Bunch of Rafa videos
I ripped like a maniac to let some steam off after the final. They're all at VR.com but in case you're not a regular and are interested in seeing Rafa showing the journos how he intimidates Federer on the locker room and other pretty stuff, here they are:
Nieminen post-quarterfinals press conference
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=AJ9EGVUU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HprfhmGfCw
Quick translation:
They congratulate him for how well he's been playing. He had a little pain on one of his thighs during the match and that's why he slowed down a bit, but he thinks he played his best tennis when it was important. He thinks the Kendrick match has been the "key" match on this tournament, not the Agassi one. He thinks that the Baghdatis match will be very tough, and that he's gonna try to play like he's been doing up to this point.
The commentators tell him that one of them has been saying that right now there's not a number one and a number two, but a number one and a number one "bis". He's flatterd by the compliment but as always says the number one is Roger and he's happy to be the number two for now. That he's been improving a lot in grass which is an unexpected but welcome surprise, that they already knew he could play well on hard, and last year speaks about it, but not on grass, so right now he's just satisfied with this.
*********************************
July 8. Pre-final press conference (you have to see this one 'cos he's the most adorable thing here)
http://www.megaupload.com/es/?d=8C51L0XZ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrDfKWPspag
http://media.putfile.com/Wimbledon-July-8
July 8. Pre-final press conference in Spanish (so serious)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BODAUYLL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiljH_XNjvQ
http://media.putfile.com/Wimbledon---July-8-Spanish
The translation:
The pressure is heavier for him here. In Roland Garros it was, maybe, for the both of us, the same share. Here, I think the pressure’s on him because if he loses to me in tomorrow’s final… that would be way more painful than if I lose to him on tomorrow’s final. If I lose tomorrow’s final I’ll leave the tournament thinking that I’ve lost a final and I made a great tournament. If he loses tomorrow’s final he’s going to leave thinking that maybe he didn’t play that good a tournament. I’m fully aware that whatever happens I’ve played very good these two weeks, that I’ve improved my game a lot… but on the other hand, let’s not see it as less than what it is. The truth is that I’m on a Grand Slam final, on a Wimbledon final, and maybe these things just happen to you once in a life time. I can lose as well as I can win, but I have to try to win. The least you can do is try.
There is no comparison about what’s more important for me between defeating Federer and winning Wimbledon. It’s just the same thing to me to win against Federer or against a complete stranger. The important thing is to win Wimbledon, this is obvious, I don’t think there’s any doubt there.
***************************
And a little player profile of Rafa and Marcos for the semi-final match. I love the scary music they used for Rafa's video while he jumps around looking dangerous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd52eCTbOgU
And the cropped version without Baghdachu, just the Rafa part:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=D26OVW0W
http://media.putfile.com/Wimbledon-short-player-profile-for-Rafa
And an old little add for the Monte-carlo TMS, because there's this powerful GRUNT here. And the music, mwahehe, it's silly XD
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BV3IMHM0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI9XcOT3ZVQ
http://media.putfile.com/Rafa-Ole
********************************************
And a short documentary:
Nadal, 40 años después (Nadal, 40 years later)
Part 1.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VRCPDOBH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjHNr3sN2Ac
Part 2.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8VTTF392
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHehQOMoeAE
Part 3.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8DXVTGP0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJkn9k8yYnA
Part 4.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=6XE6OOHH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXMi0UmztSE
Part 5.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ERNJCYK8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCqf6yk8-lg
Part 6.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=O35CECWY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugoQ-kgayTg
And the translation:
Wimbledon, 1966
Narrator: In 1966, Manolo Santana became the only Spanish player to ever win Wimbledon. Spanish tennis made history in the British tournament on an encounter where Santana bested Ralston by three sets to love. But the match was not as easy as it may seem, because the Spanish player had to suffer, more so in the second set where there was no tie-break, so it went as long as 11-9, which added to the 6-4 of the first set, and the 6-4 of the third one, rounded up a victory with no precedent for the Spanish tennis.
Since those days the tennis fans of Spain have dreamed with seeing such an important achievement repeated, and even though high class players have tried, it has not been possible.
