Rafael Nadal crosses 4 million followers on Twitter

Rafael Nadal's eight month lay-off from the sport does not seem to have impacted his popularity with the tennis fans across the world.

The Spaniard crossed 4 million followers on the micro-blogging site Twitter earlier this week. This makes him the first tennis player to do so and also ranks him inside the top 200 most followed people on the site.
Nadal has been on the site for over 18 months now.  Serena Wiliams is second among tennis players with 3.6 million followers on Twitter.
Nadal also has 11.5 million fans on Facebook.
Nadal came back to the sport after his lenght lay-off in February and won 3 of the four events he competed in including the Indian Wells Masters Series event a fortnight ago. However, he missed this week's Miami event to rest his knee and prepare for the clay court season ahead, where he has won the French Open title for seven of the last eight years.

Source:  http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Rafael-Nadal-crosses-4-million-followers-on-Twitter-articolo9134.html

Rafael Nadal´s book brings Yohan Cabaye out of depression

English football club Newcastle United’s Yohan Cabaye has shared that book by one of the best tennis players of all-time Rafael Nadal helped him to overcome depression.
Cabaye joined Newcastle United in 2011. After playing 52 games for the club in his first season and also playing for France in the Euro Cup 2012, he got severely fatigued and desperate for a break. At the start of 2012-13 season, he started to suffer from fatigue.
The Frenchman thinks that it was depression. He said, “Was it depression? I’m not afraid to say it. It was. But I was reassured after reading books by Jonny Wilkinson and Rafael Nadal in which they both talked about the same thing. They recalled post-competition depression and the need to have a break, and explained that their bodies could not keep up any more.”
Nadal has also faced some bad times during his illustrious career. In his book RAFA, Nadal has shared how he fought with those situations and came back to top again.
Even before winning his first Grand Slam title, the Spaniard had a career threatening foot injury. However, he managed to overcome that and then rose to the top of the world rankings. The 26-year-old had a severe knee injury in 2008 and could not defend his Wimbledon title due to that. However, he made a superb comeback, winning Australian Open at the start of 2009 season.
Then last year again, Nadal could not defend his London Olympics Gold Medal due to the same knee problem. The Spaniard stayed away from the tour for seven straight months, also missing US Open and this season’s Australian Open. However, he made a brilliant comeback once again, capturing three titles in the last two months.
Cabaye also suffered a groin injury during winter. It was a blessing in disguise for him as he went home and spent time with his family and friends. The Frenchman is now back at the club and practicing with his teammates.

Source:  http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Rafael-Nadals-book-brings-Yohan-Cabaye-out-of-depression-articolo9141.html

Rafael Nadal makes surprise visit to doctor to get his knees checked

It has been learnt that world number four Rafael Nadal suddenly went to his doctor Mikel Sánchez in the USP La Esperanza clinic in Vitoria to have a check up of his knees last week.

It is not yet known what did the doctors say about the condition of his knees but the only thing to worry for Nadal’s fans is that he had got his knees checked up after the Indian Wells Masters.
Nadal had gone to the doctor with his father and Luis Cotorro straight after winning the BNP Paribas Open. Doctors had said that the condition of his knees was fine, so what was the sudden need have this non-routine check up?
Fans of the Spanish star desperately want to see him in action during the European clay court swing with 100 percent fitness. They missed him a lot when he stayed away from the ATP World Tour for seven consecutive months, missing some of the biggest events like London Olympics, US Open, ATP World Tour Finals and Australian Open.
Nadal made a successful comeback on the clay courts of South America in February, winning two tournaments and being the runner-up at one. Real test of his knee came on the hard courts of Indian Wells and he passed it with brilliance as he captured the title by downing three of the top 10 players including Roger Federer.
It is hoped that Nadal went to doctor to just have one last check up before the start of European clay court swing and there was nothing serious. He will be taking part in the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters from April 14, where he is an eight-time defending champion.
The Spaniard needs to be fully fit during the clay season as he has to defend a mountain of points during those events. He gathered 4,590 during the clay season last year, winning in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Paris. His only below par performance came on the blue clay courts of the Madrid Masters.

