Murray is drawn in Nadal's half.... Fed gets Djoker

yea torres...rafa seems to be riding a wave of misfortune..nuthing going his way...even clement is nt easy as a 1st rnd opponent,then hewitt in rnd no.2!!! disaster!!! i think nadal will not play wimb....*about to weep*

vamosfara......have some faith....he'll play......

If he does not play its going to be a boring wimbledon. But seriously , the botton half is packed with toughies , Haas, Soderling , Kohlschreiber, Djokovic , Tsonga , Fed, Verdasco , Karlovic , Del Potro.

I hope he plays. Won't have the same atmosphere without him, especially as he is also defending champ. He will most likely loose his number 1 ranking as well. Not the best way to relinquish his top spot.

hope he plays...................
please wimbledon will not be same without defending champ!!!!!

nirv02, you're right about the bottom half. yet the wimbledon website says muzz has the hardest draw.

he's killing me! it seems that he can't decide! when will he finally announce it?? I REALLY hope he plays..

i hope he plays too.......but only if he is confident enuf to reach the quarter's at the least..............

VAMOS!!!!!!!!!

guys...just been driving home listening to the sports channel....Rafa played well against stan....who quote ' put him through his paces'....he said he felt good....he is giving a PRESS CONFERENCE at 7pm UK time tonight.....

It's all looking good...
Cheers!

rafa lost 4-6 7-6 10-3...there was sum improvement but i am nt sure..malteser1...thanx for the news....u mean u rafa said he felt good? he has delayed a bit the decision.. i just feel hez gona play..lets c

thank malteser,vamosrafa for the news..I was about to lose hope,things are looking a bit better now,if he said he felt good then I hope he means he'll play.

guys....trust me....fedfans feel your pain......absolutely 100% adore, support and will forever be l-o-y-a-l to the fed....but absolutely respect the rafa....

I believe he will play...i think you are forgetting one thing....the rafa is a
w-a-r-r-i-o-r...he is someone who is a........ f-i-g-h-t-e-r...these two exhibitions were required to 'help' rafa assess his game.....

he ran around really well.....he played excellent tennis...he really did...he was a lot more mobile than he was yesterday (all reported on fivelive sports channel in the uk...on 'the mighty drive'...for any of you out there who will know the sports channel......he said he was 'happier' with his game....now..i am NOT making this up..why would i do that?

So i think that you just have to remember that your guy is a warrior and not someone who is gonna give up so easily...surely...you know he is used to this...the world tennis world is used to this....so....not that it means much to you.....i cannot see that rafa would not play? it's the suspense that is the worse for you...but why don't you believe in him a bit more? Look at the score line...it was hardly 3 bagels was it? close first set....split a hair in the second set...and hell...look at the third...it had to go that far? c'mon guys! he is fighting and he is fighting well!

Plus...i a-l-w-a-y-s enjoy rafa/roger rivalry..of course i will be rooting for roger...every single time...but i love the battles between these two...it's what tennis is all about...(for me anyway)....

have some faith!

You mean today he was not moaning, "I can't" as Uncle Toni coaxed him to bend the knees? Gimme a break. Nobody is THAT stiff and sore one day and peachy the next. Holy crock of BS! No that I don't like Rafa but the drama is overblown and that's an understatement!

rafa is better off not playing than having muzz beat him in the semis and watching him and the rest of the UK gloat for 1000 years.

im kidding. i want rafa to play.

Stu........i don think Rafa should play......and im not kidding!.........bcos clearly he is NOT 100%.....and he has not been for a while............

He should try to recuperate and get ready for the US Open and win it, thereby achieving the career GSlam!......i think that is more important than winning another Wimby title now...........he will have many more chances to win GSlams!!!!

I see no point in him jeopardising his health to play a tourney that he might lose......and in the process lose his confidence to boot!

Its not worth it!!!!

However.......a GSlam without Rafa.......is not worth watching as far as im concerned!!!

VAMOS!!!

Rafa is not playing.

rafa isn't playing :(

Nadal is out of Wimbledon om my god
doesnt even sound real

yep...guys...am really sorry to say that Rafa is NOT playing......

Jacquie Baltro has just confirmed that she has had an interview with Rafa and he has said he has been advised by his doctor...(if he wants to stay in the game of tennis for the future) then his advice would be to forego this tournament and rest...rest...rest.....if he doesn't he will jeopardise his whole tennis career.....

whilst he said that he felt okay whilst playing the exhibitions...he could not risk the rest of his tennis career.....'it is with regret that i go home to majorca tonight'.......

rafa fans........dreadful news for you....(and for fedfans....100%)..

