If someone had told me an exact year ago that Rafael Nadal would be winning three slams in a row and completing the Golden Slam at fantastic fashion just about now, my reaction would be something along the lines of ‘Mate, get the fuck off’. From his loss to Soderling in Roland Garros up until the end of the season–not including Davis Cup–, Rafa had gathered 25 wins and 10 losses. That’s a 60% winning percentage. The scary thing was how absolutely devastating some of those losses were. It doesn’t take much to find a Rafa fan that relates last year’s World Tour Finals to nightmares. He lost all three matches without even snagging a set. The knee was looking better but you could see the Spaniard that had always been associated with a bull had no confidence left.

Flashforward to 2010. Ever since the beginning of the clay season in April, Rafa has 43 wins and 3 losses. He has won 93% of the matches he has played. He won all three slams since then–not dropping a single set in Roland Garros and getting broken only 5 times in Flushing Meadows. What a difference a year makes.

There are two characteristics from Rafa that can explain those numbers. One of them is his fighting spirit — Rafa is knowing for giving 110% at all moments that include him, a racquet, a yellow ball and a court with funny lines. The other one is his ability to evolve. Four years ago, Rafa didn’t know how to move in the court and finish points at the net. Three years ago, he didn’t know how to flatten out the ball at points when needed. Six months ago, he didn’t know how to hit absolute bombs with his serve.

It’s hard coming up with a player in history whose game showed so much positive changes throughout his career. At 24, Rafa has 9 slams (including one of each), the Olympic gold and 3 Davis Cup titles. The scary part that it doesn’t look like he’s slowing down. At this rhythm, if he keeps healthy, there’s a possibility he’ll put those GOAT discussions on fire.

That’s in the future. For now, Rafa fans, celebrate–for your boy has written his name in history once again.

I decided to comply a list of my Top 5 Outfits Wore By Rafa Nadal. Because 1) I like clothes, 2) I like Rafa, and 3) I like lists.

HONOURABLE MENTION:

Day Matches Bubblegum Rafa, Australian Open 2009

5.

White Wings, U.S. Open 2008

4.

Blue/Yellow Combo, U.S. Open Series 2009

3.

Green and Blue Mosaic, Roland Garros 2010

2.

Pink Polo of Doom, Roland Garros 2009

1.

I’m sorry, was I talking about something?

Moral of the story: the brighter my lil’ own personal version of Sunshine shines, the happier I get. */creep*

I’ve seen worst Mondays.

(First picture via vamosrafa)

BE STIL MY SHALLOW NOT-SO-FASHIONABLE HEART.

Meanwhile, Masha isn’t looking so bad either. How to fancy up an outfit: use a pretty jacket.

Swoon, heart in pupils, etc.

I still want to buy that dress badly and I probably will once I find the matching jacket online. Amazing, Masha, amazing.

Oh, wait, sorry. Wrong post.

SHSJDHDKAHKDJD THE MATCH IS ABOUT TO START SHAKS;ALJASJ I’M SO NERVOUS LIKE IF SODERMORT DEFEATS RAFA AGAIN I’LL CRY LIKE A BABY OMG IT’S STARTING OMG OMG OMG LOOK AT HIS FACE, BOY LOOKS SO FOCUSED OMGOMGOMG GET IN THERE, RAFA. OKAY, HOLDING, CONTINUE TO SERVE WELL, RAFA OMGGGGG HE BROKE, HE BROKE IN THE FIRST SET OMGGG WHY DOES HE KEEP FACING BREAK POINTS WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM RAFA, JUST FUCKING HOLD OMGGGGGG FIRST SET 6-4 OMG OK LET’S WIN THE SECOND HAJSSJSSHSJS ALREADY UP OMG THERE IS A GOD, JESUS! HE’S RUNNING SO FAST, LOOK AT THAT MOTHERFUCKING BOY RUNNING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, LOOK HOW HE FLIIIIIEEEEEEEEES OMG AMAZING OMG HE’S GOING TO GET A 2-0 LEAD IN THE FINAL, THIS IS GOING FAST, THIS IS BECOMING AMAZING SECOND SET 6-2 YESSSSSSSSSSS HE WON’T CHOKE OUT A 2-0 LEAD, WILL HE? WILL HE? NO HE WON’T! HE’S AMAZING, HE BREAKS. HE WASN’T BROKEN YET, HE’S SAVING ALL THOSE FUCKING BREAK POINTS SPECTACULARLY, OMGGGGGGGG, HE’S SERVING FOR THE MATCH. SERVING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIPS. SERVING FOR THE MOTHERFUCKING FIFTH ROLAND GARROS TITLE AND THE NUMBER ONE POSITION. OMGGGG 40-0 TRIPLE MATCH POINT… IS HE GOING TO… IS HE GOING TO….