Source:  http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Rafael-Nadal-makes-surprise-visit-to-doctor-to-get-his-knees-checked-articolo9144.html

The world watches as Rafa takes a bath

There are not many people whose bath time can cause ripples around the world. Sure, there was Archimedes and his 'Eureka!'* moment, when the Greek scholar's plunge into water brought a revelation about volume displacement, but beyond that earthshaking tub events are slim on the ground. Tennis legend and Team PokerStars SportStar Rafa Nadal is one of the few global superstars whose post-workout dip can cause headlines or, in this case, a global ad campaign.
*Incidentally, we run a big poker tour called Eureka! throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
 Today - yes, this very day - Rafa's bath spills over onto the internet with his new PokerStars advert where the King of Clay takes on pillow fight runner-up Lucia Arroyo in a heads-up tussle online. It's a match on a level playing field, albeit a playing field that involves a bath, a library and good Wi-Fi connections. (You can play PokerStars on mobile devices, just in case you didn't know.)

 "I play on PokerStars because I love competition - the battle of minds, and that is what this advertisement is all about," said Rafa Nadal.
Too right, Rafa. It's just a shame you couldn't hero-fold those aces.

What you've just seen is a sneak-preview of the 30 second advert which will hit TV screens around the world over the next couple of weeks (although for most it's 8 April). To coincide with the advertising campaign, PokerStars is also launching a deposit bonus for new players. Eligible deposits will be rewarded, by PokerStars, with extra funds added to player accounts. Keep your eyes open for that one, too.

Source:http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/rafa_nadal/2013/the-world-watches-as-rafa-takes-a-bath-131849.html

Rafa vs. Lucia - PokerStars.com

Rafael Nadal begins to train for clay court season

World number four Rafael Nadal is back on the clay courts at his home town Mallorca to train for the upcoming European summer clay court season.
The Spaniard uploaded a picture on his facebook page on Monday in which he could be seen hitting a forehand shot on the clay courts. He wrote, “Back to the practice on the clay court. A nice day!”
Nadal has a mountain of points to defend during the clay court season, which starts at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters and ends at the second Grand Slam of the season French Open.
Last year, Nadal started by winning his record eighth straight title at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters. Then he made another record by winning his seventh Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell title in the last eight years. After that, the Spaniard was stunned by his compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the third round on the blue clay courts of Mutua Madrid Open.
The Spaniard bounced back to capture Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome and then his record seventh French Open crown, beating world number one Novak Djokovic in the final of both events.
Nadal produced all that success with an injured knee but his joint did not hold for too long after that as he was stunned in his second matches at both Gerry Weber Open in Germany and Wimbledon. The Spanish star was forced to take seven months off to heal his knee, missing London Olympics, US Open, ATP World Tour Finals and this year’s Australian Open.
However, Nadal made a successful comeback on his favorite surface in February, as he grabbed back to back titles on the clay courts of Brazil Open and Mexico Open. The Spaniard’s success was not just limited to the red clay as he surprised everyone including himself by winning the BNP Paribas Open on the hard courts in Indian Wells.
Nadal chose to take one week’s rest instead of taking part in the ongoing second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event Sony Open. He made a wise decision as he is still fresh after making comeback from a long injury layoff. Testing his knee too much, could have proven costly for the 26-year-old.
The 11-time Grand Slam champion should now concentrate on the clay court season, where he would be the favorite to make more history by winning his eighth French Open title.

Source: http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Rafael-Nadal-begins-to-train-for-clay-court-season-articolo9065.html

Rafael Nadal exceeding expectations in comeback

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Rafael Nadal arrived at Indian Wells not believing he could win the tournament. A week later, the crystal trophy awarded to the champion was on the table next to him.
Nadal has been busy picking up trophies since he returned from a left knee injury in early February. The Spaniard has won three tournaments, including two on his favourite clay surface, and been runner-up in another after missing seven months.
“I did much more than what I dreamed,” he said after rallying to beat Juan Martin del Potro in three sets at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, his first hard-court tournament title since October 2010.
“Coming back is certainly something amazing for me, totally unexpected, and I received more support than ever from the crowd every place that I played.”