Cheers rafafans....
and fan4tennis... do NOT come on this post spouting 'I told you so'...this has got NOTHING to do with YOUR comments whatsoever.....it is the DOCTOR's ADVICE.....

it is the right decision for rafa for the longevity of his career......

Commiseration rafa fans, a real loss to the tourny and couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. I just hope this isn't going to be a long term thing and he'll at least be back for flushing meadows.

He should not play. If he would have played after all that drama from Uncle Toni? Personally, I would not have been able to believe them again.

This is how it should be for Rafa's health. Rafa WAS telling the truth and I am happy he is Brave enough to do what is best for his body in the long term. I wish him a full recovery so we don't go through all this again.

Rafa is really out? D= NUH! That is a evil though. His first and second rounds though....that would be a turn off if he wanted to get some confidence. I mean God was cruel with Hewitt and his confidence after beating Rafa loooooming for Rafa. Thank god Soderling wasn't in his draw or I suspect Nadal would have been screaming I'M OUT!!! GET ME OUT!!!!!!!!!!! I'm just happy the poor boy is getting some rest, he is too nice for this crud.

Fed draw is....D= Wow, they are really going after him after that French easy but hard for him draw. Thank goodness grass is his favorite surface. Soderling and Fed again too meet, unless Soderling fails I doubt Fed would loose that soon, what a surprise! I'm serious I'm surprised.

I am not suprised that nadal has decided to pull out. I pretty much expected it. And i am glad as i personaly feel he made the right decision. Hopefully he would reconsider the number of tournamet he plays each year. Rafa's health should always come first and so i back his decision 100%.

VAMOS RAFA
We your fans will continue to support you through your rough and smooth patches.

:(

OH NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! I can't believe this!!!!!!!! too sad...sorry Rafan...the tournament sure is not the same,really sad.!!!:(

ESPN article: No. 1 Nadal withdraws from Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal won't play in Wimbledon this year as he continues to battle knee soreness.



Nadal

"I'm better than I was a few weeks ago, and I just don't feel ready," he said in Spanish Friday at a news conference.

Nadal dropped his third straight match Friday, an exhibition loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in London.

"I don't feel 100 percent to play in two weeks," he said.

Nadal also lost an exhibition Thursday to Lleyton Hewitt in straight sets in the world No. 1's first match since falling to Robin Soderling in the fourth round of the French Open.

Nadal has struggled with knee problems for months and missed last year's Davis Cup final after he was diagnosed with tendinitis in November.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

rafafans...take heart....he is young, massively talented...he needs the rest...this is rafa's game....he has hardly missed any tennis tournaments...always playing full pelt, full on tennis....this is his time now to rest...to come back and play 100%...your champ will be back...if he did not take this decision now...that would be the end of his career...so whilst you are sad..remember that in 2 months time he is gonna be the 'freshest player out there'......

all the best..

Yes we will TopDog, yes we will! I support him regardless of rankings or titles. His passion for the game is what drew me to him so I figure this has to be really hard for him. But I am glad he has a tight, close family group and lots of friends along with his girlfriend at home to help him deal with it and support him too. Maybe he will even log on his fan forum and see the tons of well wishes for him that have been pouring in over the last 3 weeks. Here's hoping that his rest and rehab goes well!!!!!

what can i say now..get well soon rafa..i will miss u veryy much...wont b watching wimb wid the same interest surely....tbh i feel a bit angry at those people who were saying that nadal and his camp were faking this injury to create an excuse for this french loss...the guy is teh best sportsman i have ever seen..never brings excuses to his losses...has been is serious trble and this time it became too much...i hope he gets fine soon and i cant wait for him to kick some ass on hardc courts

Vamos Rafa !! put a sign "gone fishing" be back for the US Open (if lucky ... Roger's Cup in Montreal ... close to me).

This really sucks! Rafa is an amazing player! He'll bounce back, I'm sure of it!

He better be better by the US Open. I can roll out of my bed and be at Flushing Meadows. It is awesome since my school is in Flushing I see crowds on their way to the Open while I'm not paying attention in class. NADAL!!!! ;-; Eh, I did realize how much I liked him until just now.

NADAL WITHDRAWS FROM WIMBLEDON
Friday, 19 June 2009

Written by Byron Vale

Rafael Nadal has announced he will not defend his Wimbledon title.

The world number one and top seed had said after the French Open that he would not play Wimbledon if he was not 100% and so it has come to pass.

"I?m here and I'm just not 100%. I'm better than what I was a couple of weeks ago but I don?t feel right," Nadal told a packed press conference on Friday evening at the All England Club.

"To not play Wimbledon is one of the toughest decisions of my career."

