Very happy for the win.



Vamos Rafa

How appropriate that Rafa was the deciding factor after the doubles loss yesterday. And that it was a thrilling match - that's the way the Davis Cup finals should be.

Nalbandian and Schwank were outstanding on Saturday, but Lopez and Verdasco didn't put up much of a fight. Props to Nadal, Ferrer and Del Potro for putting on a heck of a show. DelPo made it a lot closer than I thought it would be.

Amazing tie! The last match had more twists and turns than a Hollywood thriller. Rafa owes an assist to Daveeed for wearing DelPo down on Friday. Not Rafa's best technical match but he hung in there and fought back, warrior that he is. How embarrassing is it to go down 1-6 and a break when all the conditions favor you and everyone EXPECTS you to win? He's got more heart than I've ever seen, and he never forgets that his opponents are also human.

True moments of happiness for all Rafans seeing that beautiful Rafa's smile again...it's been a while since I saw him smiling like that...he should know by now how valuable he is for tennis and for his fans all over the world...

Delpo played great match, indeed...and I like that he put up a fight...I did not want Rafa to roll over him...if that was the case, everyone would say Delpo was too tired or something like that...this way he made Rafa work for this victory...and that is exactly what Rafa needed...he needed to go through the difficulties again and to find his way out...and he did it in his own recognizable fashion! He set his mind to it and made it happen. This win will be a huge boost of confidence for Rafa...he will be unbeatable again...

VAMOS RAFA!!!

DelPo played some magnificent tennis, especially after five grueling sets with Ferru just two days ago.

That said ...
Vamos Rafa!!!

Your absolutely right Natashao, it was vintage Nadal. So happy for Spain, especially David and Rafa. I wanted to give Delpo a big hug, but I'm pretty sure he'll have one of these cups himself before it's all said and done. Time for some celebration and r&r hopefully for Rafa, at least for a few days. Can't abelieve Abu Dhabi is in 4 weeks.

"I wanted to give Delpo a big hug, but I'm pretty sure he'll have one of these cups himself before it's all said and done. "

I'm sure he will too. Vazquez was definite about Argentina winning the cup, and soon, when asked about it.

(That said, Maya, if you had a chance to give DelPo a big hug and didn't ... I'm not sure what to tell you. :-) )

What I also appreciated was that Rafa went down the line and took the time to shake hands with or hug every Argentinian player -- that he took special time to speak to DelPo at the net, and that other Spaniards (I saw Feli and, I think, Marc) took the time to come over to DelPo and say something encouraging.

That guy is a mighty warrior. From starting the year at #485 to ending the year at #11 ... I think that tells you all you need to know about his talent and will to work hard.

Mara - I'd have to get a ladder to hug him properly. But yeah, when Rafa retires I could see myself picking up the mantle for Juan Martin. So no more tears Juan.

I was incredibly proud of Rafa's display of kindness and commiseration towards Delpo. I also noticed that later on during the post-match goings on, Ferrer went over to Delpo and comforted him. A few of the Spanish players went over to speak with him and pat him on the back. He was still quite distraught. However, he is young and will have more chances to win DC. I fee bad for Nalby, who is supposedly retiring. This was his last chance to win DC.

Delpo showed great form and will be a force to be reckoned with in 2012. Now I want Rafa to get some much needed r&r, have a great Christmas and come back refreshed and ready to do battle in the new year.

Yes Rafa is always a sweet boy, he always hug those that he battled hard with and beat in the end, like he did to Murray and Nole too, after winning a hard fought battle. He often consoles them at the net by hugging them. Of course if he lose, he need not offer any consolation and therefore he offers a handshake instead.

Very nice gestures from the Spaniards, offering some encouraging words to the Argentines. I really hope that Argentina can win the Davis Cup next year.

Well done to Spain, winning five DCs in twelve years, this is indeed the golden age of tennis in Spain. Also Spain has produced three no.1 players during this golden period, starting with Moya in 1998.

"I fee bad for Nalby, who is supposedly retiring. This was his last chance to win DC. "

NNY, I hadn't heard that. I can't imagine D-Nal would retire without having his CD. Where did you see that?

Rafa working on playing lesser..anyone has his schedule for next year?

Next year I will not play. It's an Olympic year. For many years, I have been one of the players that plays the highest number of matches and I don't want to overplay," said Nadal, who racked up a year-leading 82 matches on the ATP Tour in 2011.

"I want a coherent calendar. So, next year, my participation in the Davis Cup is impossible. Then we will think about the future."