Nadal is on the crest of a wave now after last summer’s low point, when injury forced him to miss the London Olympics. He couldn’t practise because of tendinitis in his knee and various treatments yielded little success.
“When you feel that you are doing everything and the results are not being very satisfactory, you go down a little bit. The doubt when and where you will be able to be back on a tennis tournament is hard,” he said. “When you are there and wake up every morning and test yourself and the test is negative, it’s not the right feeling, that’s not nice.”


Nadal tapes his leg just below his left knee during matches, and he’s taking things day by day. He withdrew from this week’s tournament near Miami — where he pulled out of his semi-final last year because of his knee — on the advice of doctors.
He was told to go home and rest, and work on strengthening his quadriceps. He said he takes anti-inflammatories nightly because of his knee, and hopes he can play without them shortly.
He won’t return to the ATP tour until mid-April on clay in Monte Carlo.

Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesNadal moved up one spot to No. 4 in this week’s rankings.

Nadal moved up one spot to No. 4 in this week’s rankings, and Del Potro thinks he can consistently challenge the big three of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray soon. Nadal beat Federer in straight sets at Indian Wells.
“Rafa can do everything. Not many players can do that,” Del Potro said. “He’s very strong mentally. His game is very good, very strong, very solid. He has big talent, as well. It’s amazing how fast he’s recovered the level.”
Nadal was consumed by nerves in closing out his semi-final win over top-10 opponent Tomas Berdych, who lost 6-4, 7-5. Being away from competition for so long eroded his skill at managing the big points.
“Even if you practised a lot at home, that was not my case, you need to compete to feel 100% ready,” he said. “You need to compete to feel quick, recover the right vision of the points and the nice reaction in every moment.”
Nadal said his Indian Wells victory was the most emotional of his comeback tournaments. He collapsed on his back when del Potro’s last shot sailed wide. He got up, hugged del Potro, dashed over to his team in the stands for hugs. Then he fell to his knees on the court.
That kind of adrenaline could not be found during his seven months away.
“I miss the feeling to go on a big stadium with all the people, all this atmosphere that makes you feel something different,” he said.

Source: http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/03/19/rafael-nadal-exceeding-expectations-in-comeback/

« Au-delà de ce que j'ai rêvé »

                                         Rafael Nadal (Source d'image: Getty ) 

 INDIAN WELLS - Rafael Nadal est arrivé à Indian Wells en ne croyant pas pouvoir gagner le tournoi, mais c'est tout de même lui qui en est sorti avec le trophée du champion.

"C'est bien au-delà de ce que j'ai rêvé," a-t-il dit après avoir battu Juan Martin del Potro en finale, dimanche, pour signer un premier triomphe sur le dur depuis octobre 2010.
Les choses n'étaient pas aussi roses l'été dernier, quand la blessure l'a forcé à rater les Jeux de Londres. Il ne pouvait pas s'entraîner car il avait une tendinite au genou, et divers traitements ne donnaient pas les résultats souhaités.
"C'est un peu démoralisant quand vous croyez faire tout ce vous pouvez et que les résultats ne sont pas là, a dit Nadal. Ce n'est pas facile de ne pas savoir quand vous pourrez recommencer à jouer."
Nadal porte encore du ruban sous le genou durant ses matches, et il prend les choses au jour le jour. Il va respecter les conseils des médecins et s'absenter de l'Omnium Sony à Miami, qui se déroule cette semaine et la suivante.
Il va prendre du repos et travailler au niveau de ses quadriceps. Il prend encore des anti-inflammatoires à cause de son genou, mais il espère pouvoir jouer sans cela dans un avenir rapproché.
On ne devrait pas le revoir sur le circuit de l'ATP avant la mi-avril à Monte Carlo, sur terre battue.
Del Potro est d'avis que l'Espagnol pourra bientôt mettre au défi les trois joueurs de tête que sont Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer et Andy Murray. Nadal a battu Federer en deux sets en quarts de finale, à Indian Wells.
"Rafa a la rare capacité de pouvoir tout faire sur le terrain et il est très fort au niveau mental, a dit Del Potro. Il a vraiment beaucoup de talent, et c'est fabuleux de voir à quel point il a récupéré rapidement."

