Confirmed! Rafael Nadal Will Play The Abu Dhabi Exhibition In 17 Days!

Oh joy this has made my xmas,i knew it was happening,but to hear it as confirmation has made my day,i dont know what will happen upon his return,but ill just be delighted to see him back playing again,vamos Rafa,from your no1 fan,the gal from Yorkshire,A.L.I.S.O.N.H.O.D,G.E,yipee welcome back Rafa,happy new year tennis x posters,its gonna be a great 2013, yes bring it on ha ha.

December 11th, 2012 at 1:20 pm

At last the great news all Rafa fans have been waiting for. Rafa fans all over the globe will be celebrating and rightly so. #WelcomeBackRafa

December 11th, 2012 at 2:42 pm

VAMOS RAFA!

December 11th, 2012 at 3:16 pm

Rafa said on facebook,i cant wait to get back on court at the end of the month,proof if ever it were needed,that Rafa still loves tennis.

December 11th, 2012 at 3:40 pm

Vamos!

I dont know why his spanish interviews are fabricated in wrong way. I read exactly ‘Rafa withdraws from Abu Dhabi’…and after few hours, it was changed ‘Rafa is unsure about Abu Dhabi or Melbourne’..I think rafa is aware of this and confirmed on facebook. I am still feeling nervous…Until he appears on the court, I wouldn’t be confident.

No matter what,Vamos!

December 11th, 2012 at 4:05 pm

Just read a tweet which was posted 4 hrs ago quoting Toni “If Rafa doesn’t feel he is at 100% we won’t go. We won’t risk ruining everything for just one week”. So, let’s just wait and see.

December 11th, 2012 at 4:40 pm

Was about time!!

December 11th, 2012 at 4:43 pm

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/12/Features/Top-Achievements-Of-2012.aspx

December 12th, 2012 at 4:29 am

To the joy of many long suffering Rafael Nadal fans and the tennis community, the Spaniard has confirmed that he will return to tennis later this month for the Abu Dhabi exhibition event.

alison, so very pleased for you!

Am so pleased now that both Roy and Giles have found a proper home!

Yet, I don’t see Roy here yet? Giles, send a post card to Roy won’t you?

Roy, here is your dream, you can post away now and leave Federer fans to continue with their responses.

For my part, will be great to see Rafa playing on court again after so long. It’s been so weird with him not being around.

Good luck to the great rafa fans on this site, NOT the false ones who pretend to enjoy tennis.

December 12th, 2012 at 6:14 am

Roy. Keep posting. Love your posts. Maybe you can put Madmax in his place!! #Assylum

December 12th, 2012 at 6:24 am

I think the position for Rafa’s #1 fan is hotly contested. He is not short of fans who would do anything just to see him with a racquet in his hand in a competitive match.

Roll on Mubadala. Can’t wait to see the King of Tennis in action!!!!!

December 12th, 2012 at 8:39 am

nadal back he must be off the juice he is a fraud and cheat big time he was given a silent doping banned by the itf where is that story vermin in the press

December 12th, 2012 at 10:51 am

I would not mind being the guy to bust a big time athlete for doping, but I’m gonna need more proof than “I don’t like Nadal so he’s doping, write about it.”

December 12th, 2012 at 11:23 am

Subo:

PATHETIC!

Quite literally there is no other label suitable for the crap you post about rafa.

Just where is the EVIDENCE other than strictly in the confines of your prejudiced, hate filled mind against rafa?

You make such a disgusting SLUR against a players WITHOUT ANY shred of credible evidence?

Actually I apologise: forget credible WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE!

Rafa, fed, nole, rochus or the marx brothers: IF you accuse a player or anyone of committing a wron then AT LEAST do so with the ability to back it up with some form of evidence!

Otherwise: KEEP YOUR TRAP SHUT!

December 12th, 2012 at 12:05 pm

Excuse me:

wrong>wron

typo!

December 12th, 2012 at 12:06 pm

Subo exactly the same post each and everytime(YAWN),Ben yeah spot on,Brando great post (DITTO),and Madmax thankyou.

December 12th, 2012 at 1:00 pm

E.I.E.T.M.O @December 12th 8.39am,my apologies for getting carried away,i got a bit excited im just delighted to have Rafa back thats all.

December 12th, 2012 at 1:05 pm

I am not a fan of his, but I hope that Nadal stays healthy for as long as possible. He is very important to the game and I hope that for his sake and for his fans sake that he is able to play the way he is known for.

December 12th, 2012 at 4:56 pm

It’s about international internet was subject to legal controls to shut up cowards like subo. In the UK ‘it’ would have been carted off to the courts long ago for defaming someone’s character without justification.

December 13th, 2012 at 9:03 am

It may be ok to miss Nadal in the second half of the season, but missing him in the first half would be like a crisis for a tennis fan. I just wish Nadal a healthy tennis season. If he is healthy, still I cannot see many guys outside Novak to beat him.

December 13th, 2012 at 9:31 am

Welcome back to Rafa: here’s a funny thread of tennis players reactions to Rafa’s return ;)

http://www.menstennisforums.com/showpost.php?p=12605749&postcount=2547

December 13th, 2012 at 12:57 pm

Jane lol love it hilarious,welcome back Rafa indeed.

December 13th, 2012 at 1:07 pm

BTW i dont know if its super imposed but Rafa looks cute in that santa claus hat yummy.

December 13th, 2012 at 1:18 pm

http://www.wooffiesrafaramblings.com/2011/12/rockin-around-atp.html. Alison. This Xmas was made last year by one of Rafa’s fans. Enjoy.

