Thats good news! I hope his knee will feel "perfect" as the tourney goes on

" unseat the holder, who stole the crown from Roger Federer a year ago "

hahaha...:)

great to hear he is back and playing well . I would not expect anything less .


WIMBY09 ..where we right the wrongs
C'MON !!!

LOL... Johan wrote 'stole crown'..

an excellent media ploy from the rafa camp.....finally rafa has come out and said he is actually 'ok'......in other words....well-recovered to play a 3 hour tennis practice session! No one is gonna be perfect with their game...not even rafa..so I think this is a message to all his fans...saying.....hey.....I'm fine....

I think we can say with some certainty that this whole knee issue was wildly overblown by Uncle Toni. It wasn't hindering him in Paris (just read some of Nadal's post-match interviews after he blew away Lleyton Hewitt) and it's not going to hinder him here at Wimbledon. Be ready for another Federer/Nadal final, everyone!

-Arvis

On the contrary.

And I write this with sadness: Dr. Angel Ruiz-Cotorro has said that "Nadal has [patellar] tendinitis in the superior end of both kneecaps with swelling".

The article by Brenda Asheim which reports quotes PhysioAdviser's explanation of this type of arthritis (aka jumper's knee) and its advise that "one key component of treatment is that the patient rests from *any* activity that increases their pain until they are symptom fre. Ignoring symptoms or playing through the pain is likely to lead to a chronic condition that may take months to rehabilitate."

The article then questions whether the Patella Tendon Taping Technique, which Nadal has used to enable him to "play like a champion despite the injury", might in the end have jeopardized his season.

Rafa appears to have a very high pain threshold. Witness his 2nd round Rome match last year. But the ability to play intensively despite significant pain does not mean that injuries are not getting worsened.

Has this not been Nadal's major struggle - to not have the choice to rest his knees as much as they clinically needed at various times unless he was willing to lose a lot in terms of wins, trophies, ranking and the opportunities to play many times at tournaments that are important to him.

And let's not just address with the easy 1) "well, his playing style is so intense", as the other major factors are 2) that he wins the majority of his matches, 3) the tennis schedule is ridiculously full - for the most part because there are lots of fans and there is a lot of profit at stake, and 4) Nadal does not have genetics on his side in terms of getting away with so much playing without major joint problems.

It doesn't suprise me at all. This 'serious' knee thing was crap. He likes being the underdog in every tournament he plays. Don't be surprised if he reach the finals in excelent shape and probably, beat Roger again.

chlorostoma the reference to the article you have summitted from Dr. Angel Ruiz-Cotorro is interesting, but the fundamental key to all this is "choice". We all know that all bodies brake down. It is a fact of life. Albeit it can be argued as to the pre-disposition, it always comes back to the "choice". Rafa is going to have to make smarter "choices" about his tennis, and not aggravate this body behaviour more than he deems obsolutely necessary. That is essentially the "choice" that has to be made here. This is not a Rafa Nadal phenomenon. It has existed thoughout sporting history, and will continue to exist. Rafa is ready to play Wimbledon, but he will have to be smart and not play as much throughout the year to allow for sufficient healing between turneys. Go Roger Go!!! Go Go Go!!! Let's see what happens. :) FED "all the WAY"!!!

I love Nadal, I'm glad to hear that his Uncle was setting a stage of spin. I think Nadal was just tired from too much tennis, maybe even remotely pained, but nothing more. I had a feeling he was fine, though I want to see his scores against Wawa later. Then I will see if he is still tired, sluggish. I think he just need some time off. Vamos Rafa. I admire your unwillingness to let down.
Still for Fed though, I want to see the 15th slam.

Sky..........i have never agreed with you on anything except on this!!! You are spot on!!! However, if you allow me, I will extend on your comments and be bold to say that, part of the reason why Rafa has these knee problems is becos he tried so hard to break into the hard court game to prove to everyone that he was not just a clay courter!!!.......and in doing so he did not try to change the mechanics of his game to suit the surface until a while later........that is where he may have gone wrong! Its only now that Rafa has tweaked his game to suit the different surfaces......and perhaps it was too late.......but he tried and has been successful for the most part! From what I hear......the most difficult transition is from clay to hard or to any other surface rather than viceversa!!!!!!..........So Rafa has done an incredible job by winning Wimby AND the AOpen........considering he has not been on the circiut for that long!!!!!!!!..........make a list of all those other players who have been there years before Rafa and have yet to win a GSlam!!!!!..........so knee or no knee......Rafa's achievements are insane!!!!.....for want of a better word!!!!