Classement ATP/ATP Ranks

L'Espagnol Rafael Nadal, vainqueur dimanche du tournoi d'Indian Wells, fait son retour dans le « Big Four » en pointant à la 4e place au classement ATP publié lundi.

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 13.280 pts
2. Roger Federer (SUI) 8715
3. Andy Murray (GBR) 8350
4. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6745 (+1)
5. David Ferrer (ESP) 6630 (-1)
6. Tomas Berdych (RÉP. T.) 5010
7. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 4830
8. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 3750
9. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 3090
10. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 2960
11. Marin Cilic (CRO) 2570 (+1)
12. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 2435 (-1)
13. Gilles Simon (FRA) 2300
14. Juan Monaco (ARG) 2185
15. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2135 (+1)
16. Milos Raonic (CAN) 2095 (+1)
17. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 1960 (+1)
18. Tommy Haas (ALL) 1925 (+1)
19. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 1785 (+1)
20. Sam Querrey (É.-U.) 1760 (+3)

Rafa en photos

INDIAN WELLS, CA - MARCH 17: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates with the trophy after defeating Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina to win the men's final match of the 2013 BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 17, 2013 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Michael Heiman/Getty Images) 2013 Getty Images

Rafael Nadal beats Juan Martin del Potro in Indian Wells final

Rafael Nadal capped a stunning return to tennis with victory over Juan Martin Del Potro in the final of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

The Spaniard, playing his first hard-court tournament in a year following a knee injury, won 4-6 6-3 6-4.
He adds Indian Wells to the clay-court titles he won in Brazil and Mexico since returning to action in February.
It was confirmed on Sunday that Nadal will not play in Miami next week, with European clay next on his schedule.

“It's probably one of the most emotional victories of my career”

Rafael Nadal

He heads back to Europe having surpassed all expectations, ending the first stage of his comeback with victory in one of the biggest hard-court tournaments in tennis, which featured all the world's leading players.

Nadal says his left knee has good days and bad days, and he had played down his chances on the more punishing hard courts, but it appears he is already back to his best whatever the surface.
"It's probably one of the most emotional victories of my career," said Nadal.

"The support since I came back has been huge. It's an unforgettable week for me and an unforgettable tournament."

Del Potro, 24, played his part in a tremendous final and went close to following up wins over Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic by making it a hat-trick with Nadal.
The Argentine came back from 0-3, 15-40, to take the first set and move a break up in the second with a run of nine out of 11 games, and victory was in sight at a set and 3-1 up.
Nadal was not done, however, and wrestled the momentum back as he began to win the battle of two of the biggest forehands in the game.
The Spaniard, 25, won five games in succession to force the decider and, after missing a chance to break at the start of the third, he did so with another vicious forehand winner in game three.
There was one final, brilliant cameo from Del Potro as he rescued a desperate situation at 0-40 and three match points down in game nine, but it was only a stay of execution.
Nadal served his way to another championship point and when he finally closed it out, the 11-time Grand Slam champion collapsed to the ground in scenes reminiscent of his major triumphs.
"I started the match playing fantastic, then Del Potro started playing a little more aggressive," said Nadal, whose last hard-court title came in 2010.
"In my opinion, I tried to change too early against his forehand. I was playing much too aggressive for my game.
"When I was able to calm myself, I began to play better. I started to play a little bit slower. My movement was unbelievable. Then I play a fantastic match,"

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/21825356

Nadal triomphe

                                         Photo :  AFP/Michael HEIMAN

Rafael Nadal a remporté son premier tournoi d'envergure depuis son retour de sa blessure au genou en défaisant Juan Martin del Potro (no 7) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 en finale à Indian Wells, dimanche.

L'Espagnol avait bien entamé le match avec une avance de 3-0 en première manche, mais a plié devant l'Argentin.