Congratulations to all the Spanish players they were great and deserved their win
Sorry for the Argentina players tho
Spain will have to look at changing their doubles pair tho next year
Give the younger ones a chance eg Almagro etc

Congrats to both teams for a great DC final. So happy Rafa managed to pull out the win through his determination and grit. He used all his fighting qualities and hopefully this will bring back some much needed confidence going forward into 2012. Great to see such sportsmanship from the Spanish players towards the Argentinians after the match. They are a class act.

I wonder who will be in the DC team next year. Nando and Feli have passed their sell-by date. It might be an opportunity for Almagro to shine.

I bet a few players will also opt out of the DC because of the Olympics. Roger and Murray have already played their token matches to qualify to represent their respective country and they both want the singles gold really badly.

I have noticed that on this and on other threads the nadalfans are rejoycing in the fact that the passion is back!
You must undertsand that there is a important difference between willpower and passion for tennis.

Willpower is what gave Rafa the match against DelPotro. Passion of the game is what's pushing you forwards in winning in 2012 and beyond. He still lacks passion.

Sienna - Why do you make such ridiculous statements. Obviously you could care less if anyone took you serious or not. Rafa had some discourageing moments this year no doubt, but it's not the first time, and he always comes back stronger for it. It's called maturing (something you know little about), and Rafa has grown into one of the tennis greats of all time, and by the time it's all said and done, maybe the .......... . Well, I won't say it because I know it will break your heart. Rafa will play next year with an abundance of both willpower and passion. He's made that way. Hey, Lady Gaga could maybe use that line.

God I cant understand how can people comment on lack of passion in other peoples life and dealings and interactions?

Its better if they focus that energy in rekindling passion in their own lives..will do them a world of good..

I mean this lack of passion is like a daily auto pilot mode statement I guess we have to endure ..poor us

good writeup on another site on Rafa after DC

Rafa said he knew it was ?my moment? during his match with del Potro, and that he had to do his job?i.e., close the deal?for the team. Nadal doesn?t typically talk in those ?just do it?-style jock terms, but I thought it was a good sign coming from someone who had taken the opposite approach last week in London. You could see from his body language that he knew the WTF was definitely not his moment.

From the first points on Friday, though, Nadal?s head was in a completely different place. The energy was high, the feet were moving forward, the backhand was penetrating, the forehand down the line was there whenever he needed it?he had none of those things in London. John McEnroe used to say that Davis Cup had the weird effect of making you so nervous that you couldn?t get nervous, especially when the team was counting on you. Playing for other people forces the finest DC performers to do their best. There?s no time for anxiety or doubt or anger or any of the other emotions that typically distract us from that effort.

You could see that feeling develop in Nadal against del Potro, as he fought hard to fend off his nerves. He started anxiously, hitting short, but by the start of the fourth set he was on an aggressive roll. Then, after a long break to let the Argentine fans vent whatever they still needed to vent, he tightened up again. But in the fourth-set tiebreaker, when everything was level and he knew it was his moment, Nadal was perfect, winning it 7-0.

Novak Djokovic played in much the same way in last year?s Davis Cup final. He knew he had to win twice, and he went about his business with dispatch, without any of the edgy doubts that can creep into his head. The question for 2012, of course, is whether Nadal can use this win the same way Djokovic did last year. We?ll see; it obviously won?t hurt, but the Aussie Open will be a very different venue. What?s interesting is that even in the year of Djokovic, it was the old guard, Federer and Nadal, who ended on high notes. You can?t ask for anything better if you?re looking ahead to 2012.

For the moment, what seems important to note is that Nadal, who says he won?t play Davis Cup next year, has made the competition a major part of his legacy. He?s 19-1 in it, and has been part of four winning campaigns. Now, after Sunday, he has something just as crucial: His first delirious Cup-clinching moment, one that can be replayed in highlight reels for decades. Nadal was right, it was his moment, and he made the most of it with a forehand winner on match point. We'll be seeing that shot for a long time to come.

*****

As an example of the tenor of the times
While Nadal fell to the clay, del Potro trudged to the net, leaned over, and started to cry. Nadal, while his teammates jumped and hugged, made his way to the net and consoled him. Then he made his way to the other side of the court to share an embrace with each member of the Argentine team. That?s the men's game in the Age of Emotion. We?ll see Nadal?s forehand winner forever, but if future fans want to find out what tennis at its best was like in 2011, they should keep watching for the show of sportsmanship and deep feeling that followed from both sides.

well, a nice closing to the season for Rafa.
Let's hope he can be his old-time fighting machine whilst adding a few tweaks to his game - this season has been hard with all these finals lost to Novak, I hope he can shake it off next year - he needs to play DEEPER and change that horrible backhand.... please...

