: Пресса знает всё! :) часть 2

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:06. Post subject: Пресса знает всё! :) часть 2

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:06. Post subject: Пресса знает всё! :) часть 2

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:10. Post subject: Сюда я перемещу неко..

Сюда я перемещу некоторые статьи с борды.

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:10. Post subject: Rafa Nadal: “I don&#..

Rafa Nadal: “I don't think I'm the best”

Sunday, February 8th, 2009
Miguel Luengo
Translated by babi to vamosbrigade.com

He is an awesome sportsman and showed to be someone very special, this is Rafael Nadal, the most important racquet in the world.

Rafael Nadal wished he had one more day to recover totally from the longest match in the history of Australian Open and meet Roger Federer in the final in better shape, but he has always known that meeting his biggest rival had a special motivation.

Now, just after be crowned as the champion of Australian Open, where he defeated Roger Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6 6-2, the 22 years old Spaniard tennis player is the world number 1 and collected his sixth victory on Grand Slams

The Spaniard, that had already won four times the French Open and once on Wimbledon, United Kingdom, only misses to win US Open and he is willing to do it. In this interview the 'golden Spaniard' talks about this triumph and his plans to the future.

You has won on 2008 Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the golden medal in the Olympic Games and has became the world #1. Are you used to win it all?

- No, the problem is that it is not easy to get used like people do. I'm aware how difficult is to earn such things and I value so much the fact that I've been first in the semifinals and then in the final. Every victory is special but sometimes people see you as the number one, they see you winning and they get used to this and do not value the difficulties to be there, but I do.

What do you remember of you first match against Federer, which feeling did you have?

- I'm aware that I'm playing the most complete player that I've seen since I'm in this world and it is always special. About this meeting, I remember I had an illusion and the highest motivation. This first time I've won and in the following I've lost after been two sets up.

In this occasion it was special for Federer because he is fighting to equal Sampras 14 GS record. Beating him in such circumstances gave you a special motivation?

- Personally, I'd wish he could make 14 or 15 and surpass Sampras because I think he deserves it, but it's not something that concerns me.

Have you ever felt pity for him any time you won him boldly?

- I've defeated him a few times like this, only one, in Paris, last year. This is how sport is like and he also made a 6-4, 6-1 over me in the semifinals of Shanghai. We know anything can happen, but to make me feel sorry, nothing. It is clear that when someone plays he gives his best and there are times he wins and others he loses.

Do you imagine yourself fighting to break Federer's record in GS in the future?

- Right now I'm very happy with my five (sic) and I don't think about anything else. He is the more complete for me to think about these records. I'm aware that I have a good progress and I good career and right now this is not something I am going after. I only want to give the best of me to win.


If you could have moved to anywhere to rest better and to make something additional to relax more for this match, where had you gone?

- I would have been here, for sure. I could simply recover with this one day if it haven't been so tough [the SF]. Though two days resting would have been better.

What is your goal now?

- It is an illusion more than a goal. Now there is no time to relax. I'd love to make a good run on Rotterdam and then Dubai, but my goal is Davis Cup, that last year I couldn't play. Win the DC is something I wish for this season.

What about USO?

- USO is a tournament that takes more to me. It was just a pity that last year I arrived there so tired, but my goal is to keep improving because that's the only way I could complete or try to win this last Grand Slam title that I miss.

What did you feel with this triumph? [AO]

- In the last set, with the pressure, you can lose the match. I think Federer climbed a mountain mentally and then he couldn't do it anymore, it can happen to anyone. I had to try to keep the concentration and be focused, keep the illusion that I could win and play well with my serve. This is what I thought when I sat in the bench at the end of the fourth set.
I couldn't enjoy the award presentation too much because seeing Federer like that after losing the final makes you a bit uncomfortable

Is there any special title for you?

- Wimbledon has always been special because it meant a lot, it was a breakthrough of Roland Garros clay and after being in the final for two years in a row it was an important goal. Winning there gave me confidence.
I'm making great in the last four seasons, getting important titles but no one knows when it will end. The only thing I know is that I need to be always alert and do not think I'm the best, I'm only the most regular but this comes and goes.

What are your plans for now?

- Rest, stay with my family and practice to leave to Rotterdam in the Saturday.

There are thousand of kids around the world dreaming to be Rafa Nadal, what would you say to them?

- There is nothing there to dream that much. But, well, thank all the kids that are supporting me from their houses and for me it is always very special to have children supporting me because when a child smiles for you when you are giving him an autograph or taking a picture with him is the real illusion of it all.

Why do you always bite the trophies? Is there a meaning?

- I've bitten the trophies I won every since Monte Carlo on 2005, the photographers always ask me to. I've always seen people kissing it but I bite.

What did you feel when you saw Federer crying?

- It was a tough and complicated moment. In the future it will be beautiful for him and for me to remember. In that moment Roger was emotional, I've tried to make what I could to cheer him up. I think the moment was hard, but he has showed to be a great human being who doesn't hide his emotions in the hard moments he has been through and I congratulate him for everything he is as a person and as a tennis player.

It seemed like you were about to cry as well

- It was a complicated moment when I saw him like that and everything he has passed through, in addition to this I have an amazing relationship with him and I know how important it was for him to win. These are complicated moments and you have to try to have tact and in that moment I almost cried because it was hard for him and I know that it is not easy to handle a situation like this, especially when there are 15000 people applauding you.

To see the best sportsman in the world to comfort Federer takes something else

- This is what I could do in that moment. I don't know if I did well or not, but it was what my heart told me to do in that moment, to embrace him and wish him all luck in the world to the rest of his season and for him to get 15 titles and surpass Sampras 14 record because I think he deserves and I would love for him to make it.


http://www.lostiempos.com/oh/08-02-09/0 ... lidad1.php

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:11. Post subject: Рафаэль Надаль: «По-..

Рафаэль Надаль: «По-прежнему считаю Федерера лучшим»

Первая ракетка мира испанец Рафаэль Надаль, находящийся на турнире в Роттердаме, ответил на вопрос, считает ли он себя лучшим теннисистом мира после победы на Открытом чемпионате Австралии, рассказал о своем состоянии и о том, зачем он играл в паре.

«Я уже устал от этого вопроса. Если у человека 13 титулов «Большого шлема» и 14 «Мастерсов», то без обсуждений совершено понятно, кто лучший.

У меня не было времени на отдых, но так все же лучше, чем после поражения. Хотя после победы всегда трудно играть следующий турнир. Это еще зависит от того, как ты победил. Мои финал и полуфинал в Мельбурне были невероятными и очень сложными.

Я играл здесь пару просто для удовольствия, и чтобы привыкнуть к условиям. Еще я хотел помочь молодому парню с Мальорки. Я тренировался с ним в декабре, он помогал мне готовиться к Мельбурну. И здесь я пытался помочь ему», – приводит слова Надаля AFP.

Отметим, что Надаль выбыл из парного турнира в Роттердаме, где он играл вместе с 503-й ракеткой мира соотечественником Игнасио Колл-Риудавецем, в первом круге проиграв французскому дуэту Клеман/Ллодра.

http://www.sports.ru/tennis/6918887.html

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:13. Post subject: Sorry Roger, Nadal&#..

Sorry Roger, Nadal's now king of all courts

by Matt Cronin, FOXSports.com
Updated: February 1, 2009, 4:44 PM EST

MELBOURNE, Australia - The so-called soon-to-be-greatest player ever was out-fought by his most significant rival again, putting a long pause in the discussion of Roger Federer's place in history.

In a truly remarkable and gutsy performance, Rafael Nadal shook down Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2 in the final of the Australian Open on Sunday, grabbing his sixth Grand Slam title and becoming the first man since Andre Agassi in 1999 to win majors on three different surfaces.

"It's a dream win here, one Grand Slam on hard court," said Nadal, the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open. "I worked very hard all my life to improve the tennis outside of clay. I'm very happy for the title. Today was really a lot of emotions on court."

For the fifth straight time, the 22-year-old Spaniard proved that he has become a mentally stronger and physically more resilient player than Federer, beating down the normally cool-handed Swiss when the hours grew long and moments became tenser.

"There's huge collateral damage from this match," said the Tennis Channel's Justin Gimelstob. "Now he's beaten him on grass, clay and hard and there's no barrier that hasn't been broken. Hardcourts is the most fair surface, and there are harsh realities to be dealt with."

For all the talk of Federer's automatic ascension to the accolade of the greatest of all-time, it has been the much-improved Nadal who has been the more ambitious and resourceful player over the past 13 months.

"Roger can't be called the greatest ever yet," said U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe.

Since June, Nadal has won three of the last four majors as well as the Olympic gold medal. He torched Federer in the 2008 French Open final for his fourth straight Roland Garros crown, stopped Federer's five-title Wimbledon streak in a five-set classic for his first major off clay and then on Sunday, won his first major on the surface that has troubled him the most, hard courts, by contesting a near perfect fifth set, committing only two unforced errors to 14 from his worn down foe.

Other legends, such as John McEnroe and Stefan Edberg, have won marathon semifinals and went on to win Grand Slam finals, but Nadal's feat, a five-hour and 14-minute marathon victory over the red-hot Fernando Verdasco in the semis, followed up by a four-hour and 23-minute win over Federer — who went into the last day with a 8-0 record in hard-court major finals — owns a special place in the record books.

"It was the greatest physical achievement in the history of tennis," said Gimelstob. "People talk about Wimbledon because of the drama, but you take the level of players and that the surface is so equitable, it was the greatest tennis shotmaking ever. There has never been anything close to that, how they challenged each other to come up with great stuff, until the beginning of the fifth set when there was huge depreciation on Federer's side. It was sick."

Given that he had worn down at the hard-court Slams before and had trouble knocking off offensive players at the Australian Open and U.S. Opens in years prior (think Gonzalez, Tsonga, Murray), the left-handed Nadal still needed to show that he could successfully combine a defensive and offense posture and find a winning formula on hardcourts.

While his base is much the same — kick and slice serves into his foes' backhands, hammer away with his huge forehand and use his legs to run down even the most impossible balls — his improvements are obvious. His slapping, two-handed backhand has become more powerful, he's more sure-handed at the net, he changes the direction of his groundstrokes more intelligently, and his one-handed slice has improved, as has his use of drop shots.

While on the outside it appeared that Nadal might not pull up fresh and healthy for the final, his camp and those members of the Spanish press who follow him closely had little doubt that he would arrive on court doing the same boxer's split steps that he has done throughout his career.

Nadal is a Toro, with a capital T.

He gored through Federer in the first set, poking holes in his backhand with slice serves and hooking forehands.

The Swiss showed his champion's heart in the second set, steeping more gamely into his backhand and mixing up the pace and angles of his groundstrokes.

In the third set, there was a little reason for doubt, when after the seventh game and up 4-3, Nadal called for the trainer to have his right leg massaged as he was no longer getting a good enough push off that leg, the one that allows him to crush two-handed backhands from an open stance. But it loosened up again and he found the vast fathomless inner reserve where his hellfires burn deep.

He dug in his pitchfork and once again struck.

He fought off six break points in his next two service games, three with ball-bursting groundstrokes.

In the tiebreaker, a nervous Federer played sloppily, while Nadal shot off some multi-colored fireworks. At 5-3, in a rousing end-to-end rally, he stretched out for a rocket Federer crosscourt forehand and kissed a low backhand volley crosscourt for the winner. A stunned Fed then double-faulted to lose the set.

"Rafa believes in a different level than Federer does," said four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Courier. "I think Federer only believes in that level against other players."

The Swiss would not go away quietly and once again showed his champion's heart and lungs, winning the fourth set by punishing himself to fly more quickly to the ball, to make better use of his forehand and not to shy away from the net, even though Nadal was crushing hard-to-handle passing shots.

It was assumed by his large amount of supporters at Rod Laver Arena that Federer would once again rise to the occasion, or at least bring the battle to the highest mountaintop and perish taking one last heroic swing at the edge of the cliff.

But he did not, and in the first time off clay, he completely folded, playing a soft, directionless set where he was broken to 3-1 on three consecutive unforced errors and was broken again to lose the match on an oddly missed forehand.

Nadal soaked in the applause while later, when accepting the runner-up trophy, Federer cried a good three minutes and then cried again going into the locker room.

"God, it's killing me," he said to the crowd.

It must be. Federer has sunk deep into the spongy clay at Roland Garros after being smashed by Nadal, but he had never been so thoroughly beaten in a final set of a major off dirt.

"Roger basically folded in the fifth," McEnroe said. "He succumbed to the pressure. Chasing the record 14 is tough and obviously the guy is in his head. It's going to be difficult for Roger to come back from this."

McEnroe believes that Federer plays Nadal all wrong, that he could make simple tactical adjustments that would allow him to grab victories rather than play on the Spaniard's terms. Federer does not do enough in his return games, rarely attempting to step around and hit forehands and allowing Nadal to go into his backhand 90 percent of the time with his serves, even when those serves aren't always of the high qualities.

"He needs a coach," McEnroe said. "He's never had to adjust to something because he's been so talented he could go out there and figure it out. All of sudden he's playing a guy he can't do it against. He's so stubborn."

Federer still sits one Grand Slam title from tying Pete Sampras' all-time Grand Slam mark of 14 majors, and as motivated and as talented as he is, it's hard to imagine him not breaking the record.

"I love this game," Federer said. "It means the world to me, so it hurts when you lose."

But even if he does do it this year, Sampras will retain one major edge over him — that he owned winning records against his greatest rivals. Federer, who is now 6-13 against Nadal, cannot claim that very important distinction.

"It's a huge tipping point in the greatest-ever debate," said Gimelstob. "I think Roger will surpass Pete, but if Nadal plays 6-10 more years, there's endless opportunities for him to rewrite the record books. I don't care how far Federer goes over Sampras, Nadal is still a threat. It all depends on his body. He's getting better and he's a physical beast. There's no one comparable."

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:14. Post subject: Nadal In Denial By T..

Nadal In Denial
By Tennis Week
Monday, February 09, 2009

Rafael Nadal is in denial.

Forget the fact Nadal wears the World No. 1 ranking as comfortably as Superman carries the "S" on chest, set aside the reality Nadal has scored five consecutive wins over second-ranked Roger Federer and holds a 13-6 edge in their rivalry and don't even think about raising Nadal's status as the first man to hold three different Grand Slam championships on three different surfaces plus the Olympic gold medal simultaneously.

No matter how highly you think of Nadal, it won't change what he thinks: the muscular Mallorcan is adamant that regardless of what the rankings say he's still second to one: Federer, according to Nadal, remains the premier player in the sport. End of discussion.

"I'm getting tired of this question," Nadal told the media in Rotterdam today. "When someone has 13 grand slams and 14 Masters titles, there is no discussion about who is the best."

Nadal is the top seed at this week's ABN AMRO 500 Series event in Rotterdam and appears intent on erasing the memory of last year's second-round loss to Andreas Seppi in Rotterdam. He faces Simone Bolelli in the first round of singles with a possible quarterfinal clash looming with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who swept Nadal in the 2008 Australian Open semifinals.

Nadal and fellow Mallorcan Ignacio Coll-Riudavets lost in doubles today to France's Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra, the 2008 Rotterdam singles champion.

The six-time Grand Slam champion reports he took about a week off after dispatching Federer in five sets to win the Melbourne major. Nadal celebrated his first career major hard-court championship with a family feast before flying to Rotterdam to practice on the indoor hard court at the Ahoy Arena.

"I didn't have much time off but it's worse when you have lost," Nadal said. "After a win it is always difficult to play the next event," Nadal said. "But it also depends how you won. My semifinals and the final in Melbourne were incredible and very tough. In tennis, when you lose you have the opportunity to win the next week but when you win, you don't have any time to rest."

While Nadal insists Federer is still the best, Federer himself may not necessarily agree.

Nadal handed Federer all four of his final losses last season and before last month's Australian Open when Federer was asked today to name his Oz Open favorite, excluding himself, he did not hesitate in selecting the man he looks up to in the rankings.

"I would always pick Rafael," Federer said. "He had an incredible season last year. I think he won the Olympics pretty comfortably, you know, crushed almost everybody on the way, and I thought he was playing well and at the US Open as well, and I thought what I saw of him playing in Doha as well he was playing that well as well. Just came up a few more, played well — best of three sets, it's over in a hurry. Let's not forget he didn't play the Masters, so he couldn't really show there."

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:14. Post subject: Елена Янкович: «Не п..

Елена Янкович: «Не понимаю, почему Федерер высказывается в адрес других спортсменов»

Третья ракетка мира сербка Елена Янкович ответила на вопрос по поводу критики Федерера в адрес рейтинговой системе, которая позволяет стать первой ракеткой мира игроку без титулов «Большого шлема» в его активе.

«Если честно, я не очень люблю говорить о других игроках, предпочитаю сосредотачиваться на себе. Вообще, какое ему дело? Я не сую свой нос в чужие дела.

Что мне нравится в Надале, так это то, что такой великий чемпион так скромен, у него всегда есть добрые слова для всех. Поэтому он образец для подражания.

Федерер – великий спортсмен, не хочу воевать с ним, но я действительно не понимаю, почему он об этом говорит. Зачем ему все это?».

Также Янкович отреагировала на критику Федерера в адрес Новака Джоковича, снявшегося с четвертьфинального матча Australian Open.

«Если он снялся, значит, у него на то были причины, он лучше знает. Не надо критиковать других, если у тебя нет доказательств. Нет причин обижать человека подобным образом», – приводит слова теннисистки Reuters.

http://www.sports.ru/tennis/6923170.html

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:15. Post subject: Пит Сампрас: «Рафа п..

Пит Сампрас: «Рафа просто зверь»

Прославленный американский теннисист, обладатель 14 титулов «Большого шлема» Пит Сампрас прокомментировал недавно прошедший финальный матч Australian Open между Рафаэлем Надалем и Роджером Федерером.

«Теперь я видел, как они играют на всех поверхностях, и мне было очень любопытно посмотреть этот матч.

На месте Роджера я бы больше входил в корт, особенно, на своей подаче – Рафа играет так далеко за задней линией. Немного serve-and- volley время от времени, просто чтобы он держал это в уме. Они вступали в долгие розыгрыши, и как только Рафа бил Роджеру под бэкхенд, он начинал контролировать розыгрыш, и Роджеру было сложно.

Даже при том, как Роджер играл, он был близок к победе. Он был в нескольких очках от выигрыша, так что понятно, что он расстроен. Он отлично играет, но Рафа просто зверь. Он может играть целый день, часами показывать высочайший уровень игры. То, что он сделал в Австралии, сыграв пять часов накануне и выиграв финал, невероятно. Просто снимаю шляпу», – приводит слова американца TENNIS.com.

http://www.sports.ru/tennis/6921712.html

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:15. Post subject: Andy Murray tips Nad..

Andy Murray tips Nadal to become best ever tennis player - and wreck Federer's dream

Feb 10 2009 By Simon Cambers

ANDY MURRAY reckons Rafael Nadal could ruin Roger Federer's chances of becoming the greatest player of all time.

The Scot is on a collision course with world No.1 Nadal at the ABN/AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam this week, with the pair at opposite ends of the draw.

Nadal's epic win over Federer in the Final of the Australian Open at the beginning of this month prevented the Swiss star equalling the record of 14 Grand Slam singles titles, held by American Pete Sampras.

The 22-year-old Spaniard already has six Grand Slam trophies and Murray believes he could yet surpass the achievements of both Federer and Sampras.

Murray said: "It's possible. At the same age I think Federer had two and Nadal's got six and he's won on every surface.

"I can't see many people beating him on clay so I'm guessing he is going to have at least two or three more French Opens.

Then obviously it depends how he does in the others, but he's going to be very close.

"Nadal could go on to be the best of all time. For sure he's going to be one of the best and Federer's very close to becoming the best of all time, so there's two unbelievable players."

Murray watched the Nadal-Federer Australian Open Final on television and described it as an intriguing encounter.

The Scot said: "I thought the situation made it a great match but there were a lot of mistakes, especially in the fifth set.

"Federer didn't serve particularly well throughout the match and there were parts when Nadal looked tired and missed some shots he wouldn't normally miss but there were some incredible points.

"I thought if Nadal could win the first set it would mentally make a big difference. Because of it being Federer's possible 14th Grand Slam it was probably always going to go the wire."

Murray has beaten both Nadal and Federer this year, on his way to the title in Doha. But the strength of the two means his chances of winning Grand Slam titles and moving higher than his present ranking of four is not going to be easy.

The Scot said: "I don't know if I'll get to No.1 but I want to try to give it my best shot. Right now with Nadal and Federer it is not easy. I'm just focusing on trying to win my first Grand Slam."

Murray's first singles match in Rotterdam is against former world No.3 Ivan Ljubicic. The Croat has slipped to 48 in the rankings but boasts two wins over Murray from three previous meetings.

However, the British No.1 is ready to level the score. He said: "I feel like I'm hitting the ball well in practice, so hopefully it will be okay."

Murray will be hoping for a better result than in his first-round doubles match when he and James Auckland lost 6-3 6-4 to France's Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/tennis-news/2009/02/10/rafa-s-risk-to-record-86908-21111224/

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:16. Post subject: The greatest ever? ..

The greatest ever?

According to Mark Starr, Nadal will go down as the greatest tennis player in history.

Following the spectacular final to the Australian Open, sportswriters finished analyzing Roger Federer's crying and resumed debating: Who is the greatest tennis player ever?

Federer shed copious tears after losing the final in five sets to Rafael Nadal. And who could blame him? He had come to Melbourne hoping to capture his 14th career Grand Slam title, which would have tied Pete Sampras’ career record, and everything seemed to be pointing his way.

Sure he would have to beat his nemesis, the standout young Spaniard Nadal, who beat him in finals at both the French Open and Wimbledon last year and wrested away the number-one ranking that Federer had held for almost five years. But while Nadal has dominated Federer on clay and broke through on grass in their epic, five-set Wimbledon final, Federer had ruled the hardcourts.

Moreover, Federer, 27, had breezed through his semi-final against the always disappointing Yank, Andy Roddick, and had been gifted by the schedule with an extra day of rest; Nadal, though five years younger, had endured five sets and an Open record-setting long match to slip past his countryman, Fernando Verdasco, in the other semi. In the wee hours after midnight when Nadal lay prostrate on the court in victory, nobody would have been surprised if he had to be carried off.

So in the final, even with the stadium roof closed to protect the players from 100 degree-plus temperatures, the heat was definitely on. But if anyone felt it, if anyone’s legs wilted just a bit, it was Federer. His service was erratic throughout the match and, in the fifth set, he was simply swept away on a string of uncharacteristic, unforced errors.

When the match was over — 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2 to Nadal — the usually stolid, Swiss superstar played against stereotype. At the trophy presentation, Federer couldn’t hold back his emotions amid a torrent of tears. With rare candor for any athlete in defeat, he admitted, “God, it’s killing me.”

The classy Nadal tried to soothe his rival with a gracious salute. But his choice of words — “remember you’re a great champion…one of the best in history” — may have only compounded the sting. Until recently, Federer was most often acclaimed as very likely the “best ever,” not just “one of the best.”

And while that distinction will always be subjective, fodder for barroom debate (especially Down Under where Rod Laver remains the king), Federer had the ultimate measure dead in his sights: He needed just one more Grand Slam title to join Pete Sampras on the game’s highest pedestal.

Passing Sampras certainly seemed his destiny after Federer took three out of four Grand Slam titles in both 2006 and 2007. And again after he won his 13th at the U.S. Open last September, escaping a match-up with Nadal when the Spaniard was upset in the semi-finals. But as Federer approaches tennis antiquity — he will turn 28 just before the U.S. Open this summer — the chase looms as a struggle.

