Defending champion Rafael Nadal addressed the press at the US Open today. The Spaniard discussed the state of his fingers, his rivalry with Novak Djokovic, his book and more.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English first, please.
Q. What are your thoughts about being here during a hurricane, and how will you spend your time?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t know what’s going on, I think. Nobody knows exactly what’s going on, no? But having the club closed, all the places in Manhattan will be closed, so not much. Just stay in the hotel. Maybe watch some films. But we will see what’s going on. I never had an experience with a hurricane. Is something new. I think is very bad for the city, for the weekend, for everybody. But, you know, that’s a new experience, and not enjoyable experience, but we know how is when is hurricane.
Q. How are the fingers?
RAFAEL NADAL: Much better. I am able to practice with normal conditions.
Q. Bandages? No bandages or anything?
RAFAEL NADAL: Bandages, yes. The skin is still very thin, but it’s fine.
Q. A lot of people have said you’ve been stymied, you’ve been flummoxed by Djokovic this season. I mean, do you feel like if you possibly meet him in the US Open this week or next week that you have good chance against him?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I am here. You know, I am here at the start of the tournament and you start to talk about a match against Djokovic. I have to win a lot to play Djokovic. And probably him, too. He’s not in the final yet. I am focused on try to play well and try to have very good practice this week. That’s what I am doing. And the good chances against Djokovic, those chances always depends how I am playing, how he’s playing. Not talking about here, talking in general. After we will see, no? I think I played a fantastic year this year. I had a lot of victories all the year; I am not happy about how I played against him.
Q. Could you talk about exactly what happened to your fingers? You got burned in Cincinnati at some restaurant, right?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I get burned in a Japanese restaurant. Probably, you know, the Teppanyaki grill was there, probably the plate. When I arrived at the restaurant the plate was there, so probably the plate stayed there for a long time. Not inside the grill. Something like this away to the grill. You know, when they put the food, I tried to put the plate closer to me and was obviously very hot. (Smiling.)
Q. So your pointing finger and two fingers?
RAFAEL NADAL: Two fingers.
Q. Can you tell us a little bit about this book? Was it important for you to do something like this?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it is something that we decided to do. Was the really first autobiography I was able to do. Was a good opportunity to work with John Carlin. We had a very good feeling together. He speaks in Spanish, too, so it makes a little bit easier everything to talk about the emotion and to talk about, you know… I think it was a fantastic experience. I talk a long time with him and remember a lot of things that you normally usually don’t think about the past, no? So when you start to talk you remember, yeah, few moments of your career, few moments when you were a kid. Was interesting and I had fun, and hopefully the book will like to the people.
Q. In the book where you talk about your parents’ separation, it seemed like it came out of the blue for you, that you did not realize that they were having any troubles. Is that right?
RAFAEL NADAL: I didn’t understand that very well. (Translation.) You know, what happened there was but in the book - I never talk about my personal things in the press, but, you know, all the changes in your life needs a little bit of time. That’s what happened. So after a little bit of time I was perfect, but, you know, at the beginning it’s tough. But, you know, I am not the only one who has the parents divorcing in one moment of my life. Only thing is that Mallorca the family is very important, you are very close of the people that your friends, your family. So any change in this part, these people close to you, affects you, no? That’s happened. That’s past.
Q. I understand how it affected you. What I don’t understand is how you did not see problems between your mother and father. You did not notice problems between your mom and dad?
RAFAEL NADAL: I know the problems, but anyway, I gonna repeat you, I don’t want to talk about that now.
Q. How does it feel to come here after having you won it last year? Do you see the tournament different? Is it less pressure because you won it once?
RAFAEL NADAL: The emotions probably are a little bit different, because when you come back after the victory of last year the emotions are higher. Of course, it was the last Grand Slam for me to complete all four. Was very, very nice moment of my career, one of the biggest moments of my career. That makes the comeback a little more special. But if we talk about the goal, is the same. Play well, try to arrive to the final rounds. That’s the same, no? Pressure? I don’t feel extra pressure. I am happy about how I did. I didn’t play very well during the summer, but I am practicing much better here. So we’ll see.