In our memory will live forever what was achieved then by one of the most important tennis players ever produced by Spain.
40 years later…
Wimbledon, July 8, 2006-07-09
Santana: Truth be told, to think about a “40 years back” is not that amusing for me, but well that’s the reality, and this year I’m here as a Wimbledon special guest and it’s in good luck that instead of witnessing a final that might or might not be of much interest to me… I’ve followed closely Rafa’s doings, his progress and improvement through his matches here and well, whatever the time is that I won I did the same that Rafa is doing today. I’ve been watching him and following very closely everything that he’s been doing here, he’s been answering to the media, which of course here they are less, and he has trained, and once //NEXT VIDEO// every obligation’s been fulfilled then he’s just relaxed and had dinner with friends and then got ready for the next match.
*Rafa training*
Rafa: Yes, well, I also think that all this has taken me by surprise, no? I wasn’t expecting at all to be on this final… not this year, not ever. One never knows... and what one always says is that the important thing is improving in these next years, that I’m young and I need to improve. And that still stands true, the reality is that, but of course I’m aware that I’m on a Wimbledon final, and this is difficult to accomplish, so much that just this gentleman here has won here, once. And all this means that these forty years, no one has been able of getting here, and this, the stats show how difficult it is, and with just two weeks after Roland Garros...
Toni: As I see it, he’s playing here much better than in Roland Garros. A lot better. To me, in Paris I never saw him play that well, but here he’s been playing good, I’ve liked his matches a lot. The only match I didn’t like was the first one. And of course there are always nerves and all that, but his second match? On his second match I said “Hey, that’s really good”
Interviewer: But it’s because the courts, on the first and second day they’re faster, so…
Toni: Yes, but that’s not all, him, on his first day I noticed that everything was so difficult for him. To adapt, the return of service, it took time for him to adapt to it. After that… you know because you play, when you arrive to a tournament, those first matches you’re right out scared. The first say you’re thinking “uy, uy, if I don’t play well here I’m out of here”, and that way until you adapt to it, but after that first day I tell you, fine.
Interviewer: And that match against Agassi, wasn’t that the point of no return?
Toni: By the way I’ve been told that you proclaimed him the favourite.
Interviewer: Of course!
Toni: Carlos Costa sent me a text message, and he said to me “What are your thoughts on the match? Because López Maeso (interviewer’s name) has said on tv that Rafa is the favourite, and personally I don’t see him as such.” And I answered: “Easy, easy, because we’re winning this one.”
*re-play of that amazing cross court passing shot on the run to clean the line by Rafa for the 6-5 on the first set tie-break*
Santana: A time comes, when you’re playing a match with a lot of tension to it… Rafa, well, he won his semi-finals match in three sets, I did it in five, 7-5 on the fifth, and once I got to the locker rooms and all my family started to get in and the people who care about you and want to congratulate you, there comes a moment during all that when you isolate yourself from it all, and just stay with the sensations of it to yourself during a couple of seconds, and I saw Rafa so thrilled and emotional that I got emotional myself that I felt like I was right there, on the court next to him. //NEXT VIDEO//
Rafa: Yes, well, the first one I saw when I got to the locker rooms was Manolo, he was there when I got in and I hugged him. I had once winked at him from the court to his seat. And I got there and… truth be told I had a hard time during those last games, I was so ve3ry nervous, I had that 0-40, I was not well. It wasn’t that I was on a bad place, inside, my head was cool, but very nervous, more than usual. Obviously for me, to play the final here cam as something unexpected, and something that was very difficult to digest, and when you have it right there you get nervous. So when I got to the locker rooms I just, I was fine for like ten seconds, I got congratulated by Manolo and by my physio and then I just, bit by bit, I crumbled right there. I just put my head down and grabbed my hair and started crying, Manolo saw it he was right there. I could only cry, I was like half-death, half-crushed from the sudden drop of adrenaline and nerves, from knowing that you’re on Wimbledon’s final, that for me is a dream come true and… I don’t know, this tournament is very imposing.