December 13th, 2012 at 1:43 pm

^ meant to say Xmas video

December 13th, 2012 at 1:44 pm

Giles lol looove it thankyou hilarious.

December 13th, 2012 at 1:49 pm

Jane,

Thanks for that, ROTFL!

December 13th, 2012 at 1:51 pm

Nadal won’t win another hard-court grand slam

http://www.thetennisspace.com/nadal-wont-win-another-hard-court-grand-slam/

Interview with Henri Leconte. The Frenchman doubts whether Rafa Nadal will ever win another hard-court grand slam title, suggesting that the Spaniard is only playing next month’s Australian Open to test that he will be fit for the French Open.

Leconte on Nadal: “Nadal is playing the Australian Open just to be sure that he’s fit enough to win the French Open for the eighth time. That’s all he wants. I don’t think he will go there to win the grand slam, but just to test himself for the French Open. Wimbledon will also be a goal for him, as the surface is okay on his knee, but winning a hard-court grand slam again in his career, that will be tough. I doubt he will. It will take him a long time to get back to where he is. If the ball doesn’t come out of the racket as fast as it did before, it will be complicated for him. Players will be able to beat him. And you need some rhythm. And you need to play some matches.”

Leconte on Murray: “I hope that Murray will be more relaxed now, that his victory will give him more energy, and that he will be more positive. Andy has improved his game a lot. He’s a fantastic player. He can do almost anything. I think his goal will be Wimbledon. The Australian Open is a great surface for his game, but he has to be fit physically, that’s the key.”

Leconte on Federer: “Federer is very smart and very organised. He’s not playing that much. He plays well when he has to play well. He knows that he can win another grand slam. Wimbledon is going to be the best surface for him. The US and Australian Opens are possible too, but you have to be more organised about your schedule. And that’s what he’s doing.”

December 13th, 2012 at 3:17 pm

@Jane:

ROFL, that was awesome! :-)

December 13th, 2012 at 4:12 pm

Glad you guys liked it; I thought it was a sweet little satire about why all the players want (and don’t want) Rafa back. Almagro’s comment on the golden swing, lol! ;) I love how it spoofs a bunch of the other goings on of the year, like Simon and Staks on female tennis players. It even gets the GOAT discussion and Sampras/Agassi rivalry in there, not to mention Roddick’s retirement (he’s “attending” MacDonalds). HA HA HA, lol. Pretty funny stuff.

December 13th, 2012 at 4:45 pm

Giles link is also quite funny too.

December 13th, 2012 at 4:56 pm

Every Tennis enthusiast is eagerly awaiting Nadal’s return. His mere presence will be electrifying and will add lustre to the creamy top. That being said, he needs some time to settle himself considering his long lay off. But, he has already done that once in his career when he came back after a layoff and regained the top spot in 2010. May be history will repeat itself. But Nadal has a mountain to climb especially with the likes of Novak, Andy and not to forget Roger are playing some fabulous Tennis.

December 15th, 2012 at 9:13 am

Michael given how many reminders us Rafa fans get about how crap and one dimensional our favorite is,and how lucky he is to have what he has,lucky in this match lucky in that match as if hes the only one,and how he hasnt won a title off clay since 2010,and given that hes had a crap couple of years,and how fantastic Federer,Djokovic,and Murray are playing,and what fantastic all surface players that they actually are,i think us Rafa fans already know he has a mountain to climb,believe you me this Rafa fans expectations are not that high,its merely enough for now that hes actually playing,i wont be setting myself up for a fall that way,its the only way to exist peacefully on this forum,otherwise your on a hiding to nothing.

December 15th, 2012 at 11:02 am

Finally watching tennis will be a pleasure again. That was a long six months of boring tennis well except Murray winning US Open. Nadal bring the spark with you. I do not care if you win another slam. But I hope you will!

December 18th, 2012 at 9:46 am

Rafa return to tennis in a few days time which is terrific as a fan,he returns as the underdog,i have no unrealistic expectations,he sounds pretty motivated which is great to here,so it will be interesting to see what happens upon his return,hes already cemented his legacy,as one of the greats of the game,the only thing he has left to prove is to himself,vamos Rafa welcome back.

December 21st, 2012 at 8:59 am

http://www.misionnadal.com/en/video. Rafa fans. Great gesture from Kia. Vamos Rafa! #WelcomeBackKing

December 21st, 2012 at 10:40 am

Giles thanks for that link.

December 22nd, 2012 at 4:42 am

Tennis without Rafa is like watching a film on low battery. He is the spark of tennis and I hope he gets right back to the top asap.

December 23rd, 2012 at 12:59 am

“Tennis without Rafa is like watching a film on low battery”

Wow, guess you have a high value of the game of tennis, NOT! No worries, when your loves tennis career is over, I am sure you will get your thrills in the Armani underwear career that will follow. I mean, do you really care about tennis? Pffft!

Yawn. Somehow I think tennis will survive without the tic picker and water bottle straightener…

December 23rd, 2012 at 2:35 am

Can’t wait for THE KING to get fit and start kicking the Sui’s butt again and again!! #VamosKing

December 23rd, 2012 at 3:21 am

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wKiM_GOvqE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Rafa fans. Enjoy! Our King will be back soon! Merry Christmas.

December 23rd, 2012 at 5:12 am

Skeezer you are right theres more to watching tennis than Rafa,dont get me wrong it will be great as a fan to have him back playing,but no player is bigger than the game itself.

December 23rd, 2012 at 5:34 am

BTW Giles nice video thanks,even though i cannot stand Maria Carrey or her singing,most deffinetly not in any way, shape or form is this woman the GOAT of music,as she sounds more like a cat been strangled.

December 23rd, 2012 at 5:41 am