Q. Have you been surprised this year by the turnaround, where before it was you and Roger for so long at the top, and now all of a sudden - Djokovic didn’t come out of nowhere, but he really has jumped up very quickly this year. Have you been surprised by that change?
RAFAEL NADAL: Djokovic didn’t arrive this year, no?
Q. But he was not playing at the level that you were…
RAFAEL NADAL: He was No. 3 of the world for three years. That’s not bad.
Q. But he only won one slam.
RAFAEL NADAL: Only one, and most of the people never won one. For me is a little bit strange about the people here from tennis talks about Djokovic, about his big new improvement. Djokovic was here before, no? Djokovic played fantastic before. He had fantastic potential to be where he is today. He’s doing great. He’s playing without injuries. He’s playing very solid, the mental, the tennis. What he’s doing is something very difficult to repeat. For me surprise? I think for everybody surprise see a player that he’s not losing. He’s only lost two matches during all the year. For everybody surprising, but for me is no surprise that Djokovic is No. 1. For me is not a surprise that Djokovic is able to win Grand Slams, because he’s very good. That’s not from six months ago.
Q. Two questions: One, you’re 25 years old. Does it feel strange to have a book about your life at 25? And second, you seem like generally a pretty private person. What did you want to tell? What did you want to accomplish with this book?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I am lucky. 25 years old and I enjoyed a lot of experiences in my life. You never know if you can have another book in the future, but I felt it’s a good time to have that one. Is a little bit of the history of my life. Is a little bit of the history how I am where I am today. Just open a little bit more of my life to them, to the fans, to the people who support me, the people who are interested about me. For me, you know, now I am a little bit more open with the fans with the Twitter with the Facebook, and now with the book. So I am trying to be more connected with them, and that’s probably a good way to do it.
Courtesy: OfficalWebsite
Showing posts with label US Open. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US Open. Show all posts
Rafael Nadal - iReporters video
Here is a short video of Rafa answering a few questions by fans for CNN iReporters.
Video link here
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Video link here
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Rafa at The US Open Tennis Clinic
Rafa returns the love with 10 and Under Tennis
Thursday, August 25, 2011
For the campers of the Child Center of New York (CCNY), coming to the US Open and getting a chance to experience SmashZone was more than enough to classify August 25 as the red-letter day on their summer calendar.
Then Rafael Nadal wanted to see what all the fun was about, and a great day turned into an unforgettable event.
The defending Open champion and No. 2 seed stepped out from Interview Room 1 and the 2011 US Open Draw Ceremony and ambled over to the Chase Center, where SmashZone is housed, in full tennis gear, ready to take part in a 10 and Under Tennis clinic. Rafa's appearance is part of the "Returning the Love" initiative, with the US Open and the players of the ATP & WTA tours are proactively reaching out to New York City communities and surrounding areas— including youth, families and non-profit organizations—to create a positive and lasting impact.
It took a few seconds before each of the 30 kids from around the Greater Queens area realized who had just walked in the door - but when they did, they raced to the court in the middle of the floor.
"Thank you very much," Nadal said to each child as they lined up to hit, smiling as he swatted a few trick shots over the net with the foam balls designed for the QuickStart play format.
"Good job by all you guys - you should be very proud."
Not too long ago, the 25-year-old Grand Slam champion was in their shoes, taking his first swings as a small boy in Spain. In the United States, more and more youngsters learn the game through 10 and Under Tennis, which makes the game more accessible to children - with pop-up nets, smaller court dimensions and foam balls, a child can hitting successfully and have fun the very first day they pick up a racquet. SmashZone displays a wide array of 10 and Under Tennis-related games and activities which displace antiquated lessons and drills as introduction to tennis for today's kids.
