After a hectic year, the No 1 tennis player, Rafael Nadal, spent a week in Mauritius. He was invited by the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) and stayed at the Royal Palm, together with his physiotherapist and 2 some friends. During his stay he could enjoy some of the best attractions on the island. 

Are you disappointed to miss the Davis Cup?

Rafael Nadal: To miss the Davis Cup and before that the Masters, is tough... I love to play for my country, especially when it comes during my best year.

It’s very tough. But my body was too tired to play and I had the problems with my knee. So I needed to recover. I have to accept that. Nothing I could do. I did watch all the matches on TV and gave support to my friends over the phone.

It was a great win, and I am very, very happy for them

hat did you like the most during your stay in Mauritius?

R.N: I had a great time there. The first day I stayed and got some relax in the hotel and it was perfect. The second day, we took a catamaran to Ilot Gabriel, and again, it was great. I spent some time snorkelling and there was a good variety of fish. The third day, we had a helicopter trip which enabled us to have a good overview of the island.

The mountains are nice and different from those in Mallorca.In the afternoon, I went fishing near Coin de Mire, off the north coast. The people were very nice with us, there.On the next day, we went to Ile aux Cerfs and Grande Rivière Sud Est. The weather was perfect and we had lunch on Ilot Mangénie.

I played golf on a beautiful and very difficult golf course.The Mauritian food is very nice and the sea food is excellent... I love seafood.

How do you compare Mauritius with Mallorca?

R.N: It is difficult to compare, they are different. I like calm, quiet places and I think both places are great. There are mountains here and in Mallorca too. But you know I am from Mallorca and still that is my favorite place. For holddays I would rate Mauritius up there too...

What are the other attractions you would have liked to do in Mauritius?

R.N: Maybe walk with lions... But definitely more fishing, more golf too. And complete the 18 hole of Ile aux Cerfs. I did only the 9-hole circuit.Unfortunately, I have not been staying long enough. May be I can come back...

Article from: 

www.orange.mu

November 28th

Iker Casillas and Rafa Nadal might play different sports but there is no doubting that their hearts both lie in the same place when it comes to football.

The tennis world No.1 is a staunch Real Madrid fan, as is Casillas, and when the two met today to discuss a charity event they are arranging, they couldn't resist talking about the upcoming clash with Barcelona.

"Rafa and I are both convinced that we will win 1-0 in the Camp Nou," Casillas told AS.The event is called 'Friends of Iker vs Friends of Rafa - To free the world of malaria' and will involve both tennis and football, and as an extra treat, a bit of karting action.

All the players have not yet been confirmed but F1 driver Fernando Alonso will definitely be taking part and Casillas and Nadal could not resist taking pops at the other today.

"Rafa has a good pair of feet but he does not have the vision," quipped the Real Madrid goalkeeper before Nadal responded with: "Iker could do with some tennis lessons, I would even give them for free if he wanted.

"The event will take place three days after the clash in the Camp Nou on the 16 December and tickets will be between €6-10.

Thursday, November 27th

Rafa featured amongst athletes, actors, musicians and politicians that have been honoured in this year’s GQ's Men Of Year.

GQ has named him, Barack Obama, Lonardo DiCaprio, Michael Phelps, Jon Hamm and 23 others amongst a very exclusive list of men who have achieved greatness in the course of 2008.  

Rafa conquered an amazing number of titles which included his 4th consecutive Roland Garros, his first Wimbledon crown, a gold medal at the Olympics as well as his latest achievement in the Davis Cup. (Which he was part of all the way till the semifinals).

Phelps picked up the Golden Boy award for his outstanding eight gold medals at the Summer Olympics, while President-elect Obama received distinction as 2008’s Game Changer, an honor which was determined before election day, the Huffington Post reports.

Also included on the list were actors John Malkovich (Mad Genius) and Aaron Eckhart (Villain), General David Petraeus (Leader of the Year) and Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane (The Mogul). A red carpet ceremony honoring the winners was held in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

In other news, Rafa will  be the guest of honor at the inauguration of this year's Moscow Millionaire Fair.

Rafa will arrive in the Russian capital Thursday night on a private plane and later will arrive at the gala opening shortly before midnight. The company, which organized the tennis star's visit to Moscow, specializes in the construction and sale of environmentally friendly homes that blend into the natural environment of Ibiza.

He will be accompanied by top executives of Vitaeibiza Homes, Angel Lazaro and Javier de la Huerga, as well as architect Javier Barba.

Last but not least, stayed tunned for Rafa’s appearance tomorrow at the presentation of  ‘The Casillas – Vs- Nadal’ Challenge against Malaria'.

The actual event will take place in Madrid on the 16tth of December.

Stay tunned for more news!

News Reference: RIA Novosti

24th of November

“I don’t think it’s possible to be any happier. They (the Spanish team) have achieved the impossible. To win against Argentina – who had a great winning streak at home – was without doubt very difficult.