Santana: That’s true, everything that surrounds it, all the tradition and what makes it the tournament that it is, all that is very special to us. And well… but what I’ve liked the most about Rafa in these last months, is that he always says that his dream has always been to win here. And this dream is close to being a reality before any one of us had ever thought it possible, but the chance is here, and…
Rafa: I don’t know if we will win but if we don’t then we’ve been here and that’s what’s important, we can hold on to that and no one can take that away from us.
Santana: And if we don’t win this year we’re going to win next year or the year after that because you have more than enough class and quality to do it. Another thing I have loved is how you have solved the three important matches that you’ve had to win to get here, the quarter-finals and the semi-finals matches, I’ve like a lot how you’re moving on the court, how you’re hitting the forehand, you have adapted perfectly and if other players, with less power than yourself have won here, then I don’t see why you can’t. I was reminded of how Agassi played when he won here yesterday seeing Rafa; his return of service was amazing (Rafa’s), then he worked the point and came to the net when you had to come to the net. And he now has a volley, that he’s learned so well, that diagonal volley slicing the ball and leaving it practically dead on the other side, and the other player can’t answer that one. And well, the over-head shots, let’s not talk about those because Rafa doesn’t miss one of those. I see him playing great.
*re-play of Rafa’s ace to win the first set against Agassi*
Interviewer: This is about sensations Toni.
Toni: Sure, sure.
Interviewer: When you get those feelings, when you’re thinking “Look, I’m feeling comfortable on the court, I’m liking this” your spirit grows, and there’s the proof, right now Rafa is convinced that he’s reached the final and that the right circumstances have to happen for him to win against the number one //NEXT VIDEO// but… Rafa’s faith and trust in himself… it can move mountains.
*re-play of a slow-motion Rafa winner against Baghdatis*
Rafa: The silence on the court is quite imposing here, isn’t it? Above all when the first point of the match is about to being played, when you’re there about to serve, I really prefer to start returning service and not serving because when you go to serve, that this week I’ve lost the flip of the coin many times so I had to start serving, you go to serve for the first point and you become aware of all the silence and you become… oh the pressure.
Santana: And yesterday you got it right, you broke him just at the start. But yes it is special, this is a court that holds a lot of magic in it, isn’t it?
Rafa: It is certainly different than any other court. There a re a lot of courts that I love, the one in Australia, the new court in Australia, I love it, it’s beautiful. But I don’t know, over here it seems that you just breath the history in. It seems, it looks, as they say, it is like a temple, I don’t know.
Santana: Yes it is something special, and above all for the players, for us that have grown up playing on clay, dominating clay, when you get here you suddenly see this as something much harder to get, to win in. Rafa has made it much faster than I did it in my time, and the same goes for the rest of the players
*Federer playing*
Toni: If Federer has a good day and he’s playing inspired, we’ll surely pack the bags and go home without the trophy and pretty soon. But as soon as Federer slows sown a bit I think Rafa will have, or could have his chances. Because Rafa is playing with confidence, he’s playing with a good rhythm to each match, and Federer, this is also important, through all the tournament I think that no one has really challenged him. And he is so good, I won’t take that away from him because, for me, well I had never seen anyone play like he does.
Interviewer: No, right. The technique that he has. He’s capable of opening insane angles… short angles… he’s good at everything. At everything.
Toni: And he can use the, the, this sliced thing from the middle of the court that leaves you with your mouth hanging open. He can use everything, his forehand is amazing, just, everything. But well, now…
Interviewer: There’s Rafa’s mental strength
Toni: Yes, and of course Federer can lose as well.
Wimbledon 2006
Nadal vs Bogdanovic
The first strokes of Rafa Nadal on this year’s Wimbledon where against British Bogdanovic, who didn’t make him suffer that much on their first round match. He won the match by three sets to love. //NEXT VIDEO//
Nadal vs Kendrick
His next rival, the American Robert Kendrick, was the one who made it harder for the Majorcan to move further on the tournament. Nadal had to come back from two sets to love to get to the fifth and last one, set that he won 6-4.
Nadal vs Agassi
On the third round a classic awaited for him, and a winner of Wimbledon in 1992 and a former number one: Andre Agassi. Against the American, Nadal had no problems and defeated him three sets to none.