What people must also realise is that Rafa IS intense......its IS his make-up........there's not much he can do about that.........he cant play as elegantly as Federer simply becos he is not predisposed to!!!!!.......and by the same token, Fed cant play as aggressivley as Rafa!.......so asking Rafa to play differently is like asking a leopard to change its spots!!!!.............ofcourse there are various elements of Rafa's game that he can modify but his overall game style is what it is and will never change that much!!!!................will it hurt him in the long run?.......perhaps.....but thats a risk he might have to live with!

I will admit that Rafa's game is physical and can cause a lot of wear and tear on his body...........but the flip side of this is.......thats what makes him RAFA!!!!.........and thats why we love him........and simply put......I will not have him any other way!!!!

VAMOS RAFA!!!!

sky,
I agree with you up to an extent.
Where this is really difficult for Rafa and any player in his situation, i.e. in the top 10 and prone to injury, is that you either decide to skip MANY tournies, possibly MANY tournies every year, and lose so much of what your entire career was for .... or else, no matter what you do you are playing too many of them, even if you skip some.

You can't deny that all our current top 4 players worked extremely hard since childhood to reach their level. They are among the priviledged few who have had the talent, coaching, luck, life circumstances and the will and ability to put in the 10,000 - 15,000 hours of work to reach this level. Only a few in each generation, with tens of millions playing around the world.

To have reached that level and then be faced with a) letting it go, b) making the best of your injury-plagued success years while playing most tournaments you owe yourself to play... is pretty tough, no?

Just imagine for a second that at age, say, 22 Roger started to have injuries and these got progressively more aggravated the higher he climbed in his achievements. And beyound careful planning etc he was faced with the choice above... would you write the same comment about Rogalio as you just have?

This is not average lives we're talking about, where there is no necessity to come close to perfection in any of our tasks / projects... at this level of tennis everything is about trying to come near to perfection.

Any by the way Rafa................i wish you all the best in your exhibititon matches.........and if your knees let up.................i look forward to you reaching the final at Wimbledon!.......

Vamos Rafa!!!!.......continue to steal those crowns!!!!!!!!........your fans forgive you......absolutely!!!!!!!!

sky...well done buddy...100%....and recordbreaks...this is a SIMPLE case of CHOICE....everyone....STOP the excuses....if rafa is injured or cannot play because of his knees but decides to carry on....it's HIS CHOICE....if he doesn't want to play because he is feeling tired/emotional/drained/whatever...it's HIS CHOICE...if you look at his play schedule for this year....he has played MORE tournaments than ANY OTHER PLAYER...Rafa's choice.....HIS SIGNATURE goes on the contract to play for the tournaments...no one forces him to....rafa's CHOICE.....

the guy is gonna be fine for wimby....NO MORE EXCUSES please.....let's just get ready to watch GREAT TENNIS......
C'MON!
Allez Federer!
Go:Roger:Go!!!

Federer complained of his back and mono and he played on....so what!!!!!!!!

Oh......but by the way........they were a fitting excuse for losing the AOpen and Wimby........and ALL those other losses.......wasnt it?!!!!!!.......

How quickly and conveniently we forget!!!!

VAMOS RAFA!!!!

True i totally agree Malteser1

I suggest then that some of the fans who chose to use mono as an excuse that Federer lost major matches in 2008 should not do so as it was his choice to play those matches. No excuses.

Don't forget the back problem too TopDog! Remember he had to take off time after his loss at AO to "properly rehab his back." He said it had been hurting for some time and never took time off (guess he played thru the pain and was stupid to do that fedex) so he decided AFTER his loss to Rafa that he would then take the time off. BUT THAT WAS FED'S CHOICE! He was the one who signed the contracts to play those tourneys when he should've been taking care of his back! SO NO MORE BACK EXCUSES!

