Rafael Nadal

[Kamileki]

[Kamileki]

@Barty
Idziemy na trening:

[Kamileki]

@Barty
Co tam się dzieje, trening 35-letniego człowieka, który udaje, że gra w tenisa ściąga więcej ludzi niż całe Igrzyska przez całe dwa tygodnie:

[Nando]

[Kamileki]

@Barty
Panowie grają mecz (nie wiem kto tam dziś grał po południu, może Kudla i Nakaszima) a częśc ludzi z trybun odwróciła się i spogląda na trening króla, a jeszcze więcej czai się za barierkami xD

[Damian]

[Damian]

NHL Star Lars Eller Presents Rafael Nadal With Washington Capitals Jersey

Spoiler:

The top seed enjoys the surprise after his second-round win against Sock
Rafael Nadal scored in more ways than one Wednesday evening.

After the legendary Spaniard battled past American Jack Sock in a final-set tie-break in the second round of the Citi Open, the top seed received a special gift. NHL star Lars Eller, who won the Stanley Cup in 2018 with the Washington Capitals, presented Nadal with a customised “Nadal” Capitals jersey.


When meets @Capitals center @lellerofficial presented @RafaelNadal with his own custom jersey #CitiOpen pic.twitter.com/f204c37LhA

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 5, 2021
“It’s a sport I very much enjoy playing in my free time and also watching,” Eller said. "Especially having Nadal and this level of talent here, it’s a blessing to the city if you’re a tennis fan. We’ve got a Capitals jersey for him that I’m happy to hand over to him.”

Eller scored the game-winning goal in the Capitals’ Stanley Cup-clinching victory against the Las Vegas Golden Knights in 2018.

Nadal, who is making his debut in Washington, will play South African Lloyd Harris in the third round on Thursday evening. The Spaniard is chasing his third ATP Tour title of the season after lifting the trophy in Barcelona and Rome.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nadal-e ... 21-meeting

[Damian]

For Nadal, Positivity & Pain After Washington Loss

Spoiler:

The top seed reflects on his third-round loss against Harris
There was positivity and pain that came from Rafael Nadal’s third-round loss against Lloyd Harris on Thursday evening at the Citi Open. The good thing is his pain was not physical.

The top seed was disappointed to lose a tough three-setter against the fearless South African in front of a raucous Washington crowd that was fully behind the Spaniard. But after feeling pain in his left foot during his second-round win against Jack Sock on Wednesday, Nadal felt better against Harris.

“The most positive thing is my foot was better today than yesterday, so that's the best news possible,” Nadal said. “I played against a player that played well. For the moment, I think I played better than yesterday, but in the third when I had opportunities, the truth is his serve was huge and I played this last game really badly.”

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Nadal was very much in the match as he served at 4-5 in the decider. Up until that point, he was the only one to earn a break point in the third set. But Harris seized the moment and upset the World No. 3, finishing the job with a perfect lob.

“You can't have mistakes in the key moments, and in the key moments I think in the last game, I was a little bit more nervous. My serve was not working the proper way,” Nadal said. “That's it. Yes, well done for him. It’s a great victory for him. I wish him all the very best.”

This was Nadal’s first tournament since Roland Garros. The Spaniard admitted before the Citi Open that he went 20 days without playing tennis due to his left foot injury, which kept him out of Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics. So it was a major positive that Nadal made progress on that front on Thursday.

“I was able to move a bit better, so that is very important, especially for me personally, to keep enjoying the sport and keep having energy, believing that important things are possible,” Nadal said. “And then I need to keep improving. It’s true. I honestly didn't have two easy months. I had a lot of problems with my foot. I was not able to practise all the days that I really wanted, but I did as much as I could and I tried hard here.”


Nadal had never previously played or visited Washington. Throughout the week, the 88-time tour-level titlist was highly complimentary of the city — which he toured on a bike — and its people, who cheered loudly for him during his two matches.