Nadal vs Labadze
In fourth round, Irakli Labadze would be the next victim. Against the Georgian, Nadal was ruthless, not one option given, and in little more than two hours he put an end to the match.
Nadal vs Nieminen
Fin Jarkko Nieminen, the 22nd seed had a very tough time before the Spaniard. Nadal wanted to save his strength and went through the fastest road: 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and into semi-finals.
Nadal vs Baghdatis
To get to the final, Nadal had to walk through a man who reached the Australian Open final, and who was the executioner of many serious candidates for this year’s Wimbledon title: Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.
But as if it was a training session, Nadal firmly put himself on the final after winning in straight sets.
Dubai. March of 2006
Rafa Nadal’s first victory on this season came during the first days of March in Dubai. It was the year’s first encounter between the Majorcan and his biggest rival, the number one of the world, Swiss Roger Federer.
The Spanish player had to come back from one set down to win such a fought victory.
Masters Series Monte-carlo. April of 2006
On TMS Monte-carlo, during the month of April, Nadal bested his rivals with surprising ease, until he reached the final. And once again, awaiting for him was Roger Federer. But this time the Spanish player allowed himself the luxury of winning the match in four sets, and taking the second straight victory of the year against the number one of the world. //NEXT VIDEO//
Masters Series Rome. May of 2006
After winning the Barcelona title against Tommy Robredo, Nadal went to Rome to play the Italian Master Series. There, it was left clear the quality of the Spanish player against all his rival and got himself into the final where again, awaited Roger Federer for another clay battle. This time the match was of epic proportions, Nadal went behind the score through all the match, and after to match points saved, he reached the fifth set which went to a tie-break, but the victory was for Nadal again.
Roland Garros. July of 2006.
The next tournament in Rafa Nadal’s calendar was a Grand Slam: Roland Garros. France’s clay is the stage which has already seen Nadal win, and on which he wanted to leave his firm once more. After a long road he reached the final of the prestigious tournament where for yet another time, he would exchange strokes with the world’s number one, Roger Federer.
Nadal began slow, losing the first set 6-1, but his reaction after that was so emphatic that he won the next three sets to get a new trophy for his collection.
Wimbledon 2006.
40 years later.
Nieminen post-quarterfinals press conference
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=AJ9EGVUU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HprfhmGfCw
Quick translation:
They congratulate him for how well he's been playing. He had a little pain on one of his thighs during the match and that's why he slowed down a bit, but he thinks he played his best tennis when it was important. He thinks the Kendrick match has been the "key" match on this tournament, not the Agassi one. He thinks that the Baghdatis match will be very tough, and that he's gonna try to play like he's been doing up to this point.
The commentators tell him that one of them has been saying that right now there's not a number one and a number two, but a number one and a number one "bis". He's flatterd by the compliment but as always says the number one is Roger and he's happy to be the number two for now. That he's been improving a lot in grass which is an unexpected but welcome surprise, that they already knew he could play well on hard, and last year speaks about it, but not on grass, so right now he's just satisfied with this.
*********************************
July 8. Pre-final press conference (you have to see this one 'cos he's the most adorable thing here)
http://www.megaupload.com/es/?d=8C51L0XZ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrDfKWPspag
http://media.putfile.com/Wimbledon-July-8
July 8. Pre-final press conference in Spanish (so serious)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BODAUYLL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiljH_XNjvQ
http://media.putfile.com/Wimbledon---July-8-Spanish
The translation:
The pressure is heavier for him here. In Roland Garros it was, maybe, for the both of us, the same share. Here, I think the pressure’s on him because if he loses to me in tomorrow’s final… that would be way more painful than if I lose to him on tomorrow’s final. If I lose tomorrow’s final I’ll leave the tournament thinking that I’ve lost a final and I made a great tournament. If he loses tomorrow’s final he’s going to leave thinking that maybe he didn’t play that good a tournament. I’m fully aware that whatever happens I’ve played very good these two weeks, that I’ve improved my game a lot… but on the other hand, let’s not see it as less than what it is. The truth is that I’m on a Grand Slam final, on a Wimbledon final, and maybe these things just happen to you once in a life time. I can lose as well as I can win, but I have to try to win. The least you can do is try.