"(The event) was a tremendous opportunity for our kids to learn a little bit about the sport of tennis and in real-life see a player like Nadal who is so great at what he does," said Laura Schenone, CCNY Communications Director. "We hope that this will give them the drive to achieve their own aspirations through tennis."
Schenone's CCNY outfit has operated in Queens for nearly 60 years as a non-profit agency to help at-risk children succeed in life. Their mission through programming - which includes Head Start, youth counseling, after-school mentorship and child abuse prevention in addition to recreational activities - is to create safe, active alternatives for children and their families to keep the family unit intact.
"We serve 18,000 kids each year with over 80 programs," said Schenone. "These kids are part of our summer camp program, and to have the chance to be here, where it all happens in tennis is thrilling - we're all so lucky."
Its true – how many kids in the world can say that they played tennis with the great Rafael Nadal?
For more information about the Child Center of New York and CCNY programming, please visit their website.
- Rafael Nadal Bio
Courtesy: USOpen Facebook
US Open Draw
As my laptop is dead :-( I am having to update via my iPhone so apologies in advance for any shoddy posts.
Here is a link to the draw for the upcoming US Open.
Rafa & Novak On A Date
The World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and 10-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal has went out together for some entertainment at Mamma Mia in New York.
Djokovic and Nadal have spotted at the ancient old musical Mamma Mia in New York, where both the players has some entertainment on Tuesday night. The American people amazed to see the tennis stars together at Mamma Mia. The 2011 French Open champion Nadal said that, he come from Broadway to see Mamma Mia along with Novak and had taken picture with them. Djokovic said that he will be return back into the action at US Open tournament, where he will begin practice session soon.
Courtesy: LiveTennisGuide
Rafael Nadal - The Time Is Now
When 2011 dawned nine months ago, not a single soul predicted that Rafael Nadal would become Novak Djokovic's lapdog. After all, Rafa had won three straight major titles, the last by beating Djokovic in the final.
Of course, now we can all see that the turnaround was inevitable. Empowered physically and mentally by a new diet, a Davis Cup title and a better serve, the streamlined Novak no longer had a soft spot -- i.e., Roger Federer's backhand, Andy Murray's brain -- to brutalize. As a result, Nadal suddenly understood what it felt like to play against himself. And he didn't like it.
This harsh reality has been harder for Nadal to accept than one would have expected. He's come right out and said that figuring out how to turn the tables on Djokovic is such a big job that it can't possibly happen before next season. Federer, with his bird's eye perspective on the game, recently hit on why that is: Rafa's never been dominated before. "I don't think it's rattling him badly," he said, diplomatic as ever, of Djokovic's five straight wins over Nadal. "But it should have some effect on him, because he doesn't have losing streaks against many players, or hasn't had, because he was such a good teenager, really."
That's a key point. Nadal was so good at such a young age that he skipped over an important step in development. The natural order of things is for a player, no matter how talented, to get beaten like an old rug early in his ATP career. Back in his pony-tail days, Federer regularly got pounded by Andre Agassi and even Lleyton Hewitt, before his 2003 breakthrough. But the same didn't happen to Nadal. He was a true prodigy, a phenomenon. In addition to his freakish teenage physique and skills, injuries kept him off the circuit early on. So when he made his very first appearance at Roland Garros, he won the thing. He even won his first-ever match against Federer, then the new number-one player in the world. And it was on a hard court.
This led to the Rafa Mythos, which Nadal bought into with equal or greater fervor than even his opponents. "I think I have the capacity to accept difficulties and overcome them that is superior to many of my rivals," he says in his new book.
That certainly has been true. Now it's more true of Djokovic than it is of Nadal.
The Spaniard's tail-between-the-legs response to Djokovic's rise has been a bit of a shock. Rafa has never been one to swagger -- that's always been an important aspect of his appeal. He's a pleasant, genuine guy. The idealized Nice Young Man. He brings boyish enthusiasm, not marking-my-territory arrogance, to the court. But there is a flip side to that humility: Abject acceptance of the Way of Things, whatever it might be. There will be no Connorsesque, "I'll chase that S.O.B. to the ends of the earth" bluster from him. He's number two again? OK, Rafa doesn't like it, but he accepts it.
