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“May 1st was Rafa’s day off. See you Tuesday in Manacor,” Moya told L’Equipe. “Our rhythm? We do about an hour and a half a day, and we’re moving forward day by day. It’s not even about being optimistic or negative, it’s about watching your progress on a daily basis.
“Obviously these are tough times as we missed the tournaments we love but Rafa is a fighter with an indestructible mind and when it’s time to come back we will be very motivated.”
“I think it’s always been a bit of an urban legend that Rafa needs multiple matches or multiple tournaments to go far,” said Moya. “In the time he was retained, he always came back and was able to perform great from the start.”
- I can imagine the French Open without Rafael Nadal | tennis.com
He continued to play in 18 consecutive editions of Roland Garros. But in the latest episode of the Spanish star’s struggle with late-career injuries, a damaged hip that just won’t heal properly could prevent him from adding to the French Open’s surprising 112-3 match record. There are players at the ATP and WTA tournaments who weren’t even born when Nadal played – and won – in Paris.
Roland Garros without Nadal would be like the Rolling Stones without Mick Jagger. Like a burger without ketchup or San Francisco without the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s hard to grasp the mind.
“If Rafa had entered the tournament this year, I would probably have knocked him out for obvious reasons,” Arias said. “And Rafa would probably win it again.”
- Rafael Nadal is French Open favorite despite ‘open’ draw: Laura Robson | sportskeeda.com
“The numbers he had in Paris are hard to imagine, but I just think he needs matches,” Laura Robson told Eurosport.
“The tie is open but it’s hard for me to root for Rafa on clay. It’s like a magical thing to see him on clay when he’s 100% fit and just able to come up with something special,” continued Robson.
“If his forehand play is strong from the start in Barcelona, perhaps a 15th title is on the way.”
- Magnus Carlsen on poker, his first interview as a former world champion | pokerstars.uk
When asked about his sports heroes, Carlsen stops thinking. We also start to think. Will Michael Jordan say for his dominance? Muhammed Ali for his charisma? Serena Williams for her amazing consistency?
“That’s a really good question,” says Carlsen. “In general, I admire what people do more than people themselves. But I think Rafa Nadal has a style in tennis that inspired me a bit. Being extremely tenacious and hard to break. So maybe he.
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