There is no comparison about what’s more important for me between defeating Federer and winning Wimbledon. It’s just the same thing to me to win against Federer or against a complete stranger. The important thing is to win Wimbledon, this is obvious, I don’t think there’s any doubt there.
***************************
And a little player profile of Rafa and Marcos for the semi-final match. I love the scary music they used for Rafa's video while he jumps around looking dangerous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd52eCTbOgU
And the cropped version without Baghdachu, just the Rafa part:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=D26OVW0W
http://media.putfile.com/Wimbledon-short-player-profile-for-Rafa
And an old little add for the Monte-carlo TMS, because there's this powerful GRUNT here. And the music, mwahehe, it's silly XD
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BV3IMHM0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI9XcOT3ZVQ
http://media.putfile.com/Rafa-Ole
********************************************
And a short documentary:
Nadal, 40 años después (Nadal, 40 years later)
Part 1.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VRCPDOBH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjHNr3sN2Ac
Part 2.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8VTTF392
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHehQOMoeAE
Part 3.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8DXVTGP0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJkn9k8yYnA
Part 4.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=6XE6OOHH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXMi0UmztSE
Part 5.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ERNJCYK8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCqf6yk8-lg
Part 6.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=O35CECWY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugoQ-kgayTg
And the translation:
Wimbledon, 1966
Narrator: In 1966, Manolo Santana became the only Spanish player to ever win Wimbledon. Spanish tennis made history in the British tournament on an encounter where Santana bested Ralston by three sets to love. But the match was not as easy as it may seem, because the Spanish player had to suffer, more so in the second set where there was no tie-break, so it went as long as 11-9, which added to the 6-4 of the first set, and the 6-4 of the third one, rounded up a victory with no precedent for the Spanish tennis.
Since those days the tennis fans of Spain have dreamed with seeing such an important achievement repeated, and even though high class players have tried, it has not been possible.
In our memory will live forever what was achieved then by one of the most important tennis players ever produced by Spain.
40 years later…
Wimbledon, July 8, 2006-07-09
Santana: Truth be told, to think about a “40 years back” is not that amusing for me, but well that’s the reality, and this year I’m here as a Wimbledon special guest and it’s in good luck that instead of witnessing a final that might or might not be of much interest to me… I’ve followed closely Rafa’s doings, his progress and improvement through his matches here and well, whatever the time is that I won I did the same that Rafa is doing today. I’ve been watching him and following very closely everything that he’s been doing here, he’s been answering to the media, which of course here they are less, and he has trained, and once //NEXT VIDEO// every obligation’s been fulfilled then he’s just relaxed and had dinner with friends and then got ready for the next match.
*Rafa training*
Rafa: Yes, well, I also think that all this has taken me by surprise, no? I wasn’t expecting at all to be on this final… not this year, not ever. One never knows... and what one always says is that the important thing is improving in these next years, that I’m young and I need to improve. And that still stands true, the reality is that, but of course I’m aware that I’m on a Wimbledon final, and this is difficult to accomplish, so much that just this gentleman here has won here, once. And all this means that these forty years, no one has been able of getting here, and this, the stats show how difficult it is, and with just two weeks after Roland Garros...
Toni: As I see it, he’s playing here much better than in Roland Garros. A lot better. To me, in Paris I never saw him play that well, but here he’s been playing good, I’ve liked his matches a lot. The only match I didn’t like was the first one. And of course there are always nerves and all that, but his second match? On his second match I said “Hey, that’s really good”
Interviewer: But it’s because the courts, on the first and second day they’re faster, so…
Toni: Yes, but that’s not all, him, on his first day I noticed that everything was so difficult for him. To adapt, the return of service, it took time for him to adapt to it. After that… you know because you play, when you arrive to a tournament, those first matches you’re right out scared. The first say you’re thinking “uy, uy, if I don’t play well here I’m out of here”, and that way until you adapt to it, but after that first day I tell you, fine.
Interviewer: And that match against Agassi, wasn’t that the point of no return?
Toni: By the way I’ve been told that you proclaimed him the favourite.