Fernando Verdasco was brilliant. Specially from the 4th set onwards. In the first and 3rd you could tell he was nervous. Feliciano also, has had a great run in the final and let’s not forget Ferrer, whose had a very though last few months, but was also vital for the team.

I 'd like to talk about the four of them who achieved a great feat and we have to enjoy it. I had the chance to do thatat from home. I was a bit too nervous, but I enjoyed it”

“Emilio was great at all times. There has been though moments, but right now is not the time to talk about them. (The issues with  Pedro Muños, the president).”

“All credit to Emilio who was able to create a great atmosphere and stayed close to the team. I’m only one more player and with their victory they’ve demonstrated how capable they are”

“Let’s not forger Tommy Robreade, and Nico Almagro and all the other people who have contributed to this victory. They sacrificed themselves in Peru and they too should be congratulated for their efforts”

Rafa

22nd of November

All Spanish fans together with Rafa will be hooked to the TV today to follow the second day of the Davis Cup final. At the moment it's 1 all, which adds to the entertainment of all tennis fans. 

Rafa left them a personal message yesterday and you can read it again on his blog section. 

In the meantime however, we'd like to share with you a really nice article about Sports Illustrated's 'Sportsman of the Year' award in which they tell us why they think Rafa should be up for a nomination, enjoy!

My Sportsman: Rafael Nadal

In this time of global economic meltdown, the whole "embarrassment of riches" concept doesn't get bandied about much. But consider the landscape in men's tennis. For four years fans were treated to the Roger Federer Era, a golden age during which the Swiss ubermensch won a preposterous 11 of the 16 Grand Slam events he entered, all the while discharging his duties with superlative grace and style. Then, he's succeeded by a player who's not just comparably dominating, but comparably easy to like.

For 2008 Sportsman of the Year, I hereby put forth the candidacy of Spanish swashbuckler, Rafael Nadal. First the cold, rational facts: In 2008 Nadal became the first man since Björn Borg to win on both the clay of the French Open and the grass of Wimbledon, an extraordinary feat of versatility. Nadal beat his rival Federer each of the four times they played this year -- including their positively spellbinding Wimbledon final -- wresting away the No. 1 ranking in the process. He won titles on every surface and clinched Spain's spot in this weekend's Davis Cup final by beating Andy Roddick of the defending champion U.S. squad in September. To date he has won 82 matches this year against just 11 defeats, a Federerian winning percentage of .822.

What's that you say? In 2008 a prerequisite for the Sportsman of the Year consideration ought to be an Olympic gold medal? We almost forgot: Nadal won one of those too, taking the men's tennis event in Beijing.

Now the subjective: Nadal, 22, singlehandedly shatters the tired perception of the tennis player as a pampered, elitist pinhead. With a body that belongs in an NFL backfield (if not a UFC Octagon) he is all muscle, both bulk and fast-twitch, and, accordingly, his game is a devastating mix of power and speed. He doesn't stroke the ball so much as he pummels it, unfurling a lefty game that simply has no precedent. Yet his real strength is the mental variety. Nadal is that rare athlete whose game moves in lockstep to the stakes. In the fifth set of that episodic Wimbledon final, as darkness enveloped the court, it was Nadal who hit the biggest shots. ¿Como se dice: refuse to lose?

Just as important, Rafa, drawing on Federer's example, is good people. He competes honestly. He treats his colleagues with respect and humility. His next on-court tantrum will be his first. When he's off the tennis caravan he lives on the island of Mallorca with his folks and tools around in a Kia. In Beijing, while Federer lodged at a luxury hotel, Nadal stayed in the Olympic Village and was spotted lugging his dirty clothes to the laundry facility. "I don't think of myself as any better than anyone else," he said. "Why should I, because I can hit a tennis ball over a net well?"

For all of his populist sensibilities, Nadal, my SOY for 2008, still managed to inhabit rarefied air.

Sports Illustrated will announce its choice for Sportsman of the Year on Dec. 2.

Taken from sportsillustrated.cnn.com By Jon Wertheim

22nd of November

All Spanish fans together with Rafa will be hooked to the TV today to follow the second day of the Davis Cup final. At the moment, it's 1-1 all, which adds to the entertainment of all tennis fans. 

Rafa left them a personal message yesterday and you can read it again on his blog section. 

In the meantime however, we'd like to share with you a really nice article about Sports Illustrated's 'Sportsman of the Year' award in which they tell us why they think Rafa should be up for a nomination, enjoy!

My Sportsman: Rafael Nadal

In this time of global economic meltdown, the whole "embarrassment of riches" concept doesn't get bandied about much. But consider the landscape in men's tennis. For four years fans were treated to the Roger Federer Era, a golden age during which the Swiss ubermensch won a preposterous 11 of the 16 Grand Slam events he entered, all the while discharging his duties with superlative grace and style. Then, he's succeeded by a player who's not just comparably dominating, but comparably easy to like.

