awww, rafa :(

i'm hoping this will give him extra motivation for queens and wimby. the last thing we want is for him to really suffer from this and go off the boil completely

hope he manages to have a good birthday too :)

This is the end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end for Rafa - and he deserves a swim!

Good on you Rafa. Cherish your 4 French Open victories. I'm sure you will win many more times, not just here at RG. Don't forget you won Wimbledon and Australian Open as well. It would have been good to see Roger take on Rafa in the final again but this is life, this is sport... and winning streaks have to end somewhere.

Rafa wrote in his blog dated June 1st:
"One thing is also clear now to the public and that I have always said it: Every match is important, every round is difficult and anything can happen.
Yesterday was the proof. When I am asked about the final, about the semifinals and who is on my side of the draw... you see? I am not lying when I say that every match and every round is important. Tennis is a very difficult sport since you can go home on any bad day, and I had that bad day yesterday. I felt good at the warm up, believe me, but never felt good during the match. "

He goes on to repeat that his loss isn't a tragedy and that it had to happen someday. It is a very nice blog with a Q&A and he is looking forward to celebrating his birthday at home with friends and family and relaxing. He knows that NO ONE can take away the 4 consecutive trophies he won AND the match record he now holds at RG!!!!

I have a son who is almost the same age as Rafa (a couple of months younger). He just got laid off his job taking service calls and sleeps until noon sometimes. His room is a mess and he's taking a few college classes. He can draw well and can speak Japanese. He goes out with friends, plays videogames, watches a lot of TV and spends a lot of time on the internet and texting. His grades are O.K. He's what you'd call a normal 22 year-old.

To see Rafael Nadal and think of what he has ALREADY accomplished at this age is mind boggling to me. A defeat or two won't diminish in my mind even for a second what an extraordinary young man this is. Already a sport legend, an icon and an example to millions. He could go into that pool and decide to retire and never come out and still would have had one of the greatest sports careers of all time.

But of course we all know Rafa will get out of that pool and back to work and back to many more days of glory (and a few losses too). And I will look at my son and continue to be amazed at how much this young man has already done at his age and wonder how is it even possible.

one of my fave moments was to stand on top of our six-foot fence and jump in the deep pool. nothing beats the rush especially with all the mates there on a hot day....but rafa will need the relax and to have a fun before wimbledon?

It's OK Rafans, Rafa will definitely come back.

i went swimming today. not really that relevant, but thought you all might like to know :P haha

grafight,
My oldest nephew is the same age as Nadal, and I have had similar thoughts about him for years as you about your son. Rafa is up there with some of the most inspiring people I know. And I do believe that besides a little well-honed PR there is an abundance of true humility in this man.

What has worried me since that day in Miami is that word Nadal used that generated so much speculation: that his difficult playing then were 'personal'. Since then I've felt that some of his matches were at a very high level and many were not quite at the level of his clay court season in 2008, and wondered why. I personally don't think it's the pressure of being ranked first. If I am wrong to worry, great. If I am right I hope that whatever it is will not rob Nadal of too much success the rest of the year... in my book 2009 should be as strong as 2008.

Nadal has a great chance in WImby and maybe USO but in USO Djoker and Murray will show their true potential and it will be a bit hard for Rafa to win USO. I cant wait to see how Muzz handles the pressure in WImby. Even a claculated person like Muzz will be riding the emotion of the British crowd which will be like a double-edged sword. He can feed on it but at the same time will feel a lil bit pressured to win.

Last I heard every tennis player who ever lived has lost multiple matches. Soderling had to play the match of his life to win and even if Rafa plays flat, its not all that often his opponent will pull one out of the hat. I can only imagine how pumped up Robin would be to play world #1 while Rafa probably has to really try to get motivated to beat him again(yawn). Dont worry hell be back just as strong as ever.

torres9: I think he'll handle the pressure fine. Tim Wuss Henman he surely aint. Did u c match with Gasquet? He was using the crowd 2 fire himself up. That's what he'll do.
I myself am wondering if Roger is gonna think this Wimbles is his last chance and really go 4 it. As an admirer of both the Rs, I realy do think it was the light that did him in and Rafa just was stronger at that moment.

clay season is almost over....rafa had the worst clay court season of his career since 2005........he must be terribly sad........i hopehis family nd xisca cheer him up on his bday....vamos rafael!!!!!!!!

What a personality, Rafael Nadal is truly champion, such a nice, polite and humble guy, I felt so sorry he lost the match, nowadays he should take some rest and spend time with his relatives and girlfriend, then come back as a truly champion, all the best Rafa...

Deuce, If Fed win this FO, he will surely be the favourite for Wimby. I dont think it his last chance becoz he'll play longer. He's 27 but can still beat Rafa,Murray and Djok. I think he will be around for a long time. I think he will be skipping a lot of tournaments to conserve his energy.

Anyway, I hope Rafa make sure there's no paparazzi near his swimming pool otherwise some pics of him with Xisca will come out again..

What a real gem Rafa is. He is so humble and constructive and practical. I agree that too easy a winning makes the prize light, so yes, he will appreciate his victories more if he loses every now and again.

Rafa, your fans love you, and you make it very easy for us when you sound so positive about your loss. I hope you have a well earned rest and happy times with your family.

torres, please leave Federer out of this thread, there are plenty other threads for you to express your views on him. This thread is ablut Nadal.

Surely the swimming pool will be enclosed, no? :/

carrie, i was responding to deuce. Wasnt intending to talk about Fed here.

jean, paparazzi is like Batman who can take pictures from anywhere.

grafight, i quite enjoyed ur piece. meanwhile ur son can still be great if u can guide him thru to become focused, that is rafa's key and strength.

fellow rafans... we will smile again, soon.

Hi Torres9, i must say I appreciate your sentiments conveyed to us Rafanites about the loss.........i really do hope you mean it.

As much as I love Rafa........i remember the times when Fed was losing more often than not, it really used to make me sad because i just could not understand WHAT was happening to him and why he couldnt win matches any more!!!! My mom and I support Rafa wholeheartedly but STILL we would hate when Fed lost.......we felt bad for him becos it must have been soooooo hard for him to cope.

But in life........the longest rope has an end and every tennis player knows that there are times you WILL lose but it hurts none the less.......its WHAT you do with the loss that is important.....and with all of Rafa's losses he has always turned it into a positive by improving his game and going on to win more matches and GSlams!!!!

I wish Rafa all the best at Queens and Wimby........and this time at least Murray will get to share some of the pressure that defending champs tend to feel at those tourneys!!!

I wish the top four ALL the best at the Ocsars of tennis!!!!!

And to Rafa especially.........no matter WHAT........i will always be proud of you!!!!

hey guys, nice to find some Rafa love here,

I have been very upset by some of the sites and forums where poeple are really happy Nadal lost and the French crowd's treatment of him broke my heart.

Also want to thank Fed fans like Torres for being so nice to us and understanding how shell shocked we all feel right now.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article6418996.ece?openComment= true

this is a wonderful article , made me feel much better after reading it.

MonaLisa, I have always said that I do not hate Rafa but sometimes I dont like his fans' comments here.