Nadal (no 5) s'est toutefois repris en effaçant un retard de 1-3 en seconde manche et a complètement renversé la vapeur. Le match marathon s'est terminé après 2 h 30 min de jeu.

« Je suis très heureux de mon niveau de tennis après ces sept mois (de blessure) et de moments difficiles », a déclaré l'Espagnol.

Il a donc gagné son troisième tournoi à Indian Wells (2007, 2009) et sa première compétition sur un terrain dur depuis 2010. Il s'agit également d'un troisième sacre consécutif cette saison.

La 5e raquette mondiale devance aussi maintenant Roger Federer avec 22 titres Masters de l'ATP. Il a cependant déclaré forfait pour le prochain, celui de Miami qui se mettra en branle lundi, puisque son docteur l'a forcé au repos.

Source:http://www.radio-canada.ca/sports/tennis/2013/03/17/001-sharapova-wozniacki-indian-wells.shtml

Pour son retour sur dur, Nadal s'offre le Masters d'Indian Wells

AFP / Frederic J. Brown

Indian Wells (Etats-Unis), ce 18 mars. Le Majorquin de 26 ans, qui n'avait pas joué entre juillet et février pour soigner sa blessure, a remporté dans le désert californien son troisième titre en quatre tournois disputés depuis son retour à la compétition. 

  L'Espagnol Rafael Nadal a dominé l'Argentin Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 dimanche en finale du Masters 1000 d'Indian Wells (Etats-Unis), son premier tournoi sur terrain dur depuis un an et sla blessure au genou gauche qui l'a éloigné des courts pendant sept mois.

Le Majorquin de 26 ans, qui n'avait pas joué entre juillet et février pour soigner sa blessure, a remporté dans le désert californien son troisième titre en quatre tournois disputés depuis son retour à la compétition.

Le numéro 5 mondial, qui s'impose à Indian Wells pour la troisième fois (2007, 2009), n'avait plus remporté un titre sur dur depuis octobre 2010 (Tokyo).

Nadal a démarré en trombe pour mener 3 jeux à 0. Mais Del Potro a réagi en enlevant huit des neuf jeux suivants. Face à un retard d'un set et 3-0, l'Espagnol a pu marquer cinq jeux d'affilée pour égaliser à une manche partout. Probablement fatigué par ses longues victoires dans la chaleur du désert californien vendredi face à Andy Murray (N.3) et samedi face à Novak Djokovic (N.1), Del Potro a moins bien tenu le choc physiquement que Nadal dans le dernier set.

L'Argentin jouait la deuxième finale de Masters 1000 de sa carrière (après Montréal 2009) et sa finale la plus importante depuis sa victoire surprise à l'US Open en septembre 2009, son seul titre du Grand Chelem.

Source: http://www.leparisien.fr/sports/autres/tennis-pour-son-retour-sur-dur-nadal-s-offre-le-masters-d-indian-wells-18-03-2013-2647279.php

Nadal ne sera pas à Miami

                                         Rafael Nadal (Source d'image: PC ) 


MIAMI (Etats-Unis) - L'Espagnol Rafael Nadal s'est retiré du tournoi Masters 1000 de Miami, qui débute mercredi, ont indiqué dimanche les organisateurs dans un communiqué.
«Le Sony Open a été notifié par l'ATP que Rafael Nadal a officiellement déclaré forfait pour le tournoi. Nous ne connaissons pas la raison de son retrait», ont indiqué les organisateurs.
Cette annonce est intervenue alors que Nadal disputait la finale du Masters 1000 d'Indian Wells contre l'Argentin Juan Martin Del Potro..
Depuis son retour à Vina del mar, il a atteint la finale des quatre tournois qu'il a disputés, dont les trois premiers sur terre battue.
Roger Federer, N.2 mondial, ne sera pas non plus à l'affiche du tournoi ATP de Miami. Le Suisse, qui joue un calendrier allégé cette saison, a choisi de faire l'impasse sur ce tournoi.
Les Masters 1000 sont la catégorie de tournoi la plus relevée après ceux du Grand Chelem.

Rafa en photos

Rafael Nadal, of Spain against Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Sunday, March 17, 2013, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)