Rafael Nadal To Open A Tennis Academy In Mallorca [Video]

Good luck Rafa in your new project.
Wishing you every success in this venture.
Vamos Rafa!

November 25th, 2014 at 10:27 am

Tennis X. Thank you very much for opening this thread.
Cheers.

November 25th, 2014 at 10:28 am

Since I had no real babies or worthy baby-Humbles, I decided to start a tennis academy. The world could always use more Humbles, as you might understand.

November 25th, 2014 at 10:42 am

I hope this new venture is everything Rafa expects and wants it to be. This is an amazing thing for him to do for his country. Where do I sign up for lessons? Will there be a geriatric section in this academy…..great big racquet heads and little bitty courts?……LOL…..So happy he’s finally getting this off the ground. Good luck, Rafa!!

VAMOS!!

November 25th, 2014 at 10:43 am

What an amazing project!
Huge respect for Rafa for doing this.

November 25th, 2014 at 10:48 am

Bravo Rafa. It’s wonderful how so many of the top players on both tours give back to the community with their academies and foundations.

November 25th, 2014 at 11:14 am

We have an uncommonly classy group of athletes in this sport.

November 25th, 2014 at 11:26 am

Well done Rafa for giving back something to the world of tennis,not that the haters here will be interested in anything positive related with Rafa,but a refreshing change from the injury and illness talk that usually surounds Rafa never the less,hooray what a refreshing change….

November 25th, 2014 at 12:11 pm

Tennis Vagabond such a classy post,from a classy guy many thanks :))….

November 25th, 2014 at 12:12 pm

A very nice gesture.

November 25th, 2014 at 12:21 pm

nice of rafa to “pay it forward,” as they say.

November 25th, 2014 at 12:55 pm

@Chick 12:11……Agree with your post. Rafa is a great humanitarian……I will say that the majority of tennis players all do their fair share! As Jane said…..paying it forward!!

November 25th, 2014 at 1:56 pm

Way to go Rafa. You will be like Nick Bolaterri (spellin?) from the other side of the Atlantic. Good luck and God Bless!

November 25th, 2014 at 2:42 pm

Why are we talking like this is charity work? It’s a business venture, and a practically decadent one. Footballs fields, swimming pools, eighteen tennis courts?

November 25th, 2014 at 5:29 pm

Pete Says:
Why are we talking like this is charity work?
—
Why are you so cynical?

November 25th, 2014 at 6:01 pm

A whole new generation of butt-picking antics…LOL! And we thought it would die with Rafa. Fear not, Rafa will finally be immortalized.

November 25th, 2014 at 6:21 pm

In all seriousness, while it’s a business venture, it’s still about giving back to his community. Rafa is a genuinely good sport and a class act. Not surprising he’d do something like this.

November 25th, 2014 at 6:24 pm

Rafa could have put the academy in Barcelona but instead, he decided on his hometown.

November 25th, 2014 at 6:25 pm

“and a practically decadent one. ”

I fon’t get this one, how playing sport can be decadent, I know I am bit slow but still…
BTW you have to pay everything today even if it belongs to community, to enter the swiming pool, public golf courses, to book local pitch to play cricket or footy with friends (not that I play, I do barbecue and beer)…

This reminds on Serbia Open, greedy Serbian goverment thought that Djokovic family should pitch all the money in to keep the SO going, even Djokovic family invested millions to built courts and everything else, when they decided enough is enough and they had enough and id there is no sponsor found they will pull out, what they did, City of Belgrade tried to take everything from them, courts, restaurants etc.

November 25th, 2014 at 6:40 pm

^^^forgot to say, good job Rafa and good luck.

November 25th, 2014 at 6:41 pm

@Wog boy 6:40……I just consulted Webster’s on the word decadent for the true meaning, I knew by his post that it wouldn’t be good for Rafa……..As a noun it means a person who is luxuriously self indulgent…..so there ya’ go…..Pete probably used a word that would put Rafa in the worst possible light. Rafa does something good for children and he’s self indulgent. People can be so cruel and mean spirited, I just don’t get it either, Wog…..