Sampras won only two Grand Slams after turning 28, one that year and a last-gasp triumph at the U.S. Open when he was 31 and headed for retirement. And Sampras did not have a player of Nadal’s transcendent gifts standing in his way. Even if Federer does ultimately catch Sampras, he must already sense the possibility that his claim on “the greatest” in tennis history may be short-lived.

Nadal, of course, is not only standing in Federer’s way, but now clearly chasing him as well. Federer won his first Grand Slam title at age 21 and, by his 23rd birthday, had won two more. Sampras had won four by that age. Nadal is well ahead of that pace, having won his first Grand Slam at the precocious age of 18. The Australian was Nadal's sixth and he will be a prohibitive favorite to capture his fifth consecutive French Open just a few days after he turns 23 in June.

We sportswriters are a notoriously impatient lot. We always want to play well ahead of the day’s game. In a fashion we flatter ourselves by elevating those we are privileged to witness. It is hardly a phenomenon restricted to tennis. Is there a sportswriter alive who has resisted the temptation to pronounce Tiger Woods a mortal lock to surpass Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 major golf titles?

Tiger, at 33 and with 14 majors already in his bag, may still be odds-on in that chase, especially after the 2008 U.S. Open where he demonstrated that he is capable of winning on one good leg. But with Woods having now undergone three knee surgeries in five years, we must wonder if his mortal body will hold up to his immortal talent.

Still, sober restraint has never been much fun or, frankly, all that rewarding for sportswriters. Nobody is likely to remember if I am wrong, especially about the distant future. But I will remember — and remind my readers relentlessly — if I happen to be right.

So let me now say it unequivocally: Rafael Nadal is certain to break Sampras’/Federer’s record for career Grand Slam titles. He will go down as the greatest tennis player in history. You heard it here first.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/sports/090206/the-greatest-ever

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:17. Post subject: On Tennis: Fed's..

On Tennis: Fed's losses are net gains for Rafa

By RAVI UBHA
SPECIAL TO THE P-I

Roger Federer got a ton of headlines last week.

He failed to match Pete Sampras' record haul of 14 majors and sobbed uncontrollably after losing yet again to nemesis Rafael Nadal, in the Australian Open final. Nadal sadly became a supporting actor as the Swiss' tears fell and, the class act he is, apologized for sending his victim into such a state.

It's about time Nadal gets the attention he deserves.

We all know by now the Mallorcan can't match Federer's effortless groundstrokes and variety, but the name of the game is winning. Sampras wasn't exactly the most watchable and excitable player -- and didn't mind one bit.

As the dust settled on their five-set thriller Down Under, Nadal's feat becomes more impressive. Playing more than five hours in his semifinal and having a day less to prepare than Federer, Nadal stayed focused barring a minor blip in the second set. He routinely peppered Federer's backhand using his heavy, lefty forehand and directed serves away from Federer's preferred wing, the forehand.

More aggressive at the end of the fourth set, and with success, Federer sagged mentally, reverting to conservative mode early in the fifth, a point not lost on commentators calling the epic tussle. If Nadal hadn't been drained following his exertions against Fernando Verdasco in the semis, he probably would have beaten Federer in three sets.

Nadal has won six majors already, and he is 22 years and about eight months old; Federer collected two at the same stage. And while Nadal won't have a longer shelf life than Federer due to his physical style, let's not forget the improvements he has made to his backhand, serve, positioning and net play since bursting onto the scene as a predominantly counterpunching clay courter.

If he can stand on one leg, Nadal wins a fifth straight French Open in June, and that gives him a real shot of becoming the first man since Aussie Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four Grand Slam titles in a season.

There's no way he'd avoid the spotlight then.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/othersports/399293_ravi09.html

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:17. Post subject: Federer still trying..

Federer still trying to break the Rafa code

Updated: February 10, 2009

Roger Federer is addicted to being the best. He certainly didn't hide this proclivity during the year-end Tennis Masters Cup, explaining that when he hears himself introduced as the world No. 2, it sounds foreign.

The elegant Federer had an impregnable game. That was, until Rafael Nadal evolved into a powerhouse and began exposing weaknesses in Federer's artillery, both physical and mental. Now Federer is palpably nervous as to whether he can break the Nadal code and capture a record-tying 14th Grand Slam title.

Here are 10 essential ingredients Rafael Nadal has that Roger Federer doesn't. Is the inequity between them driving Federer crazy? Well, we know for sure he has shed a few tears.

1. Six Grand Slam titles at age 22: Nadal owns trophies from four French Opens, one Wimbledon and an Australian Open. In comparison, Federer's majors tally by age 22 was only half as large as Nadal's: two consecutive Wimbledon trophies and a lone Australian Open crown.

2. French Open champion: If not for Nadal, Federer might own three French Open titles: He has been the runner-up at Roland Garros the past three years. But it is Nadal who owns the clay. He will arrive in Paris in May as the four-time French Open champion, and there isn't a hint that his reign is likely to end.

3. Olympic singles gold medal: Playing in three Olympic Games (Sydney, Athens and Beijing), the closest Federer came to a medal in singles was a losing performance in the bronze-medal match at the 2000 Sydney games. It's hard not to imagine it galls Federer -- a gold-star candidate in the sportsmanship department -- that he went home from Beijing this summer with doubles gold while Nadal won the singles title in his first Olympics.

4. Davis Cup champion: Nadal has always considered playing Davis Cup an honor and a top priority. His teenage-hero role in the 2004 final against the U.S. made him front-page news across Spain. An injury kept him out of this year's final win over Argentina, but he was still an integral part of the team. Meanwhile, Federer has cherry-picked his Davis Cup outings, often missing the first round, which often left Switzerland out of contention. Take notice, though, that Federer is now acting with Davis Cup urgency: He has made himself available for first-round action against the U.S. next month.

5. World No. 1: Federer wants the ranking back, but Nadal's Australian Open victory widened the point gap between the two. Nadal is now a comfortable 3,260 points ahead of Federer.

6. Grand Slam titles on three surfaces: Nadal is the first player since Andre Agassi -- who is one of five men to capture all four Grand Slam trophies -- to win majors on all three surfaces: clay, grass and hard court. Federer's 13 Slams have come on grass and hard courts.

7. Winning record against the top eight players: If the coveted year-end Tennis Masters Cup event, which features the top eight players in the world, were played this week, Nadal would head into the event with a winning record against each of the other seven guys: Federer (13-6), Novak Djokovic (10-4), Andy Murray (5-1), Nikolay Davydenko (3-2), Andy Roddick(4-2), Juan Martin del Potro (3-0) and Gilles Simon (3-1). Federer currently has a losing record against Nadal as well as Murray (2-5) and Simon (0-2).

8. Stable coaching relationship: Rafa has Uncle Toni, a mentor who has been by his side from the outset and who has toughened him into the ultimate competitor. Federer stubbornly insists he understands his game better than anyone, so a full-time coach is unnecessary. He terminated the last brief, semi-permanent coaching relationship with Tony Roche in May 2007. Unheralded Swiss Davis Cup captain Severin Luthi has been with Federer at the past few majors.

9. The French-Queens-Wimbledon trifecta: Nadal constantly proves to be an Energizer bunny: No man before Nadal had ever won successive titles at the French Open (clay), Queen's Club (grass) and Wimbledon (grass), which he achieved in 2008. Federer has played Queen's only once, in 1999, choosing in subsequent years to play the Halle, Germany, tournament, which doesn't attract as weighty a field.

10. Southpaw advantage: Nadal is blessed with being a lefty, which allows him a distinct edge over many opponents not as comfortable with the spin of the ball off of a southpaw's racket. Though Federer has a 61-23 record against lefties in his career, 13 of his 23 losses were posted against Nadal.

Sandra Harwitt is a freelance tennis writer for ESPN.com.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis ... is02102009

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:22. Post subject: Рафа глазами Карлоса..

Рафа глазами Карлоса Косты. Перевод на английский - Moondancer c VB.com.

You feel the "buzz" in Ahoy when Nadal plays

Tennis, from our correspondent, Robert Misset,
Published on February 9, 2009
De Volkskrant

Rotterdam - Even when Rafael Nadal, together with his Spanish sparring partner Ignacio Coll-Ruidavets, was losing in the doubles on Monday afternoon; tournament director Richard Krajicek still feels the "buzz" in the sports stadium Ahoy. The world number one gives something extra to the tournament in every way. We are even selling standing tickets for Wednesday because everybody wants to see Nadal playing tennis.

It was a deliberate decision by Nadal to play in Rotterdam, so shortly after winning his first Grand Slam title in the Australian Open, says his manager Carlos Costa. Last year, we considered to let him play the South-African clay tour after the Australian Open. But we would have been playing it safe. Federer lost his number one spot precisely because of the competition on hardcourt.

His swift defeats in Rotterdam and Doha in 2008 underlined that idea. Costa: When Rafa loses, he has the feeling that his arm is chopped off. But he dares to look himself in the mirror during the toughest moments. A lot of players run away from that confrontation after a defeat.

He was distraught to having let Federer escape in the 2007 Wimbledon final. It was probably the worst moment of his career. But he already started to analyse the match in the dressing room with his coach, his uncle Toni. And he probably laid the foundation there for his victory in 2008.

After his triumph in Wimbledon, Nadal's career accelerated, according to Costa. Wimbledon changed his life. There, Rafa finally put an end to the prejudice that he can only win on clay. It was a mental breakthrough."

As a former top ten player, Costa knows what seperates Nadal from the competition. He plays his best tennis on the big points. He has the ability to dig even deeper than his opponent to help tip over the balance of the match in his advantage, just like he did in the Australian Open semi-final against Verdasco.

The secret is to be found in a different strategy, says Costa. The old Rafa no longer exists. Until two years ago, he ran after every ball. He was the player who used to run a marathon to win a match.

Until he beat Murray in five exhausting sets in the Australian Open 2007 after which he couldn't run the next day. Then, Rafa realized that he had to adapt his game. He started to dominate the game more from behind to let his opponent run.

You need courage to leave your safe zone, says Costa. Pete Sampras knew that he could only win Roland Garros by running in every rally. Mentally, he could never make the switch. It is the power of Nadal that he was willing, being the number two, to adapt his game to make the last move.
Manager Costa and coach Toni Nadal take up prominent positions in Team Nadal. Costa: Uncle Toni is his tennis father. He is the most important link. But Rafa listens to everybody, to his parents as well. And if his team concludes that he should jump from the fifth floor of his hotel, he'll do it. (Карлос Коста, а вы часом не заговариваетесь? )

Costa is also encouraging Nadal to change his image. It's been a natural procedure. His broad torso and his sturdy hips define his charisma. It makes Nadal into who he is. He doesn't need to put on an extra-large T-shirt, because that hurts his appeal. But after six years, I started to grow tired of seeing those bundles of muscles in that sleeveless shirt." (Вот паразит! )

"Nadal will soon be 23 years old and he is the world number one. This demands another image and Nike has done a great job in picking up on that with his new outfit."

Never will it be evident for Nadal to win grand slam titles, says Costa. According to him, the tears of Federer were a sign of surrender. I still think that he is capable of winning two slams and break the record of Sampras. The rivalry between Federer and Nadal has reached another dimension. They'll play many more finals against each other."

http://www.volkskrant.nl/sport/article1146057.ece/Je_voelt_de_buzz_in_Ahoy_als_Nadal_speelt

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:30. Post subject: Reactions to the Raf..

Reactions to the Rafael Nadal - Roger Federer Australian Open final:

Pete Sampras: "I've seen them play on every surface now, and I was really curious to see this hard court match.

"If I were Roger I would try to come in a little bit more, especially on my serve -- Rafa stays so far back. Just serve volley every now and again, just to put it at the back of his mind. [They] get into these rallies and as soon as Rafa hits the ball to his backhand, he's in control of the point and it's tough for Roger to keep up. And he came in and mixed it up less than what I thought he was going to try to do.

"He's close just the way he's doing it, he's a few points way from winning these matches, but I'm sure he's frustrated. He's playing fine, Rafa's just an animal. He guy can play all day, he can play at a high level for hours. To do what he did in Australia, play five hours two days before and come back and win the finals is incredible. You've got to tip your hat."

Tiger Woods (to ESPN radio): "I was watching the whole thing. I got up at 3:30 and watched the match. And I was glued to the TV just like everyone else to see those two go at it.

"I wasn't around to watch Borg and McEnroe and and McEnroe and Connors, I was a little bit young to remember that. But I grew up watching Agassi and Sampras go at it and to watch these two go at it, I think it's at a different level. The way they play, it's pretty fun to see how they adjust their games through an entire match and then try to one-up one another. Plus they know each other so well, they've played against each other so many times on a big stage that it's hard to one-up one another, it's just about whoever plays better on that particular day.

"I really wish they were more comparable ages so you could see it go on for a longer period of time, because obviously Rafa's much younger than Fed in tennis years."

Andy Roddick (on Federer's emotional post-match reaction): "I think in sports you can certainly, you know, everyone can relate to being disappointed. I think the thing about, you know, kind of having to stay on for an awards ceremony and from what I read, I think Roger touched on it. Kind of going after a match, taking a shower, stretching, that's kind of all part of your routine to kind of cool down and to kind of almost try to grab a sense of perspective and get away from everybody watching for a second.
"When you have to go straight into the awards ceremony, you know, it's not easy especially after losing a Grand Slam final. I've been on the other end of that with Roger a couple of times. So I don't think it's surprising or out of the ordinary."

TENNIS.com

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:31. Post subject: Григор Димитров: «У ..

Григор Димитров: «У Надаля сумасшедшие тренировки»

Болгарин Григор Димитров, обыгравший в первом круге турнира в Роттердаме чеха Томаша Бердыха со счетом 4:6, 6:3, 6:4, выразил уверенность в том, что в следующем круге ему предстоит встретиться с первой ракеткой мира испанцем Рафаэлем Надалем.

«Будет замечательно сыграть с ним. Я много тренировался вместе с Рафаэлем.
Он никогда не давал мне советов, но просто работать с ним, смотреть за его игрой уже достаточно, это уже совет. Его тренировки просто сумасшедшие», – приводит слова теннисиста AFP.

Отметим, что 487-ракетка мира, обладатель юниорских трофеев на «Уимблдоне» и US Open в дальнейшем будет работать под руководством бывшего тренера Роджера Федерера – Петера Лундгрена.

http://www.sports.ru/tennis/6929067.html

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:32. Post subject: Перевод на английски..

Перевод на английский интервью Рафы в Роттердаме (Moondancer c VB.com)

"I’m often demolished mentally as well as physically"

Published: 10 February 2009
NRC Handelsblad
By Danielle Pinedo

The world’s best tennis player is a just another man who still regularly sleeps at home in his boyhood bedroom. Interview with the Spaniard.

Rotterdam, 10th Febr. His facial expression draws your attention first. Rafael Nadal may appear like a young god, but the look in that eyes betrays the torment of somebody who has had to go beyond his own limits too often. “I’m almost always tired” sighs the Spaniard after his lost doubles match with his compatriot Ignacio Coll-Ruidavets on the opening day of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. “My intensive playing style is demanding. I’m often demolished mentally as well as physically.”

Lounging in the bunker-like press room of the Ahoy sports palace, he looks back on his experiences earlier this month in the Australian Open in an interview with this newspaper. “My final against Roger Federer is an emotional story – like almost all my matches against him are. We have a long history together. And after that match, I felt pretty rotten. But I know that both he and I will look back at it positively. And many sports fans with us: what happened there was good for tennis.”

Eight days ago, Rafel won the trophy in Melbourne in a much talked about five-setter against Roger Federer. Holding his breath, Nadal looked how his Swiss rival burst into tears during the trophy ceremony. Then, he said that he expected that Federer will win that 14th grand slam title one day (to equal the record of Pete Sampras). He just needs to be patient. “Roger is one of the best tennis players in the history”, Rafael Nadal said after he had thrown his arm around the former number one. “Let’s not forget that this is a great champion”.

False humility.

Words coming straight from his heart, says Nadal about his sixth grand slam victory in eight years time. “People always think that I’m pushing Federer forwards out of some sort of false humility. But nothing is further from the truth. This guy has already collected 57 titles. He has been the leader of the world ranking for more than 4 years and he’s still chasing the record of Pete Sampras. Isn’t it a logical conclusion that he’s the best player in the world?”

He was brief about the much talked about tears in Melbourne: “It’s a recognizable reaction. After I had lost the Wimbledon final against him two years ago, I also shed plenty of tears in the locker room.” The Spaniard doesn’t believe that Federer cried because he realized that he had lost his last opportunity to ever beat his rival. “I’m sure that it’s not”, he says resolutely. “Roger’s role is not done yet. He wil have plenty of chances to beat me.”

Rafael Nadal Parera talks just like he lives: without much fuss. The Spaniard may have gathered a lot of money – 17 million euro in prize money alone – but his living style is sober. While his colleagues are getting mansions build in tax havens, the 22-year old still lives in his parent’s home on the holiday island Mallorca. Father Sebastian runs a glass factory, mother Ana Maria is a house wife. “I still sleep in the same room where I slept as a 12-year old”, he says without showing any sign of embarrassment. “My younger sister sleeps on the same floor. My grandparents live in the same building.”

Family man

The paparazzi don’t get a lot of fun from the leader of the ranking, who has a relationship with his girlfriend Francisca Perello since two years now. The couple were to be seen on the covers of the gossip magazines for a few months, but besides the fact that she gives priority to her economy studies over his career, there’s not much to report. Nadal drives around the island in a Kia, he loves fishing, he spends the few spare time he has with his youth friends and he asks his parents for advice before he buys something big. “I’m a family man”, he says in the bare press room of Ahoy, the sports palace of Rotterdam. “Nothing makes me happier.”

Of course, he knows that a lot of people view him as the muscle man. A Don Juan who lets the hearts of men and women beat faster. “But that’s only an image”, the Spaniard confides. The fact that others have a hard time comprehending those two sides of him is something he understands very well: even after all those years, it still takes his mother quite some time to get used to those facial expressions on court. The transformation from innocent child into a merciless Rambo seems unreal. It’s one of the reasons why she rarely watches him in the stands.

Rafa began to play tennis when he was 4, under the guidance of his uncle Toni who still coaches him today. He has won his first ATP title in Mallorca and at the age of 15, he reached the semi-final of the Wimbledon junior tournament. As a pro in 2003, he was the youngest player (17) to have reached the third round of the grass tournament since Boris Becker in 1984. He ended that same year in the top 50. Since August of last year, he’s the leader of the ranking.

Equals

“A lot of what I have achieved, I owe to my uncle”, says Nadal. “He has kept me focused all those years. And when it gets too much for me after a defeat – like two years ago in Wimbledon – he’s the one he helps me get over that. On the court, Toni is my coach and we talk about nothing else but tennis. Outside of that, he’s a family member I respect a lot.” When hearing a quote from Toni Nadal in this newspaper last year - that he receives no salary at all from his nephew to underline that they’re equals - the tennis player’s eyebrows go up. “I leave what he said for what it is…but it’s true that we treat each other as equals.”

Uncle Toni was also the one who forced Rafa to pick between tennis and his big love for football (According to his uncle Miguel Angel, who played for Barcelona for 8 years, he has a good right (!) foot). And Toni was the man who told him that fits of rage on a court were not only a waste of energy but also a sign of arrogance. “he told me that it would be over if he would see me throw a racquet. ‘There are many people who can’t afford a tennis racquet’ was his reasoning. Since then, I always managed to keep my anger hidden.”

Especially in the last month did Toni Nadal tweak his nephew’s game. A lot of attention was given to his serve that’s well placed but without being very fast. And also his topspin forehand – which according to American research reaches 3.200 rotations per minute, 700 more than Roger Federer’s – was carefully investigated. “The underlying idea was to put more aggression into my game”; says the player who is defensive by nature. “My uncle figures that I can still gain a lot in that department.”

Verdasco

Physically, Nadal is head and shoulders above his colleagues – even though the gap becomes more and more narrow, as was proven by the powerful Fernando Verdasco in the semi-final in Melbourne. Asked how he keeps fit, the world number one replies: “by following a hard program in December. Mostly, I’ll wake up at 8 a.m., I will do one hour of fitness training before I hit the court for about 3 to 4 hours after which I will do power training for two hours. During the season, I will be more on court in comparison. But I always make sure that I keep my body in top shape.”

However, Nadal is convinced that it was not his good physical shape that brought him the victory after that more than 4 hour lasting final against Federer. “My mental force made the difference. After my marathon match against Verdasco, I could hardly stand on my feet. But my uncle gave me a good pep talk before the final battle. He told me ‘fight for it, believe in it’, and that’s what I did.” According to Nadal, if a player is mentally strong, he can win every match despite his physical condition. “Perhaps that’s the most important lesson I have learned from Australia.”

In Rotterdam, the Spaniard hopes to get revenge from his mediocre performance in 2008 when he lost in the second round against the Italian Andreas Seppi – much to the disappointment of the tournament director Richard Krajicek.

Nadal speaks highly of the good organization of the tournament and he jokes once again about the fact that they had to take special measures in the players’ hotel so that he could see his beloved Real Madrid in action in the Champions League.

“Sometimes, I get a bit tired of always having to say the same things over and over”, he softly smiles. “But I do my best to remain the same person I always was. I will never do something that goes against my own ethics. Or to adopt an image that does not match the reality. Authenticity is very important to me.”

NRC Handelsblad - Zowel mentaal als fysiek ben ik vaak gesloopt.

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:32. Post subject: Nadal's graceful..

Nadal's gracefulness, Henin's viewpoint and Roger's toxins

Jon Wertheim

Does Nadal have the best PR person, or does this all come naturally to him? The guy seems to handle himself in a way that I don't think we've seen from some of these younger players. The respect he continues to show to Federer seems genuine. How does he do it?
-- Erin, Sudbury, Mass.

• A good first question on the day Jelena Jankovic (?) bashes Roger Federer but claims to admire Nadal for his modesty. For the record, Nadal does have a PR rep on the payroll, who does right by him. But clearly this "comes naturally" to him as well. As we discussed last week: anyone can spew a few slick talking points into a microphone. Yet when your rival unexpectedly breaks down in tears and you have the wherewithal to step up and console him, you're revealing much more about your nature.

What's the source of this authentic good-guy-ness? Nadal was clearly "raised right" by a mom and dad who don't exactly cut the figure of stage parents. While Nadal's island of Majorca has a reputation as a trendy Euro-destination, Nadal's hometown of Manacors is an unassuming, close-knit place where class distinctions are fuzzy and folks go to great lengths to conceal their wealth. Nadal's uncle, Miguel Angel, the former pro soccer player, was the proverbial "role model," who offered an example of how a pro athlete ought to conduct himself. Give some credit to Federer, too, for demonstrating the top player can win everything in sight and still show grace and humility.

But I think the biggest influence is Uncle Nadal, or "Uncle Hard Ass," as Pete Bodo and I have taken to calling him. I think the Republic of Tennis has grown skeptical of the relative-cum-coach. But in this case, the player's uncle not only possesses a first rate tennis cortex, but also is one of the coaches who shapes lives. At an early age, he impressed upon Nadal that "just because you can hit a tennis ball well doesn't mean you're better than anyone else."

As Nadal ascended the org chart, there was uncle to make sure the kid stayed humble. A promoter offers to fly Nadal and his camp to a tournament. No thanks, says Toni, we already bought train tickets. Nadal goes to the practice courts at the 2008 U.S. Open and realizes he's forgotten his water bottles in the locker room. Never mind the eager volunteer happy to assist the tournament's top seed; Uncle T. (Raffa = Christopher Moltisanti?) makes his nephew run back and get it. A doctor offers to see Nadal immediately; no, says uncle, he'll take a seat in the waiting room like every one else.