RAFAEL NADAL: ROLAND GARROS 2010 CHAMPION

ALL THESE LADIES WON. AND IT WAS EPIC.

And, damn, you guys, the matches were all hard (Sam‘s not so much, but for a moment there, when she lost the 1st, I was scared) — all three-setters.

Lena played some spectacular shit tennis and had to come down from a set down and then from a break drown on the 3rd set to defeat CanWoz. When Kiri started serving for the match, we got suicidal but then she ended up snagging the 3rd set 6-4. And Wicky, well, they didn’t have a stream for Wicky but I imagine if it took her 32 games to defeat mommy!Bammer, then it mustn’t have been pretty. Still, a win is a win.

But that wasn’t all. We had BONUS WINNERS. Caro pushed push baby Dulgheru and Rrrrrrrafa, well, Rafa was Rafa. We still have Russian BBs Pavs and Pivs (who came from qualies to upset Australian Open semifinalist Zheng) alive in the third round. Let’s enjoy this little piece of sunshine and happiness upon us — goodness knows it will be squashed by JJ or the Williams soon.

Pretty boy fyt:

Delish.

I could spend all day looking at these.

Sigh.

Note to self: Tweet less, post more. Big words in relatively long sentences can’t hurt, can they?

GUYS.
GUYS.
GUYS.

My mind went into some really weird fight. There’s this side, the good side, who was all: “Dear boy, Rafa! I remember when you were a baby in your sleeveless shirts, upsetting the likes of Coria and stuff. Now suddenly you’re being straddled by a popstar and liking it? I get it, Shakira is hot, but you shouldn’t be touching girls that way. You should be happy playing Winning Eleven with the big boys. Not wanting some nippleless woman to play with your big boy.*”

The other side of my brain, the bad side, is just going: “OH MY GOD, CAN I PLEASE BE SHAKIRA? CAN WE GET MORE RAFA SHOTS? CAN WE GET A SLOW MOTION CLIP OF HIM BENDING NOW TO PICK SOMETHING-” I’ll stop before it goes to far.

Anyway, here’s the video.

Keep in mind this is art, not glorified fapping material.**

*I don’t know what I was thinking when I typed that. Apologies.

** LOLOLOLOLLLL.

(caps via iheartrafa)

My thoughts can be summed by one picture:

Carry on.

Let me start by saying the last thing I wish to do is take off Andy‘s merit. The first two sets were played brilliantly by the Brit. He showed not only the amazing counter-punching we all know he’s capable of, but also some high quality aggressive tennis. He would slice, hit it deep, flat, serve and volley — completely dominating the match. Amazing tennis and a well deserved semifinal spot for Murray.

Now, can I just come here and worry? Rafa retired, it’s the knee again. Hear me whine for all eternity.

He says it happened in the middle of the second set. Now, would that just happen? And how would he know that thanks to the sting of pain, it was for the best to retire? Was the knee pain that strong? Or considering it hurt, he thought it wasn’t worth to continue playing — after all, he would hardly be able to come back from two sets and one break down. Specially by the way Andy was calling all the shots. But would Rafael Nadal really just give up of a match (in a Slam he was defending, even) like that, if the problem wasn’t serious? I can’t help but think the knee still hasn’t healed and that the whole “I’m all better, it doesn’t hurt at all” talk was bullshit from the Spaniard.

His injuries are a subject that Rafa really doesn’t like to talk about during his interviews. It’s not like you want to warn to your opponent: “Hey, look at me, I’m crippled, just slice all the balls — bending my knees hurts too much.” But Rafa really doesn’t like to talk about it. Enough to refuse to answer over and over.

As a fan, the last thing I’ll be caring right now are the rankings (he’ll lose the #2 position). Maybe he came back too soon. If missing the American spring hardcourt season is what it takes to heal the knee, let it be.

Dear Rafael, if you’re reading this, 1) omg, stop pls, this is really embarrassing, 2) If you continued reading, let me warn you that tennis fans do not want to see an early retirement from you, Sir. How are we supposed to watch clay tennis when you’re injured? IT WILL BE PAAAAIIIIIINFUUUUUUL. (see what I meant when I said “embarrassing”?) Get better soon, we love you.