Thursday 31 March 2011

Nadal - New Quely Advert

Found on Rafaholics







On 17 and February 18 we meet with Rafael Nadal at the Center for Modernization of Manacor new spots to shoot the ad campaign Quely, Rafa's Secret. To meet the objectives of shooting and plan the details of the recording, the company hired LOOPING Audiovisual Services, which had previously been charged with the development of scripts along with representatives of the marketing department Quely. The campaign will consist of three spots that develop the themes of energy, strength and speed.

The shooting took place smoothly and on schedule. Rafael Nadal showed no signs of fatigue at any time despite their previous commitments to the media and the hard training plan which has to undergo an elite athlete. He followed the instructions of the director, Oliver Hernández, with the seriousness and professionalism that characterize him.

Breaks in filming we noticed the good understanding between Rafa and the representatives of our company, which did not stop joking and commenting on the situation. We had the opportunity to give Quelites test Snacks and he expressed his curiosity about the new variety of flavors. The relaxed atmosphere also led to allow time for an impromptu tennis match between Rafael and Gabriel Domenech, co-founder of Quely. The match was very even, although we suspect that one of the two opponents did not deploy their full potential.

The ads, which are in post-production phase will see the light soon. We can not do much on its content, but all have had the opportunity to see the tests ensure that the result is spectacular. You will have to remain vigilant if you want to discover the secret of Rafa Nadal.

Rafael Nadal - New photos from Colombia


Rafa's official website has upload lots of new photos from the recent trip to Bogota.

To view them all click here

Nadal to meet Berdych


Nadal, Berdych set for rematch of Wimbledon final








A semifinal berth will be at stake when Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych do battle in Miami on Thursday. Nadal and Berdych are familiar foes who faced each other three times last season, including for the Wimbledon title.

Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych will be squaring off for the 13th time in their careers when they meet in the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson Open on Thursday.

Nadal leads the head-to-head series 9-3, including 4-3 on hard courts. Interestingly, Berdych took three of their first four encounters only to see Nadal win eight in a row. Their most significant clash came in last year's Wimbledon final, where Nadal dominated 6-3, 7-5, 6-4. They also faced each other in round-robin action at the World Tour Finals, with the Spaniard prevailing 7-6(3), 6-1.

Although Nadal is not quite in the same form that carried him to an amazing 2010 campaign, he is still a massive favorite in this one. The world No. 1 is 17-3 for the season and he has not dropped a set in Miami while cruising past Kei Nishikori, Feliciano Lopez, and Alexandr Dolgopolov. Nadal looked especially impressive in disposing of the fast-rising Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday.

Berdych slumped throughout the latter stages in 2010, but he is once again playing stellar tennis. The seventh-ranked Czech owns 19-6 record on the year, which includes a trio of quarterfinals in addition to semifinal performances in Chennai and Doha. So far in Miami he has taken out Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, Carlos Berlocq, and Florian Mayer--the last of which went to a third-set tiebreaker.

"Difficult match always," Nadal said Berdych. "We know each other. We played a lot of times, and I know if I play my best tennis I'm going to have chances against him. He can play very, very good, and I have to play very solid all the time with my serve and wait a chance on the return."

The No. 1 seed always downplays his chances, and based on current form this one should be easier than he expects. Berdych could make it competitive if his serve and forehand are clicking, but count on Nadal advancing in straight sets.

Courtesy: Tennistalk

Wednesday 30 March 2011

Rafael Nadal - Facebook update


Hola a todos. Ayer muy buen partido y muy contento. El dia fue largo por la lluvia Hoy dia de relax y entrenamiento por la tarde a las 4.

Hi all. Great match last night and very happy. It was a long day because of the rain. Today a relaxed day and practice this afternoon at 4pm.

Courtesy: Facebook

Nadal defends ad campaign

Jesus some people are never happy.  They have to find fault with everything.  Only days after the ads hitting the public Rafa has had to go on the defensive regarding his ad with Bacardi.

Quote from Tennis.com

"Rafael Nadal, who recently signed an endorsement deal with Bacardi, says it’s not unusual for an athlete to be sponsored by a liquor company. "I am not presenting alcohol party, you know," he said. "It's a responsible campaign, a social campaign. Anyway, I think alcohol is inside our lives, so is nothing new, no? But the campaign is not against alcohol but about be responsible when you go out. So wasn't difficult decision, because I think is very important social campaign, and I believe in this campaign."

Leave the lad alone, FFS!!!!  Do you see him falling out of nightclubs with a different girl on his arms?  Do you see him fighting after a few drinks, NO.  You see Rafa being responsible and promoting an education campaign to help others do likeless.

Nadal - Round 4 press conference

Transcript courtesy of Official Website

 THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.

 Q.  The weather today, did that cause you any disruptions, or just you know what you have to do in those sort of situations?
 RAFAEL NADAL:  No, you know, be calm and wait.  That's all.  Nothing else.  You can't do a lot of things in days like today.  Relax in the players' lounge, be with the friends.  That's it.
 It's nothing new.  It's something that happen a lot of times in the tennis.

 Q.  Playing Alexandr today, did you feel that he was maybe a little bit tired having to finish off against Tsonga today?
 RAFAEL NADAL:  I don't know.  I don't know if he was tired or not, but you can ask him, I think.  But maybe is possible, no?  But I think when we play matches, five set matches in Grand Slam is more than what he had.
 So I think probably is not easy play end of the match and after start of the match.  That's sure.  But that's part of the game, no?  It happen to me a few times, and I think in general I played at very good level, no?
 Probably he had more mistakes than usual, but I don't know if because he was little bit tired or not.

 Q.  Did you find the conditions heavy because of the rain from earlier on?
 RAFAEL NADAL:  No, heavy, very humid.  That's why I am sweating a lot.

 Q.  What about playing Tomas in the next round?
 RAFAEL NADAL:  Difficult match always, no?  We know each other.  We played a lot of times, and I know just play my best tennis I gonna have chances against him, no?
 He can play very, very good, and I have to play very solid all the time with my serve and wait a chance on the return.

 Q.  One question about being an ambassador for Bacardi.  I was just wondering, was that a difficult decision, seeing that alcohol and sponsorship for alcohol might be a little strange for some people?  Or was it more you saw the good it can do with the company?
 RAFAEL NADAL:  Did you see the campaign?

 Q.  Yeah.
 RAFAEL NADAL:  So, I mean, I am not presenting alcohol party, you know.  It's a responsible campaign, a social campaign.
 Anyway, I think alcohol is inside our lives, so is nothing new, no?  But the campaign is not against alcohol but about be responsible when you go out.
 So wasn't difficult decision, because I think is very important social campaign, and I believe in this campaign.  So it was a very easy decision, because I think is very good thing to do for Bacardi.

Nadal - Match highlights & Interview



Rafael Nadal - 4th Round photos

Courtesy: Yahoo





Tuesday 29 March 2011

Rafael Nadal - Round 3 Interview & video

Courtesy: Official Website

Interview:

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal continues to impress on serve at Crandon Park, defeating countryman Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-3 in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open. In the process Nadal moved closer to a potential semi-final showdown with arch rival Roger Federer.

Nadal, the two-time Miami finalist, is yet to drop serve at the tournament and did not face a break point Monday against his fellow left-hander. “I served well for moments, much better than Indian Wells,” Nadal said after his win.

“I think I played with the right rhythm. It’s always difficult to play against Feli, because it’s not comfortable. He plays slice, he plays aggressive, he has a fantastic serve… he doesn't want to play long points.”
  
Nadal broke his friend in the seventh game of the match to go up 4-3 and ended the set with another break. The No. 1 seed capitalized on his lone break point opportunity in the second set, enough to seal the victory in 78 minutes. “I think I played a solid match in general. I played good shots, very good passing shots,” said Nadal.

This was the ninth meeting between the two Spaniards and Nadal increased his head-to-head advantage over Lopez to a 7-2 mark. Regardless of their friendship, Nadal’s frame-of-mind was unaffected.

“I think nothing changed, because when you are on court, you're on court. You compete, and nothing is new for us. We are very, very good friends. We had dinner yesterday together, so this is normal,” expressed Nadal.

“That's the sport. That's competition. One player has to win; the other one has to lose. And [we] accept both things. We were talking in the locker room.”

In the fourth round,Nadal plays the winner of No. 15 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and 21st seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov.  Whomever his opponent is, Nadal is looking to build on his runner-up appearance at Indian Wells last week.

“Last week's final was a very important result for me, and I have to play well here to keep improving the situation in the race, to be in good position when the clay season starts,” Nadal said.

With a plethora of points to defend after Miami, Nadal is fully aware of the tussle he’ll have with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer for the No. 1 ranking, but is looking at the situation with a positive outlook. “I know I have to defend a lot of points, but seriously, I don't feel that I have to defend the points,” reckoned Nadal.

“I feel in every tournament that I am going to play I have the chance to win points, not to lose points.”

A win against Federer would place Rochus into the quarter-finals of an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event for the first time since Hamburg in 2003. It’s a tall order, considering the Belgian has never defeated the 16-time Grand Slam champion in seven career meetings.

“Like everybody, I need to serve well… try to be aggressive. Play my game to be in the court, not too far from the baseline,” evaluated Rochus. “It’s important for me to put in a lot of first serves, otherwise there will be a lot of pressure on my second serve, especially against one of the best players in the world.”

Federer and Rochus have been friends since they were 12, and the Swiss expects Rochus to leave everything
out on the court. “He has an amazing touch and feel out on the court, great playing sense, when to play which shot,” Federer said.

“Even though he's a small guy out there, he knows how to use his weapons and his feel.  He's a great
tactician.  I enjoy playing against him.  It's a different kind of playing style.  I'm looking forward to the match against him… it's going to be a nice match, I'm sure.”

Post match interview - Video

Watch Highlights

Young Rafael Nadal

Nice video that I have not seen before.  I hope you enjoy :)



Courtesy: nalonso68

Rafael Nadal - 3rd Round photos












Monday 28 March 2011

Rafael Nadal - Special Olympic donation


The Special Olympics Foundation has received 4 ‘Magic Bubbles’ as a gift from Rafa Nadal. The ‘Bubbles02’ are the same ones used by the champion to accelerate and improve his recovery after playing long matches.

Youngsters across the country will now be able to use this revolutionary pure-air equipment was entitled the ‘Magic Bubble’ by medical experts.

Currently, the level of contamination in the air affecting various countries is without doubt having an effect on the quality of air we breathe and it contaminates our respiratory and cellular systems. Thanks to the ‘Burbuja02 de Zonair3d’ though, it is now possible to allow athletes to breathe air free of contaminated particles, bacteria, and allergic agents which are the cause of a lot of diseases and it further helps the body recover and fight against illnesses such as asthma.

For people who have a 40% higher chance to develop breathing problems and low fitness, this ‘Bubble’ is a great provider of health and together with the ‘More than Tennis’ program - introduced by the Rafa Nadal Foundation and Special Olympics Spain – they will continue to provide kids with disabilities and youngsters an opportunity to get access to services that were impossible to have access to previously.

This technology -used by Rafa Nadal and all the other top Spanish tennis players from the Federación Española de Tenis will now bring the closer to a future full of opportunities.

Vamos Rafa!

Courtesy: Official Website

Rafael Nadal - God Bless Armani

We have the video in HD :-)



Screen shots


















Sunday 27 March 2011

Rafael Nadal - Round 2 post match press conference

Courtesy: Official Website

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How tough was that match in the end?
RAFAEL NADAL:
Was a difficult one for sure, yeah. Nishikori is a very, very good player. Is one of these first rounds that you don't want to see, I think. I'm very happy about how I played today. I think I played at high level tonight. The feeling was better than last week, so that's important thing. The serve worked very well at the end of the match. In general, I think was a really complete match, because Nishikori for a moment was really good and was difficult.

Q. You mentioned that you felt that you served better today. What did you have to work on to improve it? Because last week particularly in the final it was very much trouble for you.
RAFAEL NADAL:
Nothing. I tried to (indiscernible) about how I serve when I serve well. I tried to slow down a little bit the speed, but at the same time serve with higher percentage.

I think that worked well, no? Because I served 117 to 124, 25 miles almost every time. That's enough speed if you put the right percentage inside and if you put the balls close to the lines.

Nishikori I think is a good returner. He return very fast. He's fast and long and he's difficult. Only thing a little bit that I have to improve a little bit was the second serve, because the speed of the second serve was for moments 85, 88, 89, 90, 92, but I had to try to serve a little bit faster the second serve. But in general, seriously, I am very happy about the match of tonight.

Q. Earlier today Roger said that the surface is quite slow and it feels like clay. What do you think?
RAFAEL NADAL:
Never. Never can be like clay on hard because the movements are completely different. So that's makes impossible have a similar than clay when you are playing in hard, because in clay you cannot slice and you have more time. For sure I am not agree on that. The court is not very fast, not very slow, is average court. I think is normal one like probably the rest of the normal tournaments on hard. So no, I feel that the court is like every year.

Q. Next round you play Lopez, and you had pretty much a lot of success against him. Are you going to approach the match the same way as always?
RAFAEL NADAL:
For me the important thing is play my best tennis. If it's like this, I know it gonna be difficult match because he has a very good serve, good volley, and he's aggressive player, very dangerous, but playing very well I have my chances. I have to play aggressive with my forehand, try to move him, and go to the net when I have the chance. Similar than every time, but always every match is different and always a difficult one.

Rafael Nadal - practice photos

Photostream of Rafa's practice seession.

http://craighickmanontennis.blogspot.com/2011/03/slideshow-rafael-nadal-practice-session.html

Found via olerafa on Twitter

Rafael Nadal - Facebook update


New profile photo and pics from last night's match against Nishikori added to his album

Rafael Nadal - Pre tournament interview - Miami 2011

Courtesy: TennisX

THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.

Q.  I know you've won almost everything in this sport, but not Miami.  Is this kind of one you'd like to get?  I think you've won 6 out of 9 Masters?

RAFAEL NADAL:  No, I play every tournament with the same motivation.  It's always play well and then I gonna have a good result.  In this tournament I think I had two finals, another semifinal.  So I had the chances; I didn't win.

Is impossible win in every place.  I just accept the challenge and try to play my best tennis.  That's only way to win the tournament where all the best players of the world are playing.

Q.  Is it tougher than most because it comes right after Indian Wells and you always seem to go deep into that draw?

RAFAEL NADAL:  No.  No, I don't think so.

Q.  Did you consider playing in the soccer game the other night?  I know you went to watch.  Did you consider playing?

RAFAEL NADAL:  I would love, you know, but for me is important   probably most important   part of the season right now since Indian Wells until Wimbledon.  I had the knees problems and seriously, I don't want any risk right now, no?

Q.  What did you think of the game?  We heard that Andy Murray and Baghdatis were the best players.

RAFAEL NADAL:  I didn't see all the game, because I had to work with a sponsor in another place.  But they told me, yeah.

But remain the star, remain me.  (Laughing.)  No, seriously, Baghdatis and Murray told me    Djokovic told me that Baghdatis and Murray was playing unbelievable.  They lost 5 2, so, anyway, important thing is not the result, is the charity of the event.

I think was really good because the crowd was full there, very good atmosphere.

After in the dinner with Nole, I was there supporting the dinner, too.  So I think was fantastic, too.  That's important, always be active in these charity events, especially for Japan at this moment.

Q.  About 10 years ago you probably would have been one of the taller players on the tour.  Now you play guys like Querrey and Isner, Raonic and even Djokovic and these guys are 6'3" and higher.  Do you feel like the game is going in that direction?  Just gonna get taller and taller?  Is it tougher to play against these guys, too?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Yeah, but the best players of the world play from the baseline.  That's true.  Djokovic is very good from the baseline.  Federer is very good from the baseline.  Myself.  Last couple of years, my best quality is from the baseline.  Murray is from the baseline.  Soderling, too.  Davydenko, too, Berdych, too.

That's true, is coming    Del Potro is the only one, but he's characteristic is from the baseline, too.  Is true that the game is coming very tall guys, but at the end of the day, I think the best players of the world and the players who are in the top are players who plays from the baseline.

