Rafael Nadal: Wimbledon Is The Most Dangerous Tournament Of The Year For Me

by Tom Gainey | June 22nd, 2014, 12:57 am
  • 47 Comments

Rafael Nadal took a cautious tone on the eve of Wimbledon. Speaking to the press on Saturday the 2-time Wimbledon champion is well aware of the dangers grass pose to his game.

“[Wimbledon] is really the most dangerous tournament of the year,” Nadal said. “[It] is a tournament you arrive to the first round, sometimes the match cannot be in your hands, because in the end is a surface that you don’t have the time to control the match.”

Nadal enters the event on a 3-match losing streak on grass, with a recent loss to Dustin Brown in Halle last week and a shock defeat to Steve Darcis in the first round at Wimbledon last year.


“Personally I feel that I am doing things better. It is true that for the last couple of years I didn’t play lot of matches on grass, but I am confident that I can do it again. I am not talking about winning, (rather) talking about play better than what I did the last couple of years on grass.”

“In the end, everybody remembers the winner,” Nadal said. “Everybody remembers the victories, and nobody remembers the losses. Obviously winning Roland Garros is a lot of confidence for me and give me the possibility to play here with less pressure. [It] is true that I didn’t play as much as I would like to play on grass for the last couple of years. I am not going to start from zero because I already played a lot in this surface in my career, but [it] is like a restart.”

Nadal opens play Tuesday against fellow lefty Martin Klizan. The Spaniard could then face a rematch against Lukas Rosol in the second round with Ivo Karlovic potentially in the third.

“I don’t see farther than today,” Nadal said about the draw. “I have a tough first round against Klizan. For the last two years I lost in the first and second round… I start from the first round in every surface. You can imagine even more here on grass.

“I am here in Wimbledon and I really want to try to play well here. That’s my real goal today.”


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47 Comments for Rafael Nadal: Wimbledon Is The Most Dangerous Tournament Of The Year For Me

Patson Says:

Fair enough.

Seems like Rafa is determined this year and I would be surprised if he goes out early again. With his ability to learn and rectify mistakes, you have to wonder how could he possibly go out AGAIN for the third time in a row!

Nadal gets to the 2nd week – says the self-declared Duke of Tennisburg Lord Patson VII.


Giles Says:

Does anyone know whether the roof is closed overnight?
Colin?


metan Says:

Yooohoo, Rafa is @ wimby. Great that he knows his problem. Practice hard RAFA so you can get trough ugly first week and all the way to the final and bite the trophy.
VAMOS, Rafa, you can do it.


Okiegal Says:

@Patson

As an adoring fan of Rafael, I so hope you are right, Lord Patson VII! LOL


Margot Says:

THE Lady Margot says, “Can Andy do it? Yes, he can!”
;)
Of course “will he do it” is a totally different kettle of caviar..
Talking of food:
@ OK I believe u r a Southern Belle? What the heck do “grits” taste like? They sound disgusting, but am sure they’re not.


calmdownplease Says:

Margot, I’m not sure you got it when I posted it yesterday but just in case you missed it;

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/sports/2014/06/19/spc-open-court-wimbledon-andy-murray.cnn.html


Margot Says:

But dahling, I hang on your EVERY word….dontyaknow?
Wait a minute….um…. no, will go and read forthwith.


calmdownplease Says:

quite,
and as you should ;)


Okiegal Says:

@Margot

It’s a product of corn. They are referred to as hominy grits for the most part. Grits mean coarse meal. Grits would be akin to oatmeal, but ground a little finer. They come in a box like oatmeal and added to boiling water…….I don’t care for them either. They also have the texture of tapioca pudding. Hope this helps, Margot! We Southern Belles aim to please! Lol


Michael Says:

It is surprising to see Rafa’s lack of confidence on Grass. Afterall, Wimbledon is the tournament where he made five straight finals which is a phenomenal feat by any standards and in both 2008 and 2010, he did the rare double by winning Rolland Garros and Wimbledon at a stretch which was possible only for the legendary Bjorn Borg. But Rafa had some frightening scares early on in the tournament even when he made those five finals. He was stretched by Robin Haase, Petzschner quite early on and he was some what shaky in earlier rounds. Even in this round of Wimbledon, if Rafa makes the second week, then things could turn different and he would regain his confidence and even be a heavy contender for the title.


Okiegal Says:

@Margot

After reading your post again, all you wanted to know was what they tasted like. I went deeper, huh?
As I said they have a tapioca pudding texture and most people add sugar to them. There are lots of southern recipes that are grit based also.