After suffering a shock defeat in the French Open to Robin Soderling, Nadal received treatment on his knees in Barcelona and skipped the tradition Wimbledon warm-up at Queen?s in an effort to be fit for The Championships. He was diagnosed with tendinitis in both quadriceps tendons as well as a small amount of fluid on the kneecaps.

"I tried everything. I didn't feel terrible but also not close to my best. When I enter a tournament my goal is winning and my feeling right now is I'm not ready to win.

"It's very painful for me but I can't play at the tournament this year. It's tough but it is what it is."

Nadal's absence will cause a reshuffle in the men?s singles draw. Nadal's place will be taken by fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro. Del Potro's place will be taken by the 17th seed James Blake. Blake's place will be taken by Jose Arguso of Argentina and a lucky loser will fill Arguso's spot.

Nadal revealed that he had been playing with considerable pain and he didn't know how long he would be out of tennis. But he said he expected to fully recover from his knee problems and that he would have a "long career".

"I played with some problems on the on the knee for the last few months. I've been making efforts to play week after week. The truth is that sportsmen always play with pain and don't know where the limit is, where you can get to. I think I reached that limit now.

"I will work very hard to comeback as soon as possible. One of the problems is I?m thinking more about the knees than what is happening on court and it?s very difficult to play like that."

When Nadal was asked about his many fans and how disappointed they would be that he was not appearing at Wimbledon, the 23-year-old replied: "no more than me".

Nadal also said he was not concerned that his absence would open the door for Roger Federer to reclaim the number one world ranking. "If I lose the number one ranking I?m going to accept it like the four years I was number two and work hard to improve and recover."

F4T
I cant believe it i spent 15 to 30 min writing a reply to you about Nadal just to have myself logged off. Lol
O well the spirit of the post was that Nadal is a great guy, a kindred spirit and my support for him is ever lasting. Doesn?t have the same umph as the original though. Hahaha

And i agree with you it was his passion, energy and character that got be interested in tennis again.

i wish people wouldn't discuss rankings with Rafa. he must be miserable enough to not be able to play the Wimbledon of all tournaments...

of all the permutations and combinations that we made with the top 4 rankings this year, who would have thought that the one that worked the hardest, performed the best and was the most consistent and dependable would take the biggest beating?

Very dissapointing. I imagine that Fed and Murray will be relieved, but not having the champion defend is very sad. Get well soon Rafa!

Good words Top Dog .... keep up the fight.

jamie..i would imagine that any decent tennis player out there whether it is fed, murray, soderling, del boy...would wish rafa the best.....it's the same for baggy fans (me being one of them)...monfils fans and lubjekic fans as well (tho' not sure whether he will play as well as baggy?)......i think with you saying 'feeling relieved'...is NOT the right way to feel....they are sportsmen and will understand.....

but here is a bit more of rafa's interview which should cheer you up! (it's not chronic and he WILL recover.....)

"I'm just not 100 per cent," Nadal said, adding the decision was the hardest of his career. "One of the big problems is, when I'm playing, I'm thinking more about my knees than about the game. It's not chronic. I can recover for sure."

Thanks TopDog! And I agree with vamosrafa!!!! I'm not surprised you had trouble posting TD. All the tennis sites, especially the Rafa sites(his own site plus other forums) have been crashing since the announcement. Kinda like what Ricky said happened after Rafa lost to Soderling. I guess Rafa has a few fans after all--lol (at least enough to cause internet sites to crash from overload).
We can know at least he tried for almost 3 weeks to get better going thru god knows how much therapy and such. He tried and that is what is important. And he will try his best in his therapies and all to get back to his old self! His passion for the game is still there, his energy will come back and his character will stay the best that it is!
VAMOS!!!!!

FT4

It is a shame that my post got lost it was so beautifully written if i say so myself. lol
It was kind of like a dedication to Rafa and who he is and what drew me to him. O well next time i will write it on a word doc then paste it on here. Hahaha (My first instict was to do this i just dont know why didnt).

I bet it was great TD! I'm sure that we will see more beautifully written posts from you in the future! Keep up those positive thoughts and ignore the negative posters!

Is this the thread you meant when you said to join you TD? LOL

TopDog, in reference to your question about who will Wimby now, I am reposting part of an article where Borg and JMac (the greats) talked of Andy's chances:

"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".

I think Fed will go deep but Murray has a great chance now to win his first slam!!! In front of a hometown crowd at that!

I'm really crushed by this news because:

1) No Rafa atr Wimby wtf!?
2) Rafa's knees must be REALLY bad for him to pull out

But I guess at the hindsight, I'm glad he is taking the wise decision to rest the knees and do what his body tells him to. I want him to have a super long career with career slams and multiple slams and if resting the knees for Wimby 09 is going to do it, I'm supporting him 100%.