November 25th, 2014 at 6:52 pm

@Oki, thanks for clarifying it.

November 25th, 2014 at 7:23 pm

@Wog……yeah, I hated to post that meaning because Rafa doesn’t really need anymore negative stuff. Just couldn’t believe that a hateful response spewed forth after such a nice article about his kind gesture. He gets flack regardless of what he does…..

November 25th, 2014 at 8:23 pm

All the Best Rafa! Wishing you to continue this good work!

November 25th, 2014 at 8:40 pm

sg-1, i meant pay it forward, as in passing along the sport, keeping tennis alive, etc, more like you’re thinking. paying forward the picking habit never cross my mind, but lol.

wog boy the serbian open failed but wasn’t nole going to build an academy too, or did he already?

November 25th, 2014 at 8:58 pm

jane, there is academy, it has been there since Djokovic family leased rundown place in the heart of the city and done it up, the same courts Serbia Open was played.

http://youtu.be/VGApSLMJy5c

http://youtu.be/UnCgMCt3Dpc

November 25th, 2014 at 9:18 pm

^^
First video shows you all facilities, second one is just some proud mum uploading video of her boy trying to play tennis:)

November 25th, 2014 at 9:20 pm

thanks wog boy; don’t want to change the topic of the thread, though, so will leave it there.

awesome of all these guys to extend their influence.

November 25th, 2014 at 9:22 pm

right jane, I got carried away, sorry Rafa fans:(

November 25th, 2014 at 9:36 pm

Wow Rafa, good thing to do.

Wogboy i know there is a tipsarevic academy and a cafe called “Tipsy Time.” i wonder if novak won’t name his academy or something else after Gencic? He said something about never letting anyone forget her.

November 25th, 2014 at 9:46 pm

RIP Dodo Cheney.

November 25th, 2014 at 9:47 pm

no, wog boy; it’s my fault because i asked. oops. apologies rafa fans. what he’s doing with the academy is great.

November 25th, 2014 at 9:54 pm

@Skeezer…..who is Dodo Cheney??

November 25th, 2014 at 10:48 pm

@Skeezer, never mind ……..I googled it and learned she was a grand lady tennis who lived to be 98. I had never heard of her…..Yes, rest in peace, Dorothy Cheney.

Nice remembrance of her, Skeezer.

November 25th, 2014 at 11:04 pm

All the best to Rafa in his new assignment and the motive is indeed laudable where he wants to groom aspirant youngsters to be the future of this Sport. Rafa is not limiting himself to be just a player, but wants to do something beyond for the development of Tennis as a whole through this noble endeavour and I am sure this will go a long way in Spain producing Champions for the future. Even Rafa was a product of Moya’s academy and he has become an icon for the youngsters to get themselves inspired and yearn for excellence.

November 26th, 2014 at 12:46 am

Okiegal indeed some people are so cynical,in that they will read something negative in everything Rafa does….

November 26th, 2014 at 1:48 am

Wogboy thanks for the links, the second one of the little boy holding that racket was so cute, where the racket looked almost bigger than him lol….

November 26th, 2014 at 1:55 am

Pete. No words just smh. :(((((((

November 26th, 2014 at 4:58 am

Humble has started post retirement plan !!

November 26th, 2014 at 5:31 am

I dont know why people pull him to pieces for the way he wears a suit,IMO he looks very handsome,really suits this suit….

November 26th, 2014 at 12:21 pm

HC. Lol. Why are you making up stories? Who pulled him to pieces for the way he wears a suit? If anyone did in fact criticise him they need their eyes testing.

November 26th, 2014 at 12:51 pm

Giles im not making up stories,i do distinctly remember one poster saying he looks terrible in a suit,his body is not finally honed for taking the shirt off etc,anyway ill leave it at that….