You could write an entire chapter about Nadal's pleasant off-court personality and how jarringly at odds it is with on-court ferocity. But give the kid his due. He not only challenges Federer's skill but also gives him a run in the mensch department.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jon_wertheim/02/11/nadal/

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:33. Post subject: Nadal and the life a..

Nadal and the life as world number 1

Having a place in the SF, the best player in the ranking talked about how it feels to be in the top of the planet
By Ariel Ruya translated by babi to vamosbrigade.com

MELBOURNE.- The access is restrict: the Asian security guy awe-respecting. "Not here" he says on English. "Come here with me. You only have a few minutes" says the leader, the star of this story. Going with him meaning to walk just a few steps by Rafael Nadal' side, the best racquet in the tennis world, it is close to going to a ball. Like you have the most beautiful date: everyone sighes as she walks. It is a small place near to the stadium where he spends most of his days. The site is a perfect oasis in LA NACION and the Spades Ace meeting who comes with tank top and shorts, as if he was boy in the neighborhood, simple and gentle.

"Honestly, nothing changed in my life with the #1 position. I'm not more known then I was before, when I was #2 and inside, I'm the same. It is a personal satisfaction, it was three years in a row as #2, it longed too much. It was a objetive accomplished. Up close, I'm the same as always, I live with my parents, in Mallorca, and this is not gonna change" he says surprised by the first question. But the next one makes him more uneasy. Who really is Rafael Nadal? What he enjoys the most outside the court? Is he always hurrying, as many young men today? "I don't like to be quiet. I like to have things to make all the time; I don't like to lay in the couch. I'm calm, simple, a very familiar guy who likes to be at home. I feel blessed from being from where I am. Mallorca is the perfect place to, to be quiet; they know me there since forever and I have a complete normal life there. I'm just one more" he says. And he jumps, in the ocean of his intimacy as if he was in a diving board.

- I like to fish, play golf, be with my friends, got out to have dinner or party. I have a big family: lots of young cousins (kids) and I like to be with them.

Why did you change your outfit and had a haircut?

- I don't know why I changed the outfit: I just changed it. I like it and I feel fine, maybe someday I get back to the old one. About the hair, well, my father told me many times (laughs). He always says: "Rafa, wouldn't you like to cut your hair a bit? Well, was it just a bit?

-їIs it possible to think about family as you are writing history on tennis?

-Of course. I used to play soccer and tennis since I was very young and my parents had always been with me. I have a very happy childhood. My family helps me a lot. I have a 17 years old sister and it doesn't matter if I'm a tennis player or something, we are treated as the same.
-You are a kid. But in the sport you are a veteran
-I'm young. Not in tennis, because I'm on my seventh year in the tour, but on everything else, I'm just like anyone else. I play soccer, hang out with my friends, I'm like anybody else.

-You made many dreams come true already. Are there any more?

-I'd like to have a family, but I don't think about it right now. I'm 22 years old and in this world you can think on something serious (at this age). When I'm done, my dream is to live on Mallorca, quietly. I have a boat and I would be there fishing. Having time to go to the sea and just fish.

"Have time" says Rafa, up close, as an army of curious people try to see him closer. Have time for Nadal is more like a wish. "Win AO would be a dream, stay as world number #1 all over the year or until the very end. There are a lot of dreams ahead" suggests him. But he keeps the other, the need to have a break to see what is happening in the world. To change roles, to the universe, just for a break stop spottin him.

"Wimbledon final, surely, it is the memory of the most beautiful day that sport gave to me. Though I always have a good time on Roland Garros. I'm a very happy person with my life. Everyday I woke up and say to me I'm fortunate" says the man that dive to become a legend, with his own simplicity and humbleness of a neighborhood boy.


"Everyone respects me, as #1 or as #2, I'm still the same. Inside and outside" he says. Inside and outside. Muscles to serve an unbreakable winning mind and the way of living as anyone else on Manacor, a tiny county, in the Baleares Islands, that only has 38000 habitants. One, at least, the best of all. There, they say, his girlfriend is always waiting for him. A girl from his house, that knows Nadal since he was only Rafael.

- How do you want people to remember of you when this adventure ends?

- As a good guy, nothing more. I value good people more than anything else. In addition to this, well, I hope they remember the titles, I already have some, no? But I'm more interested in the human being. A good person, you can write it.

"A good person" whispers Rafa. A line worthy of the king of humbleness.

http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1094457

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:35. Post subject: The Legend of Two Su..

The Legend of Two Supermen: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

Poulomee Basu
February 11, 2009


This might be the millionth piece you read about Roger and Rafa, but since I wrote it, I might as well share it with you all.
I must admit that before yesterday I was not completely aware of how the larger majority (and particularly tennis folk) perceives Rafa. Today i have realised that a lot of people often look at him like the "bad guy in tennis"—the guy who "spoils" Roger Federer's party every single time.

They always acknowledge his talent, yes, but most of the post-match obituaries take the tone of what “Nadal took from Federer” rather than Nadal’s skill in the first place.

I can see where they are coming from. It was Nadal who stopped Rog when he wanted to win a record 6th Wimbledon. It was Nadal who has stood in Rog's way every single time he has been close to winning his dream—the French open. It was Nadal again who stopped him winning his 14th grand slam on that fateful Sunday.

And if you think about it—essentially what has Federer taken away from Nadal? Nothing. Except those two Wimbledons. I dare say the first time I don't think Rafa was ready to win it. But yes, it must've hurt him the second time. But the loss wasn't as ego-shattering as Rog's in 2008.

Lets look at the OZ final for instance. That final was our opportunity to savour the greatest rivalry in contemporary sport. And boy did it live up to its expectations. It celebrated the exquisite contrast in styles and temperaments all over again. It raised the level of tennis so high that we were left shaking our heads in disbelief instead of merely clapping.

In fact, the Times even went on to say that "Somewhere along the way on Sunday we discovered the true meaning of this rivalry. The two men asked questions of each other that they never imagined they would have to answer on a tennis court."

However even after this spectacular display of pure tennis—the final didn't turn out to be about Federer. His serve and his mind might have let him down, but it was all about Rafa. He delivered the message loud and clear. If Federer wanted to be the champion—he would have to beat him—Rafa wasn’t going to do it for him. And he didn't.

But instead of celebrating Nadal, the big story out of Melbourne is the "tears of Roger Federer". Just like the 2008 French Open was about what Federer failed to do, rather than what Nadal did right.

Let me get one thing straight—I have nothing against Roger Federer. I love him. In all honesty I love players who show emotion. I would rather not have this “calm and composed” veneer at all. Its their vulnerability which makes them relatable. Him breaking down might have been gut wrenching and uncomfortable sight all right. But in spite of all that I want to know “when do we start celebrating Nadal?”

"When does Nadal get to be the superhero instead of the villain who spoils the party?” When do we talk about him rather than compare him nonstop to the mighty Fed?

Have we heard Nadal speaking? He is perhaps the most polite professional athlete on this planet, yet people accuse him of a facade of false modesty. They question his respect for Federer as well as his humility. They constantly find his game less aesthetically pleasing compared to Federer's effortless display. They call him "less" talented. They call him Kryptonite to Federer's Superman.

To quote Tennistalk (as I cannot find words that better describe this):
"It is with considerable anger and frustration that I say enough is enough. Give this young man the credit he is due. Applaud his accomplishments instead of mourning all of the things he's taken from Federer. Credit his prodigious tennis skill, his superb athleticism, his unrivaled mental toughness and his kindness. Marvel at his consistency and admit that his number one ranking is NOT in name only.
"I can assure you that to do so is not a slight against the beloved Roger Federer. And come to the realization that perhaps there was never Kryptonite at all, but TWO Supermen instead of one."

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/122872-the-legend-of-two-supermen-roger-federer-rafael-nadal


Легенда о двух Суперменах: Роджер Федерер и Рафаэль Надаль

Возможно, вы уже миллион раз читали о Роджере и Рафе, но раз уж я ее написала эту статью, я поделюсь ею с вами.

Признаться, до вчерашнего дня я не представляла себе, как большинство людей (особенно среди поклонников тенниса) воспринимают Рафу. Сегодня я поняла, что многие зачастую относятся к нему как к «плохому парню» в теннисе, парню, который каждый раз портит Роджеру праздник.

Они всегда признают его талант, да, но большинство послематчевых некрологов сводятся в первую очередь к тому, «что Надаль отнял у Федерера», а не к теннисным талантам Надаля.

Я понимаю, отчего это происходит. Именно Надаль не позволил Роджу выиграть 6-й Уимблдон подряд. Именно Надаль каждый раз стоял на пути Роджа, когда тот был близок к осуществлению своей мечты – победе на Ролан Гаррос. Именно тот же Надаль не дал ему выиграть 14-й шлем в то судьбоносное воскресенье (от себя добавлю, что именно Надаль не позволил стать Роджеру обладателем Большого Шлема в 2006-2007 гг., именно Надаль сместил Роджера с первой строки мирового рейтинга – прим. Ольги)

А если задуматься: что, по большому счету, отнял Федерер у Надаля? Ничего. Кроме тех двух Уимблдонов. Осмелюсь сказать, что в первом случае Рафа был не готов к победе. Да, второе поражение было болезненным, но не таким бьющим по самолюбию, как у Роджа в 2008 г.

Вспомним, например, недавний финал АО. Этот финал был для нас возможностью насладиться величайшим соперничеством в современном спорте, и мы получили это наслаждение. Финал снова продемонстрировал исключительно яркий контраст стилей и темпераментов. Уровень тенниса был столь высок, что мы порой качали головами в изумлении вместо того чтобы просто аплодировать.

Таймс даже написала: «В это воскресенье в какой-то момент мы поняли истинное значение этого соперничества. Оба теннисиста не могли себе представить, что им придется отвечать на теннисном корте на те вопросы, которые они друг другу задавали».

Однако даже после этого захватывающего тенниса это был финал не Федерера. Его подача и его психика дали сбой, и это был финал Рафы. Он послал громкий и ясный сигнал: если Федерер хочет быть чемпионом, ему придется обыграть его. Рафа не собирался помогать ему в этом.

Но вместо того чтобы отметить Надаля, главной сенсацией Мельбурна стали «слезы Роджера Федерера». Точно так же, как и в 2008 г. после Ролан Гаррос все говорили о том, что не удалось Роджеру, а не о том, что удалось Надалю. Хочу сказать прямо: я не имею ничего против Роджера Федерера. Я люблю его. Мне нравятся игроки, которые проявляют эмоции. Именно их ранимость делает их более близкими. То, что он разрыдался, было действительно душераздирающе, на это было неловко смотреть. Но, несмотря на все это я хочу знать: когда мы начнем отдавать должное Надалю?

Когда Надаль станет супергероем, а не злодеем, который портит праздник? Когда мы будем говорить о НЁМ вместо того чтобы до бесконечности сравнивать его с «могущественным Федом»?

Вы слышали, как говорит Надаль? Пожалуй, он самый вежливый спортсмен на этой планете. Однако его обвиняют в показной скромности. Подвергают сомнению его уважение к Федереру. О его игре постоянно говорят как о менее эстетичной по сравнению с игрой Федерера. Его называют «менее талантливым». Его называют Криптонитом Супермена Федерера.

Процитирую Tennistalk, поскольку я не подберу лучших слов:
«С негодованием и раздражением я говорю: хватит, наконец. Отдайте должное этому молодому человеку. Аплодируйте его достижениям вместо оплакивания всего того, что он отнял у Федерера. Признайте его поразительное мастерство, великолепный атлетизм, его непревзойденную психологическую устойчивость и его доброту. Удивляйтесь его стабильности и признайте, что его первое место в рейтинге НЕ номинально. Могу заверить вас, что тем самым вы не проявите неуважения к любимому Роджеру Федереру. И осознайте, что, возможно, вовсе никогда и не было никакого Криптонита, а есть ДВА Супермена вместо одного».

(перевод: Ольга)

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:35. Post subject: An Open Letter to Ra..

An Open Letter to Rafael Nadal

February 17, 2009
by Long John Silver…

Dear Rafael…
Buenas Noches, Felicitations! Hope after the Australia, you had a good break in Majorca and got some time to put your feet up.

Rafa, I am not going to pretend I know more than you…that would indeed be preposterous. But not only as a fan of yours, but as a fan of the game in general, I (and the fans around the world) need you to be healthy in the long run.

The web pages around the world ran amok the day before yesterday when you lost to Andy Murray. Andy played very well like you acknowledged, congratulations to him…but we also looked at the bigger picture.

Your knee got into trouble again, and that is not a good feeling for us to see you struggle on court for two sets. It is a tense time for us to see you take medical time outs as well. If am honest, I must confess I have been puzzled by some of your strange choices over the past few weeks.

After playing Fernando and Rodge in the semis and finals in Melbourne, there was no doubt how tired you must have been. But why in this world would you then enter both singles and doubles?

If it was someone my equal, I would have called it a dumb decision, but I am sure you know more about tennis and your body than I do, and hence am going to call it puzzling?

I know your game is based on momentum, and that is why I always doubted how you were ever going to win Australia, because you have no momentum going in. That’s why it was so special to us that you managed to win it. We as tennis fans were incredibly happy when you did that.

I understand that by entering singles and doubles, you play more and garner more momentum. But think about it, momentum is only worth anything if you are in any state to play, meaning if you don’t drive yourself to the point of exhaustion.

It is not an unconstrained problem…momentum makes you play better, WITH THE BOUNDARY CONDITION that you don’t drive yourself into exhaustion by playing too much.

I very well know you say, there is never a good time to not play, and I think Dubai is very important with 500 points. But think about not playing every single clay court tournament that ever existed this year. Hamburg, Monte Carlo and Rome…then Roland Garros.

Por Favor, do look after yourself, and most of all. look at the bigger picture. That one more tournament in any one of those places isn’t going to make a significant difference in how you play Roland Garros, I am sure the moment you step into Philippe Chatrier, you will feel at home.
It is quite OK to lose some points in one of those tournaments; maybe choose the one with least points to drop. You can do what you always do to please the sponsors, still show up to sign autographs and for photo sessions.

We need you to save your miles and legs, for Roland Garros, Wimbledon…and most importantly New York. You have traditionally been very tired every time when you have come to NY because of the all work you had done until that point of time.
You now have this rare opportunity to win on all four surfaces. Save yourself…is what as fans, we ask you.

Forget the little tournaments, we can certainly accept you losing in NY if you are playing well, and someone played better. But what a shame it would be if you lost because of bad decision-making and avoidable injuries.

After Dubai, go back home, drink some Cava and eat a bit of your mum’s lovely paella. Spend some time with your girl-friend, play soccer and maybe go fishing. But we need to fresh and fit as a fiddle for the slams. I’m sure if I know this, you, your team, and Uncle T know this too.
But I just wanted to say this because we do care about you. Maybe I could lend you some stamps, and even offer to post your letter stating the leave of absence from some of those clay grinding tournaments.

In return, you can play NY fresh, and buy me a beer, mate.
And Rafa…please bring back the sleeveless Pirate tee when you can, don’t get sucked into the ATP’s “acceptable apparel” marketing machine. We loved the Pirate tee’s, and we miss it very much now.

See, that wasn’t that bad…no ?

Abrazos!

Long

http://www.tosports.ca/?p=3400

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:36. Post subject: What Can Bloggers Le..

What Can Bloggers Learn From Rafael Nadal

I know a lot of Americans don’t watch tennis. But if you have recently, you have probably seen the Spanish bull called Rafael Nadal. Here is a 22 year old young man who has already won 6 grand slams (way more than the mighty Roger Federer had when he was 22). But his path to where he is today is something that all bloggers need to observe and learn from. So here is a summary of his journey.

A few years ago, Roger Federer (13 times Grand Slam champion) took the reigns from Pete Sampras (14 times GS Champion). He was elegant. He was unstoppable at times. And he dominated the tennis world like no other person ever did in the history of the game. But while top 10 player in the world were losing to Roger left and right, a young kid from Majorca managed to beat the mighty master on his favorite surface. Roger went on to lose only a handful of games in the next few years, but most of those were to Rafael Nadal. Nadal went on to quickly become the No. 2 player in the world. He couldn’t match Roger on faster surfaces, but he dominated Roger and other players on clay courts.

Rafael Nadal’s inability to make an impression on faster courts made folks believe that he was just another “dirt baller.” A guy who’s good on clay but not too good on hard-courts or grass. 3 years ago nobody gave Nadal a chance to reach the finals of Wimbledon. But he did. Nobody game Rafa a chance to challenge Roger at Wimbledon. But he pushed Roger to 4 sets in his first try. The very next year, he pushed Roger to a 5th set. But in 2008, Rafa beat the master on his favorite surface grass. Skeptics claimed that grass was becoming slow, and that victory was a fluke. What did Rafa do? Beat Federer in the finals of Australian Open (a hard court tournament) to put all the doubts to rest. Rafa has now beaten the greatest player in the history of the game on his favorite surfaces - on fast courts, slow courts, and anything in between. What does that say about Rafa?

Bloggers who feel like giving up should take a close look at Rafa’s story. The guy was against it by having Roger Federer in the same era. Guys like Andy Roddick, James Blake, Hewitt, Safin, and Agassi all failed to win more major tournaments partially due to Federer beating them in the finals. Not the case with Nadal. He refused to lay down and die. He went to work. He worked on his weaknesses, and he dissected Federer’s weaknesses diligently. Roger played with grace. Nadal didn’t care about being cute. He wanted to win. He was willing to die for his cause. Everybody who came to play Roger had lost the match before it even got started. Those guys gave in easily. Nadal didn’t care about who Roger Federer was. He cared about winning, and he believed in his chances.( I like this. )That is why he is on track to become the greatest player of all time (replacing (guess who?) Roger Federer). If you look at the stars in your field and feel like giving up, just imagine Rafa Nadal. He could have given up. He could have stopped being such a pain for Roger Federer. But he did not, and you should not either! Those who give up don’t get the prize. It’s as simple as that.

Are you thinking about giving up?

http://www.bloggingot.com/blogging-tips ... ael-nadal/

Коротенько последний абзац:

…Надалю пришлось играть в одну эру с Роджером Федерером. Роддику, Блейку, Хьюитту, Сафину и Агасси не удалось выиграть больше ТБШ отчасти из-за того, что Федерер побеждал их в финалах. Совсем другое с Надалем. Он отказался ложиться и умирать. Он принялся за работу. Он работал над своими слабыми местами и тщательно изучал слабые места Роджера. Роджер играл грациозно. Надаль не заботился о том, чтобы выглядеть на корте красиво. Он хотел побеждать. Он был готов умереть ради этого. Все, кто выходил играть против Роджера, проигрывали матч еще до его начала. Они быстро сдавались. Надалю было все равно, кто такой Роджер Федерер. Он жаждал победы и верил в свои силы. Поэтому он на пути к тому, чтобы стать лучшим теннисистом в истории. Если вы взвешиваете свои возможности и готовы отступить, просто вспомните Рафу Надаля. Он тоже мог сдаться. Он мог перестать быть такой болезненной проблемой для Роджера Федерера. Но он не сделал этого, и вы не делайте! Тот, кто сдается, не получает приз. Простая истина.

(перевод - Ольга)

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:48. Post subject: Цитатки Интересные ..

Цитатки

Интересные предсказания британской прессы аж в 2003 году!

Robert Philip:

quote:

Год назад ему дали прозвище «Супер Марио», после того как он победил 7-го сеяного Роджера Федерера в 1-м круге; сейчас хорват столкнулся с еще более мощным соперником в лице «Супербоя», или Рафаэля Надаля. Испанец, которому в этом месяце исполнилось 17 лет, мог бы еще два года играть в юниорском чемпионате, но он носит мантию «лучшего тинэйджера всех времен» (да-да, включая Борга и Беккера), поэтому он предпочел прокладывать свой путь в мужском Туре. Уроженец Мальорки, Надаль одержал убедительную победу: 6-3,6-4, 4-6, 6-4 по почти средиземноморским солнцем. Вряд ли он выиграет Уимблдон в этом году, но только подождите, Генри Хиггинс, только подождите* – владычество Испании не за горами.

* Из мюзикла «Моя прекрасная леди» (прим. Ольги)
(23 июня 2003 г. - The Telegraph)

John Barrett

quote:

Выиграть семь пятисетовых поединков подряд на грунте делает задачу практически невыполнимой для подростка из-за больших физических затрат. Не сомневайтесь, однако, что Надаль сможет стать чемпионом Ролан Гаррос в ближайшие три года.

(23 мая 2003 г. - FT.com article - "Young Nadal is one they'll want to avoid")

Пэт Кэш потихоньку становится шутом гороховым

quote:

«Если он сможет восстановиться после самого длинного матча в истории АО, преодолеть гандикап в виде лишнего дня отдыха у Роджера Федерера и выиграть свой первый ТБШ на харде, я встану перед ним на колени и буду почитать его как супермена».

(1 февраля 2009 г., The Sunday Times)

Нет, вы представляете себе эту картину маслом? Хотелось бы на фотки посмотреть, да что-то их нет. Видимо, Кэша под белы руки от Рафы поскорее увели, чтобы тот избежал еще большего потрясения после церемонии награждения

Фернандо Торрес (нападающий «Ливерпуля» и сборной Испании)

quote:

Когда находишься далеко от дома, начинаешь больше ценить его. Последний год был фантастическим для нас в области спорта. Ты так гордишься всеми победами! Мы все смотрели финал АО во время сборов перед матчем с «Челси». Мы так орали во время каждого розыгрыша, как будто он был последним! Come on Rafa, come on Rafa! Потому что он один из нас (в “Ливерпуле» играет несколько испанцев – прим. Ольги). Так же, как и Контадор, Састре, По Газоль… Да, сейчас мы объединены как никогда. Давайте двигаться в том же направлении. Вы даже не представляете, как высоко англичане отзываются об испанских спортсменах!

(Из интервью журналу AS)

Грег Руседски:

quote:

«Я думаю, что Энди может стать номером 1, но его слишком перехвалили в Австралии. Я ставил на Федерера, но суперменом оказался Надаль. Наша эпоха знает атлетов, таких как Бьорн Борг или Лэнс Армстронг, которые являются суперменами. У них есть от Бога что-то такое, чего нет у других. Чем больше я думаю об этом, тем больше я осознаю, что у Надаля это «что-то» есть».

17 февраля 2009 г., Гардиан

Тодд Мартин в интервью Tennis Week

quote:

TW: После того, как Надаль бился в том пятичасовом матче против Вердаско, а затем победил Федерера в другом пятисетовом матче, длившемся более 4-х часов, я сижу и думаю: как, черт возьми, ему это удается? TM: На меня это не произвело никакого впечатления – я имею в виду время, которое Надаль провел на корте. Он натренирован для этого. Меня поразило то, что в таких обстоятельствах он переигрывал соперника головой в первых четырех сетах финала. Больше всего меня впечатляет тот уровень игры, который Надаль смог поддерживать в течение этих 10 сетов подряд благодаря своей воле. Его психологическая устойчивость потрясает. Это что-то умопромрачительное.

 Posted: 22.03.09 15:57. Post subject: Александр Кузмак: ..