Rafa is a fighter and a trouper, I'm sure we;ll see him back on court, fierce and charging and at full force once his knees get the rest and healing they need.

(And Wimby just got a lot less interesting for me...ugh. Now I really want Fed x Nole for final but that ain't gonna happen because they are in the same draw baaah)

So sorry all you lovely Rafa fans: remi, jean, fan4tennis et al.

Truly shocking news! I want to blame MANAGEMENT but I realize it's more than likely NADAL's way. He would not, could not believe his pain/knee problem would come to this (no one could/would believe it). He did not want to disappointment..., he played, and played, it seems none stop...! Now this! Of course he is making the right decision no question about it. Unfortunately for now Wimbledon is the price being paid. Unfortunately we will miss Nadal! We will miss Nadal's challenge at Wimbledon. We can only hope he will be ready to come back soon... healthy and happy. On the other hand, there was "NEVER" any question in my mind that "Roger Federer" will WIN Wimbledon 2009!!! One game at a time. C'MON Roger!!! Go FED go! MAKE IT HAPPEN! Bring it ON Murray and the REST of you! Bring it ON!!! Roger is NOT going to be defeated this year at Wimbledon! NO WAY!!! Go Rog go... :)

thanx for ur sympathies duece =)

@smr,lollz...mate i do think he will be back to defend roger's cup!8th august is the starting date...by the start of ausgust he'l be fine hopefully...he was getting better nad better here in london but was just not fit enuf! he will bounce back very strongly....this long break will invigorate his mental and physical state to great extent..

VAMOS RAFA!!!! My dear rafa fans, our champ will return strongly !dont worry!!!luv u all for ur unrelenting support!! and thanx for ur consolations roger fans :)....see u all at the start of the championships!

Thank you deuce! Is there any room behind the cheering sofa for me?

Yes F4T this is the thread i meant. lol

I am truly sorry to hear this not just for Rafa, but for you Rafans and tennis itself. The world, and especially Rafa/Fed fans wanted that great duel. But, Rafa's health is so much more important than ANY tournament. Do not fret, Rafans, Rafa will come back strong, I am sure.

Thanks Deuce and Rafterfan. We believe in our guy and yes he will comeback strong and jyannis i totally agree with your above post i mean thats why we rafa fans love rafa. HE is a GLADIATOR and a CHAMPION he will be back and we rafa fans will be waiting in anticipation.

Its a great shame I hope he can recover fully for USO. Maybe he will tune down his schedule in future.

There are always SACRIFICES in everything in life. We can't expect EVERYTHING to be bed of roses for RAFA. IT's quite a painful (probably more than the knees) decision, BUT an intelligent one as well. ONE grand slam tournament ,however special it may be, won't be enough to compensate for the FUTURE of his young tennis career.
IT has been 'expected', but the confirmation let us off hanging in the balance.
NATURE HAS ITS WAY OF TELLING US WHEN IS ENOUGH!!!

VAMOS RAFA!!!

NOOOOOOOO...rafa wont be playing wimbledon, im sad :(

but i truly think this is the right decision if rafa wants to keep his wish of a 'long career' alive, the poor guy and his knees, so unfortunate, he is a nice guy, i hate seeing him lose, but what he really needs is REST.

i really wanted to see another epic rafa/roger final like last year, i still have not got over that match, best 7 hours of watching tv ever haha.

ill be cheering for roger to bag his 6th wimbledon title, 15th grand slam and also 7 consecutive wimbledon finals.

Hey guys her is a link to part of Nadals interview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6ViOIsJGy0

We the crowd understand rafa dont worry now u just go and take your long awaited rest. lol
Poor guy still being hounded by the press who ask silly questions about the crowd. Nadal would have already considered the fact that the "crowd" as they put it will be disappointed like he said he tried his best to recover and we the crowd know this we also know that his health comes first unless we want Nadals professional career shortened.

Have been reading other articles about it (they're everywhere) and one thing caught my eye. In a USATODAY article, it talks of how after that press conference, Toni and Rafa, Nole and Benito (Nole and Rafa's PR guy) sat in the Wimby player lounge for a couple hours talking. I think that was very nice of Nole to stay with Rafa then. I know Benito is also Nole's guy, but there was no tennis reason for them to hang out for over 2 hours after such a heartbreaking press conference. I think Nole was there for Rafa as a friend and that's nice.

Champ, heal your wounds and come back stronger and meaner!

As a fan of tennis this is quite disappointing. I think Rafa could have played since he played two exhibition matches against Leyton and Stan. Just thought he didn't like his draw or his chances. Oh well any fool could see these knee problems coming. Still should be a great tournament.