To change this new, unpleasant reality, he needs to go away for a while, soak in the hot tub, gather his brain trust -- and work, work, work.
At least he thinks he does. He actually doesn't. And maybe Soreshouldergatewill convince him that the time to strike isn't 2012 but right now, in New York. Djokovic retired in the Cincy final against Murray, kicking up speculation that he's seriously hurt, that he's burned out. That he won't be ready for the U.S. Open next week. He'll be fit and ready, make no mistake. But the Djoker is amental block for Nadal, not a physical one. Rafa just needs to believe the Serbian will be 99% instead of 100%.
Yes, Djokovic can beat anyone at any time. That includes Federer and Nadal and the ghosts of Budge and Laver. He's that good. But the same is still true of Rafa. He's the defending U.S. Open champion, let's remember. And it's not like Djokovic has been blowing Nadal off the court this season. Their matches have been close, and Rafa just needs that little extra oomph to get over the hump. I never thought I'd be saying this, but he just needs to believe in himself.
Courtesy: OregonLiveOf course, now we can all see that the turnaround was inevitable. Empowered physically and mentally by a new diet, a Davis Cup title and a better serve, the streamlined Novak no longer had a soft spot -- i.e., Roger Federer's backhand, Andy Murray's brain -- to brutalize. As a result, Nadal suddenly understood what it felt like to play against himself. And he didn't like it.
This harsh reality has been harder for Nadal to accept than one would have expected. He's come right out and said that figuring out how to turn the tables on Djokovic is such a big job that it can't possibly happen before next season. Federer, with his bird's eye perspective on the game, recently hit on why that is: Rafa's never been dominated before. "I don't think it's rattling him badly," he said, diplomatic as ever, of Djokovic's five straight wins over Nadal. "But it should have some effect on him, because he doesn't have losing streaks against many players, or hasn't had, because he was such a good teenager, really."
That's a key point. Nadal was so good at such a young age that he skipped over an important step in development. The natural order of things is for a player, no matter how talented, to get beaten like an old rug early in his ATP career. Back in his pony-tail days, Federer regularly got pounded by Andre Agassi and even Lleyton Hewitt, before his 2003 breakthrough. But the same didn't happen to Nadal. He was a true prodigy, a phenomenon. In addition to his freakish teenage physique and skills, injuries kept him off the circuit early on. So when he made his very first appearance at Roland Garros, he won the thing. He even won his first-ever match against Federer, then the new number-one player in the world. And it was on a hard court.
This led to the Rafa Mythos, which Nadal bought into with equal or greater fervor than even his opponents. "I think I have the capacity to accept difficulties and overcome them that is superior to many of my rivals," he says in his new book.
That certainly has been true. Now it's more true of Djokovic than it is of Nadal.
The Spaniard's tail-between-the-legs response to Djokovic's rise has been a bit of a shock. Rafa has never been one to swagger -- that's always been an important aspect of his appeal. He's a pleasant, genuine guy. The idealized Nice Young Man. He brings boyish enthusiasm, not marking-my-territory arrogance, to the court. But there is a flip side to that humility: Abject acceptance of the Way of Things, whatever it might be. There will be no Connorsesque, "I'll chase that S.O.B. to the ends of the earth" bluster from him. He's number two again? OK, Rafa doesn't like it, but he accepts it.
To change this new, unpleasant reality, he needs to go away for a while, soak in the hot tub, gather his brain trust -- and work, work, work.
At least he thinks he does. He actually doesn't. And maybe Soreshouldergatewill convince him that the time to strike isn't 2012 but right now, in New York. Djokovic retired in the Cincy final against Murray, kicking up speculation that he's seriously hurt, that he's burned out. That he won't be ready for the U.S. Open next week. He'll be fit and ready, make no mistake. But the Djoker is amental block for Nadal, not a physical one. Rafa just needs to believe the Serbian will be 99% instead of 100%.