November 26th, 2014 at 5:54 pm

Regarding Rafa and his suit. I remember reading that comment. It’s been awhile ago, but I thought when I read it the commenter must have been almost blind, coz I think he looks great in a suit as do all the players. From the pictures I’ve seen of the players at the parties, they all slick up pretty good. Love me a man in a suit! I tell my hubby this all time, but he prefers jeans and boots…..Well, I will admit…..I’m nuts about those Wrangler butts!! Lol

November 26th, 2014 at 7:03 pm

http://www.tennis.com.au/news/2014/11/27/rafael-nadal-to-rock-margaret-court-arena
Rock on Champ! How exciting is this!

November 27th, 2014 at 3:56 am

HC & Okie. Sorry ladies, don’t remember the comment at all. Never mind, we know he was talking rubbish don’t we? Lol

November 27th, 2014 at 6:26 am

Pete Says:

“Why are we talking like this is charity work? It’s a business venture, and a practically decadent one. Footballs fields, swimming pools, eighteen tennis courts?”

Nadal was asked, QUOTE Translation by nou.amic from VB

-But it also has to be a business, doesn’t it?

-When heavy investmant has gone into it, we at least have to try not to lose money. In any case, this wasn’t done thinking it was going to be a big business. I’m doing this thinking of leaving a legacy of what my career has been and of trying to pass on all we have learned, but obviously there’s a very large investment behind it, private investment which is mine personally,that we have to try to recover over the years.

Congratulations to Rafa on endeavouring to provide a fantastic facility for future generations and for the community in general. I wish him every success.

November 27th, 2014 at 8:03 am

@Giles……Yes we do……..definitely talking rubbish! I tried to find the comment, but to no avail! But I was like Chick when I read it……now we’ll pick on about how he looks in a suit…..really???? LOL He be lookin’ good to me!!

November 27th, 2014 at 9:50 am

Okie. Have you seen the link I posted ?

November 27th, 2014 at 10:22 am

Giles thanks i have seen the link,and really look forward to this event….

November 27th, 2014 at 12:45 pm

Margaret Court Arena is a Gem, true gem in Melbourne park, I am happy I will be able to experience it first hand in January:

http://youtu.be/nEXY5qJGFzk

Enjoy this short video about Margaret Court Arena.

November 27th, 2014 at 4:55 pm

@Giles 10:22……No I haven’t, just now have been able to check all the posts, so thanks for calling my attention to it and I’m going to search for it right now!! Thanks!

November 27th, 2014 at 10:12 pm

@Giles, saw the link and this is great news!! I’m ready for 2015 and I hope Rafa is too! I hope the health issues are taken care of……that’s thesis thing.

VAMOS!!

November 27th, 2014 at 10:37 pm

^^^^^ should say ……that’s the most important thing……oops!!

November 27th, 2014 at 10:39 pm

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=658145780972935
Rafa has confirmed he will start practice on Monday.
Vamos Champ!

November 28th, 2014 at 5:33 pm

I am warming up to uncle Toni, this also shoud put an end to debate who is the GOAT:

“Rafael has won more titles than Novak Djokovic, but speaking merely about tennis and about the game, Rafa has to be considered slightly lower than Djokovic. The Serb is such a good player that he is as close as you can get to Roger Federer”.

“According to Toni, Nadal has won more titles, but Djokovic is a better player, but not the best. The GOAT, the greatest, according to uncle Toni is always him: Roger Federer.

“With all the titles he has won, there is no doubt that Federer is the greatest”.

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Toni-Novak-Djokovic-a-Better-Player-Than-Rafael-Nadal-And-Federer-articolo21423.html

November 28th, 2014 at 8:26 pm

^^^should post it at the GOAT thread..