Remember how Federer insinuated he wasn't injured! Don't expect any sympathetic or respectful words from that venomous scum.

F4T

I'm not suprised Nole seems to have grown up a lot this year.....i am really starting to like this guy he has increased immensely in my estimation. He will understand the situation and what Nadal is going through as he is only a year younger than Nadal. Its like having your mates round you when you are going through rough patch and i thank Nole for this.

Thank you Nole

And Noles fans should be proud of thier guy.
He has shown a lot of character determination and passion and i wish him all the best at Wimbeldon.

I'm just ignoring the "I told you so" people and others who aren't sincere and concentrating on the nice fans of this board who have offered great words of encouragement and solace.

F4T

I do it all the time.

Relax....Chill.....and smell the coffee *said in an american accent* lol

There will always be a few haters out there. If you check out the link i put up and read a couple of the messages up thier you will find that one poster actually suggested than Nadal was paid to forgo Wimbledon can you believe it OUR Nadal paid OUR GLADIATOR....CHAMPION. lol

I can trully say that that is the biggest joke of the CENTURY. Hahaha
(and i was trully amazed at such a suggestion trully amazed).

Dont and i repeat do NOT expend your time and energy on them it is of too much value.

Say....what about Nole what a great champ.

When true colors are revealed, decisions are made and I made my decision just as you made yours. We all have different faves of the game, but true colors were shown by many in the sincere thoughts expressed for Rafa, even tho Rafa is not their fave. Those are TRUE tennis fans and I appreciate all their words. I won't waste my time on the others.


Not surprised that Nole did that. I have been saying since last year that I thought Nole was changing and maturing. When I suggested on a Rafa fan board that maybe people ought to give him another chance, I was berated like crazy! I still believe that. The off season is short enough as it is, but Nole used part of his personal time to take part in Rafa and Iker's malaria charity match. The imitations are a thing of the past. The times Rafa and Nole have played, Nole has shown extreme graciousness when he had lost. They even laugh and joke with each other and that to me shows that they are enjoying what they are doing! Thank you Nole for being with Rafa at such a hard time!

i would just like to offer my commiseration to the rafans,but pls try to understand it was the best for rafa and tennis...
we all federites wish him the best...
Go Roger
Go Champ....
PS: can anybody tell me with nadal going out why didnt federer takes his place in the draw

Boss we rafa fans support his decision 100%.
We value rafa's health above anything else.
And true it was the best decision made for rafa, tennis and his true fans (i would really be suprised if anyone was really against his decision).

Nole really did that? I guess I can finally forgive him for being scum at other points. He has not done anything stupid for a while. That is such a nice thing, I'm sure Nadal must have felt the love.
God be with Nadal during these difficult times. Poor baby...

These are messages found on Twitter:

Andy Roddick's twitter
"feel for rafa... could not have been an easy decision especially as the champ, and also considering what a great competitor he is"

Justin Gimelstob:
"I feel horribly for Rafa. He is a great champion and hopefully will heal up and be back soon."

Here is the exact part of the article talking about Nole being with Rafa:
"After shaking up the tournament, Nadal sat on a couch in a players' lounge area, chatting for quite awhile with his spokesman, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, and Djokovic. As it approached 10 p.m. ? later, even, than the finishing time of his epic match against Federer a year ago ? Nadal finally rose to leave. That trio, along with Uncle Toni, walked toward one of the black steel gates that guard the All England Club's exits. The gate was locked shut.

"How do you get out of Wimbledon?" Perez-Barbadillo asked aloud.

They eventually found another ? unlocked ? gate, and Rafael Nadal, 2008 Wimbledon champion, departed the grounds, his 2009 Wimbledon over before he hit a single shot."

get well soon champ.........rest well

VAMOS!!!!!!

homos...you are the only guy/girl on this thread (gotta be a guy...so hung up on issues)....that goes for the fed on a nadal thread...twistin' n' turnin' like a country road....E-V-E-R-Y single fedfan that i have seen has supported rafa....your ridiculous...you need some serious therapy dude....s-e-r-i-o-u-s.....

and it's 'not an injury'...it's a condition that he has lived with for years!....my god...you don't even know about your own player!...it isn't chronic and it is something that he can recover from! do your research homos and stop bleating all the time with irrelevancies...you come across as mad.

That's really nice of Nole. Agreeing with fan4tennis that Nole has really matured, both mentally and also in the aspects of his game. He really is a different Nole in 2009!

Posted by fan4tennis, 6/20/09 6:22 AM: I find it really heartbreaking. Really really heartbreaking. :( :( I just hope Rafa rests enough to be really fit for USO09, and get a real shot at grabbing that title, and becoming the seventh AND youngest man to get the Career Slam. I really want that for him and I think he has more than the potential and determination to achieve it.