Hmm, that was true. I never really considered mono as a problem for all of his losses other then the AO and a few just after. Although, mono takes a lot out of you and I feel he has never played as well since but there is nothing to be done about that. The back, I though might be bad because he withdrew from something for the first time...I agree with you MonaLisa, I think this was your point, Nadal, has always had problems with his knees so I feel that it should be a viable excuse, I have to say he looooooked very slow at the French, but if he comes out blasting and winning, that is what makes his case different from Federer's. (I mean to say, that people will think it was a sham, not that it is.) That is why I feel people are understandably less accepting of Nadal having issues. However, he was visibly hampered at Rotterdam so people should shush until the third round and we see what kind of form he is in. I feel inclined to believe Nadal because he is a great sportsman.
Basically I'm trying to say, everyone gets hurt, the level is not always visually apart.

Rafa is just trying to send a message that his knees is the reason he lost to Soderling.

So much for being clean. This guy (or his camp) is a phony.

Well done torres9 now Nadal is a phony.
Shame it is only you that claims and thinks so.
And please clarify for us why Nadal is a phone...quotes and all..to prove/show this.
Because from what i have read Nadal has never exaggerated the situation so please post up the quotes,article, statemants that Nadal is a phony.

Torres9, if thats what he's trying to say......HE IS ABSOLUTLEY CORRECT!!!!!

And secondly, if Federer can use mono and back pain for his losses.........so can Rafa!!!!!!......so if Rafa is phony.....Federer is phony numero uno!!!!!........Rafa then learnt from the best!!!!!!

And stop calling Rafa names before he makes Federer cry even more at Wimby!!!!!

Recordbreaks: "(I mean to say, that people will think it was a sham, not that it is.) "

People, mostly fed fans, have already been saying that it's a sham BEFORE he even came to London. They claim it's all a mind game and hype and that's it so they will not change their minds. He is now back to practicing and we will see how he is on Friday. People forget that he has not played a tennis match in almost 3 weeks. It wasn't like he said he had a problem with his knees and now he is ready to play just 2 days later. He went thru alot of therapy in all that time off.

All this endless chatter... Anyone reasonable knows Nadal is going to bust some heads at Wimbledon, sore knee or not. He didn't lose ONE SINGLE SET until the final last year. That's just CRAZY in a grand slam. There's no reason to think he won't be playing at that same level.

-Arvis

Thank you F4T commonsense and logic would suggest that the 3/4 weeks rest that Nadal has taken will contribute significantly to his recovery and Nadal playing much better where that the case at Wimbledon. I have read somewhere, i think it was in the article that i posted on the other thread that the treatment/cure for tendinitis is to rest so the fact that Nadal will/might comeback playing much better should be of no surprise as Nadal as just done what the Doctor ordered.

Ah, no I understood that. I meant more of the faithful will have a harder time believing it. I'm well aware that hundreds of my compatriots believe the worst already because they are narrow-minded, unwilling perhaps to except Roger going down this year to a substandard Nadal. Personally, I think the injury...overuse or whatever it is exactly, is there preexisting or no. I feel for the guy and wish that people could like both men, and get over "villainizing" the man across the net from "their guy".

I hated Federer with great passion at one time but now he is my favorite so I know it is possible to accept their flaws, stories, truths, whichever and whatever they maybe because you can't know what is going on in their heads. I'll just sit back and enjoy the play, rough and tumble, soft and sweet.

Fan4tennis......its almost pointless responding to those comments........im tired.......arent u?

I thought that Fed fans would be ecstatic if Rafa does not play!!!!!!...........GSlam #15!!!!........so whats wrong with you Fed fans?!!!!!

If Fed decided not to play at Wimby......I would be ecstatic being a Rafa fan!!!!!!!GSlam #7!!!!!! (forget Murray!)

Im just so glad that as a Rafa fan I dont think its important the Rafa meets Fed at a GSlam final in order to feel validated about Rafa's win.......poor, poor Fed fans!........I cant say I feel your pain though!!!....lol!!!

VAMOS RAFA!!!!!!

Nice article with some quotes from the greats!

Countdown to Wimbledon: It's bad news for Andy Murray... here comes Nadal

By Mike Dickson
Last updated at 12:36 AM on 17th June 2009


Just when Andy Murray's Wimbledon chances were being talked up, Rafael Nadal yesterday took his first steps on to a grass court this year and said: 'I feel well.'

Showing no ill-effects from his recent knee problem, the 23-year-old Mallorcan was back practicing at Wimbledon and clearly feeling upbeat. There was not even a strapping on his right knee to hint that his recurring tendinitis might be a concern.