“The most painful thing is [to] not be able to be on court again tomorrow in front of this amazing crowd,” Nadal said. “But I take a great experience [with] me. I was able to know a new city, for me a very important one. I enjoyed [it], and the support and the love of the people will stay [with] me.”

The 35-year-old apologised for his loss, calling out his “amazing” experience in the capital of the United States. But a victory was not to be against Harris.

“I tried very hard, as everybody knows. But [it] was not enough. [The] only thing I can do is congratulate my opponent and just keep going,” Nadal said. “I’m going to keep trying to practise the proper way and to give myself a chance to be better soon.”

The legendary lefty is set to compete in next week’s National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in Toronto, where he can break a tie with Novak Djokovic for the most ATP Masters 1000 titles (36 each). The Spaniard has won the Canadian Masters 1000 event five times.

“For me [the important thing] is just [to] keep going. Accept the challenge that I need to keep working, and I’ll probably have another chance next week in Toronto,” Nadal said. “I’m going to keep trying my best.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nadal-w ... y-reaction

[Kamileki]

[Kamileki]

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

Nadal: 'The Main Thing Is To Feel I'm Improving'

Spoiler:

The Spaniard has been managing a foot injury since Roland Garros
Second seed Rafael Nadal believes he is feeling physically stronger ahead of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers as he continues to manage a foot injury that has plagued him since Roland Garros.

The Spaniard has won Canada’s ATP Masters 1000 event five times, capturing back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019. However, Nadal is focusing on gradual improvement on the eve of the tournament in Toronto.

View Singles Draw

“I am going day by day,” Nadal said in his pre-tournament press conference. “The main thing is to try and feel I am improving and feel I am playing better and better, which is the goal at this tournament.

“I need to have a couple of weeks with less pain to have the confidence again with my movement. I am coming here to try and win, but also to keep feeling positive with my foot. I am not at my peak yet, but I have been practising better than I played in Washington, so I am excited to play here. Hopefully, I will be able to compete well.”

Nadal has been managing his foot injury since June when he reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros. The Spaniard returned last week at the Citi Open for the first action since Paris. Nadal defeated Jack Sock but fell to Lloyd Harris in the third round. However, the Spaniard left Washington with fewer injury concerns than when he arrived.

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“I couldn’t practise for a couple of weeks [after Roland Garros],” Nadal said. “It was around 20 days without a racquet trying to recover. Also, [it was difficult] mentally as well. I didn’t play well enough [at Roland Garros].

“Last week in Washington, the first round was tough with my foot, but in the second round, I felt a little bit better. Even if I lost, that is a positive thing for me. It is about trying to find the routine again on court. Trying to be competitive again. I need to have the feeling of playing a few days in a row without any problems.”

Nadal, who will begin against South African Harris or a qualifier, captured his first National Bank Open Presented by Rogers title in 2005 in Montreal, with Toronto sharing hosting duties with the Quebec City. As he aims for a Canada Masters 1000 hat-trick this coming week, having captured the trophy in 2018 and 2019, the 35-year-old is happy to be back in Canada where he has experienced so much success.

“I am happy to be here," Nadal added. "It is a place where I have had a lot of success in the past and many good memories.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nadal-t ... iew-sunday

[Lucas]

[Damian]

Nie jest łatwo.

[Damian]

[Nando]

Nadal Targeting No. 6 In Canada: Reigning champion Nadal arrives at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers with fond memories, having captured back-to-back titles at Canada's Masters 1000 event in 2018 and 2019. The 35-year-old, who also lifted the crown in 2005, 2008, and 2013, made his return to the Tour at the Citi Open last week after he recovered from a foot injury.

The Spaniard will be aiming to win his 89th tour-level title this week, having already claimed trophies in Rome and Barcelona earlier this year. The second seed could face a tricky opening foe in Lloyd Harris if the South African overcomes a qualifier in the first round. Harris upset Nadal in a three-set Washington thriller.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/toronto ... ing-report

[Damian]

[DUN I LOVE]

Cisza. Piękna cisza.

[Damian]

[DUN I LOVE]

Bez Rafy w Toronto: