rafael nadal

Rafael Nadal: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

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Rafael Nadal Goes Native in Japan

What he said:

“It’s not just noodles,I’ve had teppanyaki, I’ve been to the fish market. Whatever country in the world we play in we always look for Japanese food.”

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal denies that he’s solely a Japanese noodle sampler. The Spaniard was spotted slurping instant noodles prior and post his matches at the Japan Open. The Mallorcan also slipped freebies into his bag.

Nadal added:

“Maybe 30 percent of nights when we go for dinner around the world we eat Japanese food.”

What he really meant:

“I’m no noodle brain. I can grill, as well.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“A celebratory dinner of teriyaki and teppanyaki followed by saki should I defend my title here.”

Magnifique Novak Djokovic wins battle royale, US Open title

Magnifique.

In a veritable slugfest lasting a little over four hours, Novak Djokovic trumped the defending champion Rafael Nadal—6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1—at Flushing Meadows on Monday, Sept. 12,  2011.

The No.1 seed had an answer for everything the Mallorcan threw at him—from his top-spin forehands, ripped backhands, deceptive serves and breaks of service.

If Nadal would break the Djoker’s service, Djokovic would come roaring right back with his incisive return of serve. The Spaniard was outlasted, out-rallied and outplayed by the Serb on his own terms—from the baseline.

The US Open is his fourth major and leaves only the French Open to complete a career Slam.

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Andy Roddick: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Andy Roddick Does Not Let Cramps Crimp His Style

What he said:

“Cramp in your ass, you can’t sit on it anymore.  Makes it tough.”

Andy Roddick expounds on Rafael Nadal’s cramps collapse at his post-match interview.

Roddick said:

Yeah, not to put a dampener on the story, which I know you guys think is really big, but people cramp after matches when you’re cold.  It’s just something that happens.  It’s just unfortunate it happened in front of you all.  Every single player in there has had that happen before.  Every single one.  What we do, we run around, run miles and miles and miles and miles on the tennis court in nasty weather.  You throw nerves in there, I mean, it happens.  As long as it doesn’t happen during a match, you’re fine.

What he really meant:

“Have you ever seen a guy stand when he’s suffering from cramps?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Cold weather, nerves and plenty of running. What a cocktail for adrenaline.”

Serena Williams: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

“I love McDonald’s, I really do, but I’m not going to be able to eat it.  I always have left overs.  I’m left over queen.”

Serena Williams is quick to point out that, unlike Rafael Nadal, she has something healthier to eat in the wee hours of the morning—should any of her matches end that late.

What she really meant:

“Just to let you guys know ,I don’t overeat. I have leftovers—always.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“After gobbling all those bananas and energy bars on court, I’m still famished?”

Roger Federer: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“No, I haven’t.  I might read it.  I don’t know.  I haven’t come across it yet.  He hasn’t given me one yet.  (Laughter.) If he doesn’t, I’ll go buy one.  That’s not the issue.  (Laughter.) No, I haven’t had the time yet.  I don’t know if it’s gonna happen soon.”

Roger Federer has not yet read Rafael Nadal’s biography “Rafa: My Story” co-written with John Carlin.

What he really meant:

“I would have if he had said nasty things about me. Then these questions would have been unavoidable.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Why are you asking me a silly question like this? It’s Rafa’s book, not mine.”

Novak Djokovic:What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"I’m aware of the responsibility that I have as a present number one to represent the sport in some ways off the court. So I need to do that in a best possible way. You know, I’m trying. You tell me, how am I doing?"

Novak Djokovic cares about being No.1.

What he really meant:

“It’s quite difficult, you know. Earlier, I could take the mickey out of Roger (Federer) or Rafael (Nadal) when they were ranked higher. But I can’t mimic myself, can I?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“That explains the Maria Sharapova Head commercials.”

Rafael Nadal: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I doubt their intentions.”

Rafael Nadal has a healthy mistrust of dogs.

What he really meant:

“I look at dogs and wonder, ‘What are they thinking? To bite or not to bite? To bark or not to bark? To chase or not to chase?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“A dog is man’s best friend.”

Will Roger Federer continue his descent from the totem pole?

Roger Federer won his last major in January 2010 in Melbourne at the Australian Open.

The six majors that followed were divided among two bionic contestants, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

The Spaniard claimed four, the Serb two.

Has the Swiss truly fallen by the wayside?

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David Lloyd: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

 

What he said:

"If you look at Nadal, Djokovic and Federer when they come on the court, they have a demeanour.They are exceptionally well-dressed and clean-shaven. Andy doesn’t come on like that."

David Lloyd, former English Davis Cup captain, feels that Andy Murray lacks an on-court presence unlike his rivals, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

What he really meant:

“I really don’t feel a beard suits Murray but since I’m not qualified to talk about fashion sense, I’ll just link that to his lack of Grand Slam wins.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I love Bjorn Borg.”

Underwear, one-way streets and Central European champions

“Bjorn Loves John”—that’s what will be emblazoned on Bjorn Borg’s new line of underwear.

Mac the Mouth disclosed that he has donned the Borg name under his pants for the past 10 years. Now, he has a chance to get his own back.

The former champs are serious.

But John, why wear those undies beneath your clothes? Wear them over  like a modern-day superhero where those labels are visible to all and sundry.

A better idea would be for Bjorn to launch a special edition of ‘Borg loves Nadal’ when the Spaniard equals Bjorn’s record of 11 majors.

For a man who is immensely flattered to be compared to the inimitable Swede, there could be no bigger compliment.

But then, Armani might not be too happy about it.

For now, it’s merely a ‘Perfect 10’  for the Mallorcan.

Rafael Nadal was on his way to a third Wimbledon title and his 11th major, until he turned into a one-way path—‘Djokovic Street’. Unfortunately, traffic was not flowing his way.

The Serbian knocked out the defending champion in four sets, a thorough demolition of the man who would be ‘GOAT’. Is there a chance that we might soon be saying the same of Nadal, that he is the best ever except he was not the best of his generation?

That’s assuming the Djoker can sustain his spell of excellence and attain a stranglehold over his senior—by a year.

We shall see.

Did you know?

Petra Kvitova is the first Czech woman since Jana Novotna—in 1998—to win Wimbledon.

Jan Kodes was the last Czech man to triumph at Wimbledon in 1973 representing the erstwhile Czechoslovakia.

Novak Djokovic is the first Serbian to win the men’s title. He is the first man from a Central European country to win the title since Croatian Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.

No Central European ‘pair’ have lifted the singles title in the same year.

Quote of the day:
In science one tries to tell people, in such a way as to be understood by everyone, something that no one ever knew before. But in poetry, it’s the exact opposite. – Paul Dirac