Okiegal Says:

@Michael

I am surprised by his reaction regarding grass also. As you stated above, he has been more successful than not on this surface. I always dread his first match……always a bit shaky! Win….lose. or draw I am anxiously waiting for it to start and wish all the fans best of luck for their favs to make good showings and for my fav to bite another trophy!! Lol


Giles Says:

Rafa’s lack of confidence on grass over the last few years is pretty obvious to me – his knees. The ball bounces really low and he has to bend down and strain his knees.


skeezer Says:

“Everybody remembers the victories, and nobody remembers the losses.”

Errr, ,,no. There’s been lots of talk here and by the media about your spectactular losses. It’s remembered well.


Goatexpert Says:

Ya, bending down should not be a part of tennis. How dare they have surfaces where the ball doesn’t bounce above the shoulders every time? What are moonballers supposed to do – bend their knees? Come on. Do away with these surfaces. Tennis is meant for clay – slow red clay. That’s it. How else can moonballers “control a match”?


skeezer Says:

“The ball bounces really low and he has to bend down and strain his knees.”
Are you saying Rafa doesn’t have the body to play Tennis?

It’s wonderful that this sport tests all your physicalities. You have to train and prep the right ways for all the variety that tennis demands.


Giles Says:

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.
Take note Goatexpert and skeezer!


Gorgeous George Says:

“Everybody remembers the victories, and nobody remembers the losses.”

By everybody, he is referring to mainstream fans excluding fandom extremists that take satisfaction from the disappointment of others.

Moonballers that have beaten Federer on each and every slam surfrace as opposed to just one.

Hilarious!


Dan Martin Says:

I have some wimbledon content up at http://tennisabides.com – I think Rafa is the hardest player to predict as he has 5 Wimbledon finals under his belt & has lost 3 straight matches on grass. His knees and the first week grass are not good according to Rafa.


Lulu Says:

@Okiegal
@Margot

I love grits! By themselves they have very little flavor, which is why they are often prepared with cheese or cream. Personally, I am partial to the very creamy version often served in South Carolina & Louisiana. Shrimp & grits is one of my favorite dishes.

I’m super excited for Wimbledon & really hoping Rafa can make it to the second week!


Margot Says:

@OK
Ta, that’s was interesting, and telling me it’s like tapioca, I get it, sounds like porridge? Now
@Lulu is telling me it can be savoury too. Well traditionally you put salt in porridge, but I like mine with honey!
Reason I asked was a cookery programme on the radio and the bloke was going round Carolina sampling local food and “grits” figured a lot!
@CDP
Ah…isn’t he just so nice? Dunno about the hotel though, think it’s more of a sentimental gesture than a business proposition, unless it’s bang next to Gleneagles or something.
Oh and re this “Goatexpert” chappie, am finding that moniker just a bit ironic too……..


Patson Says:

I don’t know about grits but I love Brits. Commiserations to my British friends for the World Cup debacle, but hey, you guys are used to it anyway … so not that big a deal :). Good luck to Andy !


Margot Says:

@Lord Patson
Why thankee siree for those kind comms and good wishes for Baron Murray.
Actually I support Argentina because of that parfit gentle knight Sir Lionel Messi. Another sporting genius.
Best Wishes, THE Lady Margot.


Colin Says:

Mention of Dustin Brown in the article reminds me – a recent dig at Brown by the person masquerading as “Humble Rafa”, reveals that the writer is British.

By the way, I’m sure the real Rafa wouldn’t make jokes aimed at someone who just kicked his butt.


Patson Says:

@Colin

True. Rafa would say

“is true that Dustin kicked my butt. But, is the nature of sport. Sometime you kick butt, sometime your butt gets kicked.”

Tennis is all about kicking others’ butts and having yours kicked once in a while. I guess that can be generalized to any sport.
Aah, another one of my meaningless pseudo-philosophical rants.


calmdownplease Says:

`think it’s more of a sentimental gesture than a business proposition, unless it’s bang next to Gleneagles or something..`

I thought it looked very nice actually.
Persoanlly I tend to book more minimal kinds of hotels myself.
And yes, its surely to do with golf.
What possible alternate reason would there be to stay in Dunblane?


calmdownplease Says:

`Actually I support Argentina`

And I was going to offer you my commiserations about RSA and Wales (ouch!)
Instead, Im just going to pretend you didn’t say any of this and move on I think.