TopDog: Here is a tip given to me when I first started posting on TT on how to avoid losing a carefully written comment because you have been logged out. When you have finished writing - and BEFORE you hit the send button - SAVE and COPY your efforts. Then if you have been logged, simply log on again and PASTE your comment in the box.

fan4tennis: always room for you behind the sofa darling! It's a very comforting space!
Topdog: actually laughed aloud at the idea of Rafa accepting a bribe to forego Wimbledon. The idea is so TOTALLy ludicrous it must be the work of a complete idiot . And like he really, really needs the money, duh!

jyannis wrote: " becoming the seventh AND youngest man to get the Career Slam."

That would be great jyannis, but it would be a career GOLDEN slam since Rafa has won the Olympic singles title also!!!!

Thanks deuce!!! I'll make some finger goodies for us to munch on when we get nervous!

I hope that Murray wins it now, but if he doesnt it would be great to see Federer break the slam record. I'm still going for Murray for the US though. Am I right in saying that with Nadal's withdrawal that he is also likely to lose the No 1 ranking to either Federer or Murray?

jamie...these are the current atp rankings (just for the top five).......you'll be able to work out various permutations from the list.....taking off rafa's points for withdrawal...and then watching wimby to see how it all pans out......cheers!

Men's tennis world rankings as of 09/06/09 (May 25 rankings in brackets):

1. (1) Rafael Nadal (Spain) 13140 points

2. (2) Roger Federer (Switzerland) 11070

3. (3) Andy Murray (Britain) 9230

4. (4) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 8020

5. (5) Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina) 5480

Something has always to do with Federer right : ok homos Darren Cahill was in the press conference and he said it is appearing to be more mental than physical and that he felt Nadal didn?t get over his loss in FO (you can check it out on ESPN) besides Murray said he was hitting fine when they practiced together and there was some talking about his parents getting divorced also.
Personally I didn?t expect that huge drama show from Nadal giving the fact that he is not attention seeker but the last couple of days , what they were about flying from Spain then exhos then press conferences his uncles talking then delaying the last press conference while hitting balls in that time I think that was totally un professional either he felt fine or not he is a defending champion some one with great achievements when he is just 23 but the last couple of days were so soap opera. It must have been so hard for him but I don?t think he had to do it this way confusing the tournament management waiting the draw to come out changing the draw of players of Del Potro .
I think the tournament rules should be more strict about things like that even with champions like Nadal

mal-tosser, i'm always gald to see you hold my comments with such high regards! if you can be an a-hole and hypocrite, so can everyone else.

try to use common sense just try maybe you can do it and dont take it personaly i read everybody's comments thats is why they are here i hope it is easy for you to understand that

tennislover....the reason for all the drama is because rafa was trying his best to get to play Wimby.He did all he could....He is the#1 tennis player and believe it or not he has a lot of fans that are concerned about him.Wimby will not be the same without him.That was the reason for all the Drama.

hello all .... im sorry to hear bout the pull out . wish u rafa fans all the best ...hope u enjoy wimby tennis even without your guy .
Im sure its still going to be so exciting considering RG09. Buckle up for another roller coaster ride ..

C'MON !!

Right you are Fedexfan! Right you are. Buckle "UP" people! "ANOTHER" roller coaster ride... C'MON FED! C'MON!

alik............... I always admired his fighting spirit his determination and mental strength maybe that is why I feel disappointed in him he is the same age as I am and I wish I have his determination, anyhow sorry he is not going to be there I wish roger can rape it up now the draw is not easy for him though, I so wished for a classico a revenge final.

Sometimes, we have to accept reality, however bitter it may be. The fact is that RAFA is INJURED (if there's other personal reasons, we have to RESPECT his privacy regarding that matter)....he can't defend his Wimby crown....he might lose his #1 ranking..... BUT, he's SAFE... he can RECOVER....there's A WHOLE LOT of tennis ahead of him....and he's ONLY 23. The guy needs a LOT of rest (break). For the past 3 years, he's made to work 1000 times of what a "NORMAL" tennis player should do.
Winning happens to him like breakfast in the morning. He did'nt even had the time to savor and taste the sweetness of owning the trophies that he has.
He will overcome all of his "problems" and as a GREAT CHAMPION that he is ....NADAL will rise and live the GLORY!!!