Александр Кузмак:

Великая сила инерции

Как же все-таки велика сила инерции в человеческом восприятии! Сколько еще побед Рафаэль Надаль должен одержать над Роджером Федерером, чтобы его успехи перестали считать признаком какой-то слабости (несобранности, неготовности, тактической неграмотности, невезения – нужное подчеркнуть) швейцарца? Вот уже пять раз подряд, на разных покрытиях, в разное время года и суток, при разной игровой подоплеке Рафаэль доказывает почтеннейшей публике одно и тоже – он сильнее Федерера, а воз и ныне там: "повезло", "неудобный соперник", "сам отдал", "если бы не развалился"…

Матч на "Род Лейвер Арене" - лишнее доказательство одной и той же теоремы. Лишнее, подчеркну, потому, что еще два года назад в интервью вашему покорному слуге Борис Беккер и Джон Ллойд выказывали восхищение тем, как обучается 20-летний испанец игре на любых покрытиях, как впитывает он тактику игры на харде и траве, как велика его способность к адаптации. И все это умножено на совершенно уникальный талант испанца, поэтому Роджер проигрывает Надалю по делу. И проигрывает не психикой, а именно в игровых компонентах.

Чем силен Федерер, если обобщить коротко? В первую очередь, быстротой мышления и игрой по восходящему мячу. Роджер бьет не сильнее – он бьет быстрее. Быстрее принимает решения, быстрее воплощает их в жизнь. Федерер силен именно в темповой, обоюдоострой, открытой игре, где швейцарец все время действует на опережение, "читая" игру оппонента и перехватывая инициативу.

Надаль же этой возможности Роджера попросту лишил. Во-первых, Рафа левша, что уже неудобно. Во-вторых, феноменально быстро передвигается по корту. В третьих, и это наиболее важно, Надаль силен теми вращениями, которые он придает мячу. Тем самым Рафа сбивает Федерера с ритма атаки, и, главное, мячи с высоким и перекрученным отскоком крайне трудно играть – для этого каждый такой мяч надо "обрабатывать ногами". А еще труднее делать это с одноручным бекхэндом Роджера. А теперь добавьте к этому шесть лет разницы в возрасте и поймете, почему Федерер "разваливается" в решающий момент. Потому что не выдерживает. После матча Роджер прямо сказал: "Я выдал сегодня свой максимум"…

Поклонники изящного, эстетичного стиля Федерера склонны обвинять Надаля в эдакой теннисной брутальности. Вероятно, в чем-то они правы. Игра испанца, без сомнения, в большей степени основана на его физических талантах – силе и выносливости. Но не признавать, что эти два компонента уже сегодня ставят Надаля выше своего соперника, также, увы, не получается. Потому что Федерер, как вы видели, выдал свой максимум. А вот Надаль, вероятнее всего, нет.

Любопытно, что Роджер уже плачет не после побед, а после поражений от Рафы. А это стопроцентный признак сегодняшнего бессилия швейцарца, игрового бессилия. Столкновение двух диаметрально противоположных игровых стилей рождает фантастические спектакли, но развязка их одна и та же, и считать очередную победу Надаля над Федерером не силой одного, а слабостью другого сегодня выглядит неубедительно и противоречит элементарному здравому смыслу. Смущенный испанец извиняется (!), видя плачущего соперника, и утешает(!) Федерера(!!) – ты, мол, еще выиграешь свой 14-й турнир "Большого шлема". Но неужели это так уж важно?

Федерер – великий теннисист, возможно, самый великий в истории тенниса на данный момент. Это признано всеми, в том числе самим Надалем. Но, честное слово, разве плохо, если на белом свете уже появился кто-то, кто сумел доказать над ним свое превосходство? По-моему, это замечательно. Это – прогресс. Это – будущее. А может быть, это "Большой шлем" для Надаля? Кто знает, во всяком случае, сомнений в том, кто победит на "Ролан Гаррос" пока нет. Пока…

http://news.sportbox.ru/Vidy_sporta/Tennis/Aleksandr-Kuzmak-Velikaya-sila-inercii

 Posted: 22.03.09 16:14. Post subject: §Ў-§С-§С-§С-§С-§С-§..

А-а-а-а-а-а-а-а-а-а!!!! Французский теннисный интернет журнал GrandChelem # 11 разместил высказывания о Рафе разных игроков, я с таким удовольствием читала! На VB.com Moondancer перевела все на английский язык (огромный труд!) Щас выложу

Вот ссылка. Главным редактором этого номера была Амели Моресмо!

http://www.welovetennis.fr/medias/magazines/MAG11.pdf


http://www.welovetennis.fr/medias/magazines/MAG11.pdf

Editor in chief (for this edition only), Amеlie Mauresmo:

I think that heЎЇs really well brought up. I donЎЇt think that heЎЇs a star in the stuck-up sense of the word. I have the impression that heЎЇs a guy with both his feet firmly on the ground. With a good work ethic, family values, the values to share, not self-absorded and thereЎЇs the game as well because you can see it when he plays football, when heЎЇs playing with a ball, you can see him laughing.

Him being an islander? For me, that reflects his family values. HeЎЇs on his island over there, in a closed circle. He sees whatЎЇs happening in the world, he travels but when he returns back home, they go fishing or they enjoy simple things together and he stays humble in his behavior. I think that Toni plays an important role. I have no uncle or no other family member who could become my trainer. With the other uncle, the one who has played professional football, he learned about sport on a high level. Talking about relationships; his uncle could not always be sweet to him and you have to be willing to put up with that. You have to be willing to receive a couple of punches head-on in order to get up again. I trained every day next to him during the previous US Open and frankly, it was impressive. He uses so much match intensity. He plays for a long time. HeЎЇs somebody who needs to spend a lot of time on court. But I agree with Gilles Simon that we need to attach a bigger importance to the effectiveness of his shots. He always has a maximum intensity on a physical level. It must be hell for no matter who is standing on the other end. Regarding Federer, I think that Nadal has built the foundation in his certitude on clay and itЎЇs given him the space to stay behind Federer for all those years, to stay grounded and to work on his flaws. The way he has dominated Roland Garros last year was as if it was a joke. He ended up using FedererЎЇs tendencies to move forward on court, he slices his backhand and he goes more and more to the net where heЎЇs sincerely not clumsy.

 Posted: 22.03.09 16:16. Post subject: Продолжение... Mikh..

Продолжение...

Mikhail Youzhny about...

Facing Nadal

I can’t really say that I have a special tactic to beat him. Maybe I’m simply more in shape against him (smiles)…Our first encounter goes back to 2004. Rafa was still very young. When I beat him in Chennai (6-0, 6-1), he’d just had an extremely demanding match the day before against Carlos Moya (6-4(3), 4-6(8), 7-6(1) in 3 hours and 55 minutes - note from the editor). Rafa has improved a lot in the previous years. Against him, you can’t say: “Right, you have to play like this, like that and then, you’ll beat him.” No matter the score, no matter his shape at that moment, he never surrenders one ball. Rafa has an extraordinary fighting spirit. I adore how he fights on court. Even when he’s hurting somewhere, he doesn’t show a thing during the match. It’s impossible to tell whether he’s in shape or not, whether he’s tired. No player likes to play against him…When you look at the draw, you simply wish to see your name as far as possible from his name. (Smiles). But, you just have to deal with it.

Nadal and his island

We travel all year long and sometimes, you need to return home. To simply enjoy the moments with our family, our friends. Certain players can handle the traveling better than others, to always be so far away from their loved ones. Rafa goes back to his island for perhaps two or three days, a week here, one there. However, after that, he’s raring to get going again and to win a couple of Grand Slam tournaments (laughs). But to really answer your question, you have to know how it went when he was a junior for example, when he only just started his career. Even then, when he had reached the top 50, he was already very strong and you could already see that this was an extraordinary player. But, you could not yet imagine just how far he would go… I think that at this point, nobody is ready to make an estimate on how far Rafa can go, how much he can still improve and where he’s going to stop. Today, he’s the world number one but he’s still young. He has already won Roland Garros 4 times consecutively, four times Monte Carlo,…he has won an incredible amount of matches on clay last year.

Nadal and his uncle

The influence of Toni on his career, that’s a difficult question… It’s hard to judge in how far the relationship between a player and his coach influences the results. To be able to have an opinion on this question, you have to know his background since the beginning. You have to know how they work together. Toni has helped Rafa achieve some very good results, helped him get to this level; there’s no doubt about that. Rafa continues to improve. He’s always tweaking his game. So, you could say that Rafa is improving on his own, but I remain convinced that Toni being at his side has helped him enormously. Should Rafa change his coach, you would be able to tell the difference. Perhaps it would be better but it could just as easily be worse. Me, being trained by my uncle? Well, I’ll have to try it…(smiles).

Nadal in Roger’s shadow

They both get better because of each other. Before, it was Roger who occupied the number one spot. Today, it’s Rafa but he hasn’t stopped improving, he’s still moving forward. See, he has just won the Australian Open…
Now, the question is whether Roger will be able to compete with Rafa this season. We’ll see how it goes (smiles)...He plays incredible but he already has knee problems at his age…
Nobody knows what will happen. He could just as easily get seriously injured, forcing him to stop his career or he could stay at number one for a long time like Roger and go on to win Grand Slams like Pete (Sampras). Rafa has proven to the world that he’s able to win every tournament and that he can win Grand Slam events on every surface. He has already played three consecutive Wimbledon finals and he has won the last one. He has also won Queens. Nobody can continue to say that he’s only a clay court player. Today, things have changed, he can win everywhere.

Being a lefty

Being a lefty gives you advantages but also disadvantages. When a guy plays, he doesn't say: "he's a lefty and I don't like playing against" or "I've never succeeded when playing against a lefty". You can say: "I've never been able to beat Nadal". This you can say. But not: "I have never succeeded beating a lefty".
So, I think that you can get blocked on the name of an opponent but on the fact that he's a lefty or not.

 Posted: 22.03.09 16:19. Post subject: Продолжение... Grig..

Продолжение...

Grigor Dimitrоv about...


Facing Nadal

The first thing that I told myself was: “Yeah, I really did it! I went on court and I was beaten by Rafa and it lasted two and a half hours!” I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep that following night (smiles). In all honesty, I wasn’t expecting to play such a good match, especially in the second set. However, I really went for it, I took advantage of each low ball. For me, it was an incredible match and we’ve shown some beautiful things on that day. Because, you can’t forget that Nadal is one of the fittest guys on tour. He runs really, really well and he has improved in an incredible way. His leg work makes him even more dangerously. That’s not counting the fact that he’s mentally very, very strong, he doesn’t surrender one thing and he’s always fighting 200%. He simply has a huge psychological advantage over his opponent when he steps on court.

Nadal and his island

Of course, education does play a role in success. School, obviously is an important part of life for everybody. I think that it’s important for an athlete, regardless of what sport is played, to have a certain level of education to be able to continue to do what you want afterwards. For me, education is very important. I think that most parents want their children to be well brought-up, to be well behaved in life. They will always look for the best ways to achieve that, to help their child on the good road. For every parent, it’s crucial to bring up your child well. And when you have received a good upbringing, you will develop your qualities and this will help you in the future, no matter what you do.

Nadal and his uncle

He’s certainly the best person to guide Rafa. At the moment, their association works rather well! (smiles) The most important thing is that Rafa feels well in the company of his coach. It helps him mentally if he feels well in the company of all those who surround him…and it works! Rafa and Toni have been working in a certain way together for years and they’ve set up a certain game(style) and they have their own routine. Toni works hard for Rafa and Rafa has an absolute faith in his uncle. However, it’s not evident that somebody from your family is involved in your career. Everything depends on the sort of relationship two people have. I think that they have found their balance. This balance allows Rafa to be as strong as he is at the moment and to win so many tournaments.


Nadal in Roger’s shadow

They’re both big fighters. In recent times, I’ve seen Roger lose quite a few matches against Rafa. But I can really not discuss about the reason behind Roger’s losses, whatever it is. It’s none of my business. I adore both players, I adore their playing style so let the best man win! I don’t want to risk saying something that may offend others. I’m still too young and I’ve not yet reached the top level so it’s not up to me to talk about it. My opinion doesn’t count.

Being a lefty

Yes, perhaps...Personally, I don't think that it matters much whether an opponent is left handed or right handed.. I don't get more worried because of that. Maybe being a lefty gives you an advantage but...well, everything depends on the situation. In any case, he's a lefty and that's how it is, you can't do anything about that and he's not to blame for it. (smiles)

 Posted: 22.03.09 16:21. Post subject: Продолжение... Extr..

Продолжение...

Extract from the book by Luca Appino

Barcelona, September 2002.

A day of testing racquets is scheduled with Rafa, Feliciano Lopez and Svetlana Kutznetsova (all three were part of the Babolat team back then). Before the test, they warm up and they play a couple of points. The atmosphere is good, Feliciano and Rafa have always been real friends. On the little stands of the Sanchez-Casal Academy, I’m seated next to Emilio Sanchez and Carlos Costa. Like usual, the heat is gripping. I was stilling dealing with jetlag because I had come back from Brazil and I must admit that I had trouble starting my work day. So, I asked Rafa and Feli to play another little tie break before beginning the very precise protocol for testing racquets that day. To my big surprise, Feliciano starts to make fun of Rafa: “Even if I sit down to return, you won’t be able to hit an ace!” In those days, Rafael’s serve was far removed from the one he has today. The ball didn’t really go fast. The challenge begins and indeed, it ends without Rafa hitting an ace. During this friendly duel, there was no tension at all but there was a real understanding between the two of them. I love Rafa’s attitude, the way he stays calm when he’s being teased because it’s important to really focus like crazy when you’re trying to hit an ace. Besides, during this tie break, Rafa didn’t give his long-time friend a lot of points. At the end of the test, after having worked for two hours in heavy heat, Rafa returned on court to train…his serve.


Feliciano Lopez

“I can no longer make fun of his game now”

Rafa’s good friend and compatriot, Feliciano Lopez, has accepted to give his comments on one of the chronicles of “Rafa’s world”. It’s an amusing chronicle of a 16-year old Mallorcan who could serve for hours without ever hitting one single ace against his friends. Feliciano thinks back and laughs but not for much longer.

The king of no aces?

I remember participating but I honestly can’t recall where exactly we were testing racquets. I remember very well that I said this to Rafa (about not being able to hit an ace). Today, it’s clear that I could no longer make the same remark. His entire game has evolved a lot and his serve the most. I did tell him that day that he would not be able to hit an ace but there are a couple of inaccuracies in that chronicle. Luca’s memory is not that good (laughs). Rafa has always done this at the end of a training session: he stays with Toni, to practice and improve his serve.

The king of intensity?

When I saw him for the first time, I could not imagine that he would be able to reach such a level one day. He gave it his all to improve each year and, as you can see it for yourself, each season. He gradually raises his level. The first time I saw him was in Barcelona. He must have been 12 or 13 years old and he played a tournament…for 14 year olds. I watched his match for 5 minutes and that was all it took to be impressed with the way he fights. He was very aggressive on court despite his young age. The second time was in Seville for a challenger. We trained together and I was really amazed by his attitude on court. He always wanted to win each point! After only two or three shots, he tried to finish the point, he tried to make a winning point…I was really amazed with the sort of authority he tried all that (smiles).

The king of improvement?

I knew that he would once be a great player. I had no doubt that he would one day reach the top 10. Each year, he improved and each year, he impressed me more and more. I think that this is the real key to his game: he improves every season. If you compare the game he had in 2005 when he had conquered Roland Garros for the first time with the one he has now…jeez…he’s a totally different player and he’s only 22 years old! He still has so many years in front of him and he still has an impressive margin for improvement. Rafa is thoroughly convinced that he needs to improve. Each year is more difficult and the pressure increases. Now, he’s the number one and everybody wants to beat him. So, without any doubt: he really wants to improve his game!

The king of jokes?

We’ve known each other for a long time and we constantly joke. We know each other through and through and it’s always been like that. In general, the atmosphere among the Spanish players is excellent. Rafa is very funny and so is his uncle. They’re always joking (making fun of) with everybody. Especially of me! But it doesn’t affect me because it’s always done in the best spirit; to laugh. It’s never mean. I understand their jokes, they understand mine. Now, I can no longer make fun of his game! (laughs). He’s the best player in the world so…I can only shut up. When I told him that he needed to improve his game or his serve or whatever, I really said that to tickle him. When we play together, we joke around non-stop and most of all about our own game.


Отрывок из книги Луки Аппино

Барселона, сентябрь 2002 г.

Назначен день тестирования ракеток Babolat с участием Рафы, Фелисиано Лопеса и Светланы Кузнецовой (тогда все трое играли этими ракетками). Перед тестированием они разминаются и разыгрывают несколько очков. Атмосфера очень хорошая, Фелисиано и Рафа всегда были настоящими друзьями. На небольшой трибуне рядом с кортом Академии Санчеса-Казаля мы сидим вместе с Эмилио Санчесом и Карлосом Костой. Как обычно, жара жуткая. Я к тому же только что прилетел из Бразилии и мне было трудно втянуться в работу. Поэтому я попросил Рафу и Фели сыграть тай-брейк прежде чем начнется официальная процедура тестирования Babolat. К моему изумлению, Фелисиано начал подшучивать над Рафой: «Даже если я буду принимать подачу сидя, ты все равно не сделаешь эйс!» . В те дни подача Рафаэля была далека от сегодняшней. Мяч действительно летел очень медленно. Они начали играть, и Рафа действительно не сделал ни одного эйса. Во время этого дружеского поединка не чувствовалось никакой напряженности, напротив, было видно, что они хорошо понимают друг друга. Мне нравится поведение Рафы, то, как он остается спокойным, когда его подначивают, потому что для того, чтобы выполнить эйс, нужна сумасшедшая концентрация. К тому же во время тай-брейка Рафа проиграл Фели не так уж много очков. По окончании тестирования, проведя 2,5 часа под палящим солнцем, Рафа вернулся на корт, чтобы… тренировать свою подачу.


Фелисиано Лопес

«Сейчас я не могу смеяться над его игрой»


Король без эйсов?

Я помню, что участвовал в тестировании ракеток, но не помню, где. Я очень хорошо помню, что сказал Рафе о том, что он не сможет сделать ни одного эйса. Сегодня, понятно, я уже не могу позволить себе такого высказывания. Его игра в целом стала намного лучше, и, главным образом, подача. Я действительно сказал ему в тот день, что он не сможет подать эйс, но в воспоминаниях Луки есть неточности. У него не такая хорошая память (смеется). После тренировки Рафа всегда оставался вдвоем с Тони, чтобы поработать над подачей.

Король энергии?

Когда я впервые увидел его, я немо себе представить, что когда-то он достигнет такого уровня. Он отдавал всего себя, чтобы совершенствоваться с каждым годом, с каждым сезоном. Вы сами это видите. Он постепенно повышает уровень своей игры. Впервые я увидел его в Барселоне. Ему было лет 12-13 (ему было 12. – прим. Ольги), а он играл в турнире для 14-летних. Я минут 5 смотрел его матч, и этого было достаточно, чтобы поразиться тому, как он сражается. Несмотря на юный возраст, он был очень напористым на корте. Во второй раз мы встретились в Севилье на челленджере. Мы вместе тренировались, и я был удивлен его отношением к тренировке. Он хотел выиграть каждое очко! После 2-3 ударов он старался закончить розыгрыш виннером. Я был поражен, с каким важным видом он пытался это сделать (улыбается).

Король самосовершенствования?

Я знал, что однажды он станет отличным теннисистом. Я не сомневался, что когда-нибудь он войдет в десятку лучших. Каждый год он улучшал свою игру и с каждым годом он удивлял меня все больше и больше. Я думаю, что ключевой момент в его игре в том, что он каждый сезон играет еще лучше. Если сравнить его игру в 2005 году, когда он выиграл свой первый Ролан Гаррос, с теперешней…черт побери, это совершенно другой игрок, а ему всего 22 года! У него впереди еще столько лет, и он много что еще может совершенствовать в своей игре. Рафа твердо уверен в том, что ему надо улучшать свою игру. С каждым годом становится все труднее, давление возрастает. Сейчас он номер один в мире, и каждый стремится его обыграть. Так что, вне всякого сомнения: он действительно хочет совершенствовать свою игру.

Король шуток?

Мы знаем друг друга очень давно и очень хорошо, и мы постоянно шутим друг над другом. Так было всегда. Вообще, испанские теннисисты прекрасно друг к другу относятся. Рафа очень смешной, и его дядя тоже. Они постоянно над всеми подшучивают. Особенно надо мной! Но я не обижаюсь, потому что это делается от души, чтобы посмеяться. Их шутки никогда не бывают недобрыми. Я понимаю их шутки, они понимают мои. Сейчас я уже не могу смеяться над его игрой (смеется). Он лучший теннисист мира, так что… мне остается только заткнуться. Когда я говорил ему, что ему надо улучшать игру, подачу или что-то еще, я на самом деле говорил это, чтобы подшутить над ним. Когда мы вместе тренируемся, мы безостановочно смеемся и шутим, в основном, над своей игрой.

(перевод - Ольга)

 Posted: 22.03.09 16:22. Post subject: Продолжение... Gil..

Продолжение...

Gilles Simon about...

Facing Nadal

For me, it's always a pleasure to play against him. Every time. Because he's irreproachable when talking about his attitude (behavior). Because no matter what happens, he always respects his opponent. Because despite all the tournaments he has won and the fact that he's number one, he doesn't consider himself to be above the others. So, really, it's always a pleasure to play against him. Physically, you can sometimes see that he's tired. That was the case in the Australian Open for example. But what's incredible is his focus. His ability to keep his focus, even when it's tough. You can see it: he moves a bit less well, he runs a bit slower but his focus stays the same. He stays concentrated on each point. Even when it lasts 5 hours, he will stay focussed throughout those 5 hours on each point and this is nearly impossible to do. He's the only one I see capable of this.

Rafa and his island

I don't know if it matters that you live on an island or not. However, I do think that the education plays an important role because he's a player who is very respectful to all his opponents. And even if he had a couple of habits when he just started out that even I didn't really like (like encouraging himself after each point), he has really changed. He has toned it down. Personally, I think that the key to his success - and it still plays a role today - is that he's been very much underestimated in comparison with the level he had. I think that this awful; they way some have branded him as this clay court beast who can only run....I think that the fact that he doesn't let such things get to him is his strength but he uses it. Even today, being the number one, he still indicates that Federer is ahead of him even if it seems contradictory after having beaten him I don't know how many times and on every surface.

Rafa and his uncle

Yes, Toni plays a crucial part in his success. However, having trained with Rafa several times, I can tell you that in practice, he tries out an enormous amount of things that he either can't do or doesn't do often. It's not that he takes more risks than usual but it's a matter of taking nothing but risks! (smiles) He hits really hard and he looks to win the point within two shots to improve his game. The first time I trained with him, I told myself: "NEVER again will I play with him! (and I'm not the only one). That's saying something...and yet, I adore it because he was there to work on his game and to win points within two shots...I watched his match the next day: he made no mistake, played from the back of the court, played defensive and yet, just the day before, in training, he would do serve-volley, return-volley etc... So, all this to say that he's totally different during practice compared with his matches. (smiles)


Nadal in Roger's shadow

I watch the matches and I see Nadal win 10 times, 15 times against Federer. I simply can't think that Federer is stronger than Nadal. He used to be but that's no longer the case. Nadal used that to continue to get stronger. When we didn't expect him on grass, he reached his first Wimbledon final: "Well, it was luck, he had a good draw". Second final in Wimbledon: "yeah, but..well, he will never pull it off against Federer...". Except that even then, he lost in five sets. And finally, he wins. He, who others have branded as the player who can only win on clay.
What I find incredible is that even today, certain people still find reasons to believe that he's only a brute who stomps and runs...It's so much more than that. Nadal's strength is that for 2, 3 years, he continued to be...number two! This with 5000 ranking points! Just think how many have been number one with less points. He never let go...


