Rafael Nadal, the world's #1 in Men's Tennis, has just beat #2 Roger Federer in 5 sets in the Australian Open. What a hard-fought match. Congratulations, Rafa!!!

Saludos, MadridMan

congratulations to Rafa a very good Madridista ::)

great game like we are accoustomed with him and Federer, but even more so impressive when you remember it took 5 sets to beat fellow Spaniard, Verdasco before this final

the man is a BULL!!!

Conratulations Rafa ! He is phenomenal ! Strange thing though . I watched it on Canal+ ... Great picture , good Spanish commentary but no sound from the court itself ,, Very bizaare .

Steve

Congratulations to Rafa, the player from the Island of Majorca who was awarded last year with a Príncipe de Asturias award.



http://www.fundacionprincipedeasturias.org/ing/04/premiados/trayectorias/trayectoria838.html

Nadal Injured

Originally posted by member billy the man
Executive Member
Registered: 04-04-2006
Posts: 285
Loc: Bolton England

Raphael Nadal the Spanish world number 1 tennis layer is out of this years Wimbledon championships, with a persistent knee injury, the defending champion has said " its the most painful decision of his career"

WHAT A LOSS after last years griping final (in my opinion the best game ever seen) the championship will not be the same, does it give Murray a chance to become the first Brit for years to win Wimbledon?
_________________________
http://BillyEurope.piczo.com

That is bad news . But wimbledon is always full of surprises and will ALWAYS offer fantastic tennis . I´ve seen Boris Becker , Ivan Lendl , Steffi Graf , Martina navaratilova etc on Centre Court and it was magnificent , with my strawberries and champagne .
The loss of Nadal throws the championship open and in no way diminishes the competition . Yes , Murray will now be on for the first Brit to win Wimbledon in decades , but he would have been a contender even if Nadal was there !
I´m guessing , the men´s singles , will be fantastic tennis ..The women´s will be interesting .. Always leaning towards the William´s sisters .. So powerful .. But I think we may see a Russian winner this year .. Dinara Safina is really looking good ( Sister of the impossibly handsome Marat Safin ) . I think we have a good competition even without Nadal .

"Hey Nadal, will you marry me?!"
Rafael Nadal gets a marriage proposal yesterday at the Australian Open DURING his match against Lukas Lacko. Even I laughed when watching this 25-second video. Rafa won, by the way, in straight sets.

Guess it took more than a marriage proposal to keep Rafa in the Australian Open. He "retired" himself in mid-match against Andy Murray for knee pain. Wonder how long he'll be out this time.

Is this the end for Rafael Nadal???

Saludos, MadridMan

according to the latest news hes confident its only a short term injury, and is unconcerened about his long term future

http://www.superracing.com.au/heraldsun/story/Check-to-decide-Nadals-injury-action/11871

Well, as can be seen on this thread , it isn´t the first time he´s had to retire or pull out of a competition due to this persistent knee injury . Seems to me that if the surgeons who , considering his status , must have been world class couldn´t fix it the first time round then they´re unlikely to be able to do it now . I hope that´s not true but it seems likely .