June 27, 2009

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The Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards (ESPYS) will once again recognize and celebrate the best sporting moments, and most successful athletes during the past year, when they take place on Sunday, July 15th at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

This year, the famous awards have honored Rafa with 3 nominations as the ‘Best Male International Athlete’, ‘Best Tennis Player’ and ‘Best Game’ for last year’s Wimbledon final against Roger Federer.

The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is another ESPY highlight, honoring an invidual for their personal courage or charitable works outside the sports arena, with past winners including such trailblazers as Muhammad Ali and tennis star Billie Jean King.

Unlike most awards shows, the ESPYs are probably most noted for its contribution to charity.

CATEGORIES

Best Game

Federer vs. Nadal 2008 Wimbledon Final

Steelers vs. Cardinals Super Bowl XLIII

Syracuse vs. Connecticut Big East Tournament Quarterfinals

Best Male International Athlete

Kaka, Soccer

Manu Ginobili, Basketball

Cristiano Ronaldo, Soccer

Rafael Nadal, Tennis

Best Male Tennis Player

Roger Federer

Rafael Nadal

Novak Djokovic

Bob And Mike Bryan

VIDEO: A big thanks to all the fans around the world for this incredibly kind gesture, especially to Maggy, who made this amazing video for Rafa.

June 20, 2009

The news is out. Rafa won't play Wimbledon this year. 

"I am not fit enough to play and as I said, I can't go on the centre court of Wimbledon if I am not 100% fit to play. The evolution of my knees are better, that's why I tried at Hurlingham, but I am not at the required level to play. As you can all imagine I am very disappointed, but I had to take this decision, one of the worst of my career."

Rafa will travel now back home to Mallorca and will rest and work in order to get fit for the rest of the season.

June 19, 2009

Rafa played an exhibition match yesterday afternnon against Lleyton Hewitt at the Hurlingham Club where he lost 6-4 6-3 and will play against  Stanislas Wawrinka today at around 2:30pm (local time).

"I love to play at the Hurlingham Club. Today's match was a real test, as close to reality as it could get. I will come back and play again and then make my decision about playing at Wimbledon or not," said Rafa after the match.

After the encounter, Rafa will hold a press conference.

Many thanks.

June 16, 2009

Just wanted to take advantage of this special occasion to send Pau [Gasol] a message on my website. 

Pau has always been a pioneer when it comes to important achievements in Spanish basketball, and if that wasn’t amazing enough, he was also one of the first basketball players in our country to make it at an international level. He’s done lots of special things. 

Personally, as a friend of mine and great person that he is; it makes me extremely proud to know that he has achieved such a great feat.

Pau is incredibly valuable to Spanish sport and to our society thanks to his ability to set a great example to others through his perseverance and humble ambition; accomplishing everything he sets in his mind....But to do it with a team as extraordinary as the Lakers, It’s unreal!

This is another amazing feat for Spanish Sport. I think sometimes it’s hard to value everything our country has achieved and we have to be very proud.

Thank you Pau, and once again, congratulations champ!

Rafa

June 16, 2009

Rafa landed in London today at around 1:00pm (Spanish time), together with his uncle and coach Toni Nadal, his physiotherapist, Rafel Maymó and his childhood friend, who sometimes travels with him as a hitting partner, Tomeu Salva.

Once settled into the same house that saw him leave London last year as the Wimbledon champion, Rafa had a short break, followed by a long - and not so intense- training session that went on for almost 3 hours at the Wimbledon Aorangi Park tennis Club.

There will be more news tomorrow. 

June 18, 2009

Rafa has confirmed that he will play an exhibition today at 2:15pm (if there are no last minute changes) at the Hurlingham Club with Lleyton Hewitt, - who also accepted the invitation from the organisers of the event – as his opponent. 

“It will be good to play tomorrow to get a better idea of how I feel on court, playing at a higher level than I would normally play during training,” said Rafa yesterday.

On Wednesday, Rafa also had his second 3-hour training session at the Wimbledon Aorangi Park Club, but never really reached the intense rhythm you normally would for a session as long as that: “It was 3 hours, but I took it easy, I didn’t put any pressure.”

June 16, 2009

World No.1 Rafael Nadal could play at the Hurlingham Cub, this Friday 19 June, as part of his preparations to defend his Wimbledon title. Rafa is expected to make a decision later this week. 

Rafa Nadal has played at this pre-Wimbledon event, which takes place at the renowned Hurlingham Club, South West London, twice before in 2006 and 2007. Rafael would be scheduled to play against  World No.19, Stanislas Wawrinka, who won a gold medal with fellow countryman Roger Federer at the 2008 Olympic Games and recently defeated him at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Looking to retain his 2008 Wimbledon crown, after playing a five-set epic final against Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal plans to travel to London tomorrow. 

