[swissmaestro92]

He had such fight even back then, a solid display at such a young age, sorry for the relatively low quality.

 

[BodyServe]

In the first round of that tournament, he beat on court 14 Mario Ancic who had beaten the previous year Roger Federer.

He always had a better movement than most on the surface which has always given him an advantage, even if gamestyle wasn't really suited to the surface back then.

 

[Bakano]

Rafito 🤩😍🥰

"Three fail out of three, I hope it doesn't deterr him". LoL they still didn't know him 😁

 

[BauerAlmeida]

First Nadal appearance in a slam and Federer's first title.

 

[Break point Dom.]

Was he injured for FO in 2004 (and 2003)? Or did he lose in qualies?

Can also remember him losing a 5 set classic v Hewitt one year in AO, think it was 2005. Served notice that day.

 

[Budadiii]

Was he injured for FO in 2004 (and 2003)? Or did he lose in qualies?

Can also remember him losing a 5 set classic v Hewitt one year in AO, think it was 2005. Served notice that day.

Injured

 

[jojjeshruk]

Really nice to see some Paradron Srichapan footage. He was a bit before my time. Weirdly looking at his wikipedia this was his best slam preformance. Remember him being a big deal. He seemingly retired at 27 with his last slam being aussie open 2007. Was he injury plagued?

EDIT:
Apparently a wrist injury around 2007 ended his career and it was confirmed after he broke both his hands after motorcycle crash in 2010. Sad, seems he meant a lot to Thailand and the sport in Asia in general

EDIT2: Watching the highlights of his SF match against Fed in Basel 2006 and I can see why he was so big. We were robbed of some good forehand bashing years from him. Sad especially seeing how he was from a part of the world with very few top players.

 

[friður]

I think she has nothing to lose. Isn't that her mantra?

It is what it is.

 

[Police of Mind]

He had such fight even back then, a solid display at such a young age, sorry for the relatively low quality.

He was a lot more aggressive back then, funny seeing him drowning in those clothes still doing the mannerisms though.

Really nice to see some Paradron Srichapan footage. He was a bit before my time. Weirdly looking at his wikipedia this was his best slam preformance. Remember him being a big deal. He seemingly retired at 27 with his last slam being aussie open 2007. Was he injury plagued?

EDIT:
Apparently a wrist injury around 2007 ended his career and it was confirmed after he broke both his hands after motorcycle crash in 2010. Sad, seems he meant a lot to Thailand and the sport in Asia in general

EDIT2: Watching the highlights of his SF match against Fed in Basel 2006 and I can see why he was so big. We were robbed of some good forehand bashing years from him. Sad especially seeing how he was from a part of the world with very few top players.

The original gymnast.

 

[Losange]

Always nice to see these videos. Cant really say why, but Srichaphan had the 'it' factor.

 

[SuperG]

Nadal was chosen to play Stepanek in the live rubber lififth match in Davis Cup in Czech Rep and Rafa won that in three tough sets, think it was the next year. For Spain to give Rafa that pressure match showed how much they believed in the kid's ability to deal with pressure matches. Stepanek later proved he was a Davis Cup legend.