LA ARMADA BEGINS DAVIS CUP FINAL PREPARATION

Barcelona, November 30th, 2009

The Spanish Armada has completed their the second day of training for the World Group Davis Cup Final against the Czech Republic, which takes place from the 4th to 6th of December at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.

The first training session took place in the morning with Rafa practicing for just over two hours with David Ferrer. While Feliciano Lopez and Juan Carlos Ferrero exercised on the practice court. The second one (scheduled for the afternoon) had David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero traineing on center court while the other players of the team has been in massage and recovery sessions with physiotherapists at the Spanish Mapfre Selection.

Rafa, who had not returned to the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona since he was the champion of the Davis Cup team in 2000, said in a press conference that "the sensations of this first training session were good, and I am eager to help the team in this final."

Then he continued to explain that "the court is in good condition considering it was barely finished and in time will be perfect for Friday".

Last night, all members of the Spanish Mapfre selection met at the hotel to follow the developments of the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, which (sadly for Rafa) Real lost 1-0.

By: Equipo Español de Copa Davis

Vamos Armada!

Source : http://www.rafaelnadal.com/nadal/en/home

Classement ATP

Classement de l'ATP:

• 1. Roger Federer (SUI) - 10 550 points
• 2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) - 9205
• 3. Novak Djokovic (SRB) - 8310
• 4. Andy Murray (GBR) - 7030
• 5. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) - 6785
• 6. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) - 4930 (+1)
• 7. Andy Roddick (USA) - 4410 (-1)
• 8. Robin Soderling (SWE) - 3410 (+1)
• 9. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) - 3300 (-1)
• 10. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) - 2875

Q&R avec Rafa / 28 novembre, 2009

Ask Rafa: the towels at the O2 look nice, have you kept any after the match?

I was sitting quite close to your uncle/coach Toni and noticed he gave you a lot of encouragement during your match. How important is his and the support of your fans to your morale while playing?
Vanesha

RN: Very, very much!!!

Dear Rafa
You have said you don't think you'll play until you're 30. Is that because you don't think your body will last that many years, or because you couldn't sustain the concentration or interest?
Love, Emma

RN: I said I am not sure ... not that I won't. I hope I do.

Hello Rafa, are you planning another charity event with Iker Casillas this year? It looked like lots of fun for a great cause.
Love Emily

RN: No, it looks like we are not doing it this year.

Have you ever dreamt of something at night, which happened in the next day, like a premonition?
Alicia, China.

RN: Yes, it happens sometimes. Strange, isn't it?

Dear Rafa,
As a long-time fan, I have seen you win and lose many matches. Did you ever get tears in your eyes in the locker room after losing a big match?
Muchos besos de Amberers Chloe xXx

RN: Yes. And also after winning. But not that many times.

Hola Rafael. Just on a lighter note, the towels don't look half bad. Have you collected any for a keepsake or for your friends? :) :-)
Mary (Australia)

RN: Nope.

Hi Rafa!!
What are your thoughts on Thierry Henry's handball during the France vs. Ireland World Cup qualifier?
JoAnn Chu

RN: I prefer not to comment on this. Thanks

Rafa's blog:London was great, but sadly not my tennis

Hello and goodbye to everyone.

It looks like the blog I have been doing here didn't bring me the luck as in previous ones ... I am already heading today back home and I thought I needed to write this before I leave London.

I have been treated unbelievable well by everyone. By you the fans, by the ATP, the tournament organizers, the hotel people. Everything here has been great except for my performance, for my matches. I tried but didn't find my game so I am going back home sad with not having played well but calm since I know I tried. I need to keep on working.

When I said at the press conference that I need to reset, I mean that I need to first play the Davis Cup final next week and then resume immediately practice and start thinking on what I have to do to get back to the top of my game.

As I say it was a real pleasure to be here in London and I want to thank the people who allow me to write here. I am a tennis player, not a writer, hope you all understand.

I also take the opportunity to wish all already some great holidays (I won't have them) and a Merry Christmas and New Year. I know it is early but I won't have the chance to write here then... :-)

Many thanks again and I am really looking forward to being back here at the beginning of the summer!!!

All the best

Rafa

Nadal restera N.2 mondial

L'élimination de Novak Djokovic avant les demi-finales de la Masters Cup permettra à Rafael Nadal de conserver sa 2e place mondiale à la fin de la saison. L'Espagnol aurait rétrogradé à la 3e place si le Serbe s'était imposé à Londres et avait conservé son titre en Masters Cup.

Il terminera l'année 2e mondial pour la 4e fois de sa carrière, après 2005, 2006 et 2007. Et une année en tant que N.1 en 2008.

C'est le premier joueur d'un classement ATP (depuis sa mise en place en 1973) à réaliser pareille performance.

Toni Nadal: "Il faut vivre avec"

Lors d'une interview accordée à Elmundodeportivo.es, Toni Nadal a confirmé que cette saison a été la plus difficile car "Rafael est très proche de sa famille et il se préoccupe des problèmes qu'elle a connus. Le tennis a son importance, mais ce n'est pas le plus important dans sa vie. Il échangerait ses victoires pour que sa famille soit bien. Cela l'a affecté (la séparation de ses parents), mais il faut vivre avec. Bien sûr, je l'ai aidé comme l'aurait fait un oncle pour son neveu. Mais si les choses vont mal, il vaut mieux éviter de faire dans la psychologie car cela n'arrangerait rien.".

Nadal: "Je ne changerai rien"

Rafael Nadal ne compte pas changer malgré les reproches. Le numéro deux mondial a été très clair là-dessus en conférence de presse après son dernier match à la Masters Cup. « Prendre l’initiative pour tous les points est quelque chose que je n’ai jamais fait dans ma vie; je ne suis pas un Djokovic qui passe tout le match à attaquer. J’ai mon style de jeu et je ne le changerai pas maintenant. ».

Rafa en photos

Rafa en photos

Rafa en photos

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 27: Rafael Nadal of Spain during the men's singles round robin match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena on November 27, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Nadal blanchi

Nadal blanchi

Photo: AFP/Carl de Souza Rafael Nadal

La saison de Rafael Nadal s'est terminée en queue de poisson.

En trois tentatives, le numéro deux mondial a été incapable de gagner un match à la Coupe Masters, présentée à Londres.

Vendredi, l'Espagnol a cédé lors de sa dernière rencontre du groupe B contre le Serbe Novak Djokovic. Nadal s'est incliné en deux manches de 6-7 (5/7) et 3-6.

En plus de ses trois défaites, le Majorquin a également été blanchi pour ce qui est des manches... zéro en six.

Dans l'ensemble, le spectacle a cependant été d'un niveau médiocre pour un choc entre les numéros deux et trois mondiaux. Les deux as ont multiplié les fautes directes, 35 pour Nadal, 37 pour Djokovic, et ont limité les coups gagnants, seulement 2 pour l'Espagnol avec son coup droit, naguère dévastateur.

Malgré sa victoire, Djokovic doit toujours attendre le résultat du match entre le Russe Nikolay Davydenko et le Suédois Robin Soderling afin de confirmer sa présence dans le carré d'as.

Pour l'instant, seul Soderling (2-0) est assuré de disputer les demi-finales.

Si le Suédois triomphe, Djokovic avancera. Par contre, si Davydenko l'emporte, il obtiendra son laissez-passer pour le tour suivant malgré une fiche identique de 2-1 avec Djokovic. C'est le nombre de manches gagnées et perdues qui départage les protagonistes.

Si Djokovic conserve son titre à la Coupe Masters, il ravira le 2e rang mondial à Nadal.

London Finals 2009 Wednesday Highlights

Rafa en photos