November 28th, 2014 at 8:29 pm

@wog boy: toni is right re rafole. Shot for shot, all round gamewise Novak is superior, but: is he the only one? Conventionally speaking: there’s many players better technically than Nadal. So what Toni is saying is not a controversial or revelatory thing. On a technique basis Rafael probably is not even top 10!!! However, you cannot really judge Rafael along the normal lines since truthfully speaking he’s probably the most unique, unconventional player the game has seen at the top. It’s like Andy Roddick recently said: you judge rafa by the book and he’s a poor player, but you judge him with your eyes and see the phenomenon as he is and you’ll realize why barring Federer he’s stacked as many grand slam as he has and why he’s rated as highly as he in the goat conversation by the par elite. He really plays a different brand of tennis, has a style that makes him unique and more than likely a one off in the game. As a fan of his: I love that he has that unique, singular individuality about his game.

November 28th, 2014 at 9:11 pm

I have always shuddered at the thought of…..what if Novak had not had all those respiratory problems early in his career. I believe we might have seen a whole different outcome…..Of course, that’s one of those “ifs” and we’ll never know. Yes, I agree Novak is an awesome player and he will probably continue to dominate.

November 29th, 2014 at 12:02 am

Now I have admired Nadal and LOVE watching him play. I love Raffa! I wake up at 2 or 3 am to watch his live matches!
New academy in his home town? MANY top pros do this and it’s their brand and their name… This is what makes and sells the academy successful and YES this is an investment! Many posters comments reflect naivete!!! Raffa ( like all the top pro academies) give scholarships to a
( very) select few and charge the others (millionaires). Got $300 grand a year to plunk down on your kid not counting hitting with the pro @$$$$$—? great! And Raffa may be there in person for a clinic 2x yr while yes, hiring top pros, the elite school, pool, etc. I only wish this were truly altruistic… if he would have built it in the city of Barcelona instead of as a ‘destination academy’ with a brand. And close to his coastal/island home so he can drop by and have fun and be seen and adored! One day perhaps children, no doubt, will train there. This is a good investment opp. If it were set up as a non- profit to run programs for inner city kids ‘at risk’ in Barcelona or a least a program to be a PART of the investment venture… but No, this is money making for the Nadal family for generations to come. Get real people.

November 29th, 2014 at 12:28 am

@Kane……You get real……you don’t even know how to spell his name!! What’s up with that?? Are you sure you get up at 2 and 3 in the morning and watch his live matches? I really doubt it……btw, his name is spelled RAFA and NOT Raffa…..

November 29th, 2014 at 1:04 am

@Okie. LMAO. You tell ’em! Who is this dude Kane anyway? First time poster? Probably a Fedfan masquerading as a Rafan!
@Kane. Fail!!!

November 29th, 2014 at 3:42 am

@Giles……no response from Kane……thought at least he or she would blame the misspelling of Rafa’s name on “spell check”……a Rafa fan??……no way……an imposter, YES!! Lol

November 29th, 2014 at 12:20 pm

Hello boys…Oh, so these posting r only about who is a ‘Fed fan’ or who is a ‘Nadal’ fan and then ‘taking sides and blaming? childish. I watch and enjoy both players and admire greatness in tennis skills…. and then WHO spelled What wrong and judging? As If that is what this ‘community’ is about> I take no sides and no, I am not a “Fed fan.” I am not against u or anyone here!!! Like kids in a school yard: ‘no he’s the best, no my guys the best’ and so on. Address the issue/ point which is: I had hoped a higher value system from him and for his Academy than an elite place for millionaire’s kids, that’s all. Do u have any idea the poverty in Spain and the kids with talent who could benefit from a tennis program? No, spelling is your ‘concern’ and finding out who is your ‘enemy’ on a thread.. is he a ‘Fed fan or some other player fan?’ Try not to single out who is ‘with u or against u’ and then ‘feel power’ when u feel u have ‘one upped’ another poster by getting others to agree with u. Now I see what these posts are.

November 29th, 2014 at 11:30 pm

Its a great news.All the best for your project.

December 4th, 2014 at 8:13 am