Yes, Djokovic can beat anyone at any time. That includes Federer and Nadal and the ghosts of Budge and Laver. He's that good. But the same is still true of Rafa. He's the defending U.S. Open champion, let's remember. And it's not like Djokovic has been blowing Nadal off the court this season. Their matches have been close, and Rafa just needs that little extra oomph to get over the hump. I never thought I'd be saying this, but he just needs to believe in himself.
Rafael Nadal - Less Pressure This Year
Photo credit: Rafael Nadal/Bacardi
Defending U.S. Open champion Rafael Nadal enters the year's final Grand Slam with less momentum than last year, but also less pressure to repeat as champion.
"After winning last year, the pressure is less," Nadal said in midtown Tuesday. "I now have all four Grand Slams."
In the time since he beat Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open final last September — completing his major trophy collection — Nadal has dropped to the No. 2 ranking while struggling to stem the rise of Djokovic, the new No. 1 and the Open's top seed.
Nadal appeared Tuesday as part of Bacardi's "Champions Drink Responsibly" event at Bar Basque, and he was asked about his own drinking habits. (In his memoir, "Rafa," which was published yesterday, the 25-year-old Spaniard writes, "I barely touch alcohol.")
"I am the first one, when I have a chance, to go out with friends," Nadal told reporters during a news conference. "Alcohol is part of that all the time. The thing is ... it's not necessary to take a crazy amount of alcohol. ... I have [had] fun 1,000 times without drinking too much."
Rafael Nadal - Go See Rafa Tomorrow
Facebook/Twitter update
Hi Guys! I will be at FoodParc (29th St and 6th Ave) tomorrow at 4PM- come support me as I am at an event for Bacardi Limited's Champions Drink Responsibly campaign.
Rafael Nadal has admitted he needs to raise his game in time for the US Open after losing to Mardy Fish in the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters.
Nadal has been some distance away from his best over the past fortnight, with some of his performances giving his fans plenty of cause for the concern, the most recently being his defeat to Fish in Cincinnati this past week.
Nadal's uncle and coach Toni is scheduled to arrived in the United States in the next few days to try and get the Spaniard prepared as best as possible ahead of the start of play at Flushing Meadows later this month.
"I have to play my game. I have to play aggressive," admitted Nadal. "I have to move faster.
"I have to play with more intensity and less mistakes. You know, sometimes [I] play well - is not the first time in my career that I am not playing that well, no?"
Speaking after his defeat to the in-form Fish, the world number two continued: "Last year I played terrible here, probably worse than this year.
"The important thing is [to] be ready to change the situation and for sure be fresh mentally and physically, too, to have the view about what you really need to change the situation."
Reflecting on his US Open win last year, Nadal said that his serve had been crucial to his success in New York.
"I didn't change my game a lot last year to play the US Open," he explained.
"My serve worked really well, but I played well. I played well a lot of times on hard courts, not only in the US Open last year. I won the Olympics; Montreal; I won Toronto; I won in Indian Wells twice; [a] few finals in Miami.
"So it's nothing that you think I played something very different last year in New York. No, I played well. That's what happened. I played well and the serve worked better than other times."
The US Open gets underway on August 29th.
Courtesy: Crunchsports
Nadal has been some distance away from his best over the past fortnight, with some of his performances giving his fans plenty of cause for the concern, the most recently being his defeat to Fish in Cincinnati this past week.
Nadal's uncle and coach Toni is scheduled to arrived in the United States in the next few days to try and get the Spaniard prepared as best as possible ahead of the start of play at Flushing Meadows later this month.
"I have to play my game. I have to play aggressive," admitted Nadal. "I have to move faster.
"I have to play with more intensity and less mistakes. You know, sometimes [I] play well - is not the first time in my career that I am not playing that well, no?"
Speaking after his defeat to the in-form Fish, the world number two continued: "Last year I played terrible here, probably worse than this year.