Is true is not easy play against Isner, against Karlovic, against Raonic, but we will see if that is the right way to be in the top.  I don't know.

Q.  Is there anything that you notice from your game at Indian Wells that you feel you could improve on in this tournament?

RAFAEL NADAL:  A lot of things.  (Smiling.)

I think during the tournament I didn't play really good.  It wasn't a good level for me.  Semifinals and final I improved my level of tennis, but during the final my serve worked terrible.

So that's the first thing.  I have to serve better if I want to have chances to compete against all the players.

And from the baseline, seriously, I think I finished the tournament playing much better than the beginning of the tournament.  So that's always a very positive thing.

Q.  Did you and Toni work on your serve?  Did you find out what was wrong with it?

RAFAEL NADAL:  We hope so, but we never know.  (Smiling.)
We gonna see tomorrow how it works hopefully better.

Q.  What is it that you love about playing tennis?

RAFAEL NADAL:  I love the competition.  Yeah.  I love the support in general, all the sports.  Tennis is my sport, so I like the tennis and especially I love the competition.

Q.  What is your perception of Djokovic?  Over the years he was joking, doing impersonations, this and that.  He's still very funny, but he seems to have tried to tone down a little bit maybe.  He's playing very, very, very well now.  What is your relationship with him?  What do you think the perception of him among the players is?

RAFAEL NADAL:  My relationship with him always was fantastic.  We are close.  I think he's a funny guy, but he's not playing now better because he's not doing his imitations or these things.  That's for sure.

You know, always the people, when somebody is playing very well, try to found the things outside of the tennis.  Seriously, the only thing what matters is what's happen inside the court.  Outside the court you can do imitations all the day, or you can do anything.

You can't go out every night, that's for sure, no?  But you can do anything.  You can have a really normal life and play very well or play very bad.  That doesn't affect inside the court.

What he's doing well is he's playing with confidence.  His level probably is not much higher than three years ago or two years ago or one year ago.  I always saw him as fantastic player.  His potential always was very, very high.  Everybody knows how good is him, and he can do what he's doing now.

He started the season like in 2008 and was the same.  So is nothing new.  We will see what's going on.  I think he's a very complete player because he can play on all of the surfaces very good, and that's an advantage.  He started better than possible, so he's in a very good position.

But the season always is long, and we will see what is going on.

Q.  Novak recently joined Twitter.  You're very present on Facebook.  Do you have any plans to join Twitter?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Not for the moment.  I happy with the Facebook.  I don't know.  No, for me is enough for the moment.

Q.  I want to ask you also about the Bacardi, the thing you're involved in with drinking responsibly.  Can you talk about that?  I wasn't at the event, but can you just tell us a little about that, the campaign.

RAFAEL NADAL:  I think is a very important social campaign, especially I think for everybody, but for the young people more.  The campaign is champions drink responsibly, but is a social campaign about if you have to go out, have a plan how to come back home safely.

Is a campaign about if you go out, you don't need to drink crazy.  You can drink few glasses of alcohol, but drink alcohol free and drink water.  Is important quality than quantity.  That is the campaign, no?

For sure I think everybody knows when you go out and you go for party with your friends, alcohol is part of that, part of the night.  But sometimes seems like you go out and you have to drink like crazy.  In my opinion, that's not like this.  That's the campaign.  I think it's important campaign.  I'm very happy to be the ambassador.

Rafael Nadal - Rd 2 wrap

Sorry for the delay.  My body clock is so up the wall at the moment due to living in the UK and staying up all night to watch tennis then having to go to work :(

Anyway Rafa has started his campaign for one of the missing Masters in his collection.  He was up against Japan's Kei Nishikori who in the past had given Rafa tough matches.  Understandably Kei has had other things on his mind following the devastating events in Japan.  Please check out the tennis auction he has helped put together here.  Even if you cannot bid a donation is welcome not matter how small, every penny will help.

Match Photos. Courtesy: Yahoo

















Match Video.  Courtesy: HighschooloftheDead



Match Report:

TimesofIndia
ATP