- Simultaneously it seems Rafael Nadal achieved absolutely ok from the last four years I heard himself stating in this month's recorded interview on B/report. I think however the earnings may depend on whereabouts the tournament is held and depending on that tour's total winnings. Been very lucky, and I might mention I think also is the case with Roger. a matter of fine lucks. Now would be the moment to uplift the 'grants' and to be fair about how to handle them. Thank you Rafa for the funny year, and also to the No.1 of now Roge, and all the players. -

Go for it Rafa...Vamos!

Rafa's match with Soderling had seeds of hope in it. While he lost 6-4, 6-4, he held the match in his hands on more than one occasion (was up a break in the second set before losing it, for instance) and I thought he was mixing up his shots much, much better than when he played Djokovic in Paris. Had Nadal contained his own unforced errors in the Soderling match (he had 24), he might have pulled the rabbit out of a hat! Concentration - what I believe he calls "calm" - is the missing link here. He knows it and we'll see if he can find that darn rabbit tonight!

I just read Rafa?s blog for today (Timesonline.com) and he seemed very optimistic and positive regarding his match with Davidenko. He says: I am still alive!!! It was a great relief and really encouraging to see! Well, yesterday, when reading his interview in which the emphasis was on his next year carrier and how he is looking into the future, I must admit I had mixed feelings about it! It is true that I love seeing Rafa being optimistic about the new season and having set goals for the future, but something was bothering me! Actually, you will all agree with me, in the past Rafa would never speak about his next tournament or even the match beyond the very next opponent he was facing?what I am trying to say is that he always refused to talk to media about the possible semifinals or so when he was in, for instance, the third round! He would always focus only on the upcoming match and would refuse to discuss anything beyond that?So, having him talk about his focus on next season it seamed to me as he has given up on London finals and that is just not how he behaves. It does not seem right. That is not him! He is a warrior, he fights to the end and never gives up?but now, I am more than reassured?I am looking forward to the match tonight and I expect his big victory! I wish him lack, I wish him to play his best tennis, I wish him great first serve and I want him to be full of confidence!!! There is nothing to lose! He can only gain from this match! Vamos Rafa!!!

I really hope Rafa wins, but my mind says it won't happen because Davydenko is too tough for him on a court like that. Davydenko in 3.

The court in London is not that fast, as Rafa stated! Rafa had his chances against Sodder but was not strong mentally and he should not have any mental barrier w/Davidenko! I will make a guess: Rafa in 2! Best of luck to Rafa! Mix it up this time: offense + defense! Go for it!

Everyone ,especially RIICKY and CHERYL...ur comments will be appreciated...here is a link that shows rafa hitting (actualy blasting) forehands way bak in 2004...my qstion is that nadal ws a 17 yr old boy that time ,still a clay specialist...and he was able to hit the ball almost as hard as anyone back in 2004!!! he is hammering the ball like hell and flatenning out forehands effortlessly and even directing down the fine forehands like federer withour that helicopter finish and shorter swing! so why is nadal unable to hit these kinds of shots nowadays
?? has he changed grips?if yes then why..or has he raised the element of spin deliberately and has got so used to it now ???!!! i thought on it and gt som answers but I WANT UR VIEWS PPL...thanks ..the link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikNlsRBT8-0

... at least you can count on his fighting spirit that never dies ....

Hey Ricky, you threatened to ban ATR for posting the same message on different threads. Are you going to relay that same warning to vamosrafa? See Djoker/Sod preview. On a related note, stop worrying about the ancient past of 2004 ; Nadal is a topspinner by choice.

vamosrafa 11/25/09 6:52 PM
I have now seen that video and must say that Nadal game style has changed alot.
there might be several reasons for it.
First you gotta say that nadal changed his racket to the one which focuses more on spin back in 2005 or 2006.becoz he got instant sucesses or good results in the tournament he played so he might have thought that this(more topspin) is the way to go. Only now we are seeing the draw backs of such play.
Secondly there is every bit of chance that uncle toni has influenced nadal to change his play to such kind keeping in mind that it may give nadal an edge just like left handed-ness does . Critics would say that nadal is not a kid and could have made his own decisions which is the way i also see it but still i think that this could very much be true becoz after all toni asked nadal to change his playing hand and even now he works on nadal's game.
Becoz its the same Nadal as now so i don't think that nadal can't play like that although it is difficult to change your style when one has till now(6 months ago) worked so well and you have played with that style for quiet some time. But i think in mind Nadal doesn't thinks like this. you see his interviews and see that he immediately dismisses the argument that perhaps his style or tactics has something to do with the current struggle but that he needs more "calm",confidence and match play.
Only time will tell but who knows perhaps current situation may help to open up his mind --every thing happens for a reason and even though he may not change his shot style as he may not actually need to but some twitching to his game plan and he could become an even better player.