Margot Says:

@CDP
Yeah move on boyo, or I’ll set George North on you!


Okiegal Says:

“Everybody remembers the victories, and nobody remembers the losses”……yeah, when I read that my first thought was obviously my guy doesn’t follow TX! He would be in for a rude awakening…huh?? Non Rafa fans will never let those two losses be forgotten…….as we are reminded of them quite frequently!! I have wondered if the players go into the chat rooms and read what is being said about them……there is lots of good stuff along with lots of bad. I guess you would need to be thick skinned to handle the bad stuff……cause it does get rather vicious at times……just saying…..


skeezer Says:

“By everybody, he is referring to mainstream fans excluding fandom extremists that take satisfaction from the disappointment of others.”
Yep! Thats the ones! Lol….


Humble Rafa Says:

I say I am not prepared, you say I am not prepared. Stage is set

#Wimbledonsurprise#


Colin Says:

Giles, belated reply about the roof. I don’t know, but I’ve never heard that it is routinely closed. I rather think there are ground staff on duty all night, in which case they could close it if there was rain. It’s better for the turf to have fresh air as much as possible.

Who was it asked “What possible reason to stay in Dunblane?” Isn’t Scotland a beautiful place? Tourism is important to the country, and will be more so if they should vote for independence. I rather think they won’t, by the way, though it’ll be close.


amadeus Says:

drama queen´s back and knees and drama princess´s wrist
what a show


Michael Says:

Okiegal,

Rafa’s musings on grass courts appear to be over exaggerated. I think he is trying to lower the expectations of his fans with his candid admission that he is not the favourite. May be that would benefit him as it would ease the pressure on him to perform. Rafa as always would undermine himself and that may be part of crafty strategy too.


metan Says:

Michael,
Expectations are the root of heart ache, I mean if it is too high. It is nice we just be a little bit realistic based upon all the facts.
And that’s the reason I like Rafa, .he does a thing moment by moment. IMO, he need to play wisely considered his body is like an old man.


metan Says:

@Amadeus, are you one of the Hollywood producer or director, it seems to me that you love to write about drama, hehehehehe?


Margot Says:

@metan
Amadeus knew a thing or two about “drama.” ;)


calmdownplease Says:

“What possible reason to stay in Dunblane?” Isn’t Scotland a beautiful place?`

I’m not confusing all of Scotland (say Edinburgh) with one very small town. Beautiful or not, Andy’s home town looks very small indeed.


Okiegal Says:

@Michael

Getting knocked out early two years in a row would tend to shake your confidence a bit. Some have said he downplays his expertise on grass in case he does get beat early, call it crafty or maybe he is just being honest…..I prefer the later. By rights, he should get worse on grass as he ages……is that a fair statement? I’m saying that because of reading you have to get lower to return which puts more stress on the knees…..and we all know, he isn’t getting any younger. Whatever shakes down, it will be after the battle, for sure. He is fighter. At this point, I think the Wimby title is a little iffy……we will see! Good luck to all for staying healthy.


metan Says:

No thread for today match.
The birdman has a tough timel at this moment.


metan Says:

Hanescu got first set. Come on birdman!


Okiegal Says:

@Metan

Did you check the ESPN3.com site? Don’t know where you live…..if in Europe, you might not could get it. Not sure how far their range goes, but worth a try!


Okiegal Says:

@Metan

Ignore that last post……you said thread not live stream…….I’m losing it…..always do at slam time!! Lol


metan Says:

Okiegal,
I live in Hongkong, I am watching via tennis channel. What I meant just was a thread from on Our TX. Hahahaha.


metan Says:

Andy steamrolls this Belgium guy.


Purcell Says:

Dunblane is an attractive, deeply historical town, just off one of Scotland’s most magnificent roads and in the middle of one of the less rugged and more mellow areas. The cathedral has pre-Romanesque and gothic architecture and a very subtle commemoration of the terrible events at the school, and the fascinating visitors centre, close to the golden post box has an Andy area. Despite it’s being er….small……there are enough attractions for the town and it’s surrounds to support a huge, well-patronised hotel, the Dunblane Hydro, and there’s no reason to believe that that the Cromlix shouldn’t do equally well.
For those interested in tennis, Andy’s playing very well but Goffin’s having too much contact with the net and the grass.


TennisFan Says:

Tired of listening to Rafa’s excuses .., it is just his way of taking the pressure off himself so he can win … It won’t work … he really isn’t that consistent on grass.

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