That's not even speaking of the frustration that the only reason why you're stuck at n°2 is that there's this alien Federer who plays at the same time as you. You can see that this has discouraged the other players. Djoko was close but you have the impression that he's taken a step back. At first, he said: "I'm going to devour those two" but then, after seeing how much it took to reach a final, to win all the time, you could sense, especially in his attitude (even if he kept his n°3 ranking), that he took a step back. Nadal, such a force! To stay number 2, to beat Federer a lot of times, to hear that he's 100 times better than you...I think that this must have been tough and he just used it to make his move and to finally reach that number one spot. And he's the indisputable number one nowadays. They can say whatever they want, he's the indisputable number one with a considerable lead!

Being a lefty

His weapon is his cross-court forehand that works like an enormous whip. To start with, he has a big advantage against players with a one-handed backhand and this wins him a countless amount of points. Furthermore, the fact that he's a lefty helps him a lot. He doesn't have a heavy serve but it's bothersome because he uses incredible angles. If he'd used the same serve as a right-hander, it wouldn't hurt so much. Now, a bit of slice on the ad court when you return and wham, he shoots his forehand.



Жиль Симон

Игра против Надаля

Я всегда с удовольствием с ним играю. Всегда. Потому что он безупречен в своем поведении. Потому что что бы ни происходило, он всегда уважает соперника. Потому что, несмотря на все выигранные турниры и первое место в рейтинге он не считает себя выше других. Так что играть с ним всегда приятно. Иногда бывает заметно, что физически он устал. Например, как на АО. Но его концентрация невероятна. Его способность сохранять концентрацию даже когда ему очень трудно. Заметно, что он немного хуже передвигается по корту, он бегает не так быстро, но его концентрация остается прежней. Он сконцентрирован на каждом очке. Даже если это длится 5 часов, он будет сконцентрирован на каждом очке все эти пять часов, что практически невозможно. Он единственный способен на это из тех, кого я видел.


Рафа и его остров

Я не знаю, имеет ли значение, живете вы на острове или нет. Однако я считаю, что воспитание играет важную роль, потому что он игрок, который очень уважает всех соперников. И даже если у него были привычки в начале карьеры, которые раздражали даже меня (например, заводить себя после каждого розыгрыша), то он сильно изменился. Он стал делать это гораздо реже. Лично я считаю, что ключом к его успеху было и остается по сей день то, что его очень сильно недооценивали. Я считаю, что это ужасно - то, что некоторые навесили на него ярлык грунтового монстра, который может только бегать… Я думаю, что его сила в том, что он не берет это в голову. Даже сегодня, будучи первым в мире, он всё равно говорит, что Федерер впереди него, хотя это вступает в противоречие с тем фактом, что он выиграл у него, я не знаю сколько раз, и на всех покрытиях.


Рафа и его дядя

Да, Тони играет ключевую роль в успехе Рафы. Однако, потренировавшись с Рафой несколько раз, я могу сказать вам, что на тренировках он пытается сделать огромное количество вещей, которые он или не может, или не делает часто. Не то, что он играет более рискованно, он играет только рискованно! (улыбается). Он бьет по мячу очень сильно и стремится выиграть очко в два удара, чтобы улучшать свою игру. После первой тренировки с ним я сказал себе: «НИКОГДА я больше не буду с ним тренироваться! (и я не один такой). Это о чем-то говорит… И тем не менее, я преклоняюсь перед этим, потому что он пришел работать над своей игрой и выигрывать очки в два удара… На следующий день я смотрел его матч: он играл безошибочно, на задней линии, в обороне, а за день до этого, на тренировке, он играл подачу с выходом к сетке, прием с выходом к сетке и так далее… Так что на тренировках он совсем не такой, как на матчах (улыбается).


Надаль в тени Роджера

Я смотрю их матчи и вижу, как Надаль выигрывает у Федерера 10 раз, 15 раз. Я просто не могу считать, что Федерер сильнее Надаля. Был когда-то, но не сейчас. Надаль становился всё сильнее. Когда мы не ждали от него успехов на траве, он впервые вышел в финал Уимблдона. «Ну да, ему повезло, у него была хорошая сетка». Второй финал Уимблдона: «Да, но… да он никогда не справится здесь с Федерером…» И это даже тогда, когда он проиграл в 5-ти сетах. И, наконец, он побеждает. Он, на которого наклеили ярлык умеющего побеждать только на грунте.
Я считаю невероятным то, что даже сегодня находятся люди которые считают, что он всего-навсего зверь, который с топотом бегает по корту… Насколько это не соответствует истине. Сила Надаля в том, что 2, 3 года он продолжал быть… вторым номером! С 5000 рейтинговых очков! Только подумайте, сколько игроков были первыми с меньшим количеством очков. Он ни разу не отступил.
Я даже не говорю о разочаровании из-за того, что единственная причина, по которой ты застрял на 2-м месте, - это Федерер, который играет в одно с тобой время. Мы видим, как это обескураживало других игроков. Джоко был близок к успеху, но такое впечатление, что он сделал шаг назад. Сначала он говорил: «Я размажу их обоих», но потом, когда он увидел, чего стоит выйти в финал, всё время побеждать, его настрой поменялся (даже притом, что он сохраняет 3-е место); это особенно чувствуется, что он отступил. Надаль, это такая сила! Оставаться 2-м, побеждать Федерера много раз, выслушивать, что тот в 100 раз лучше, чем ты… Я думаю, что это было очень тяжело, но он сделал прорыв и стал, наконец, первым. И сегодня он бесспорно номер один. Пусть говорят всё что угодно, он бесспорный номер один и с большим отрывом!

(перевод - Ольга)

 Posted: 22.03.09 16:25. Post subject: Еще из того же интер..

Еще из того же интернет-журнала:

Nadal: the secrets of his succes.
GrandChelem #11

Nadal and his star to wish upon

This photographic document that you’ll discover here is a bomb. Don’t look for it because you won’t find it in any other magazine. Sure, maybe two or three pictures were published in the press but the entire series of 12 pictures is a world exclusive entitled “Nadal’s world” for the book of Luca Appino and Toni Nadal. Our photographer, Gianni Giacco was behind the camera to immortalize this magical moment.

The scene takes place during the semi-final against Fernando Verdasco. Gianni has decided to keep his focus on Rafael Nadal, especially during the changeovers. Most photographers use these breaks to put down their camera for a bit and have a little breather before launching the next hunting session. No break for Gianni, however. When you want to capture Rafa, when you want to wait for that magical moment when the animal reveals himself in all its essence, you need to be like Nadal; patient, concentrated and ready to let go of nothing. You can’t afford to not pay attention each second.

Rafa is in big trouble against his compatriot Verdasco. The beast is wounded but not yet dead. Once again on the barricades, the world number one digs very deep inside himself to find the necessary resources. And for this occasion, he went deeper than ever before…

End of the 4th set, Nadal returns to his seat. The procedure is set in stone; the two water bottles are waiting for him in their military line-up, one a bit smaller than the other, each in a precise distance from the feet of the Spaniard. He grabs hold of bottle number two, the smallest one, takes a sip and puts it down again. Near the plastic bottle, he discovers one of the many dandelion achenes that float around at the Rod Laver arena. The end of the month of january is in the middle of the intense pollen season in Melbourne, so you can see a lot of those little sparks floating around in the stadium.

So, Nadal starts an amazing ceremony. He grabs hold of the little achene, holds it close to his heart and shuts his eyes firmly. His face betrays a moment of intense focus of which the spectators and photographers are unaware in the middle of their little breather. Gianni captures it all…

Nadal makes his little wish. In the middle of that boiling stadium, Nadal acts as if he’s all alone in the world and he makes his wish…

The wish is revealed two days later to Gianni by Phillipe Bouin who, in turn, has heard it from Toni Nadal. The wish of a champion is the wish of a child: “if I win this match, I’ll win the Australian Open”. Nadal sets his little prisoner free to continue its travels through the sky and maybe, it will reach the tennis gods.

Never before in the history of tennis have we seen this. Never. If somebody claims the opposite, let them prove it with pictures and let them hand over the evidence. They will obviously start talking about the inner voices of Noah, Mauresmo or Ivanisevic before their grand slam match point and they’ve all talked about it extensively. But to put your faith in a little achene in the 4th set, that’s something else. You need to master the art of magical thinking, you need to believe in magic, you need to believe, you need to be religious. The battle all the way through, constant focus, being steadfast within yourself is that religion. It’s the religion of tennis.

Nadal is special. By writing this down, this is an effort to let you really feel that this player has something really transcendental, reaching for the forces of nature and to show just how much he’s unique. Just ask yourself this question: can you imagine Roger Federer, John Mcenroe, Björn Borg or Rod Laver ever doing the same thing?

Benjamin Rassat.


Этот фотографический документ настоящая бомба. Вы увидите его только здесь. Конечно, некоторые из этих фотографий попали в прессу, но вся серия из 12-ти снимков – это эксклюзив под названием «Мир Надаля» для книги Луки Аппино и Тони Надаля. Наш фотограф, Джанни Джакко, увековечил этот волшебный момент.

Действие разворачивалось во время полуфинала против Фернандо Вердаско. Джанни решил сфокусироваться на Рафаэле Надале, особенно во время смены сторон. Большинство фотографов используют эти перерывы, чтобы взять передышку. Но только не Джанни. Если вы хотите «поймать» Рафу, если вы хотите дождаться того волшебного момента, когда «зверь» раскрывается во всей своей сущности, вы должны быть таким же как Надаль: терпеливым, сосредоточенным и ничего не упускающим. Ты не можешь позволить себе пропустить ни секунды.

У Рафы большие трудности в матче со своим соотечественником Вердаско. Зверь ранен, но еще не убит. Первый номер заглядывает вглубь себя, чтобы найти силы для борьбы. На этот раз он заглянул особенно глубоко…

Конец 4-го сета. Надаль возвращается на свою скамейку. Всё действо как картина маслом: две бутылочки с водой ожидают его, четко, по-военному, выстроившись в линию. Одна чуть повыше, другая пониже. Он берет бутылочку номер два, ту, которая пониже, делает глоток и ставит ее на место. Рядом с бутылочкой он обнаруживает пушинку одуванчика, одну из тех, что во множестве летают на Rod Laver Arena.

И Надаль начинает удивительный ритуал. Он ловит пушинку, на мгновение подносит ее к сердцу и зажмуривает глаза. На его лице отображается глубокая сосредоточенность, которую не заметили зрители и фотографы, отдыхающие в перерыве между геймами. А Джанни поймал этот момент…

Надаль загадывает желание. На глазах огромного, бурлящего стадиона Надаль ведет себя так, как будто он один в целом мире. Он загадывает желание…

Спустя два дня Джанни узнает об этом желании от Филлипа Буина, которому, в свою очередь, рассказал о нем Тони Надаль. Желание чемпиона – это желание ребенка: «Если я выиграю этот матч, я выиграю Australian Open». Надаль отпускает свою маленькую пленницу, и пушинка продолжает свой путь к небу; возможно, она долетит до теннисных богов.

Никогда ранее в истории тенниса мы не видели ничего подобного. Никогда. Если кто-то возразит, пусть представит доказательства, пусть покажет фотографии. Конечно, сейчас начнут вспоминать о «внутренних голосах», которые перед матчболами на ТБШ слышали Ноа, Моресмо или Иванишевич и о которых они немало говорили. Но поверить в маленькую пушинку в 4-м сете – это что-то совсем другое. Для этого надо верить в волшебство, надо просто верить, надо быть религиозным. Бороться от начала до конца, не терять концентрации, сохранять твердость духа – вот эта религия. Это религия тенниса.

Надаль особенный. В этом игроке есть что-то действительно сверхъестественное, обращенное к силам природы. Он уникален. Задайте себе вопрос: вы можете себе представить Федерера, Макинро, Борга или Лэйвера делающими что-либо подобное?

Бенжамин Расса

Фотографии можно посмотреть здесь:
http://www.welovetennis.fr/medias/magazines/MAG11.pdf стр.19

Видео того момента, о котором рассказал автор
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75d_zYSXX08

(перевод - Ольга)

 Posted: 22.03.09 16:26. Post subject: Rafael Nadal: Mind O..

Rafael Nadal: Mind Over Matter


The Bleacher Report
by Emma (Contributor)
March 16, 2009

Mind over matter.

There is not a single person on this entire planet who understands the meaning of this phrase better than Rafael Nadal.

Already this year, he has displayed this incredible character trait of his on several occasions: the Australian Open and the Rotterdam Open. There may have been others, but these are the two I shall focus on.

Two finals, two completely different situations.

Rafa's Australian Open semifinal lasted a record-breaking five hours, 14 minutes. He should have been—and probably was—physically exhausted.

Every article, every prediction I read, was writing him off. Federer would be the out-and-out winner, they said. No competition.

But they forgot just who they were talking about. The man with the impenetrable mental strength, the man who had transformed his entire career in four months.

They forgot.

And he came out that Sunday and reminded us all why he is the World No. 1, why he is the man nobody should ever write off.

His loyal fans (myself included) hoped he would win. Of course we did. But did we expect it? Is there really anyone out there who can honestly, genuinely say they expected Rafa to win that final?

Somehow, I doubt it. But win he did, despite everything that had been said to the contrary. Perhaps because of everything that had been said to the contrary.

His mind is a fortress. Tell him something is impossible, and he goes out of his way to make it possible, to achieve.

He truly used his mind to overcome his exhaustion and ignore his critics. And, in doing so, he cemented his place in tennis history.

Take the Rotterdam final. He started the first set not playing his best tennis, but came through looking like he still had a shot at the title.

Early in the second set, he got injured. Or, at least, made his injury one hell of a lot worse if it had been there all week.

He took time out, he got treatment. When he came back, he wasn't moving well. Struggling. Yet he still took the second set. "On one leg," as Andy Murray put it afterward.

His pain was obvious. Any other player would have retired. But, as always, Nadal's mental strength must be taken into account with any physical pain.

The man does not enjoy retiring. He has a lot of pride in himself, and that is by no means a bad thing. He likes to finish his matches, he doesn't like to quit, even with very good reason.

He is also too much of a sportsman. He didn't want to deny Andy Murray that victory. Nor did he want to take away from that victory after the match, refusing even to talk about the injury in his interviews.

It's just one more example of the kind of champion that is Rafael Nadal.

And now, there's a lot of talk of the calender slam for Rafa. Can he do it? Most would say not.

But then, I think we've all learned what happens when we tell the man he cannot do something.

 Posted: 22.03.09 16:28. Post subject: Это комментарий к ст..

Это комментарий к статье Питера Бодо о финале на АО. На мой взгляд, очень полное и толковое изложение всего того, что сумел улучшить Рафа в своей игре за прошедшие годы. Я ее обязательно переведу.

Posted by Juan Josе 02/03/2009 @ 9:37 PM

I've been thinking a lot about what Nadal just did this past weekend. The phrase that came to mind was that the 9 hours and 37 minutes that he was out there for the semis and the final were the most amazing feat I've seen by any player in any single Slam.

Now, we normally reserve such praise for an immaculate, in-the-zone performance. Something like Gonzo's demolition of Haas two years ago, which still ranks as the most ridiculous display by someone who is possessed by the tennis gods that I've ever seen.

Let's say it from the get-go: Nadal was never in that zone. Not close, really. And he really wished he was, especially in the most difficult (for him) match of the two: that semifinal against Verdasco.

I have never seen anyone play with Verdasco's unabashed aggression off both wings for five hours plus. I've seen guys blast others away and end the whole affair in an hour and a half. But I've never seen a guy just fire rockets all over the place, from any part of the court, for five hours and fourteen minutes. In that semi, Verdasco did more than enough to earn a place in the final. He was in that "zone". Every little part of his game was coming together. You could see the eagerness, the fearlessness in his eyes.

And yet, he lost.

I bet Nadal wished he could have hit the ball deeper that day. There must have been something wrong with his strings or the tension. He had his sticks re-strung during the match. And for someone who never, ever slams his racket to the ground, he did something that was both bizarre and comical: after a missed shot midway through the second set, he punched the stringbed in his racket. He actually punched his own stick.

Now, if the book on Nadal on hardcours is to attack him relentlessly, how did Nadal escape, on a day when he couldn't find any depth for most of the match? He also struggled with depth in the final, but at least then he had that comfort zone, that money spot that didn't require him to hit his forehand with depth: Federer's high backhand. Against Verdasco, he had nothing remotely similar.

So how did he do it? By using every little tool in his arsenal to not only fend off the bombardment, but to unleash some bombs of his own.

Usually when I watch a tennis match, I act like a soccer-like fan-coach. "Hit to the backhand---hit there again!" "Don't come to net" "Serve out wide!", "Don't slice to the forehand". In the Federer-Roddick match, I had a field day with A-Rod. But in the Nadal-Verdasco semi, I had nothing.

Against Verdasco, most guys had success by letting Verdasco beat himself. You played steady, going for his often erratic backhand, and tempting his forehand to crumble. I noticed that he doesn't really counter-punch on the forehand side: you push him out wide on that side and he's all to eager to hit a defensive forehand slice. So I was telling Nadal, "attack the forehand!".

And he tried, sometimes. The lack of depth was a problem, but Verdasco's reluctance to miss was a bigger issue. If Nadal went to that spot, Verdasco would make a point of returning the shot with interest. Then I told Nadal "Come on, play the angle game. No one not named Nalbandian can beat you at the angle game". And he tried. Only to see Verdasco hit outrageous angles back at him. So that didn't work that well.

So, play steady and once in a while attack the backhand. Which turned into running everything down, even things he threw at Verdasco's backhand. As the match wore on, it was clear that Nadal didn't have access to any freebies, he couldn't really settle on a single part of real estate. This had to be a heavyweight, all-court dogfight. A slugfest.

Now, Nadal doesn't win that match if he hadn't embarked years ago on the quest to become a more complete player. To be sure, he could have stuck with the things he already did well and camp out on clay. But as I wrote yesterday, back in 2006 Nadal made it clear that he wanted to start his own siege on Federer's kingdom. And it was clear that he had to take his game to another level. Slowly but surely, he did.

Here's a short list of things that Nadal didn't do in 2005 and does pretty frequently these days:

- Nadal developed his biggest weapon. From being an over-the head-followthrough oddity it became one of the most feared weapons in the game. He can hit a forehand from anywhere on the court, and virtually attack from any spot. Inside-out, cross-court, down the line. You name it. And you surely don't want to approach the net after hitting to that side. Good luck handling the rocket that's coming to you. The other significant improvement Nadal made is to make his angled cross-court forehand as mean as possible, while still keeping the percentages up. If you watch him on clay on a day when he's feeling particularly wicked, you'll see how he pummels people so far wide the add court that you fear that his opponent might end up running into a billboards.

That last scenario happens when the opponent is fortunate enough to get some depth on his replies. But what makes Nadal way more dangerous than if he just stayed back is his eagerness to punish the short ball. He's probably the best at it. No one does all the little things necessary to turn those difficult short balls into clean winners as consistently as he does. And it is here when he takes some spin off the ball and finishes the forehand across his chest. The thing is, this is not a flat forehand. It still carries a lot of spin, and it's still a high-percentage shot.

- The backhand. If you took someone who never saw Nadal play and made that person watch last Sunday's final, that person would have been hard pressed to name Nadal's weak side. You could have told him that once upon a time Nadal never even considered attacking with his backhand (unless he was attempting a pass---he was always good at those) from the back of the court. It used to be that everyone and their mother started their gameplan by attacking Nadal's backhand. Good luck these days, as he has more than one alternative to make you look dumb.

While he still rarely (in the final he hit two, in the semi I think he didn't get a single one) attacks with his backhand down the line, his cross-court backhand has become vicious. He's developed incredible timing on it, especially because he hits it flat (this might be the lone flat stroke in Nadal's arsenal).

So if three years ago Nadal hit his backhand short and spinny, with no aggression to it, almost inviting you to pummel him on that side, he now can hurt you with it immediately, or at the very least, give himself a chance to hurt you properly with his main weapon. And in the past year, he's developed a new tool:

- The slice backhand. I remember when he started using this shot a little over a year ago. It was hilarious. He was obviously not very good at it. I would even say "thank you, Nadal" when he hit one of those pathetic slices to Djokovic. The basic problem was that he hit it short and his ball didn't skid. So it sat there, waiting to be killed. Any other player would have pulled the plug on this little project, but Nadal being Nadal, he kept at it. He kept trying to get better at it. Incredibly, his slice worked even on clay, a surface where you're not supposed to hit slices. Then again, Nadal could probably try any shot and it would work on clay.

Still, from that sad little shot he used to hit, we arrive to those ridiculous, Federer-esque slices he threw out there at Verdasco, trying to buy himself some time, trying to disrupt Verdasco's timing. It was just amazing to watch how good that slice backhand is these days.

- His volleying. Again, when he started improving this aspect of his game, it was clear he needed to put in the long hours. There's a video from Queens from about 2 years ago when Nadal hits the most hilarious volley of all time. So bad he had to laugh himself.

Last Sunday, Nadal hit one of the most amazing volleys of the tournament against Federer in that pivotal third set tiebreaker. It looked classic, it looked perfect. And to think that two years ago he would have driven it to the ground is just astounding.

About the net game, I think Nadal is the one person that truly understands the point of going to the net in the 21st century. Mainly, you cannot charge the net trying to find something. Trying to dare your opponent to hit a great shot. That used to be the old wisdom: you attack the net because you have a higher percentage shot by volleying than does your opponent by hitting a perfect passing shot. Now, EVERYONE can hit perfect passing shots. Off any wing. So hitting a volley after someone hits a killer pass these days is way more difficult than hitting that same passing shot.

Nadal understands that you come to net to finish a point. Not to tempt anyone, not to dare someone to come up with something great. You come in with the point half in your pocket, so you can truly have a high-percentage shot. So you'll rarely see Nadal get passed, and you'll rarely see him miss a volley. He'll get to net, but he'll only get there when it's absolutely right to be there. Which is the most important piece of strategy you can have.

- The Serve: It's still not great. And this is the one item on the list that probably won't improve that much for the rest of the way. Like TЁЄo Toni says, this is not a natural movement for Nadal, and the serve is the one instinctive, organic part of everyone's game. Sampras said it best himself, by not saying what exactly made his serve the best ever. He said he didn't know. It just happened.

Nadal had to learn it, and he clearly understands what needs to be done. And his serve is very successful anyway, because it carries so much spin, and has that tricky lefty trajectory. Only two or three players force him to come up with something special on this side, and nowadays, he does.

He is using the lefty wide serve on the ad court a lot more, and he should. But he's hitting that hard one down the line (the one used on a couple of break points against Federer) that gives him a free point more often than not, since everyone is covering for the dreaded wide serve. And he's developed a very efficient body serve that forces people to adjust in a milisecond. This gives him either a short ball or a free point.

So while he doesn't serve particularly hard, on a good day Nadal will place his serve really well. He'll look for corners, he'll surprise you most of the time. And again, this is for the times when the basic, serve-to-the-backhand strategy doesn't work. Which is rarely.

- His return of serve: This is also an area where Nadal wasn't really that good. He's not an instinctive returner, and too often he used a longer swing. But slowly but surely, he was reading serves better, and he was shortening that swing. He rarely goes for winners off returns (and he can), but he's also understood the changing times, and he's becoming increasingly good at not missing second serve returns. And he's getting them deeper and deeper. Which is a problem for everyone. Because if you once could serve Nadal out the court, now he rarely gives you free points. And the more he steps in for second serves, and the deeper his returns get, the more pressure he puts on other people. Which is why he leads most of the return of serve statistical categories.