I have watched the tie-break over and over again, it's a glimpse of Rafa at his best, and as for the forehand at match point, I'm sure it's sent out a signal that Rafa is not done.

I have to say I admire you die-hard Rafans..
it was heartbreaking for me to see Rafa take such a beating this year from Novak.. it's very hard to accept being the less good player of the two, time and time again..
I just didn't have the heart to post anything at all.... now that the season is over it's time to reflect and hope for fairer winds!

Shireling
, 12/6/11 4:09 PM


Thank you, Shireling, for the shout-out. I am a die-hard Rafan and I want this to be on record: Rafa could be #300 in the rankings, suffer 20-0 in matches at the hands of Nole or whomever....................RAFA WILL STILL BE THE BEST!!!!!!!!

Rafa has found his backhand during this DC final. His backhand held up well against Delpo's forehand! Though the final was on clay, I hope Rafa can continue hitting his backhand at this level come the new hard court season. Of course to take it one step further, hit it like he did at the AO 2009 would be fantastic. I really hope this victory will help Rafa in his confidence about his own game. If Rafa can get his game back to his high level like in the past, add in his warrior spirit, he'll be a hard opponent to beat. Vamos Rafa!

@rafaisthebest , 12/6/11 4:12 PM

I second what you say. In fact I will be an honourary senora for as long as Rafa plays.

"Self-nominated cheerleader Fernando Verdasco, who had taken it upon himself to fire up the crowd throughout the final, was injured in the festivities - he emerged sporting a large gash on his forehead."

http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/124952.html

The actual hero of the spanish team is David Ferrer.
He messed up DelPo on friday. That DP big chance of taking the tie into Argentine hands. Of course he failed and Ferrer beat DelP in 4. I dont think Ferrer is an elite player. But beating DelP in 4 is not a sign that Nadal is on his way back. In all it shows that he had great difficulty with a player on forhand would make mincemeat for the nadal of 2010. So the only current assesment for the state of Nadal matching up with his fellow elite players is his defeat at the hands of federer. That just doesnot come good for Nadal. He suffered a far terrible beating then last year and a drop in level by that margin is gonna tell on the outdoor Hardcourts and even on clay.
So of course you can be happy with another DC trophy but it means nothing to the outcome of thing to happen in 2012. If his passion is gone there really is no return to glory for the spaniard.

Someone please hand me the fly swat!

Hey Sienna,
I agree with you that Ferrer was a hero in the DC final but that doesn't take anything away from Nadal, he got the job done and that's what matters.
Your last paragraph is not so meaningful though because nobody knows what will happen next year.
I just hope that Rafa is at least in the thick of things like this year and also that Novak isn't in such a majestic form :)

You are the first to acknowledge Ferrer. It looked that Rafa himself won the final.
Ferrer won the most important match of the tie. If DelP would have won then it would have not be so easy for Nadal to overturn the match. DelP would have had more confidence etc.
But all the jubilee for Rafa and to think he returned with this match to his best is just not looking at the real situation Rafa is in. He is in a deep of trouble.
He has admitted himself to have lost focus and passion for the game. I cannot with the best of intentions look at him without the idea that he is through. Admitting his lack of passion and love for tennis is terrible. I never thought that would be possible.
It makes me wonder if he is ready to get in shape for AU Open. He could not do it for WTF at least not up to the level required to beat the best of the best.

Some people seem to think that if they say Rafa is through often enough, then it will become fact. Wishing will not make it so. I cannot imagine someone seriously making the argument that Rafa is washed up after a year in which he won his sixth RG title, equaling Borg's record. He has reached the finals in I/W, Miami, won MC and Barcelona, reached the finals of Madrid and Rome.

Then Rafa went on to reach the finals of Wimbledon and the USO. He ended the year with a DC win. It would be hard to top 2010, but Rafa has done well to reach all these finals and still win one slam. Now he has to find the answer for Nole and also work on some aspects of his game. He has always shown a willingness to rise to the challenge and tweak his game to make it better.

The constant refrain of - Rafa is through and it's over, blah, blah, blah, is just bitter wishful thinking from a Fed fan who apparently is seriously underestimating him. With all of his great wins against Fed, I would think that any Fed fan would never think to downplay his chances.

mara002,

Regarding your comment on 12/5/11 5:09 am, my apologies for not responding to you sooner. I haven't been posting much in the last two days.