thanks buddy it ur xplanation helped...my thoughts are sumwhat similar aswell :D and chr18 ...i didnt know if posting twice cud cause prblms...i just posted it so that more ppl cud read it and ans it ..wanted to gather multiple views and thoughts..if u are interested more than welcum if not then just dnt reply....cheers

thanks buddy it ur xplanation helped...my thoughts are sumwhat similar aswell :D and chr18 ...i didnt know if posting twice cud cause prblms...i just posted it so that more ppl cud read it and ans it ..wanted to gather multiple views and thoughts..if u are interested more than welcum if not then just dnt reply....cheers

Rafa is only human just like you and me. He is the most exciting player on the planet. I watch all his matches and note he is improving every time especially in his last match, he is working on his errors and it's just a matter of time he will be back better than ever.

i think rafa has had enough of this.
he has basically given up even running after shots just 2 meters away from davydenko in the 1st set.

i think even he knows his career is in big trouble.
i cannot find a way that rafa can beat davydenko. davy is like a human backboard, everything comes back at pace, and never misses.
nadal just doesnt know what to do.
it was a big mistake to return so soon from injury. he didnt have his rhythm, but now after getting beaten so badly so many times, his confidence is shattered.
not only that he just gives up on points now, unlike how he always chases everything.
his serve is just a mess.

i really cannot see anyway how he can come back to his old self.
he will need alot of luck.
his serve is the biggest weakness for sure, atleast if he can hold his serve easily, then he can break the opponents serve but no point if u cant hold ur own serve.

i think he will be glad when 12:00am january 1st 2010 comes around.
2009 has been a bad nightmare for him, career wise and family wise.

i feel for him.
i wish him the best of luck.
i hope he can come back stronger next year from this horrible nightmare.

Too many short balls by Nadal.
This is so fustrating.

Davy is making very very few unforced errors.

Rafa do come out of tis nightmare!

Its like Nadal is waiting for Davy to make his move. Nadal should take the initiative because Davy will continue to pin him behind the baseline with his agressive shot making.

very true, but he is fighting like a lion; looks like he is getting back on track in the 2nd.

Rafa is making too many unforced errors.

YEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Well Nadal fought well in the last set. Well done to Davy from playing some inspired tennis in this and the last match against Novak... Cant wait to see Nadal at DC.

Well guys you all saw that he lifted in the 2nd and looked like a comeback but alas like I said he's making too many errors. need work to master the new style. Error free and accuracy will do it. A big hand for RAFA always gives it all. Best for 2010 my tennisstar.

Well, I was not able to watch the first set, except for the last two games but managed to notice Rafa?s poor movement and lack of energy and it all kind of came as a surprise to me...I thought he would be fighting like hell...and yet in second I saw old Rafa coming on the surface, fighting, hitting beautiful shots! He was so amazing and I am so proud of him! Yes, he is still missing the one last step up: a mixture of better movement-better serve & return and restored confidence, but he is almost there, believe me! He was great in the whole second set and I felt so sad that he wasn?t lucky enough to win the tie-break and storm in the third...if so, he would have won the match I am almost certain! It just wasn?t meant to be. He should take positive side of this match and work on those things that I mentioned above, and he will be just fine! I wish him all the best in the future!

amazing that rafa cant win a single big point.
he has yet to win even 1 set in each of his losses since his return.
that is an amazing stat.

if i was the spanish davis cup coach i would drop rafa and give him a break, because his confidence is completely shattered beyond repair.

i think rafa will struggle in the early part of next year.
he needs to get into INTENSE training mode in the month of december.
and play some practise matches or practise sets in mallorca.