When he began striking balls with Spanish hitting partner Bartolome Salva it was the first time Nadal had been on Wimbledon's grass since his triumph nearly 12 months ago. After a three-hour session, Nadal smiled: 'Not perfect but OK.'
He is stepping up his build-up to The Championships by adding a second exhibition match at the BNP Paribas Fortis Classic at the Hurlingham Club in west London, where he will now appear tomorrow as well as Friday.

But Bjorn Borg has cast doubt on Nadal's ability to retain the crown at SW19.

Borg feels Nadal's loss in Paris - where he failed to emulate the Swedish legend's five straight French Open titles - may be such a shattering blow that it will be hard to recover quickly.
Borg rates Roger Federer and Andy Murray as better chances for the title, while Borg's great rival John McEnroe suggested the Scot will be helped by the fact that he has 'got inside Federer's head'.

Borg said: 'I don't know the extent of his injury, but with Rafa having gone for five French titles in a row I am sure he was very, very disappointed. I think that defeat will take him a long time to get over.

'I picked Rafa to win Wimbledon last year but because of what happened in Paris and him not having played before Wimbledon, I don't think he will win this time.

'I am going with Federer or Murray. Rafa has to be 100 per cent fit if he is going to go all the way but I don't think he is going to.'

Borg was full of praise for Murray, and even though Federer arrives from a French Open triumph, the Swede has a few reservations.

'Roger is the greatest player ever but I don't think he is playing quite as well as he was two years ago,' he said. 'I think there is still pressure on him because he wants that record of 15 Grand Slams.'

He thinks Murray will be able to withstand the extraordinary pressure of expectation. 'When I was asked last year I didn't think he was ready to win Wimbledon, but that has changed. Andy is mentally and physically very strong and I can't see any weaknesses.'

McEnroe, who will be sitting in the BBC commentary booth again this year, also talks up Murray's prospects. He said: 'He's got into Roger's head pretty good recently but Roger's a different guy on grass and Andy is going to have to throw the kitchen sink at these top guys. Something is giving a little bit with Roger, maybe just enough for Andy to think to himself, "Hey, maybe I can beat this guy at Wimbledon".

'The way Roger plays there he seemed pretty unbeatable for a while. Now there is that little chink in the armour and I think he would like his chances against Nadal on grass a lot more than last year.'

McEnroe is fascinated by Murray's use of the drop shot. He said: 'At times he overdoes it but at the same time opponents continue to be unnerved because he is willing to carry on doing something that doesn't appear to be working.'


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/others ... Nadal.html

RAFA himself never gave excuses or overhype on his dodgy knee, but I honestly think Uncle Toni did. It just reminds me of the whole foot incident a few years ago when he claimed Rafa's foot/toe injury was 'career ending' and Rafa himself came out later and said that wasn't remotely close. Therefore even though I DID think Rafa's knee WASN'T as serious as the media and Uncle Toni made it out to be, I NEVER thought it was some mind ploy against the Fed and the rest of the field, at least, not on Rafa's part or wanting. To be honest, Rafa's one of the most genuine guys out there and I don't think he would actually say something that is not true in the slightest bit for mind games and such.

As for 'excuses'...I don't know, how much can a thing be an excuse if it is DEFINITELY true? Someone mentioned Rome last year, and I seem to remember another match where Rafa lost and he WAS in obvious pain. So he definitely lost because of knee pain and that isn't really an excuse is it? And Fed's mono - if anyone recalled AO last year, he definitely looked ill when he played Nole. So to me that isn't an excuse either, because it was the truth.

I don't know - injuries are career-threatening and it affects a player's game TREMENDOUSLY, but whenever they said something to that effect in a press conference, it all becomes an excuse...?

(It's 8AM and I have been up all night in a night shift so pardon me if I am not making sense...but I'm really glad to see Rafa on the road to Wimby)

jyannis...you made PERFECT sense in your exhaustion delirium. Hopefully those that are hung up on "excuses" will read it!