- His positioning on the court. This one is the key, because it enables him to dispatch opponents quicker. And the strategy is simple: you want to stay close to the baseline so you can pounce any short balls that come your way. If you're too far behind, the odds that you come up with a momentum-changing shot are slimmer, and you're going to be doing way too much running. And while sometimes that's inevitable (e.g, the Verdasco match), it's not advisable that you're running around like crazy in the third round, chasing down balls from someone ranked 58 spots below you.

So the kid worked on all of these things for a couple of years. He worked hard, and he worked relentlessly. Of course, it wasn't a one-man journey: Toni Nadal might just be the greatest coach of this era. If anything, Toni is successful at keeping Nadal hungry, giving him constant reality checks. Everyone remembers how after Nadal won his first French Open, the gift his uncle gave him was a list of things he did wrong in that match. As an example of what's more common on the ATP, Marian Vajda's reaction to Djokovic winning last year's Australian Open was to proclaim that Djokovic could become no.1 by the end of the year. Which of course, he didn't.

Toni Nadal understands tennis. He understands his nephew. He understood what needed to be done, and what still needs to be done.

It was particularly touching to read Nadal's presser after the final. If the French Open was his destiny, Wimbledon was a dream, then this Australian Open was about reaping the rewards of hard work. A symbolic prize for all those hours working on his game. For all those minutes spent on hardcourts everywhere.

And it was fitting that his 9 hours and 37 minutes in the semis and the final were more like a gruelling comprehensive grad school exam than a virtuoso performance in front of an audience. He was drilled on every little thing he learned, and on the things he already knew. He was drilled over and over again.

And he passed. Knowing that his former self wouldn't have been able to do it. Knowing that if it weren't for all that work leading up to that fateful weekend, he wouldn't have done it.

And that's why I'll always remember those 9 hours plus as the most impressive feat I've ever seen on a tennis court.

http://tennisworld.typepad.com/tennisworld/2009/02/rafa/comments/page/1/#comments

 Posted: 22.03.09 20:20. Post subject: Надаль. От Налбандян..

Надаль. От Налбандяна до дель Потро

Автор: Андрей Скачковский по материалам ATP
"Чемпионат.ру"


Интрига в долине Коачелла сохранится, видимо, до последнего удара по мячу в воскресенье. Вся "большая четвёрка" по-прежнему в строю. Но если Федерер и Маррей уже заработали себе право сыграть в полуфинале, то Джоковичу и Надалю за это удовольствие ещё предстоит побороться. После первой в карьере победы над неудобным соперником – аргентинцем Давидом Налбандяном – первую ракетку мира и турнира в Индиан-Уэллсе ждёт встреча в четвертьфинале с Хуаном-Мартином дель Потро.

Пока все три личные встречи, которые состоялись в 2007 году, выиграл Рафаэль Надаль. Но не надо забывать, что 20-летний аргентинец только в прошлом году ворвался в первую десятку и заявил о себе во весь голос. Тем не менее фаворитом считается Рафа, которого каждый день неугомонные журналисты расспрашивают обо всём на свете, в том числе и о предстоящем матче.

— Рафаэль, не напоминает ли вам матч с Давидом Налбандяном немного Австралию, поединок с Вердаско?
— Наверное, если сравнивать, я должен быть лучше готов физически. Я же не играл пять часов. Как долго продолжался матч с Налбандяном?

— Два часа и 48 минут.
— Это нормально.

— Что думаете о поединке с дель Потро?
— Мне удалось спасти матч, поэтому следующий я надеюсь сыграть более агрессивно. Матч против Налбандяна даёт мне уверенность и надежду на следующий. Мне надо сыграть его как следует, чтобы победить. В противном случае это будет просто невозможно.

— Вы выступали тут и в парном разряде. Это как-то повлияло на вас?
— Вы подразумеваете, что я устал больше, чем обычно? Нет, абсолютно нет. На этот раз я играл очень поздно. А спал более восьми часов. И ничего не делал целый день. Так что нет.

— Откуда вы всё-таки взяли в себе силы в матче против аргентинца, чтобы спасти столько матчболов?
— Удача. Думаю, что мне просто повезло. Во всяком случае, я недоволен своей игрой. Недоволен собой и тем, как провёл два первых сета. Мне многое вспомнилось из последних двух матчей. Он [Налбандян] играл хорошо, и меня беспокоил его удар слева. Поэтому я не смог войти в матч наилучшим образом с психологической точки зрения. Но самое важное, что я выиграл. Я вышел в четвертьфинал и очень этому рад. Очень доволен, как мне удалось сыграть на матчболах. И на тай-брейке я сыграл лучше. В третьем он устал, как я думаю. Но я играл лучше.

— Как насчёт его удара слева, который доставляет вам проблемы?
— Я опасался его удара слева, и это было ошибкой. Сейчас я так думаю, потому что у меня есть хороший плотный удар справа. Я играл слишком много ему под удар справа, и он "убивал" меня, играя под удар слева, разве не так? В конце концов, мне удалось изменить ритм с помощью резаного удара, и это здорово мне помогло. Так что решение я нашёл.

— Можно ли сказать, что, когда во втором сете игра изменилась и публика завелась, это стало поворотным моментом?
— Поддержка публики важна всегда. Я могу только сказать спасибо зрителям. Они по-прежнему приходят на трибуны и поддерживают меня, за что я им очень благодарен.

— Что вы имели в виду, когда говорили, что не смогли войти в матч наилучшим образом с психологической точки зрения? В чём заключается проблема?
— Я так сказал, потому что не вышел на матч с чёткой идеей, как сыграть. Я вышел на матч, не имея тактики и понимания, как его можно выиграть. Наверное, так случилось, потому что я легко проиграл ему в двух предыдущих матчах и точно не знал, как надо играть. Поэтому я не мог быть доволен собой. Во всяком случае, если я ему проиграл в двух матчах, то это означает, что я играл неважно, а он играл хорошо. Причём он играл агрессивно и мощно, играл лучше меня и выиграл. На этот раз я тоже играл не в том ритме и не так агрессивно в начале матче, он убивал меня, что не могло мне понравиться.

— Вы единственный игрок в истории, который был правшой, а затем стал левшой. Какое преимущество это вам даёт?
— Это не совсем правда. Даже в футбол я играю лучше левой ногой. Даже не знаю. Для кого-то лучше правая, для другого лучше левая. Не думаю, что мне помогает именно это.

— Когда вы шли сюда, то что-то напевали. Вы в хорошем настроении? Всё идёт так, как вы ожидали? Ваша уверенность на высоком уровне?
— Ну, не знаю. Если я пою, это ещё ничего не означает. Когда сыграешь хороший матч, то и о турнире думать приятно. Этот турнир очень спокойный, поэтому он мне нравится.

— Интересно, когда игроки выходят на определённый уровень, то многие перебираются в Монте-Карло, Нью-Йорк или другие очень космополитичные места. А вы остаётесь в вашем родном городе. Почему?

— Может быть, они должны приехать на Майорку, потому что это действительно очень хорошее место. Там я нахожусь со своей семьёй. Мы живём не вместе, но в одном доме, что очень важно. У меня есть друзья со школы, я живу на очень хорошем острове. Это идеально подходит для меня, и я никогда не собираюсь уезжать оттуда. Нельзя никогда говорить "никогда", но, поверьте мне, это не тот случай.

— Как вы находите здешнее покрытие? И считаете ли вы, что существует большой разрыв между вами и Роджером, Новаком, Энди и всеми остальными?
— Что касается покрытия, то всё в порядке. Оно не очень быстрое и не очень медленное. Нормальное. Что до второго вопроса, то мы хорошо играли последние несколько лет. Но в туре много других хороших игроков. Когда я еду на турнир, то не думаю о Джоковиче, Федерере и Маррее. Я думаю о своём матче первого круга, потом второго и, если выиграю, третьего. Здесь дель Потро, Налбандян, Давид Феррер, Симон – много хороших игроков. Думаю, что нечестно думать только о четырёх.

 Posted: 22.03.09 20:22. Post subject: Азаренко: беру приме..

Азаренко: беру пример с Надаля

Виктория Азаренко после победы над Динарой Сафиной объяснила, как ей удалось одержать победу. В решающем сете россиянка вела 3:1, но теннисистка из Белоруссии сумела взять пять геймов подряд и выиграть матч.

"У меня в голове в тот момент был образ Рафы Надаля, тот стиль, в котором он всё время играет", — приводит официальный сайт турнира мнение Виктории о ключевом моменте поединка.

"Как бы ни складывался матч, он продолжает бороться. Думаю, что его менталитет, с моей точки зрения, является лучшим, чем у кого бы то ни было. Я старалась биться так же как он, и это здорово мне помогло", — резюмировала она.

Источник: "Чемпионат.ру"

 Posted: 22.03.09 20:23. Post subject: Марат Сафин о Рафе ..

Марат Сафин о Рафе

tennis.com


Q. If I could just ask you a question about Nadal. When he first came on the tour, he's always been very comfortable on clay. Has it surprised you how he's been able to develop his game on the other surfaces as well and become such a dominant player on the other surfaces?

MARAT SAFIN: He's very enthusiastic, and he's just into the game and he's 100% concentrated on the game. He has a lot of just motivation to get better and better.

Of course he's much more talented than he looks, because also a lot of people thought he doesn't have such great hands, but apparently he has unbelievable touch. He sees the ball quite well, unbelievable athlete.

So just it's easier to adapt yourself to other surfaces, and he adapt very well. Also he improved his serve and decided to go to the net. Just he breaks everybody mentally. Before the match, everybody knows that they don't have any chance.

He learns how to play on other surfaces, and I think it just was amazing. Nobody thought actually he managed to play great on grass, but he made it. It's really surprising, but it also makes you can take the hat off in front of him to show him my appreciation that he managed to do that in such a short period of time.

Q. He's also defending champion at the next two Slams. Would you say he has any chance given the level of competition?

MARAT SAFIN: He will win them again. He will win them. What's the problem. If he's not injured and he's playing well, so he will win it again.

Q. What about the US Open?

MARAT SAFIN: He has all the chance. But I don't know, for some reason he didn't play very well on that tournament, in US Open, but I think he has a chance. This year will be his year. I think he going to manage, because he's playing too good.

Q. Over your career, you've played a lot of fabulous players: Rafa, Federer, Sampras. Not breaking it down surface by surface, but overall, who do you think the best player you've ever played is?

MARAT SAFIN: Well, I played Nadal only once, but from what I see, I think that Nadal is better than everybody. I play against Federer many times, and he just surprised me every time. Each time the way he's moving the ball, the way he changes the pace, the way he's moving, the way he's destroying your game, basically.

Takes him four games to destroy you completely. He serves pretty well, he returns, and that's it. Eventually, you just gonna break down.

Q. He's just 22. Do you think in a number of years we could be talking about him breaking...

MARAT SAFIN: No, I was talking about Federer before. I think Nadal, because I was talking about Federer, because the way he's changing the pace and the way he's changing the game and the way he's moving on the court and the way he makes you look ridiculous on the court with his movement.

The greatest thing that he has, it's, yeah, three games and you are over. (laughter.)

But Nadal, he got into his brain. Nadal, he just manage to get into his brain. Psychologically Federer cannot beat Nadal psychologically. But tennis wise, I think Federer is better.

Q. How did he get into his brain?
MARAT SAFIN: Maybe by beating him many times

Вот коротко то, что сказал Марат о Рафе:

Он с энтузиазмом относится к игре, он сконцентрирован на игре на 100%. У него огромная мотивация становиться лучше и лучше.

Конечно, он гораздо талантливее, чем кажется, потому что многие считали, что у него не такие хорошие удары, но очевидно, что у него потрясающее чувство мяча, он хорошо видит мяч, он отлично подготовлен атлетически.

Он хорошо приспосабливается к разным покрытиям. Он улучшил свою подачу и стал выходить к сетке. Он ломает соперника психологически. Перед матчем все знают, что у них нет шансов.

Потрясает то, как он учится играть на других покрытиях. Никто не ожидал, что он будет превосходно играть на траве, но он добился этого. Это действительно удивительно. Я могу снять перед ним шляпу в знак восхищения тем, что он сумел сделать это так быстро.

На вопрос, есть ли у Рафы шансы выиграть следующие два ТБШ, Марат ответил: он снова выиграет их. Он выиграет. Без проблем. Если у него не будет травмы, и если он будет играть хорошо, он снова выиграет.
Что касается ЮСО, то у него есть все шансы. До сих пор по разным причинам он не очень хорошо там играл, но у него есть шансы, потому что он очень хорошо играет.

Затем Марата спросили, кто лучше: Федерер, Рафа или Сампрас, поскольку он играл с каждым.
Марат: Я играл с Надалем только один раз, я думаю, что Надаль лучше всех.
Потом он сам заблудился в этих трех соснах и всех запутал, сказал, что как теннисист Федерер лучше, но выиграть у Надаля не может по псих.причинам, поскольку Надаль побеждал его много раз.

 Posted: 22.03.09 20:25. Post subject: BCBG писала: Здравс..

BCBG писала:

quote:

Здравствуйте все! В 11 номере французского интернет-журнала GrandChelem, ссылку на который Ольга кинула три страницы назад, я нашла интересный кусочек текста. Это было в рубрике "Лучший комментарий": • A la suite d’un texte inspiré d’une discussion improbable entre le fondateur de GrandChelem et une bande de jeunes autour de la rivalité Federer/Nadal. Voici en réponse une tranche de vie racontée par un de nos internautes :« C’est drôle ça, il y a quelques mois, en rentrant du bureau, je passe par le parc monceau et alors que j’étais au passage piétons, j’entends des fllettes au premier étage d’un immeuble, appeler les passants, mais je ne peux distinguer clairement ce qu’elles leur racontent. Je m’engage dans la rue George Berger et je passe devant elles c’est alors qu’elles me crient, « Monsieur, monsieur, vous étiez pour Federer ou Nadal hier ? « je leur réponds que j’étais pour Nadal. Elles ont alors joyeusement crié, sûrement toutes heureuses que j’ai cité le nom de leur champion. Nous étions lundi, c’était en juillet; la veille Rafa avait battu Roger en fnale de Wimbledon. J’étais heureux parce que je me suis dit que le tennis recommencait à intéresser du monde. Ca a réussi à me faire oublier qu’elles m’avaient appelé monsieur alors que je n’avais pas encore 32 ans et que j’en parais 25. » Краткий перевод: Забавно, насколько месяцев назад по пути на работу я проходил через парк Монсо и еще на пешеходном переходе услышал девчушек, которые с первого этажа жилой резиденции что-то говорили проходящим мимо людям. Я не мог разобрать ясно, что они говорят. Я вышел на улицу Жорж Бержер и прошел рядом с ними. Они воскликнули: "Мсье, Мсье, вы были за Федерера или за Надаля?" Я им ответил, что я был за Надаля. Они радостно зашумели, безусловно, совершенно счастливые оттого, что я назвал имя их чемпиона. Это было в понедельник, это было в июле. Накануне вечером Рафа победил Роджера в финале Уимблдона. Я был счастлив, потому что теннис снова стал итересен так многим людям. Эта мысль даже помогла мне забыть то, что они назвали меня мсье, хотя мне еще не было 32 и выглядел я на 25.

 Posted: 22.03.09 22:11. Post subject: BNP PARIBAS OPEN M..

BNP PARIBAS OPEN
March 21, 2009
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA

Rafael Nadal

R. NADAL/A. Roddick 6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. We're used to seeing you hit hard off of both wings most of the time. Today you seemed to be incorporating a backhand slice. What was your strategy behind using that shot today?
RAFAEL NADAL: It wasn't a strategy. It was just the slice backhand, no? But in some times, sure, I played too much slice backhand today. Sometimes it's good have the slice backhand to change the rhythm of the point.
I use it too much today. That's not the right way.

Q. Today was the second time you were serving for the match and you got broken. Can you take us through what happened there in the second set when you were serving for the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: Scared maybe.

Q. Scared maybe?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Laughter.) I don't know. Yeah, it was -- yeah, I had important mistake. I have important mistake in 30-All with the forehand. I have bad selection of the shot, because I was -- I played with too much risk. Yeah.
For me, the worst game wasn't the 5-4. For me, the worst game was the 2-1, 30-0. For me, that's the worst, because in 5-4 you are serving for the match, and always is tough. But with 2-1, 30-0, 6-4, 2-1, 30-0, I had the match completely under control.
Yeah, this is not the right moment to lose that game, no?

Q. After your last match you went out and practiced your serve. Were you happier with your serve today?
RAFAEL NADAL: Some moments, yeah. Some moments, yes; some moments not very happy. But, well, not bad.

Q. You played a pretty good tiebreaker though. You must have at least been happy about that.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, it was important I played better the tiebreak. The 6-5 game, 5-6 with my serve, I played better. I served better, because in the second set I started to play more defensive, no? So that's the reason, I think.
Anyway, the wind was hard, but that's the reason why I have more problems having the match under control, two times the break.
Maybe with 6-5, I started again to play a little bit more aggressive. I served a little bit more, well, I don't know, more direction.
So in the tiebreak I did the same, having good points. So that was important to keep that mentally after two times losing the serve.

Q. They're saying tomorrow the wind here might be about 40, maybe 50 miles an hour.
RAFAEL NADAL: Tomorrow?

Q. Yeah. It's normally pretty calm here. In those circumstances, what do you have to do to play well in the wind?
RAFAEL NADAL: Move. I have to move more than usual. That's what I think.
Sometimes if you stop, I don't know, half second before to touch the ball, now you have to stop later because the ball can move all the time.
So I have to keep moving all the time and try to play inside the court. Because if you play the ball when the call is coming, I don't have to wait to the ball. I have to go to the ball.

Q. What is it that makes Murray difficult to play?
RAFAEL NADAL: Murray?
Well, he played well for the last one year. Yeah, everything, I think. He's very complete player. He has a good serve, has very good control from the baseline. Yeah, everything.
He has, well, good hands, very good dropshot. So he can play aggressive, he can play defensive, so he's a very complete player. Yeah, I think the chances play with Murray than him.

Q. You, of course, are known for biting the trophies, but you won many trophies over your career so far. If you had to choose just one or two trophies as your very favorite, which would they be?
RAFAEL NADAL: Trophies in my career?

Q. Yeah.
RAFAEL NADAL: Wimbledon and Roland Garros, yeah.

Q. Which Roland Garros?
RAFAEL NADAL: Second.

Q. Because? Why?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I had important injury in 2006. End of the season was tough moments to me, yeah.
I really don't know in that moments if I gonna have the chance to come back in the top positions or still there playing at the same level than before.
Yeah, when I won there it was really emotional, no? Some tough moments in the last moments of Roland Garros 2006.

Q. Two years ago you beat Roddick pretty handily in the semis. How did you think he's better today compared to when you played him two years ago in the semis?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know, no? I saw him always good, yeah. Sure, he's playing better this year, I think.
He started the season, I don't know, with good illusion, trying to play more aggressive. I saw him play very good matches.
I think he's -- he has more motivation right now than the last few years. That's what I see on the TV. I don't know. That's my feeling.

Q. You talk about Andy Murray has gotten a lot better this last year. What have you seen him do that's taken him to the next level?
RAFAEL NADAL: What he has to do to...

Q. What has he done this last year to get so much better?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think he's more focus all the time mentally, no? He's more regular, no?
Yeah, before he has one good match and later he played one set well and two sets not at the same level. Right now he's playing all the time very solid and very regular. He's not having strange illusion, no?
You look his results the last seven, eight months, he's not losing against anyone. He only lose against the best, and not a lot of times. I hope tomorrow. (Laughter.)

Q. It seems like maybe one of the reasons why you've been dominating and almost never losing now, is because even when you're not playing so well, you're finding ways to win; is that true?
RAFAEL NADAL: That, I think, is not new for me, no? I think the best players -- I think everybody can play and can win. Everybody can play well and can win everybody when one player a playing at his best level.
The important thing is continuing win a lot of the matches when your level is not in the top. So I think all my career I have that. Yeah, I think that's (Translated from Spanish.)
THE MODERATOR: It's a quality of mine.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I think it's a positive quality of mine. If I'm not playing at my best level -- normally I didn't have a lot of loses in first, second round. Hopefully. You understand right now, no?
But, yeah, that's what I did well all my career, no? That's a mentality thing: Being positive and accept if you are not playing your best, you have to fight.

Q. It should be is fantastic final against Andy. Is he an opponent that you enjoy playing against? If so, why?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I enjoy playing everybody. I enjoy playing tennis and being here. Sure, enjoy being in another final. Masters Series final is very good news for me.
Tomorrow I have a match to enjoy and try to play my best tennis. It's going to be a challenge for me, and I'm going to try to play my best tennis. Only like this I gonna have chances to win against Andy.
Yeah, but anyway, the result is fine. Being in the final here is really important to me, no? Having 600 points and continuing have the good wins and good results is really important.

Q. Any disappointment not playing Roger?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I don't know, no? I think tennis are not only Roger and me. I told you guys one hundred times, but, you know, it's very difficult play against Roger every final, no?
You know, in the history, how many Grand Slam or finals we have? I don't know. Big rivalries, Børg, McEnroe, how many? Do you know?

Q. Four.
RAFAEL NADAL: Four? We already have three, three and one. Seven, so it's a lot. That's very difficult to be all the time both players on the final in the same level.
It's really strange.

 Posted: 23.03.09 04:57. Post subject: Nadal crushes Murray..

 Posted: 23.03.09 05:49. Post subject: Nadal snaps out of s..

 Posted: 23.03.09 10:57. Post subject: До турнира в ИУ из-з..

До турнира в ИУ из-за параноидальных проблем побоялась размещать этот прогноз Steve Tignor А ведь всё как по нотам получилось!

Индиан-Уэллс. Мужчины. Встреча на харде

Продолжая тему прогнозов, Sports.ru предлагает читателям взгляд аналитика TENNIS.com Стива Тиньора на мужскую часть соревнований в Индиан-Уэллсе. Тем более что, независимо от того, как сложится турнир, повод для радости у одного из фаворитов уже есть.

Первые два месяца теннисного сезона создают сложности в балансировании формой для лучших игроков. Им приходится выходить на пик формы незамедлительно к Australian Open, после чего они должны протий через февраль так, чтобы вновь вернуться на пик к «сердцу» сезона. Эта основная часть сезона начинается в Индиан-Уэллсе и не закончится до US Open. С таким расписанием нелегко справиться, и недавние отказы Роджера Федерера, Рафаэля Надаля и Энди Мюррея от Дубая и Кубка Дэвиса подтвердили это вновь.

Эти трое парней, однако, знают, что проблемы февраля станут далекими воспоминаниями к концу сезона. А вот то, что будет происходить с нынешнего момента и до сентября, имеет большое значение. И я думаю, все трое будут готовы стартовать самым серьезным образом, и пусть все проблемы прошедшего месяца испарятся под калифорнийским солнцем.

Рассматривая мужскую сетку Индиан-Уэллса, давайте оценим, насколько легко или нелегко им будет сделать это.

Первая четверть.

Если не считать травму колена и отказ от Дубая, начало сезона не могло бы сложиться лучше для Рафаэля Надаля. Он уже выиграл турнир «Большого шлема» и на Кубке Дэвиса против Сербии выглядел настолько же непобедимым на грунте, как и раньше. У него уже есть успешный опыт выступлений на медленных хардовых кортах Индиан-Уэллса – он выигрывал турнир в 2007 году. Единственной проблемой может быть быстрый переход с грунта на хард в течение недели.