match practice is the best preparation.
he needs to sort out his serve and his return.

on another note, did u guys see rafas mom and dad watching him play?
they were sitting next to eachother, i think they wanted to give a united front to rafa, they looked awkward next to eachother, didnt really wanna make eye contact.

no point trying to fix things and come and sit together after u have done the damage to rafas confidence and mental game by getting a divorce when he was in the prime of his career.
his parents have destroyed rafas tennis career and now they crawl back trying to support him when rafa is in tatters.
typical parent behaviour. they only think about themselves. couldnt they wait until the end of the season atleast, so selfish.

i think rafa was determined to win, but sadly the more he tried the worse he gets. nothing, absolutely nothing is going rafas way.
i really think rafa will give next year a good go and try his best and if he is still struggling, i think he will give up tennis.
i blame it on his parents for his mental disintegration and shattered confidence and his poor playing schedule planning for his physical problems.

everytime rafa gets an opening to get the break or go ahead in the tiebreaks, he makes the most awful errors or goes ultra defensive and hopes the other guy misses. and his defence is no where near as great as it was in previous years.
he has also lost that amazing ability he had to play break points and 30 all points aggressively and calmly.

his magic on big points is missing. its amazing how he has lost these abilities so quickly.

i really dont know how he is going to get these things back so soon. if he plays and wins the davis cup, that might help, but he just looks a totally broken and shattered man.
i think his heart has been ripped apart for different reasons.

and the sad thing is, these years are his prime years, u cant ever get these years back. once its gone, its gone for good. u win as many slams as possible during ur prime years because u never know who is gonna enter the tennis scene and start winning all the slams. the older u get, u have to compete with the younger generation, and thats not easy.

ATR, I don't always agree with you, but this time I think you're spot on with your observations. The Rafa of Wimbledon 08 is missing in action and there are no signs of a second coming any time soon. It's frustrating to see how shaken he's been by the continuous barrage of adversity he's faced as his fairy tale life crashed with reality: Parent's divorce, knees failing, eliminated from RR by Soderling (of all people), ab problems and this happening before the hard court season, facing his worst surface at the worst time. Not to mention the fact that it seems that he may not be so impressed with Toni's advice anymore.
He needs to take a good look at himself, his game, and try to go back to his old self, even if it scares him that the knees will give out... He can't be himself if he's going to be playing constantly afraid of getting hurt.

I don't see any other player around that has chrisma like Nadal, even when the chips are down, he has that special something, I think it's honesty and courage. He is going through a tough time in his life where his world has turned upside down. It is tough but he will work it out, grow with maturity and again, entertain us with the magic he possess in his game. Right now his mind is not in charge of his game but confidence is not his problem, it is simply focus. Those who say he is finished are dissillusioned. Once a champion, always a champion. Give the man a break, he also has feelings. I am 100% behind Rafa.

I don't see any other player around that has charisma like Nadal, even when the chips are down, he has that special something, I think it's honesty and courage. He is going through a tough time in his life where his world has turned upside down. It is tough but he will work it out, grow with maturity and again, entertain us with the magic he possess in his game. Right now his mind is not in charge of his game but confidence is not his problem, it is simply focus. Those who say he is finished are disillusioned. Once a champion, always a champion. Give the man a break, he also has feelings. I am 100% behind Rafa.

Attacking...his parents both love him very much and it is not the end of the world if they are no longer together! You know the saying: better good divorce, than bad marriage! They could have still harmed his carrier even if they stayed have together and not getting along. It is life! Rafa is not a baby, he is a grown man and he has to accept that! His parents do not need to live together to show him their love and support! Sooner he gets that, sooner he will be able to move on and take control of his own life! He is out of focus, and maybe even out of shape, since he eventually did look tired on the court at some stage! He is going to work on it! He did say that he will resume practicing hard and start preparing for the Aussie open right after the DC. I am not sure I agree on your point about the DC, though! I still believe he will be able to win those matches in the DC finals. The way he is now, he is still better than most of his compatriots...and he will have huge support by his friends and Spanish crowd...I will be watching it. He should just be fine... and I can not wait to see how his game works on the clay! I would expect him to be attacking and playing his best...no pressure on his knees on the clay and he really feels ?at home? on that surface...