Interviewer: Of course!
Toni: Carlos Costa sent me a text message, and he said to me “What are your thoughts on the match? Because López Maeso (interviewer’s name) has said on tv that Rafa is the favourite, and personally I don’t see him as such.” And I answered: “Easy, easy, because we’re winning this one.”
*re-play of that amazing cross court passing shot on the run to clean the line by Rafa for the 6-5 on the first set tie-break*
Santana: A time comes, when you’re playing a match with a lot of tension to it… Rafa, well, he won his semi-finals match in three sets, I did it in five, 7-5 on the fifth, and once I got to the locker rooms and all my family started to get in and the people who care about you and want to congratulate you, there comes a moment during all that when you isolate yourself from it all, and just stay with the sensations of it to yourself during a couple of seconds, and I saw Rafa so thrilled and emotional that I got emotional myself that I felt like I was right there, on the court next to him. //NEXT VIDEO//
Rafa: Yes, well, the first one I saw when I got to the locker rooms was Manolo, he was there when I got in and I hugged him. I had once winked at him from the court to his seat. And I got there and… truth be told I had a hard time during those last games, I was so ve3ry nervous, I had that 0-40, I was not well. It wasn’t that I was on a bad place, inside, my head was cool, but very nervous, more than usual. Obviously for me, to play the final here cam as something unexpected, and something that was very difficult to digest, and when you have it right there you get nervous. So when I got to the locker rooms I just, I was fine for like ten seconds, I got congratulated by Manolo and by my physio and then I just, bit by bit, I crumbled right there. I just put my head down and grabbed my hair and started crying, Manolo saw it he was right there. I could only cry, I was like half-death, half-crushed from the sudden drop of adrenaline and nerves, from knowing that you’re on Wimbledon’s final, that for me is a dream come true and… I don’t know, this tournament is very imposing.
Santana: That’s true, everything that surrounds it, all the tradition and what makes it the tournament that it is, all that is very special to us. And well… but what I’ve liked the most about Rafa in these last months, is that he always says that his dream has always been to win here. And this dream is close to being a reality before any one of us had ever thought it possible, but the chance is here, and…
Rafa: I don’t know if we will win but if we don’t then we’ve been here and that’s what’s important, we can hold on to that and no one can take that away from us.
Santana: And if we don’t win this year we’re going to win next year or the year after that because you have more than enough class and quality to do it. Another thing I have loved is how you have solved the three important matches that you’ve had to win to get here, the quarter-finals and the semi-finals matches, I’ve like a lot how you’re moving on the court, how you’re hitting the forehand, you have adapted perfectly and if other players, with less power than yourself have won here, then I don’t see why you can’t. I was reminded of how Agassi played when he won here yesterday seeing Rafa; his return of service was amazing (Rafa’s), then he worked the point and came to the net when you had to come to the net. And he now has a volley, that he’s learned so well, that diagonal volley slicing the ball and leaving it practically dead on the other side, and the other player can’t answer that one. And well, the over-head shots, let’s not talk about those because Rafa doesn’t miss one of those. I see him playing great.
*re-play of Rafa’s ace to win the first set against Agassi*
Interviewer: This is about sensations Toni.
Toni: Sure, sure.
Interviewer: When you get those feelings, when you’re thinking “Look, I’m feeling comfortable on the court, I’m liking this” your spirit grows, and there’s the proof, right now Rafa is convinced that he’s reached the final and that the right circumstances have to happen for him to win against the number one //NEXT VIDEO// but… Rafa’s faith and trust in himself… it can move mountains.
*re-play of a slow-motion Rafa winner against Baghdatis*
Rafa: The silence on the court is quite imposing here, isn’t it? Above all when the first point of the match is about to being played, when you’re there about to serve, I really prefer to start returning service and not serving because when you go to serve, that this week I’ve lost the flip of the coin many times so I had to start serving, you go to serve for the first point and you become aware of all the silence and you become… oh the pressure.
Santana: And yesterday you got it right, you broke him just at the start. But yes it is special, this is a court that holds a lot of magic in it, isn’t it?