Если и есть какие-то сложности в четверти Надаля, то не раньше, чем в четвертом круге. Именно там он, возможно, встретится с Томашом Бердыхом, с которым испанец помучался в прошлом. В этом году с новым тренером Бердых снова нашел игру. В другой части этой четверти находится Гаэль Монфис, который уже обыграл Надаля в 2009-м, и Хуан Мартин Дель Потро. Никого из них я не вижу победителем в матче с Надалем в четвертьфинале турнира такого уровня.

Игрок, также находящийся в этой четверти, – Давид Налбандян.

Полуфиналист – Рафаэль Надаль.

Вторая четверть.

Здесь топ-сеяные – это Джокович (3) и Роддик (7). Кажется, им предстоит продолжить свою собственную маленькую войну – серб обыграл американца на US Open, а американец серба – в Мельбурне.

Конечно, нельзя быть заранее уверенным, но я не вижу причин, которые помешали бы этим двоим встретиться в четвертьфинале. Эта часть сетки заполнена такими именами, как Николас Кифер, Райнер Шуттлер, Станислас Вавринка, Сэм Куэрри и Томми Хаас. Единственный человек, который способен создать проблемы Джоковичу – это его потенциальный соперник по четвертому кругу Радек Штепанек. Единственный человек, который способен создать проблемы Роддику – это Давид Феррер, в том же самом четвертом круге. Он обыграл Роддика три раза подряд, но в последнее время играл слишком много (Дубай и Кубок Дэвиса).

Если Роддик и Джокович действительно дойдут друг до друга, я бы отдал небольшое предпочтение американцу перед действующим чемпионом. Роддик находится в периоде «медового месяца» с новым тренером, а Джокович очень много играет в последнее время, включая и неудачный грунтовый уик-энд в Испании.

Игрок, который может выстрелить – Жереми Шарди.

Еще один игрок, за которым надо понаблюдать – Марди Фиш, прошлогодний финалист. Не думаю, что он обыграет своего старого друга Роддика, если они встретятся.

Полуфиналист – Энди Роддик.

Третья четверть.

Энди Мюррей прибыл в любимые солнечные Соединенные Штаты через несколько дней после вирусной инфекции, которая не дала ему сыграть на Кубке Дэвиса. Так что посмотрим, как его нынешняя физическая форма отреагирует на 30-градусную жару. Корты подходят для его игры, именно здесь он прорвался в полуфинал турнира серии Masters пару лет назад. Сейчас он попытается использовать эти корты в качестве места для возвращения того импульса, который у него был в начале сезона.

Ранние круги шотландца, кажется, просто созданы для того, чтобы помочь ему сделать это. Самым опасным игроком, которого Мюррея может встретить до четвертьфинала, является Марин Чилич. Двое топ-сеяных в другой части этой четвертушки – это французы Жиль Симон и Жо-Вильфред Тсонга. Симон только что перенес тяжелый удар из двух поражений на Кубке Дэвиса, хотя покрытие ему подходит. Тсонга был хорош в этом году и почти обыграл Надаля здесь в прошлом. Я бы хотел увидеть, как именно он сразится с Мюрреем за место в полуфинале.

Перспективный игрок, за которым надо последить – Эрнест Гулбис. Он в части Симона и Тсонги.

Ветеран, который, каким-то образом получил прямой доступ на турнир Masters 1000, – Винс Спэйди.

Полуфиналист – Энди Мюррей.

Четвертая четверть.

На данный момент нет никаких причин предполагать, что мы увидим какие-либо изменения в игре Роджера Федерера, которого не будет тренировать Даррен Кейхилл. Первая неприятная проверка для Федерера, вероятно, произойдет против Иво Карловича во втором матче; как известно, второй номер мирового рейтинга имеет привычку мучаться в ранних кругах.

С другой стороны, здесь нет больших проблем для Федерера, по крайней мере, на бумаге. Вторым топ-сеяным является Николай Давыденко, который никогда не обыгрывал Федерера. Среди других имен Фернандо Гонсалес, Джеймс Блэйк, Фернандо Вердаско и Ришар Гаске – все достойные, но никого из них я не вижу в роли возмутителя спокойствия в данный момент.

Темная лошадка – Фернандо Вердаско.

Новое лицо, за которым надо посмотреть: Сергей Стаховский, талантливый, хотя слегка излишне задиристый украинский пацан – подождите, ему уже 23? Забудьте, что я его упоминал. Будем смотреть на Мишеля Ллодра и его всемирно известный бэкхенд слета вместо этого.

Полуфиналист – Роджер Федерер.

Полуфиналы.

Надаль обыгрывает Роддика, Мюррей – Федерера.

Финал.

Если финал действительно будет таким – а это еще большое «если», как всегда, – это будет битва между парнем, который может легко дойти до финала на набранном ходу, и парнем, который, судя по финалу в Роттердаме, знает, как играть с ним прямо сейчас. В отличие от Федерера, Мюррей не имеет проблем с тем, как забить мяч Надалю под бэкхенд. А его собственный двуручный является серьезным оружием при приеме леворукой крученой подачи Надаля. Но все же, ставя против Надаля, вы сильно рискуете.

Чемпион – Рафаэль Надаль.

http://www.sports.ru/tennis/7260040.html

 Posted: 23.03.09 11:07. Post subject: Рафаэль Надаль: «Поб..

Рафаэль Надаль: «Победа над Мюрреем важна для меня»

После победы в финале турнира BNP Paribas Open в Индиан-Уэллсе над британцем Энди Мюрреем со счетом 6:1, 6:2, первая ракетка мира испанец Рафаэль Надаль рассказал журналистам о ценности этого успеха и подвел итог своему выступлению на калифорнийском турнире.

«Энди был единственным топ-игроком, которого я еще не побеждал в этом году, поэтому эта победа очень важна для меня. Но в любом случае, самым важным является выиграть очередной титул, независимо от того, какой соперник был в финале.

Когда я приехал на турнир, играл первый матч, я не знал, выиграю ли его. Никогда точно нельзя сказать, что случится в ближайшие два, пять, семь месяцев. Поэтому очень трудно играть весь сезон на одном и том же уровне, твоем лучшем уровне. Если я играю в свой лучший теннис, но у Мюррея хороший день, – у него есть шанс победить меня, или у Федерера, Джоковича и многих других игроков. Так что каждый турнир очень сложный», – цитирует испанца официальный сайт ATP

sports.ru/tennis/7369085.html

 Posted: 23.03.09 11:43. Post subject: Ольга пишет: В отли..

Ольга, словами Стива Тиньора пишет:

quote:

В отличие от Федерера, Мюррей не имеет проблем с тем, как забить мяч Надалю под бэкхенд. А его собственный двуручный является серьезным оружием при приеме леворукой крученой подачи Надаля.

Оля, это место просто супер. В очередной раз спецы обращают внимание на то, что леворукую крученую подачу намного проще принимать двуручникам.
Для сравнения, можешь посмотреть небольшой фрагмент финала Уима-08. Рафа в первом сете, по-моему, 100% подачи было под бх. А во всем матче процентов на 80 подавал Роджу под бекхенд. Остальная часть в пузо (по центру) и очень редко под форхенд. Оттого так мало было у Роджера агрессивного приема подачи, и совсем редко проходил прием на вылет. Вот народ и удивлялся, ну почему Роджер не использовал столько брейкпоинтов, что на АО, что на Уиме.
Это еще один из компонентов успеха игры с Федерером.

Насчет вчерашнего финала с Марреем, да и в матче с Роддиком, мы видели, как у Рафы хорошо и агрессивно работал бекхенд. Так что, играя сейчас под бекхенд Рафе, особых дивидендов можно и не получить.

 Posted: 23.03.09 12:03. Post subject: ольга До турнира в ..

ольга

quote:

До турнира в ИУ из-за параноидальных проблем побоялась размещать этот прогноз Steve Tignor А ведь всё как по нотам получилось!

ничего себе... и все это было спрогнозировано до начала турнира? провидец прям

 Posted: 23.03.09 13:17. Post subject: World No. 1 Rafael N..

Темы новостей пока нет поэтому размещу эту инфу здесь.
Говорится, что матчем Рафы откроется турнир в Маями. Это будет в субботу в 8 часов вечера (по местному времени, 3 часа ночи по МСК).
А перед турниром Рафа поучавствует в каком-то праздничном мероприятии с танцами фламенко. Танцевать будет не он, однако

quote:

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal To Open Play On March 28 MIAMI, Fla. – World No. 1 Rafael Nadal will begin his quest for his first Sony Ericsson Open title on Saturday, March 28 at 8:00 p.m. Nadal’s potential opponents won’t be determined until the tournament draw is announced on March 23. Tickets to the Sony Ericsson Open are on sale now and can be purchased by phone (305-442-3367) or via the internet at www.sonyericssonopen.com. An amazing 12 days of tennis conclude with the women’s final on Saturday, April 4 and the men’s final on Sunday, April 5. Nadal enters the Sony Ericsson Open hot off his sixth-career Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and became the first Spaniard to win down under. He joins the company of Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras as the third player at age 22-under to win three of the four Grand Slam titles. Before the start of Nadal’s match, fans will be treated to a special on-court performance by Clarita Filgueiras and Flamenco Puro, presented by Andalucia, Spain’s premier tourist destination. Keeping with the Spanish theme, Clarita Filguerias and Flamenco Puro will perform the fiery art of flamenco dance, one of the finest components of Spanish dance. The remaining men’s draw including 13-time Grand Slam Champion Roger Federer, 2007 Sony Ericsson Open Champion Novak Djokovic, British star Andy Murray, American superstar Andy Roddick and defending Sony Ericsson Open Champion Nikolay Davydenko will be announced during the men’s tournament draw ceremony on Monday, March 23 at 2:30 p.m. ...

http://www.sonyericssonopen.atponline.net/1/en/news/newsarticle_2423.asp

 Posted: 23.03.09 13:22. Post subject: Eternal играя сейча..

Eternal

quote:

играя сейчас под бекхенд Рафе, особых дивидендов можно и не получить.

Я надеюсь, что на этой неделе я таки переведу статью о том, как Рафа улучшил свою игру за последние пару лет. Там всё толково по полочкам расписано, в том числе и про БХ. Сейчас, глядя на его игру, я часто эту статью вспоминаю.

***GESTIRN***

quote:

ничего себе... и все это было спрогнозировано до начала турнира? провидец прям

Во как!

 Posted: 23.03.09 13:23. Post subject: Энди Мюррей: «Надаль..

Энди Мюррей: «Надаль заслужил эту победу»

Четвертая ракетка мира, британец Энди Мюррей, уступивший в финале турнира серии Masters 1000 в американском Индиан-Уэллсе лидеру мирового рейтинга ATP испанцу Рафаэлю Надалю со счетом 1:6, 2:6, поведал журналистам о том, как ветер повлиял на его игру, и дал оценку действиям соперника.

«Было очень сложно. Я никогда раньше не играл при таком сильном ветре на протяжении столь долгого времени. Рафа очень хорошо приспособился к погодным условиям. Он играл чище и всегда оказывался в более выигрышной позиции, чем я. Мне не нравится много защищаться и бегать по корту, я люблю доминировать в розыгрышах, но сегодня этого не получилось. Именно поэтому Надаль диктовал условия в большинстве очков.

Каждый раз, играя с ним, я чувствую, что у меня есть шанс играть в свою игру, потому что он играет топ-спинами. На ранних стадиях розыгрыша мяч летит на удобной высоте и его можно легко направить туда, куда нужно. Но Рафа потрясающе двигается, у него отличный удар справа и феноменальные бойцовские качества. Он улучшил некоторые компоненты своей игры, сейчас испанец гораздо чаще использует резаные удары и идет к сетке. Он все делает очень хорошо. Безусловно, Надаль заслужил сегодняшнюю победу», – приводит слова британца Reuters.

http://www.sports.ru/tennis/7369158.html

 Posted: 23.03.09 17:12. Post subject: Desert Storm: Rafa R..

Desert Storm: Rafa Rules Indian Wells
By Tennis Week
Sunday, March 22, 2009

Flags flapped frantically amid a biting wind at the top of the Indian Wells stadium while the World No. 1 fought furiously for every ball tossed around by gusts on the court below.

Rafael Nadal mastered the whipping wind and a passive Andy Murray, 6-1, 6-2, to capture his 13th career Masters Series championship at the BNP Paribas Open.

It was Nadal's second Indian Wells title in the last three years. He beat Novak Djokovic to win the 2007 Indian Wells title.

His 13 Masters Series shields is third on the all-time list behind Andre Agassi (17) and Roger Federer (14).

Nadal had won five of seven career meetings with Murray, but the fourth-ranked Scot had won their last two meetings — a four-set win in the US Open semifinals last September and a 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, triumph in last month's Rotterdam final. Asserting his authority in the longer exchanges at the outset, Nadal nearly never stopped moving.

"Andy was the only big top player I didn't [beat] this year, so it's [an] important win for me," said Nadal, who is 13-4 in Masters Series finals. "But anyway, the most important thing for me is [to] win the title, any way, the opponent in the final."

The final marked Murray’s most lopsided loss since he fell to Marcos Baghdatis by the same score in August 2007 in the first round of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati.

"Rafa definitely deserved to win today, he dealt with it incredibly well and unfortunately I couldn't get the job done," said Murray, who knocked off three-time Indian Wells champion Roger Federer in the semifinals, but never seriously pressed Nadal today.

With his shirt shimmering in waves of wind like a sail, Nadal's footwork — his short, precise preparation steps and his ability to adjust to balls suddenly blown off course — was a significant factor in the match. Nadal broke in the fourth and sixth games of the opening set. He won the final five games of both sets in overwhelming Murray with a swarming baseline attack amid the swirling wind.

"The conditions today were really difficult, but I think I have good strategy and I played a really good match with those conditions," Nadal said. "Probably Andy didn't play his best because of the conditions, but I think I played a really complete match, moving very well. I never stop the legs during all the match, and I think that was the key today."

Staring down a break point, Murray had to hop and stretch to reach a forehand that the wind suddenly snatched away. He prolonged the rally and approached net behind a deep forehand cross court, but Nadal anticipated it. Wisely using the wind as an aid, Nadal hit his backhand pass down the line, the wind pushing it back into the court. Murray could not control a stab volley and Nadal had the first break and a 3-1 lead.

When Murray floated a forehand that sailed long, he wailed in frustration. Nadal consolidated for 4-1 when Murray's forehand expired into the top of the tape. He sealed the opening set in 41 minutes.

In the second set, Nadal kept Murray moving, probing the corners of the court and nearly hitting right through the US Open finalist in firing a forehand that Murray reflexively deflected away in self defense.

Nadal's raw desire dispels the pressure of the match moment. He fought off five match points against 14th-seeded David Nalbandian in the fourth round, prevailing 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-0 and did not drop a set the rest of the tournament in beating sixth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro in the quarterfinals before stopping seventh-seeded Andy Roddick in the semifinals.

Next up for Nadal is a trip to Miami for next week's Sony Ericsson Open. A two-time Miami finalist, Nadal lost a five-set thriller to Roger Federer in the 2005 final and fell to Nikolay Davydenko, in the 2008 final. Six different players have won Indian Wells and Miami in the same year: Federer (2005-06), Agassi (2001), Marcelo Rios (1998), Pete Sampras (1994), Michael Chang (1992) and Jim Courier (1991).

 Posted: 23.03.09 21:11. Post subject: Материал с интервью ..

Материал с интервью Тони Надаля в испанской Marca

quote:

Toni Nadal: "Rafael está en un segundo o tercer nivel si hablamos de tenistas de la historia" DAVID MENAYO. MADRID 23/03/09 - 13:36. Tras la victoria de Rafa Nadal en Indian Wells, el manacorí sigue sumando éxitos en su haber. Su tío Toni Nadal, pasó por la sintonía de 'Directo MARCA' en RadioMARCA para hablar sobre la última proeza de su pupilo y hacer un repaso del futuro más inmediato. Toni cree que la victoria de su pupilo en Indian Wells tuvo mucho que ver con que "Rafael controló más el aspecto negativo del viento que Murray y jugó muy bien en todos los aspectos". A pesar de estar contento, como buen maestro, ya sabe dónde tiene que hacer mejorar a Nadal. "Rafael tiene la asignatura pendiente del saque, que no está a la altura de su ranking. Siempre tienes que mejorar", ratificó el técnico. Con la victioria en Indian Wells, Nadal está a un sólo Masters Series o Masters 1.000 de Roger Federer y a cuatro de André Agassi, el mejor en est ranking. "Hay que ir despacio. Federer todavía está en activo y puede incrementar esta cifra. Yo firmaría que Federer tuviera 25 y Rafael 22. Al final lo que cuenta es señalar y que otra gente esté por delante de ti no me preocupa tanto", dijo Toni. Los números de Nadal le colocan entre los grandes nombres del mundo de la raqueta. Para Toni, aún queda mucho camino que recorrer. "Creo que Rafael está en un segundo o tercer nivel si hablamos de tenistas de la historia. En primer plano estarías tres jugadores, Roger Federer, Björn Borg y Rod Laver y luego un grupo por delante de Rafa en el que estarían Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl...", indicó. "Veremos cuando acabe su carrera lo que ha conseguido. De momento, hay lo que hay y estamos contentos con ello", añadió. Uno de los handicap con los que se puede encontrar Rafa es el factor físico, ante lo que Toni comentó que "físicamente está muy bien. El circuito ATP te lleva a ir muy al límite y somos conscientes de ellos. Ahora no es que tenga que defender muchos puntos, sino que tiene que jugar torneos muy importantes de los que no puedes prescindir ni por calidad del torneo ni por servir de preparación par Roland Garros y Wimbledon". "Será una temporada muy dura; a ver si conseguimos hacer cuatro meses buenos y luego ya se verá", afirmó con rotundidad. Preguntado por qué se siente al ser el entrenador del número uno del mundo, Toni hizo acopio de la humildad que le caracteriza. "Siento lo mismo que cuando Rafael era número dos. Estoy satisfecho con su trabajo y más allá de ser número uno, lo importante son los torneos y la capacidad que él tiene de poder ganarlos. Ya veremos lo que dura, pero de momento disfrutamos del momento", finiquitó.

http://www.marca.com/2009/03/23/tenis/1237811799.html


Кусочек интервью в русском переводе:

quote:

Тони Надаль: Рафаэль — теннисист третьей величины Дядя и тренер звезды испанского и мирового мужского тенниса Рафаэля Надаля Тони Надаль оценил место своего племянника в мировой теннисной истории. "Я бы назвал Рафаэля теннисистом второго или третьего уровня, если мы говорим о теннисистах с мировым именем. На первом плане будет три игрока — Роджер Федерер, Бьорн Борг и Род Лейвер. Затем впереди Рафаэля целая плеяда звездных имен — Пит Сампрас, Джон Макинрой, Джимми Коннорс, Иван Лендл. Рафаэль завершит карьеру, когда достигнет максимума своих возможностей, а на данный момент мы счастливы тем, как у него всё складывается", — цитирует Тони Надаля Marca.

http://www.championat.ru/tennis/news-197937.html

 Posted: 23.03.09 22:16. Post subject: Не успели ахнуть, ка..

Не успели ахнуть, как у нас новая тема прессы? 2 страницы - и на выход?


Потрясающая, необыкновенная статья Стива Тиньора (Steve Tignor) - того самого, который угадал полуфиналистов и победителя IW. Это одна из лучших статей, которые я когда-либо читала о Рафе. Вопрос: когда переводить
Сразила последняя фраза, как итог всего написанного:

quote:

Забудьте о бицепсах и ногах, о форхендах и бэкхендах. Главная сила Надаля в том, чего труднее всего достичь в жизни любому человеку. Его сила в том, что он честен перед самим собой.

IW: Rafa Sightings

Posted 03/23/2009 @ 12 :43 AM
Steve Tignor

The last 10 days in Indian Wells were a riot of tennis, with players, fans, press, tournament workers, and myriads of other humans crisscrossing all over the grounds. Floating above them the entire time, and landing safely with the trophy between his teeth at the end, was one man.

In my own little corner of this world, the back rows of the pressroom, Rafael Nadal was a figure of fascination. I heard reporters who who don't normally cover tennis say how "charming" and "hilarious" and "nice" and "amazing" he was. As a player, yes, but even more so as a person.

They're right, of course, but they're getting in a little late, don't you think? After making easy, 6-1, 6-2, work of the No. 4 player in the world today, Nadal stands at a an unprecedented career peak. He's won the first Slam and Masters event of the season and dominated a Davis Cup tie for Spain. The season, as Nadal said today, is long, and at this time last year Novak Djokovic found himself in much the same position. But for now the only way I can think of to wrap up this tournament properly is to record the best of what I saw of its central character, Rafael Nadal.

—I had lunch at 1:30 or so on Sunday. The cafeteria was mostly empty. Facing away from me, toward a wall, a few feet from a TV, was Nadal. He was at a table with a hitting partner and looked smaller in his sweatshirt and vintage blue-and-yellow Nike sneakers. He was watching golf; he and his friend were analyzing how one of the golfers should hit the ball. Nadal put his hand up and moved it toward the right, indicating that it should be a slice. When the shot landed with a thunk in the sand trap, Nadal went "Ooof." He was scheduled to play the final in an hour

—It was match point for Nadal against Andy Roddick in the second-set tiebreaker of their semifinal. Roddick duffed a strange return that popped up diagonally and landed in an awkward position for Nadal, a few inches from the net on his backhand side. Nadal wanted to drill it but couldn't get there in time. You could see him adjust as he ran. When he got there, he pushed the ball lightly and at an extreme crosscourt angle. This forced Roddick well wide of the court on his pass. He got to it, gave it a rip, but couldn't bring it back into the court. Anyone who says modern tennis, or modern men's tennis, is the domain of thoughtless power needs to see that shot and the improvisatory poise that made it happen.

—At his press conference after his quarterfinal win over Juan-Martin del Potro, Nadal shows up with two chocolate chip cookies and starts to eat them as he talks.

Q. I'm surprised to see you eating cookies. Are they chocolate chip cookies?


RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah.

Nadal says "Yeah," but his smile says, "So? What about it?"

Q. I was wondering if you have things like that quite a bit? I always think athletes have a very regimented diet and don't indulge.


RAFAEL NADAL: Not me. (Laughter.)


Long pause, Nadal flashes what you might call a s--- eating grin.

"My opinion, you can eat everything. Well, before the match maybe don't have five cookies or one steak, but my opinion, you can eat everything in the right time. If I eat right now, 20 cookies, maybe I gonna have indigestion tonight. If I eat two, three cookies, maybe it's OK.

Maybe not for the stomach, no, but for the head it's better. (Laughter.) In the end, the important thing is to be mentally okay.

Q. Better mental preparation?


RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah.

—Nadal is down a match point and for all intents and purposes out of it in the fourth round against David Nalbandian. He hits a ball with maximum force that lands on the line for a winner.

When he pulls out the second set in a tiebreaker, I can only wonder if any other great players in history have had so many emotional, dramatic, unlikely, and memorable moments as Nadal. Already this year he's been involved in two classics—Verdasco in Melbourne and Nalbandian here—and topped them both by putting his arm around Roger Federer.

—Nadal walks into his press conference after the final with his cellphone in his hand and a distracted look on his face. He looks like he's walking toward a van that’s going to take him to the airport, not to answer questions from a room full of reporters. He sits down and says, lightly, "Hel-lo."