Well said agf25agf well said.....

quote.....mal-tosser, i'm always gald to see you hold my comments with such high regards! if you can be an a-hole and hypocrite, so can everyone else. unquote.....

crickey me....dear...oh...dear.....let's try to guess how old homos....exual is? I guess 6 years old?

homos? or is that short for homos...exual...(and by the way..anyone out there who is gay...no offence....equal rights guys...equal rights.....)...i just wonder whether homos shortened it 'cos he wasn't ready to 'come out' yet...? he's half there...but unsure...right buddy?............homosexual...come out! come out!

Okay.....seriously......homos......exual.....if YOU were a TRUE TENNIS FAN...(you are not by the way...even if you think you are...)....you would have read every one of my posts to see how sorry i was for 'true rafa fans' out there (that does N-O-T include you)..because Y-O-U are a joke...a joke.....a joke....r-e-p-e-a-t.....a...j-o-k-e.

the problem i have with you homos....exual....is you constantly bringing fed into an argument that does not concern him.....i think you have a b-i-g............................
b-i-g.......problem with your psychological set up....is it because you have a small manhood? you have to try to make up for it in a different area of your life? pllzzzzzz....go see someone and try to resolve your issues....if you can get over this barrier homos....exual...then perhaps you could make some 'true friends' and overcome your self-esteem issues...i wish you well....i wish you luck...i wish you happiness.....

you are also deluded...hold you in high esteem? i think you know the meaning of arrogance homos....exual......you invented the word...

i am a hypocrite? i don't think so honey.........but you certainly are...pure projection....

C'MON!
Allez Federer!

Thanks ed251137 I will do that next time. :)

I'm devastated that Rafa has pulled out of Wimbledom, but if he is not fit, he has no option. I's rather he didn't play than go out in the early rounds. Sportsmen have to put up with this sort of thing from time to time.

I will wait patiently for when he is able to play at his best.

carrie! your back! really missed you! did you have a good holiday?

murray only said that nadal was hitting fine..yes he was..but he also said that he cudnt check rafa's movement at all becoz it was so windy that there were no rallies!!! and had nadal won the 2 exhos...then u cud have said that he had a choice of giving wimb a crack...he had no choice this time..poor rafa!

Just so everyone understands the nature of Nadal's injury (and yes it is an injury). He has chronic tendinitis, which is a condition. However, if left "untreated" or abused as he has done for the past 6 months, it becomes more serious. Reports are that he is suffering from a fairly significant case of water on both knees. I have water on ONE knee - it makes it bending it "normally" impossible. You can't just "play through it".

Frankly, I'm appalled by the number of people who simply think that Nadal is "chickening out". This is RAFAEL NADAL we're talking about. Are you kidding me?

"C'MON!
Allez Federer!, Go Roger Go............., GO FED GO!!! C'MON!!! :))"

are some of the slogans on the threads where Rafa's knee issues/Wimby participation are discussed!? This just confirms "sincerity" of their (mr arrogant included most likely) declared empathy for Rafa. What a true grace they often proudly refer to.

cheryl....there was only one poster....on the nadal thread that thought he was a 'quitter'.....(chr18)...but i think later he mentioned it was more disappointment than anything else.....

who said rafa was 'chickening out?'.....when this started a week or so ago.....it was the fact that Uncle Toni had come out disclosing to the whole world that his nephew was 'low', had 'no confidence' (you can check this out on rafa's own fan's webpage) and some rafa fans here who commented on it...this was the issue... that this was so unusual.......

and I can tell you pos.....that for all the C'MON! here...there are an equal amount of vamos rafa...it is just the rafa/fed fans usual chant...nothing more than that...all you do pos is pick up on your own negative vibe and twist it....e-v-e-r-y s-i-n-g-l-e fedfan on this site is absolutely 100% sick that the rafa isn't playing at wimby! Hell...i am even going down on Tuesday...now not being able to get his auto g (if i had the opportunity to see him)...so don't come on here and spread your ridiculous assumptions cos you are wrong...you just get it wrong time and time again.....you are the only mr arrogant around here...so why cant you pos...ever talk about tennis...? why do you always come on here and criticise others with your 2/3 liners?

what I'm appalled at cheryl is people like posy and homos who come on blaming fed every single time.....go read some of their posts and then you'll be appalled....

grow up pos..this is real life for the big boys!

Well, it has begun. All of us Rafa fans just have to use our scroll option a heck of alot more since there seems to be alot more of LONG posts that talk nothing of the subject at hand or offer any tennis insights or comfort to Rafa or his fans.