"The important thing is [to] be ready to change the situation and for sure be fresh mentally and physically, too, to have the view about what you really need to change the situation."
Reflecting on his US Open win last year, Nadal said that his serve had been crucial to his success in New York.
"I didn't change my game a lot last year to play the US Open," he explained.
"My serve worked really well, but I played well. I played well a lot of times on hard courts, not only in the US Open last year. I won the Olympics; Montreal; I won Toronto; I won in Indian Wells twice; [a] few finals in Miami.
"So it's nothing that you think I played something very different last year in New York. No, I played well. That's what happened. I played well and the serve worked better than other times."
The US Open gets underway on August 29th.
Courtesy: Crunchsports
Rafael Nadal - US Open Kit UPDATE
As per my previous post regarding Rafa's kit for the upcoming US Open, if you are UK based or if you prefer to purchase direct from Nike please use this link here
Happy shopping :)
Happy shopping :)
Rafael Nadal - Special Memories of The US Open
The Spaniard won the U.S. Open last year, becoming only the seventh player to win all four Grand Slam events. The U.S. Open was the most elusive for Nadal, who was so overcome with emotion after beating Novak Djokovic that he collapsed on the hard, blue court and lay face down while the emotions washed over him.
In an interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday, Nadal said that moment — and many others leading up to his first triumph at Flushing Meadows — have stuck with him as the defending champion.
"When you win in a place on the tournament and you come back to that (place), you always have special memories for there," Nadal said. "I spent very important moments for my career there, and very emotional moments.
"For sure, it's a little bit more special. But you're talking about the emotions. Talking about the play is different."
The 25-year-old Spaniard appears to be in good shape to give it another go. He's had a few injuries this season, though. He tore a muscle in his right leg during a quarterfinal loss at the Australian Open, hurt his left foot at Wimbledon but made it to the title match, where he lost to Djokovic.
And there was a strange, minor one when he arrived in Cincinnati for the Western & Southern Open, a tune-up tournament for the U.S. Open. The left-handed Nadal went to a restaurant, grabbed a plate with his right hand and burned the tips of his index and middle finger.
He uses his right hand to steady his backhand, so the fingers — wrapped for protection — come into play. Nadal was careful when shaking hands before and after the interview, with gauze wrapped around the fingertips.
His bigger concern is getting enough matches to get back into top competitive shape for the U.S. Open, which starts on Aug. 29. He had to have the injured foot numbed for his matches at Wimbledon, then took time off to let it heal. He beat Julien Benneteau 6-4, 7-5 on Tuesday.
"I had a fantastic season," said Nadal, currently ranked No. 2 behind Djokovic. "I probably played more finals than ever. The problem is I lost five. The season has been really good.
"I am fine. I didn't practice as much as I would love to do before the American hard-court season. I had the foot problem in Wimbledon, so I had to stop for almost a month. I didn't practice enough. I am trying my best every day."
He knows he'll get more attention when he shows up in New York this time. That winning moment surely will get replayed a lot in the buildup.
"You win a Grand Slam, the emotions are very high," Nadal said. "I won the U.S. Open. This is the tournament that I see the most difficult one for me to win. I never played well there before last year. I try to find different solutions to play well there.
"The personal satisfaction for me to win there — finally, the last Grand Slam for me, I won all four Grand Slams. For me, is more than a dream and something I never thought I'd do."
Nadal is doing something new in conjunction with his title defense. He's becoming an international spokesman for Bacardi Ltd.'s campaign promoting responsible drinking — the first time he's done anything like it. Driver Michael Schumacher was the first sports figure featured in its "Champions Drink Responsibly" campaign.
Nadal was initially hesitant to do anything associated with alcohol, until he learned the focus. Nadal said he knows people who have been hurt in alcohol-related accidents.
"I believe in the campaign," he said. "Almost everybody drinks alcohol, but the campaign is promoting if you want to go out and drink, drink responsibly. Have a plan to come home.