—It's 2-2 in the second set of the men's final. The wind has kicked up and is swirling. Nadal and Andy Murray each move inside the baseline and chip balls at each other that bend and curl in the breeze. It looks like they're playing paddleball with magnetized racquets. Nadal takes a ball from Murray and slices it back low and slow and down the middle. He follows it forward. The ball curves away from Murray, who can't get his forehand up and over the net. Nadal breaks and doesn't lose another game. Ditto my comment above about his shot on match point against Roddick—improvisatory poise at its best.

—To do this, Nadal uses a Babolat Aerodrive (or something like that), a racquet that nobody else anywhere uses. It reminds me of his cookie comment—you can eat everything, you can use anything, it doesn't matter, what matters is you.

—Late in the second set in the final, Murray runs down a lob and flicks a forehand over his head. Nadal lets it go and watches it drop two feet inside the line. When his reaction—he jumps a little, closes his eyes, raises his head, and opens his mouth to say something like, "Oh no!"—is replayed on the big screen, the audience erupts with laughter.

—Nadal practices his forehand over the first weekend of the tournament. He's working on snapping up on it with less backswing and more flick. In his next match, he seems to have it mastered, and it does look a little different and more abbreviated than I remember it. While Federer sticks with what works and maintains a deep belief in his innate ability, Nadal is about the process. He's a tinkerer who doesn't believe he was born to be the best; he concentrates on how he can improve himself enough to get there. He's there, but he's still tinkering.

—After his semifinal, Nadal is asked whether he feels like he has learned to win matches even when he's not playing his best. He says that that's something he's always had success doing.

After the final, he's asked why he thinks he handled the wind better than Murray. Nadal says that he thinks he "accepted" the conditions better than Murray, who fought them.

These two answers, about finding ways to win and accepting the conditions around him, point to what I think is, beyond his speed and spin and power, a major reason for Nadal's success. Unlike most tennis players, even the best tennis players, he doesn't play with anger or regret or frustration, the three emotions that doom most of us.

After losing the fourth set of the Wimbledon final last year, Nadal said that he sat down on the changeover and accepted that he had played horribly when he was ahead in the tiebreaker, but that otherwise he was "doing very well." If Nadal is a control freak or a perfectionist, he doesn't allow it to get the best of him. John McEnroe couldn't emotionally deal with his errors, Djokovic lets his frustration affect his play, and even Federer gets down in the mouth if things aren't going as he expects. Nadal accepts, when he walks onto a court, that he will not always be at his best. As a guy who is constantly trying to improve, he begins with the premise that he can never be perfect, and that he should not always win. Federer and Pete Sampras, by contrast, begin every match believing that no one can beat them if they go out and do what they're supposed to do.

On the one hand, Nadal's is an intelligent approach because it allows him to take pressure off himself and put his mistake behind him—why regret what was inevitable in the first place? On the other hand, when you try to imagine actually putting this into practice in the heat of battle, you realize that it is an almost impossibly difficult psychological stance to achieve for any length of time. How does one banish these primal reactions?

Forget the biceps and the legs and the forehands and the overheads. Nadal's most important strength is the one that's the hardest for all of us to achieve. He has the strength to be honest with himself.

http://tennisworld.typepad.com/thewrap/ ... l#comments

 Posted: 24.03.09 00:07. Post subject: Оля, статья и впрямь..

Оля, статья и впрямь замечательная. Особенно мне понравился кусочек про то, что Рафаэль выходит на корт, оставив в стороне такие чувства, как гнев, сожаление и раздражение. Я подумала, что ведь и в нашей повседневной жизни такое умение дано не каждому. Есть над чем работать ))))

 Posted: 24.03.09 04:38. Post subject: да. статья замечател..

да. статья замечательная . учитывая, что еще пару лет назад особо теплых чуйств автор к "предмету" не испытывал. прочла утром перед работой, так даже настроение поднялось.

а вот с началом новой темы непонятки. что-то больно быстро! так темы будут плодиться как не скажу что. ну ладно, пусть как кролики.

 Posted: 24.03.09 04:57. Post subject: Из блога Ксении Витр..

Из блога Ксении Витряк:

«Энди+Рафа» – тоже любопытный сюжет. С Рафой у Рыжего было примерно то же, что с Роджером – включая Абу-Даби три победы подряд. Но тут кончилось все совсем по-другому, чем с Роджером. Кончилось выносом рыжего тельца. Я финал к моему большому сожалению не смотрела, а счетом натурально обескуражена.

Для меня Рафа был одинаково темной лошадкой что в Австралии, что в Индиан-Уэллсе. Ну то есть я знаю, что он может победить на любом крупном турнире с любым составом вне зависимости от качества игры соперников, потому что плюс с к тому, что он само совершенство (простите, не удержалась), он теперь играет очень активно и гораздо больше играет от себя. Но ведь может и не победить. Он иногда странно проигрывает, неожиданно проигрывает, или с неожиданным счетом. Все-таки очевидно, что доминировать как Роджер он не будет, он более подвержен травмам и на покрытия более чутко реагирует, еще наверное есть какие-то причины. Но факт остается фактом – на самых крупных турнирах Рафа в последнее время не дает сбоев. Он выиграл первый Большой шлем в сезоне, он выиграл и первый в сезоне Мастерс. И теперь мне очень интересно, что будет дальше. Я даже повешу сейчас такой опрос – выиграет ли Надаль и турнир в Майами? Готова даже с кем-нибудь побиться об заклад) Не потому, что я так уверена, я как раз не уверена (см. выше), а просто повод красивый)

http://www.sports.ru/blog/vitryak/7377220.html

 Posted: 24.03.09 05:24. Post subject: BNP PARIBAS OPEN IND..

BNP PARIBAS OPEN
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA
March 22, 2009

R. NADAL/A. Murray 6 1, 6 2

An interview with: RAFAEL NADAL

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How difficult was it? Maybe it wasn't difficult at all. I don't know.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, well, always it's tough, no? The conditions today was really difficult. But, you know, I think I have good strategy and I played a really good match with those conditions, no?
Probably Andy didn't play his best because of the conditions, but I think I played a really complete match, moving very well. I never stop the legs during all the match, and I think that was the key all today, no?

Q. Did you get the sense that he let the conditions dictate to him and you did not let the conditions dictate to you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, maybe. I don't know if I was a little bit more prepared than him today to play with these conditions. Maybe I think I accept a little bit better than him that conditions today.
Maybe I was a little bit with more positive attitude than him during the match, and last two days, that's decisive, no? I think I moved and I played a little bit more in the middle the court, more aggressive, moving a little bit more than him.
And I change with something like this, backhand sometimes trying to put low balls, because with this wind it's really tough to play, to play to have winners.
So I think I played very good today.

Q. Were these the toughest conditions you've played in, or has there been somewhere that's been worse?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I played at Wimbledon 2006 or 2007, I don't know, because 2007, I think. Yeah, 2007. Quarterfinals against Berdych. Unbelievable wind. Amazing.

Q. Centre Court?
RAFAEL NADAL: Centre Court, yeah, amazing. In Benidorm two weeks ago, amazing, too. We practiced one day and well, worse than today. Yeah, I had some matches with the wind, no?

Q. You said you felt you had good strategy today to deal with the conditions, what was the strategy to deal with the conditions?
RAFAEL NADAL: I explain a little bit more later, no? The good strategy I think because I was playing inside the court. I go to the net sometimes, and, well, I never stop the legs. So that's the strategy, no? Try to move all the time.
When there is a lot of wind, I think the important thing is you don't to have find the shots close to the line. I think that the thing is you have to put balls inside, trying to play hard with good rhythm, but in the middle. Not in the middle, but to the sides, not close to the lines, no?

Q. Do you feel that the Nalbandian match helped you find a new momentum?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah. No. (Laughter.)
No, no, I don't think so, no.

Q. You don't feel mentally stronger after that match?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I was playing okay. Yeah, I won first round playing very well against Berrer, and second round against who?

Q. Tursunov.
RAFAEL NADAL: Tursunov. Well, no.
But later against Nalbandian I played, well, bad. But, well, when you save five match points, it's like you start another tournament, no?
But I was practicing really well during all the week. I think some of the moments this week I practiced better than what I played, which is strange on me.
But, yeah, I think that's happening this week, no?

Q. I know you've answered this before, but why would you think winning the Grand Slam would be almost impossible, given that you've won Roland Garros four times and Wimbledon, the Australian on hard courts. You've won this twice. Is it because the year is so long, or are you just being modest that you think it's impossible for anybody?
RAFAEL NADAL: I gonna answer another time the same, no? I think when you start the tournament, you start from the first round. When I go to the tournament, I play first round and I don't know if I gonna win.
You never know what's going on in two months, in five months, in seven months. So it's very difficult to play during all the year at the same level, your best level.
Anyway, if I am playing at my best level, if Murray has a good day, he has a good chance to beat me or Federer or Djokovic or a lot of players.
So every tournament is really tough. And you are thinking a Grand Slam. Maybe it's tougher, too. Playing five sets maybe help a little bit the top players to have the better results because you have, well, more time.
But anyway, it's almost impossible. That's my feeling. I would love to have the Grand Slam. My feeling, is yeah, almost impossible.

Q. You've been playing so well here, Davis Cup, Australia, wins over the top players. What are the one or two elements in your game that are really helping you play so well and have so many victories this season?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I don't know, no? I think I yeah, I played very well last year. I had a great result last year on this surface, too.
Yeah, in Australia the conditions is okay. It's good for me, good conditions. And here too, no? I think it's hot. The bounce of the ball is a little bit high, so that's help me. No?
I had a very good result for the last five years here or yeah, four or five years here.

Q. Anything in your game that you think you're really improving?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I have more options to do. I can do more things than before. I can change the rhythm with one slice backhand like today.
I am serving okay. In some moments against Nalbandian in the match points, I served very well.
Yeah, when I am playing good, I can play more inside than before, no? I think that before, to win every match, I had to run much more than right now, no? Right now I have more times the control of the point than before.

Q. Because Andy had beaten you twice before, was it even more satisfying to get this win so it didn't become you know how players sometimes build up momentum. Was that satisfying for you, as well, this win?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it's important. Andy was the only big top player like I didn't won this year, so yeah. It was important it's important win for me, no?
But anyway, the most important thing for me is win the title, any way, the opponent in the final, no?

Q. You seem to play every point as if it were an adventure, like something new and fun.
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't think so. (Laughter.)
No, no, no. I think I'm a serious player.

Q. I didn't mean you're not serious.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I think my game is serious, like one time I go to the net. I think I play really similar points.
I try to have the control of the point with the forehand. That's the normal point on me. Serve, I have the control of the point on the forehand. Not one time go to the net, and another time, dropshot.
It's not like an adventure. That's my feeling. I don't know what you're saying.

Q. You seem to be playing very well right now. Are there any areas of your game that you need improvement, or are there any special areas that you're looking at to improve right now?
RAFAEL NADAL: You're asking every day to improve, and I would love to continuing to improve all my life. I'm trying to improve always.
But, you know, improve, if you watch me yesterday, what I improve from yesterday to today, I didn't improve nothing. That's the true.
Every day, asked the same question, and I answer the same question. Sure, I would love to continue improve the serve, the volley, the winner, play more inside the court and more aggressive. But that's a process. I think I improve it for the last few years, but I have to continuing improve.

Q. You mentioned on the court this is one of your favorite places to come on the tour. Why is that so?
RAFAEL NADAL: It's a really calm tournament. It's, I think, nice place. I like to play golf. (Laughter.)
Yeah, I think everything is easy, you know. The hotel are close to the club. Everything is easy here, so I like that.

Q. How much time do you give yourself to enjoy a win like this? Is it just a night, or do you think about it? Or it's just straight back to work for Miami next week?
RAFAEL NADAL: To enjoy, no, I gonna fly tonight to Miami. Yeah, no, no.
Well, sure, I'm very happy to win here. I'm really happy. It's important victory for me.
But yeah, I said in one interview on court, no? The good thing of tennis is when lose you have another chance next week. The bad thing is when you win, next Tuesday you are like this another time.
So most of the times you don't have enough time to enjoy the victories, yeah.

Q. On your clay court schedule, did you consider maybe not playing four tournaments going into Roland Garros and not playing Barcelona or something like that? Maybe not playing Monte Carlo?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. Monte Carlo, I'm gonna play, yeah. It's one of my favorite tournaments, sure.
Yeah, and Barcelona, I am inside. I'm on the list. I think I gonna play. Yeah, I think I gonna play Barcelona, because it's one 500. Can be the only 500 I gonna play on clay.
Yeah, I think I have to play. But always depends of your feelings in the moments, no? But normal I gonna play Monte Carlo, Rome, Barcelona, and later we will see.

Q. Are your fingers blistered?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. But if I don't put the tape, after one hour, yes.

 Posted: 24.03.09 10:41. Post subject: MIAMI MASTERS SERIES..

MIAMI MASTERS SERIES REVEALS DRAW
23rd of March

Newly crowned Indian Wells champion, Rafa Nadal has arrived in Miami early this morning after a successful week in California where he picked up title number 33 in his career and 2nd of the season.

“It’s complicated to start off [the season] so well, and even though this is just the start, it’s a great start” said the champ after his victory against Andy Murray yesterday.
Last year, Rafa made it to the final of Miami where he lost to the eventual champion, Davydenko in the final. However, things have changed a lot since then; he comes into this tournament as the world number one, with 2 hard court titles since the start of the season and with great intention to do better.

DRAW OF PLAY
The draw ceremony for the Masters Series event in Miami took place this morning in Florida revealing on its way that either Italian Simon Bolleli or Teimuras Gabashvili will be Rafa’s first opponent for his opening match.
It’s expected that this match will take place on the 28th of March at 8:00pm (Local time) and it will be a few days before we know which of these two gentlemen will face the world number one.
Amongst the players on his side of the Draw, Rafa could clash with Ivo Karlovic, David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco, Feliciano López, Fernando Gonzáles or Richard Gasquet on his way to a hypothetical semi-final where he could face Any Murray again.

What did Rafa do today?
Rafael had a training session this morning for “about half an hour, no more than that, just to get my muscles going again and to get used to the courts”, said Rafa.
On Tuesday morning he will attend a promotional event together with Ana Ivanovic and will train in the afternoon at 4:00pm (local time) with Stanislas Wawrinka - who Francis Roig arranged to train with Rafa.

Vamos Rafa!

http://www.rafaelnadal.com/nadal/en/home

 Posted: 24.03.09 10:47. Post subject: Ольга пишет: Не усп..

Ольга пишет:

quote:

Не успели ахнуть, как у нас новая тема прессы? 2 страницы - и на выход?

Меня тоже удивило такое странное обстоятельство...
Не знаю кто этим занимается, но тема с прессой, по-моему, побила все рекорды...
Надеюсь такого не произойдет с остальными темками...

 Posted: 24.03.09 12:08. Post subject: Из статьи Юлии Нитки..

Из статьи Юлии Ниткиной на Спортс.ру - как раз переведен небольшой отрывок из материала Тиньора

quote:

А еще Стив Тиньор предлагает нам свой рецепт величия нынешней первый ракетки мира, а по совместительству и победителя турнира, Рафаэля Надаля: «После финала Надаля спросили, почему он справился с ветром лучше, чем Мюррей. Надаль ответил, что, по его мнению, он принимал эти условия, в то время, как Мюррей боролся с ними. Чуть раньше, на вопрос о шоколадном печенье, он ответил: «Может быть, это не слишком хорошо для желудка, но это хорошо для головы. В конце концов, важно быть в порядке ментально, лучше ментально готовым». Эти два ответа – о том, что важно для победы и об умении принимать условия вокруг него – указывают на главную причину, помимо, конечно, скорости, вращения мяча и мощи, его успеха. В отличие от большинства игроков, даже лучших игроков, он никогда не играет со злостью, сожалением или в расстроенных чувствах – три эмоции, которые сокрушают большинство из нас. Джон Макинрой не умел эмоционально справляться с ошибками, Джокович позволил разочарованию повлиять на его игру, и даже Федерер позволяет себе расстроиться, если что-то идет не так, как он ожидал. Надаль же, выходя на корт, принимает ту мысль, что он не всегда будет идеален. Как человек, который постоянно стремится к совершенству, он начинает с предпосылки, что он не совершенен и не всегда будет побеждать. Федерер и Сампрас, напротив, начинают каждый матч, считая, что никто не сможет обыграть их, если они сделают все, что могут. С одной стороны, этот подход Надаля очень разумен, поскольку позволяет ему снять с себя давление и спокойно оставлять ошибки позади – к чему сожалеть о том, что неизбежно. С другой стороны, когда вы пытаетесь представить, как это осуществимо на практике, в пылу борьбы, вы понимаете, что это практически невозможно с психологической точки зрения. Как запретить себе основные эмоциональные реакции? Забудьте о бицепсах, ногах, форхендах и ударах над головой. Самая большая сила Надаля в том, чего так трудно достичь любому из нас. У него есть умение быть честным с самим собой».

 Posted: 24.03.09 13:51. Post subject: Ольга Спасибо за ст..

Ольга
Спасибо за статью IW: Rafa Sightings!
...засела за нее как всегда сутреца, пока голова в рабочем состоянии.

Mela
Спасибо за отрывок

Много можно писать и восхищаться ею, но ответ здесь на самом деле помещается в эту одну единственную фразу:

quote:

Забудьте о бицепсах и ногах, о форхендах и бэкхендах. Главная сила Надаля в том, чего труднее всего достичь в жизни любому человеку. Его сила в том, что он честен перед самим собой.

...Что еще можно добавить?

Эта статья, по-моему, четко ответила на все вопросы относительно того, почему Рафа добился этого уникального успеха в свои 22 года. Он принимает эту жизнь такой, какая она есть никогда не позволяя себе пинять на ее несправедливость.

Я не устану повторять: Рафа - это умничка, благодаря которому учишься любить эту жизнь за то, что она есть... Не съедая себя той мыслью: чего у тебя нет и никогда не будет и не упрекая всех и вся в своих промахах и неудачах... Глядя на него понимаешь, что счастье есть даже в пакетике с чипсами...

Я признаюсь вам, что столько лет слежу за этим молодым человеком не потому что он первая ракетка или вторая, проигрывает он матч или выигрывает, или он просто красивый мальчик с ошеломительной улыбкой и все прочее в этом роде. Нет. Первых ракеток Мира и красивых парней в АТР есть, было и будет очень много...

Рафаэль Надаль - будет только один.
пс: постоянно меня сносит на лирику... Знаю что не всем это нравится, но я пишу то, что чувствую...

 Posted: 24.03.09 13:58. Post subject: Mela пишет: В отлич..

Mela пишет:

quote:

В отличие от большинства игроков, даже лучших игроков, он никогда не играет со злостью, сожалением или в расстроенных чувствах – три эмоции, которые сокрушают большинство из нас.

Mela пишет:

quote:

Забудьте о бицепсах, ногах, форхендах и ударах над головой. Самая большая сила Надаля в том, чего так трудно достичь любому из нас. У него есть умение быть честным с самим собой».

Отлично сказано!

 Posted: 24.03.09 14:04. Post subject: Натали пишет: Рафа ..

Натали пишет:

quote:

Рафа - это умничка, благодаря которому учишься любить эту жизнь за то, что она есть... Не съедая себя той мыслью: чего у тебя нет и никогда не будет и не упрекая всех и вся в своих промахах и неудачах... Глядя на него понимаешь, что счастье есть даже в пакетике с чипсами...

согласна полностью
Натали пишет:

quote:

Знаю что не всем это нравится, но я пишу то, что чувствую...

Ну что ты, очень-очень нравится!!!

 Posted: 24.03.09 15:34. Post subject: :sm145: Джуди Марре..

Джуди Маррей: Рафа – просто чудовище!

http://www.championat.ru/tennis/news-198177.html

 Posted: 24.03.09 16:57. Post subject: Nadal is charging aw..

Nadal is charging away from the field

by Matt Cronin, Special to FOXSports.com
Updated: March 23, 2009, 2:51 AM EST

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - There were few moments during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells when No. 1 Rafael Nadal felt he was firing on all cylinders. But really, it didn't matter, because even when he's a bit out of his comfort zone and is forced to push himself to play at a respectable level, Nadal believes he's the best player on the planet.

That's why the swaggering Spaniard was able to fight off five match points in a brilliant 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0 victory over Argentine David Nalbandian, crush Argentine up-and-comer Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets, handle the charged-up American Andy Roddick in two sets in the semis and in a windswept final, put a 6-1, 6-2 beatdown on Andy Murray, who had taken their previous two matches.

Six-time Grand Slam champion Nadal is charging away from the rest of the tour, not winning every contest handily, but daring all comers to out-gut him at closing time.

He's 21-2 on the year and captured the season's two biggest titles, the Australian Open and Indian Wells. In Melbourne, he needed to call upon all of his reserves in scratching past Fernando Verdasco and Roger Federer for his first major hard-court title. He beat the stuffing out of world No. 3 Novak Djokovic in Davis Cup and scored wins over top-10er Gilles Simon in Australia, as well as former top-five player Fernando Gonzalez.

With his victory over Murray on Sunday, he's beaten every significant opponent on tour in just 2 1/2 months.

In winning his 33rd career title (and his second at Indian Wells), Nadal didn't have to spill his guts on the court, just show how smart and resourceful he's become. All the work he's put in on the practice courts with his uncle Toni, his primary coach, and Francisco Roig, who coached him at Indian Wells, is coming to fruition.

"When I am playing good, I can play more inside than before," Nadal said. "I think before, to win every match, I had to run much more. Now I have more times the control of the point."

Nadal's left-handed serve may never be great, but it twists and bites and keeps his foes handcuffed. He'll never be Pete Sampras at net, but he can put away reasonable volleys and isn't afraid of closing on the net anymore. He's worked in a dependable backhand slice and is more aggressive with his return game. At 22, he's still evolving, which is very scary for the rest of the tour.

"He's obviously an incredibly tough player," said Murray, who had stopped Federer for the sixth time in eight matches in an authoritative semifinal performance. "He's improved the rest of his game. He does everything quite well."

The big question for Nadal is whether he can win the calendar-year Grand Slam. He's the four-time defending champion in Paris and will again go into the French Open as the favorite, and is the titleholder at Wimbledon, where he'll go in a slight favorite over Federer. Given that he went back to back in London and Paris last year, he has to be given a reasonable chance to do the same again, but can he keep his body in good shape to make a major assault at the U.S. Open, where he has never punched past the semis after a series of exhausting summers?

"It's very difficult to play all year at your best level," Nadal said. "Anyway, if I am playing at my best level, if Murray, Federer or Djokovic has a good day, they have a good chance to beat me. And you are thinking a Grand Slam, maybe it's tougher, too, [but] playing five sets maybe helps the top players to have the better results because you have more time. It's almost impossible. [But] I would love to have the Grand Slam."

 Posted: 24.03.09 22:16. Post subject: Натали Спасибо за &..

Натали
Спасибо за "лирику", мне очень нравится, и чувства твои я разделяю.

quote:

Рафаэль Надаль - будет только один.

Каждый человек индивидуален и неповторим. Но чем больше я узнаю о Рафе, тем больше прихожу к выводу, что он один из самых удивительных, неповторимых, замечательных и достойных людей в этом мире.

 Posted: 24.03.09 22:19. Post subject: Тони Надаль: Рафаэль..

quote:

Тони Надаль: Рафаэль — теннисист третьей величины

А Тони хитрый и очень умный лис! С таким наставником Рафа не пропадет и будет твердо стоять на земле.