Talking about excuses, the worst excuse of all is blaming preparations to your own wedding for your dismal performance in MC.

danny.....an excuse is different to a fact! what is wrong with all of you right now? Don't be so ignorant danny....state the facts! Federer....last minute.....he went into the competition as a wildcard entry..showing that he wasn't even going to play anyway! so get your facts straight! he had no expectations at that tourny because he had had 10 HOURS practice....before going into it...FACT...not excuse....

mona lisa.....your words...quote: fedfans must be 'shitting their pants'....why would we need to do that? Roger beat rafa in madrid..fair and square...rafa made the fourth round at RG....and was beaten fair and square by soderling...Roger won the tourny....more than deservedly so......Federer has the the mental edge over rafa right now...

as a result of rafa's showing at the FO there are a number of players who now thinnk they can beat him....Haas....(i know he hasnt beaten rafa but.....(cos he is riding a high right now).......soderling...del potro (who beat him this year)...being no. 1 brings its own pressures as you know...and it just makes me love federer even more when he held that position for so long and handled the pressure brilliantly....

i don't think fedfans are 'shitting their pants'..... honey.....i have ALWAYS believed in Federer...ALWAYS.....and its strange really reading some of your posts, chlo's, and fan4tennis (not so strange)....at one point...not too long along the fedfans were accused of making excuses for roger........

yet everyone in the tennis world knew for a FACT that roger had mono...his doctor came out and gave a statement...saying that the mono WAS diagnosed and the very fact that roger 'chose' to play through those tournys and reach semi finals and finals of matches...to me....just shows...what an

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G player Roger was and is.....to NOT make excuses and to just get on with the job....in a later interview he said 'he didn't want to make excuses...he just wanted to play and see how well he could do with this 'condition' at that time.. and that was supposed to be a really bad year for him...but would have been an 'exceptional' year for any other player.....

YET......

when the rafafans bang on about your own (rafa)....MAKING EXCUSES time and time again.....you are doing EXACTLY what you accused us of months ago.....it's just sooooo hypocritical......All of you as rafafans....and even other fans of other players have known about rafa's knees FOR YEARS....YEARS.....you forget...this is not a 'life threatening' disease....this is all about MANAGEMENT.....rafa needs to MANAGE his tournaments more wisely...if he wants to play more tournaments than anyone else...sorry guys but that is up to HIM....and he will pay the price...HE is aware of the risks...he will make a 'calculated risk' as to whether to play or not...simple....

Topdog...i agree with what you have said about 'excuses'.....if we had made 'excuses' for roger (i never have...and i cannot pinpoint anyone of the fedfans who have but may be someone can point this out to me?).....then i think that is a really poor show actually and the rafa fans should just start supporting their guy.....'cos its getting really boring right now......

C'MON!

Allez Federer!
malteser1

And who decides what are excuses and what are facts? Of course, the high and mighty maltheser does. When she says that Rafa is offering excuses, and the ARROGANT ONE is just stating facts, we lowly tennis fans should accept these to be true. Right Malty? Must have been overdosing in your meds again eh.

danny..YOU are being really CHILDISH right now.....how old are you? Read my post C-A-R-E-F-U-L-L-Y danny boy.....I DID NOT say that Rafa is offering excuses.....YOU are as well as OTHER RAFA FANS....so just stop it....

I include federer in this dan....whatever goes on in ANY of THEIR LIVES....THEY make THEIR OWN 'choices' whether to play...as fed had mono (fact)...he still CHOSE to play...despite the risks......as rafa has 'sore knees'...he still 'chose' to play MORE tournaments than any one else on the tour....I think he played 62 matches (will need to check the stats on this forum...but you can go check yourself)....rafa 'chose' danny....he hasn't been 'offering excuses'.....his Uncle has and the rafa fans have.....don't you see? c'mon dan....don't call me high and mighty...I'm only 5ft 1...and mighty? only in spirit dan...only in spirit......

So dan...YOU decide what is fact and what is excuse...YOU do that...and then once you have...perhaps you can tell me....

Danny...absolutely seriously and to have a real laugh here...go check out the youtube link of 'me'...that Arvis found...it's on the other fed post....it r-e-a-l-l-y is hilarious.....
peace and love to you danny boy....xx

Danny is actually David Caruso who plays Horatio in CSI:Miami, he likes to give one-liners and then walk away to not hear any retort for his one-liners.

Danny Caruso got exposed...

"Oh! What tangled webs we weave
when we practice to deceive!..." ~~Sir Walter Scott