"I am young, so I love to promote these things (to young people). If I can influence them with the right way, I will be happy in that."
Courtesy: Associated Press via USA Today
In an interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday, Nadal said that moment — and many others leading up to his first triumph at Flushing Meadows — have stuck with him as the defending champion.
"When you win in a place on the tournament and you come back to that (place), you always have special memories for there," Nadal said. "I spent very important moments for my career there, and very emotional moments.
"For sure, it's a little bit more special. But you're talking about the emotions. Talking about the play is different."
The 25-year-old Spaniard appears to be in good shape to give it another go. He's had a few injuries this season, though. He tore a muscle in his right leg during a quarterfinal loss at the Australian Open, hurt his left foot at Wimbledon but made it to the title match, where he lost to Djokovic.
And there was a strange, minor one when he arrived in Cincinnati for the Western & Southern Open, a tune-up tournament for the U.S. Open. The left-handed Nadal went to a restaurant, grabbed a plate with his right hand and burned the tips of his index and middle finger.
He uses his right hand to steady his backhand, so the fingers — wrapped for protection — come into play. Nadal was careful when shaking hands before and after the interview, with gauze wrapped around the fingertips.
His bigger concern is getting enough matches to get back into top competitive shape for the U.S. Open, which starts on Aug. 29. He had to have the injured foot numbed for his matches at Wimbledon, then took time off to let it heal. He beat Julien Benneteau 6-4, 7-5 on Tuesday.
"I had a fantastic season," said Nadal, currently ranked No. 2 behind Djokovic. "I probably played more finals than ever. The problem is I lost five. The season has been really good.
"I am fine. I didn't practice as much as I would love to do before the American hard-court season. I had the foot problem in Wimbledon, so I had to stop for almost a month. I didn't practice enough. I am trying my best every day."
He knows he'll get more attention when he shows up in New York this time. That winning moment surely will get replayed a lot in the buildup.
"You win a Grand Slam, the emotions are very high," Nadal said. "I won the U.S. Open. This is the tournament that I see the most difficult one for me to win. I never played well there before last year. I try to find different solutions to play well there.
"The personal satisfaction for me to win there — finally, the last Grand Slam for me, I won all four Grand Slams. For me, is more than a dream and something I never thought I'd do."
Nadal is doing something new in conjunction with his title defense. He's becoming an international spokesman for Bacardi Ltd.'s campaign promoting responsible drinking — the first time he's done anything like it. Driver Michael Schumacher was the first sports figure featured in its "Champions Drink Responsibly" campaign.
Nadal was initially hesitant to do anything associated with alcohol, until he learned the focus. Nadal said he knows people who have been hurt in alcohol-related accidents.
"I believe in the campaign," he said. "Almost everybody drinks alcohol, but the campaign is promoting if you want to go out and drink, drink responsibly. Have a plan to come home.
"I am young, so I love to promote these things (to young people). If I can influence them with the right way, I will be happy in that."
Courtesy: Associated Press via USA Today
Rafael Nadal @ Macy's
If you are in New York check this out!
MEET TENNIS CHAMPION RAFAEL NADAL!
Join Macys when we welcome Tennis champion Rafael Nadal! Beginning at store opening on Sunday August 21st, be among the first 200 people to purchase a pair of jeans from the Armani Jeans Collection and have your photo taken with Rafael Nadal in a private meet and greet on the 2nd Floor in the Armani Jeans Mens Shop. Plus, be one of the first 100 people to make a $150 or more Armani Jeans Collection purchase and receive an Emporio Armani Underwear brief autographed by Rafael Nadal.
| MACY'S HERALD SQUARE | |
| 151 West 34th Street New York, NY 10001 |
Rafael Nadal - 9/11 Memory
Rafael Nadal has spoken about the effect watching the 9/11 tragedy unfold has on him. Photograph: Paul Chiasson/AP
Kevin Mitchell in Cincinnati
The Guardian, Tue 16 Aug 2011 20.48 BST
Courtesy: Guardian
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