For 2008 Sportsman of the Year, I hereby put forth the candidacy of Spanish swashbuckler, Rafael Nadal. First the cold, rational facts: In 2008 Nadal became the first man since Björn Borg to win on both the clay of the French Open and the grass of Wimbledon, an extraordinary feat of versatility. Nadal beat his rival Federer each of the four times they played this year -- including their positively spellbinding Wimbledon final -- wresting away the No. 1 ranking in the process. He won titles on every surface and clinched Spain's spot in this weekend's Davis Cup final by beating Andy Roddick of the defending champion U.S. squad in September. To date he has won 82 matches this year against just 11 defeats, a Federerian winning percentage of .822.

What's that you say? In 2008 a prerequisite for the Sportsman of the Year consideration ought to be an Olympic gold medal? We almost forgot: Nadal won one of those too, taking the men's tennis event in Beijing.

Now the subjective: Nadal, 22, singlehandedly shatters the tired perception of the tennis player as a pampered, elitist pinhead. With a body that belongs in an NFL backfield (if not a UFC Octagon) he is all muscle, both bulk and fast-twitch, and, accordingly, his game is a devastating mix of power and speed. He doesn't stroke the ball so much as he pummels it, unfurling a lefty game that simply has no precedent. Yet his real strength is the mental variety. Nadal is that rare athlete whose game moves in lockstep to the stakes. In the fifth set of that episodic Wimbledon final, as darkness enveloped the court, it was Nadal who hit the biggest shots. ¿Como se dice: refuse to lose?

Just as important, Rafa, drawing on Federer's example, is good people. He competes honestly. He treats his colleagues with respect and humility. His next on-court tantrum will be his first. When he's off the tennis caravan he lives on the island of Mallorca with his folks and tools around in a Kia. In Beijing, while Federer lodged at a luxury hotel, Nadal stayed in the Olympic Village and was spotted lugging his dirty clothes to the laundry facility. "I don't think of myself as any better than anyone else," he said. "Why should I, because I can hit a tennis ball over a net well?"

For all of his populist sensibilities, Nadal, my SOY for 2008, still managed to inhabit rarefied air.

Sports Illustrated will announce its choice for Sportsman of the Year on Dec. 2.

Taken from sportsillustrated.cnn.com By Jon Wertheim

Just wanted to send a message of encouragement to my team-mates who are currently in Mar del Plata playing the Davis Cup.  You all know how much I would have liked to be there with them to honour Spain’s colours but unfortunately that is not the case.

I’ve been on the phone with them these last few days and I know they are very excited to play. They have no pressure what so ever and that is always good.

We have a very competitive team and we know they will give their everything to play the best they can. We have to trust them and support them.

Best of luck to them and Vamos España!

WE CAN DO IT!!!

Rafa

Look also at Rafa's Blog entry today. Here on the right.

Check out ATP's latest Tennis Show that looks back on Rafa Nadal's 2008 season, as peers pay tribute to the new year-end World No. 1. This video is presented by the ATP where Rafa, let's not forget that, is the Vice-President of the ATP Player's Council.

ROGER SAYS RAFA IS STILL HIS MAIN RIVAL

Roger Federer insists that he and Rafa Nadal remain the men to beat at the Grand Slam tournaments.

But with the Australian Open just two months away, Federer said the world's top two had the edge in experience.

"At the moment it's Rafa and myself," said the Swiss.

"I really still feel it's that way because we've played big events on so many occasions. I mean, we still have to play a few more Grand Slam finals.

Tuesday, 18th of November

Rafa Nadal is the third most popular athlete in the world wide web based on a report published by 'www.lalistawip.com'. A website that specializes in capturing and measuring all the information uploaded on the internet about famous personalities.

The Mallorcan No.1 tennis player in the world accumulated more than 28 million references yesterday and is only eclipsed by footballers, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Behind Rafa, the next Spaniard is Luis Aragonés, who is behind Ronaldhino and Maradonna. The president of FC Barcelona, Juan Laporta, is close behind in 10th position.

But who are the 100 people who generate more content?…Politicians, Barack Obama and Bush top the list with 200 million references and in case you’re wondering, Rafa appears in 21st position overall. 

Reference: El Mundo Deportivo

Friday 14th of November

Rafa Nadal is at home in Mallorca where he plans to stay till he recuperates from his knee injury. The aim is to look after his body and receive the medical attention that he needs.

In the meantime, we’d like to share with you these amazing pictures of Rafa for an ATP screening promotion done  at Checkpoint Charly in Berlin on the 6th of November.

We’d like to thank Peter Henke for sending us such wonderful photos!

NOTE: Stay tunned for more Rafa updates, including his 2009 calendar.

Once more, we’d like to thank all of his fans for their support and kind messages!