I thought that I had read this somewhere online. However, now that you have asked me about it I guess that I should try to find some confirmation. I will see if I can get that information.

For now, I think it's best that we assume he is not retiring. I am sorry if I upset you unintentionally.

NNY, you are absolutely spot on! The bitter little tard thinks she can either convince herself eventually or or irritate Rafans to the point of leaving this site. It ain't going to happen. Accusing Rafa of taking 'magic potion' and being a has been when her loud mouth idol is 2 places BELOW Rafa. The nerve of some people! I guess that's what bitterness means. It's fans like that that make people hate Roger.

Since when did winnin a slam and making to slam finals (amongst other things) a bad year? I'm sure 95% of the tour would have liked Rafa's bad year! Going slamless ssince January 2010 and making 1 finals this year is WAAAAAAYYYYY better undoubtedly!

CindiT
, 12/4/11 9:13 PM

I also like that, in Delpo, he beat a bona fide contender, not some lowly ranked chancer. As Rafa said, Delpo will be in the top 4 next year...................no prizes for guessing who, of the current quartet, he will elbow out! Okay, I'll give you a hint: tastes great curried and washed down with a riesling!!!

Folks : I remember many in this site were hoping Feli/Verdasco would wn doubles so that Rafa can rest and not have to play his 2nd singles against the tough Delpo..

Well its good that the doubles pair lost..Rafa got a chance to play Delpo, beat him, win the cup for Spain and hopefully get his mojo back..In hindsight I think its very good the doubles team lost

BTW I saw on Rafas facebook that hes already started practising..huh? no rest..atleast take 2 weeks off no?

and btw any idea of Rafas schedule next year/ what will he play and skip?

also read these twwts..who is david nadal?

Mangle summary of @davidjnadal tweets: will not start DC next year since needs rest, but then we'll see what's going to happens.
Mangle summary of @davidjnadal tweets: will work hard then stop in Feb; discomfort in knee; will train w/caution & test next week;
Mangle summary of @davidjnadal tweets: Rafa's season not perfect; needs to assess and improve; DC win source of happiness...
Looks like knee tape is back... RT: @IB3noticies: Nadal ja entrena a Manacor http://ib3noticies.com/?p=171042

During the practice session today in Mallorca Rafa spoke to the press stating he is very happy he won Davis Cup & it has given him motivation for the next season. He says he is going to work hard to start the season well. He also states he is having some issue with his knee, that he needs an injection before the last match in Davis Cup & that he is going to checking it closely for a recovery. He will be doing a physical of the knee soon.
He also says that there is no time to stop & vacation he needs to prepare

jeanny boy I only said that Rafa winloss % is lower then Fed win loss %. Thats all. And o yes Fed beat Djokovic at a slam.
And o yes Jeenyy boy bagel.

sanju,

I read on vamosbrigade that Rafa had to have an injection in his knee before the match with Delpo. Again I didn't mention it so it wouldn't seem to be making excuses for Rafa. I wonder if that was part of the reason why he didn't play well in that first set. If he was feeling something or worried about the knee, that would explain why he didn't seem to be there mentally.

It makes me even more proud that he came from behind and played some great tennis. I still don't know that it's great the doubles team lost. This is the second time in a row that they have had an embarrassing lopsided loss to the opposing team in DC.

I do think that this win will inspire Rafa and give him good feelings going into the new year. However, I really wish he would take at least a week off and rest.

"jeanny boy"? Wouldn't it be girl?

I think Rafa should be fine, I mean his knees should be fine. I wonder why during his long break after Shanghai, he didn't go for his PRP treatment for his knees. Six weeks should be good enough for the treatment plus resting and then practising. It was mentioned Rada'skfa knees always need monitoring even after his successful PRP treatment as tendinitis problems are recurring unless surgeries are done to treat them permanently.

There'll be three more weeks of competition in January before another long break, so in Feb Rafa can treat his knee problems then. I hope he does that in Feb, and thereafter his schedule is really packed, not much rest until after the USO. I hope Rafa can continue with this PRP treatment as and when needed so that he can save his knees without going through surgeries.

BTW I saw on Rafas facebook that hes already started practising..huh? no rest..atleast take 2 weeks off no?
sanju
, 12/8/11 7:54 PM

Give Rafa a break, Rafans...............he lives in Mallorca remember? I guy can only bum around the beach for so long. You would understand if you lived on a holiday island..........................working like he does actually becomes a break in itself!