[duong]

it seems that Toni Nadal talked on "Central Fox" (the quote is from https://twitter.com/CentralFOX_sur ) saying that Rafael will start practicing tennis again in 2 weeks, and that Toni still hopes he can play this year the WTF and/or the Davis cup final

source : http://www.lequipe.fr/Tennis/Actuali...-encore/317247

[Ash86]

Toni gave a press conference in Argentina today - he's there as part of a Babolat promotional tour. Initially it was reported that he said that Nadal would play DC and WTF but actually he seems to have said that he'll start training in 15 days, there's a small chance of WTF and DC but it's complicated (which I think suggests highly unlikely) and that he'll be totally ready for 2013.

Some other interesting comments such as his thoughts on Del Po (a player with a very high potential who can contend for no.1), Nalbandian (one of Toni's favourites to watch; very talented; great return), Monaco (a very complete player but lacks the 'punch' in key moments in matches; one of Nadal's closest friends); coaching in general (repeated that he thinks coaches should not have to worry about what they say to a player - the relationship of the player being your employer makes that complicated - which is why he doesn't get paid by Nadal; the mental part of a player needs to be worked on from a young age just like you work on the technical part) and finally he said that Nadal's very talented in football and in his view he's more talented than his brother in that regard (the one who played for Barcelona and Spain) - so perhaps Spain could have had that good striker they lack

Nothing that new (one interesting revelation - there was a story a year or so ago about Gaudio saying that Nadal broke all his racquets in the locker room after his loss in Buenos Aires 2005 to him - Toni said today that that wasn't true and Gaudio called Nadal personally to apologise about that. Nadal has apparently once broken a racquet according to Toni - at Roland Garros and it was when he hit his shoe with it.). Don't think much has changed re: his return - if he's training by mid-Oct he'll have a good 2 and a half months to prepare for the Aus Open which should be plenty. No excuses for fatigue next season!

[Ash86]

Originally Posted by duong

I didn't want to intervene on that topic, but I really think that it's not Nadal himself who decided to post that but his agent Benito : all of that is part of the marketing process to make fans looking forward to Nadal's come back, that's very obvious (journalists know that : recently Tignor wrote "what Rafa (Benito) posted on facebook").

What Rafa feels personally, I don't know but it surely cannot be guessed through these facebook videos/pictures.

I think some updates are clearly Benito (his PR rep) but some are him - the trophy photo actually seems more likely to be him. Benito lives in Monte Carlo, not Mallorca. Can't imagine Nadal was told to take a photo of his shoes with the trophies in the background and then to send it to Benito to post - all a bit complicated really. Seems more likely he has to post something daily-ish to keep sponsors happy (since his Nike gear isn't being seen on the tennis courts) and so he combined the photo with an interesting location.

Some of the more spontaneous responses to fans also seem more likely to be him e.g. he said the other day that he was looking forward to playing Federer again - whereas some updates are clearly by others in his team. If anything I think the time off has meant he's using it more himself than just having it updated as a marketing exercise.

[pepita1964]

Nadal good football striker no i do not think so but he can be very very good defender.

[Ash86]

Originally Posted by pepita1964

Nadal good football striker no i do not think so but he can be very very good defender.

He said he played as a striker.

[duong]

Originally Posted by Ash86

I think some updates are clearly Benito (his PR rep) but some are him - the trophy photo actually seems more likely to be him. Benito lives in Monte Carlo, not Mallorca. Can't imagine Nadal was told to take a photo of his shoes with the trophies in the background and then to send it to Benito to post - all a bit complicated really. Seems more likely he has to post something daily-ish to keep sponsors happy (since his Nike gear isn't being seen on the tennis courts) and so he combined the photo with an interesting location.

Some of the more spontaneous responses to fans also seem more likely to be him e.g. he said the other day that he was looking forward to playing Federer again - whereas some updates are clearly by others in his team. If anything I think the time off has meant he's using it more himself than just having it updated as a marketing exercise.

yes of course you're right some are Rafael's (but Benito can advice him to take this or that kind of picture), I meant especially the video of his matches with Roger and some posts which have looked "nostalgic" to some.

It's not the impression he gives that he's nostalgic and depressed from the l'Equipe journalists' impressions when they interviewed him or from the photos playing gulf or whatever.

[Lopez]

Originally Posted by Ash86

He said he played as a striker.

To be fair, I think that the final positions of players are determined later in age. Surely he could've been a striker but if he was a striker in juniors it doesn't signify too much IMO. Didn't he stop quite young anyway?

[Ash86]

Originally Posted by Lopez

To be fair, I think that the final positions of players are determined later in age. Surely he could've been a striker but if he was a striker in juniors it doesn't signify too much IMO. Didn't he stop quite young anyway?

Well that's true. Stopped playing at 12 I think. But did play for the Mallorcan national junior team in competitions etc. I think and was their top scorer. I don't think he'd be a defender - maybe not an out and out striker but seems like the kind of person who'd want the ball all the time - quite hyper. Defenders are usually calmer/more thinking personalities, happy to be without the ball, if they have to (sweeping generalisation of course but it's a different kind of person who plays football and is happy not to have the aim of scoring goals).

[pepita1964]

That is why he became tennis player. He just does not have that aggressive mind, but if we speak about Federer he is the most aggressive player i have ever seen. He is always a step forward he does not know what is that to defend.Federer could be a striker just because of this aggressive mind

[Xristos]

Rafa visited the doctor today. The situation's improved,but goes slower than expected.He'll only return when he's 100%(via @TenisExtra

[Nole fan]

Originally Posted by Kat_YYZ

Rafa seems depressed
First that pic of all his trophies on the shelf, then the video of his matches vs Roger. It's like he's already looking backwards on his career... like it's over. Like he's saying "Those were the days."

That's what fedfans are dying to see.

[Chirag]

Originally Posted by abraxas21

yesterday i rewatched the nadal-rosol wimbledon fifth set.

a thing of beauty.

I would have gone crying to my mommy after that beating in the fifth

Really stunning to watch

[Sunset of Age]

Originally Posted by tribalfusion

How is that embarrassing? It happens all the time time with people in the real world sometimes out of affection and sometimes just playfully. His winnings and skill don't impact whether someone wants to call him a kid.

We may well disagree on this matter, but I just cannot accept any a multi-millionaire sportsman still to be viewed as a 'kid' when being 26 years of age, and, moreover - already a genuine, regarded, heralded, multiple GS-winner and veteran after over 10 years of competeting at the ultmate top level at his sport. I think such is indeed embarrassing, if not right-out insulting.

It's his rather ghastly crew surrounding him that keeps on pushing this image of him being some kind of an innocent, ultimately vulnerable 'kid' - and yes I do hope Rafa will get rid of them - most notably that Tio Toni guy -one day, hopefully that day will come soon enough.
Just my opinion.

Good to read that he may well be back to compete at the WTF this year. Here's me hoping that indeed he will - the year-end-battle should not be without one of the major players indeed holding a GS title over this year.
Hope to see you around at the WTF this year Rafa, and if possible, even before that.

[Just like heaven]

Some kids made this for Rafa.

[Slasher1985]

Thank God that thread made earlier turned out to be a hoax and it was deleted. It scares me how much bad things some people wanna cause(not the OP there, he may have not checked enough).