Thank you cheryl for your support. We are as appalled as you by some of the reactions of people. We know that his condition is chronic (which means happening on a repeated basis and for a long time) and we hope that this time off gives him all that he needs to be healthy and happy again. I am sure, as Rafa said, that this was one of the hardest decisions he has had to make. His fans will always support him no matter what!!! Others can try to explain away others harsh words but some things just can't be explained away in any language.
VAMOS!!!

moronteser1 you keep abusing and harassing successfully all possible threads on TT. I suggest you revisit news group ethiquette and educate yourself on posting rules. If you have the uncontrollable urge to blather like there is no tomorrow, please start your own blog and keep rambling on. please go away evil woman.

malteser - I was not only referring to people on this site. Tennistalk has a Facebook account in which we post our articles. The one titled "Nadal out of Wimbledon" garnered 14 "I like this" votes. I think it's a horrible sentiment. In all seriousness, you should not take every little comment personally. I was not referring to you, Federer or even most of the well-behaved Federer fans on this site.

TELEGRAPH.co.uk Wimbledo 2009: losing Rafael Nadal leaves a bittersweet taste for rivals.---- good article!!

thanx cherylmurray...its always gud to hear from an authentic source! do u think rafa will recover in time for US?thnx in advance

Nadal's out or not, roll on Wimby2009, we have other young stars to watch for. Maybe it will be a breakthrough tournament for whichever young player who might win this especially Murray. Nadal has done pulled out of GS before, just have to move on.

Roll on Wimby2009!!!

agf25agf

Just read the article it was nice. Never new that Nadal was Murrays favourite player. Thats nice to know. :)

TopDog--- he's always been vocal about it... Serena, safina, as well, along with a host of top players. In as much as they admire Federer's style, they love RAfa's passion and great determination....he adds SPICE to tennis which makes it HOT HOT HOT!!!!

If Rafa fans can put VAMOS RAFA after posts, it is just fair that Fedfans can put Allez Roger or Come on.

Malty got a point there, posmatrac.

vamosrafa - I DO think he will be ready for the US Open. In fact, I think he will play Montreal as well.

I agree with his decision not to play. There is absolutely no chance of him making it through 2 weeks of play in his current state. Best to get completely better before taking to the court again.

Cheryl, how many men have completed a GOLDEN career slam?

I think all Rafa fans agree with his decision. It was obvious he was in pain and could not move like he should be able to in order to compete. As hard as it is for us Rafa fans, just imagine what Rafa himself is feeling.

It's always hard to time the decision to withdraw from a Grand Slam. Two years ago Andy M had a wrist injury and withdrew on the Sunday b4 the tournament. He got loads of stick for that so I xpect Rafa's decision was equally difficult and he was leaving it to the last minute hoping it would go the other way.
Yes, Andy has a great admiration and a genuine liking for Rafa, vocalised many times. You should have heard him after Madrid final... Anyway Rafa fans now you know...howzabout some support for Andy M, goodness knows there seem to be many detractors around......

fan4tennis....quote...

Well, it has begun. All of us Rafa fans just have to use our scroll option a heck of alot more since there seems to be alot more of LONG posts that talk nothing of the subject at hand or offer any tennis insights or comfort to Rafa or his fans. .............unquote....

absolutely 100% agree with you fan4tennis.....let's get back to tennis!

but i think i have counted 87 posts of support for rafa from fed fans....so W-E have A-L-L offered support...apart from o-n-e..... p-o-st-e-r.....so it would have been more classy from you if you had recognised this?......and apologise for the long posts from me offering support fan4t...but thought you would appreciate that with the articles i posted....don't worry..if you were referring to me...i won't do that again...so anything i do post will be for 'true rafa fans..'

cheryl...thanks for your post....i didn't actually take it personally....i was actually trying to give you a fuller picture in case you hadn't read all the threads...that was all...you didn't actually refer to facebook...in your post:....so i don't think anyone of us could have guessed that you were talking about something else? only the posts on this thread....

cheryl's post:
Frankly, I'm appalled by the number of people who simply think that Nadal is "chickening out". This is RAFAEL NADAL we're talking about. Are you kidding me? ...unquote...

now that you have referred to this....i understand your feelings.....it is bad that people would want to wish top players nothing other than bad recovery time or bad wishes...but then that is the nature of people who have hatred in their heart and do not understand sportsmanship or the fact that you can actually respect the game of a rival even if you don't support them, but support your own player.......so cheryl...you are well aware of the people over the months who have wished exactly the same on federer.....posmatrac....gordana....agf....hjomos they are no better...and if they deny this...you have ALL the evidence.

fan4tennis.....as you put me down a while ago with my own tennis knowledge......(i never pretended to be an expert...just enjoy the game passionately.....)...you will be aware that 2008 was the FIRST time tennis was allowed as an olympic sport...that is why there was soooo much controversy about it.....and so therefore, if it was the first time that tennis was allowed.....by definition....there couldn't have been anyone previously winning a golden slam.....

my pleasure fan4tennis.....

C'MON!
Allez Federer!