"I have kindly been invited to play the traditional exhibition at the Hurlingham Club on Friday, June 19. I have played at that Club for several years now. It would be a good test for me to play there  on Friday to see how the knee is doing and it would provide the perfect setting to get some practice before Wimbledon. If I feel the recuperation is going well I will be more than happy to be there again. I hope that's the case," said Rafa.

June 13, 2009

So far, there hasn’t been any changes to Rafa’s schedule and there’s not that much new to report about. He is back training at the moment and working on his recovery like he told us here, through his website, last Tuesday.

The plans remain the same, which means that Rafa will travel to London next Tuesday 16th of June.

The only thing new to tell you guys about is that Francis Roig is in Manacor, helping out with the training and preparation of our champion.  

"I am going to give my 200% to be ready for the most important tournament in the world. The tournament that I always dream about. I will not go out and play, especially on the Wimbledon Centre Court, if I am not 100% ready to play."

"I have 2 difficult weeks ahead of me, especially because I won't be doing what I like doing most, which is to play tennis, but I will be working on my recovery through physiotherapy treatments as well as recovery work on the specific muscular area," said Rafa last Tuesday.

RAFAEL PUTS SUCCESS DOWN TO HOME COMFORTS AND A QUIET LIFE

We'd like to share with you this amazing article written by Simon Kinnersley from the The Times.  

June 13, 2009

“I have achieved all my dreams. My desire to win and the passion is still there, so too is my wish to keep practising and improving. But I am aware that once you get to No 1 in the world, the only way is down. Whether it is tomorrow, next year or in five years’ time, it will happen.

“But that is something that doesn’t worry me, because that is the nature of sport. If you are not prepared to lose and accept defeat, then you shouldn’t be playing. I know that I’ve been very fortunate, and if it all ends now, I’ve had a fantastic career and the privilege to live a life that most people never have the chance to experience. I will get my rod and go fishing.”

Read the full article

June 13, 2009

So far, there hasn’t been any changes to Rafa’s schedule and there’s not that much new to report about. He is back training at the moment and working on his recovery like he told us here, through his website, last Tuesday.

The plans remain the same, which means that Rafa will travel to London next Tuesday 16th of June.

The only thing new to tell you guys about is that Francis Roig is in Manacor, helping out with the training and preparation of our champion.  

"I am going to give my 200% to be ready for the most important tournament in the world. The tournament that I always dream about. I will not go out and play, especially on the Wimbledon Centre Court, if I am not 100% ready to play."

"I have 2 difficult weeks ahead of me, especially because I won't be doing what I like doing most, which is to play tennis, but I will be working on my recovery through physiotherapy treatments as well as recovery work on the specific muscular area," said Rafa last Tuesday.

While Rafa continues his treatment, we’d like to share with you this beautiful quote about Rafa Nadal from the seven-time Wimbledon champion and tennis legend, Steffi Graf:

“If you watch Rafael Nadal play tennis, you can only respond with amazement and great admiration. He is an incredible athlete with so much discipline, so much concentration and someone who likes to put a lot of passion into every point”.

“Words fail to come out of me to describe his game appropriately. I've rarely seen anyone who approaches a ball with so much attention. With such passion and joy that it makes it great fun to watch him. With him, you can associate everything that makes tennis so beautiful,” said Steffi to the German ‘Abendzeitung.de’ online newspaper.

http://www.abendzeitung.de/sport/tennis/111662

A special thank you to Mrs. Ridinger for sharing this quote with us.

Rafa Nadal has confirmed today that he will travel to London next Tuesday, June 16th. For the past 36 hours, Rafa Nadal, has been undergoing in-depth medical tests under the supervision of Doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro.

Rafa Nadal:

"I have been playing with pain on my knees for some months now and I simply can't go on like this. The pain was limiting certain movements in my body, which affected me mentally as well."

"After the tests and with the appropriate treatment, we have decided to travel to London next Tuesday, June 16th."

"I am going to give my 200% to be ready for the most important tournament in the world. The tournament that I always dream about. I will not go out and play, especially on the Wimbledon Centre Court, if I am not 100% ready to play."

"I have 2 difficult weeks ahead of me, especially because I won't be doing what I like doing most, which is to play tennis, but I will be working on my recovery through physiotherapy treatments as well as recovery work on the specific muscular area."

Doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, the Spanish Federation doctor and Managing Director of the Mapfre Medical Tennis Center:

"After the appropriate tests (MRI, Ultrasound scans and gammagraphy) Mr. Rafael Nadal suffers from insertion tendonitis in the superior end of both kneecaps with a light osseous edema.

His treatment will involve oral anti-inflammatories, physiotherapy as well as progressive muscular exercises for both quadriceps's.

Following the 48-hour treatment, Mr. Nadal will gradually get back into training."

There will be no further comments or statements today. For further information please contact (media only), Benito Perez-Barbadillo, Rafa's PR/Publicist.

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A special thanks to Maggie Yuen, (Midnightsnack09) for the video.

Song credit: Ryan Farish