Rafa: It is certainly different than any other court. There a re a lot of courts that I love, the one in Australia, the new court in Australia, I love it, it’s beautiful. But I don’t know, over here it seems that you just breath the history in. It seems, it looks, as they say, it is like a temple, I don’t know.
Santana: Yes it is something special, and above all for the players, for us that have grown up playing on clay, dominating clay, when you get here you suddenly see this as something much harder to get, to win in. Rafa has made it much faster than I did it in my time, and the same goes for the rest of the players
*Federer playing*
Toni: If Federer has a good day and he’s playing inspired, we’ll surely pack the bags and go home without the trophy and pretty soon. But as soon as Federer slows sown a bit I think Rafa will have, or could have his chances. Because Rafa is playing with confidence, he’s playing with a good rhythm to each match, and Federer, this is also important, through all the tournament I think that no one has really challenged him. And he is so good, I won’t take that away from him because, for me, well I had never seen anyone play like he does.
Interviewer: No, right. The technique that he has. He’s capable of opening insane angles… short angles… he’s good at everything. At everything.
Toni: And he can use the, the, this sliced thing from the middle of the court that leaves you with your mouth hanging open. He can use everything, his forehand is amazing, just, everything. But well, now…
Interviewer: There’s Rafa’s mental strength
Toni: Yes, and of course Federer can lose as well.
Wimbledon 2006
Nadal vs Bogdanovic
The first strokes of Rafa Nadal on this year’s Wimbledon where against British Bogdanovic, who didn’t make him suffer that much on their first round match. He won the match by three sets to love. //NEXT VIDEO//
Nadal vs Kendrick
His next rival, the American Robert Kendrick, was the one who made it harder for the Majorcan to move further on the tournament. Nadal had to come back from two sets to love to get to the fifth and last one, set that he won 6-4.
Nadal vs Agassi
On the third round a classic awaited for him, and a winner of Wimbledon in 1992 and a former number one: Andre Agassi. Against the American, Nadal had no problems and defeated him three sets to none.
Nadal vs Labadze
In fourth round, Irakli Labadze would be the next victim. Against the Georgian, Nadal was ruthless, not one option given, and in little more than two hours he put an end to the match.
Nadal vs Nieminen
Fin Jarkko Nieminen, the 22nd seed had a very tough time before the Spaniard. Nadal wanted to save his strength and went through the fastest road: 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and into semi-finals.
Nadal vs Baghdatis
To get to the final, Nadal had to walk through a man who reached the Australian Open final, and who was the executioner of many serious candidates for this year’s Wimbledon title: Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.
But as if it was a training session, Nadal firmly put himself on the final after winning in straight sets.
Dubai. March of 2006
Rafa Nadal’s first victory on this season came during the first days of March in Dubai. It was the year’s first encounter between the Majorcan and his biggest rival, the number one of the world, Swiss Roger Federer.
The Spanish player had to come back from one set down to win such a fought victory.
Masters Series Monte-carlo. April of 2006
On TMS Monte-carlo, during the month of April, Nadal bested his rivals with surprising ease, until he reached the final. And once again, awaiting for him was Roger Federer. But this time the Spanish player allowed himself the luxury of winning the match in four sets, and taking the second straight victory of the year against the number one of the world. //NEXT VIDEO//
Masters Series Rome. May of 2006
After winning the Barcelona title against Tommy Robredo, Nadal went to Rome to play the Italian Master Series. There, it was left clear the quality of the Spanish player against all his rival and got himself into the final where again, awaited Roger Federer for another clay battle. This time the match was of epic proportions, Nadal went behind the score through all the match, and after to match points saved, he reached the fifth set which went to a tie-break, but the victory was for Nadal again.
Roland Garros. July of 2006.
The next tournament in Rafa Nadal’s calendar was a Grand Slam: Roland Garros. France’s clay is the stage which has already seen Nadal win, and on which he wanted to leave his firm once more. After a long road he reached the final of the prestigious tournament where for yet another time, he would exchange strokes with the world’s number one, Roger Federer.
Nadal began slow, losing the first set 6-1, but his reaction after that was so emphatic that he won the next three sets to get a new trophy for his collection.
Wimbledon 2006.
40 years later.