Murray was better - no excuses

Hello and goodbye to all,

I am writing a short note as my last blog post from New York. You know I normally don't do this after I have finished a tournament but thought I should do it today since I lost against your player. I am flying back home to Spain and will have 3 days of rest.  Andy played better than me both yesterday and today and he deserved to win. No excuses, no complaints. Some have asked if I had something to say about yesterday and the match being changed of courts, etc. The conditions are the same for both players and he simply played better. I had said on my previous blog that I knew this was a very, very difficult match. That Andy was playing great and that I knew this could happen. Well, it did.

Tomorrow it will be his first Grand Slam final and I am happy for him. it will be difficult for him since Roger is still Roger. I remember when lots of people were saying he was finished. I always said that Roger deserved more respect, and that he is still there, the favourite always. Well, he is in the final, again. Good luck to both and let's hope we see a great tennis match.

Finally holidays. I left home on July 18th and played Toronto, Cincinnati, Olympics in Beijing and here in New York since then. I will play some golf, be with friends, family maybe fish a bit and not much more. Don't have time for more. Then start practicing again to be ready for the Davis Cup. It will be big and I hope I will be at my top level with the help from the crowd.

I really want to thank all of you who have been reading and sending me questions. It gets me closer to all and hopefully gets me closer to you. I also want to thank the Times Online for this opportunity. Benito tells me it is Neil Harman (stop making fun of my Spanish accent :-) ) and James Major the ones I have to thank, so there you go.

Take care all of you and "hasta pronto".

Rafa

Comments

[maria gilda montilla]

Oh well Rafa, you are still our champion even if you lost this U.S.Open! You are a champion in our hearts coz you are such a nice warm and down to earth guy. I guess you will always be remembered for that by your fans and even by your co-players. Just keep on going for the gold, we will always be behind you, win or lose! Vaya con Dios, and more luck and skill next time. Afterall, 2008 was a great year for you! Not bad at all! Rafael Nadal, the French open champion, the Wimbledon Champion, and of course the Olympic Champion! That's a lot of accomplishments all in one year, and that will go down in tennis history. Viva Rafa Nadal!

[emi]

Konnichiwa Rafa!!
Thank you so much for writing the blog for fans. I enjoyed it.
I respect you that your attitude to other tennis players.
It is amazing!!.
Certainly you are the best tennis player in the world.
I hope your next great match.
Take care and "Arigato".
God Bless!!!

[georgesg]

Good lad Rafa. You have help made tennis more interesting over the last few years and provided Federer a worthy opponent (should Federer win 14 slams and/or the French then his achievement will have the highest merit). You have also proven to be an absolute gent (waiting for Federer to come out of the changing rooms after the Wimbledon final was class) and you show youngsters hooked on immediate celebrity success that hard work and dedication is the only road to success. Thank you.

[eileen]

you are the best rafa! talent and attitude wise, you are above all of them! good luck to your future events! keep going, you are amazing! from your numero uno filipino fan.

[Ngoc Bich]

Uhm, Rafa I know it was a difiicult match for you. But I know you have done your best power. So, don't be upset ok??

I hope you have a nice holiday ^^ After that, you can have a good health in Davis Cup .

Always your fan.

From Vietnam

[Cristina Martins]

Rafael,
The great champions can lose sometimes but for being a real champ a person dont need to win, is in his/her soul.
"No one cant always win and no one can always lose" it makes part of the life.
Yesterday i saw a Rafael completely different from Saturday, more positive energy, more concentration, a new person but the tiredness could be mitigated but dont disappear in one day.Was a fantastic match and as always you didnt gived up, you win the 3 set and almost the 4 set and that break points you and Andy made were amazing "Surprising".Andy played very well, his service was almost 100% and he was always in both sides of the court so he deserved to win but you are you and you have something different of the rest players, your strong competitiveness, you pass(transmites) feelings and not ever player can do that.Be proud of yourself "always", because i´m.
…”To be nobody but yourself in a World wich is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else, means to fight the hardest battle, which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting”…
Cristina.Portugal

[Adam]

After a long and tiring season..and a tough loss in a big tournament, to write this blog and be as gracious as you have been only confirms what a great champion you are Rafa...

I won't bet against a clean sweep for you next season..

Enjoy your hols

[SUSAN]

Oh Rafa, you are a great sportsman and have a very generous heart. You had an off day, he had an on but you`re far the finer player overall and you don`t snarl either...enjoy your break.

[Judith Forde]

Rafa, you're a star. That was a great game of tennis between two great players and you should feel proud. All your fans were with you. You've had a great season now go home and get some lovin'.
And a big cheer for Neil Harman and James Major. We love you for bringing Rafa to us.
Judith, UK

[Annabelle Kay]

Hi, Raf!

I did not have the chance to see the game. But whatever the outcome, whomever you play against --- I know that you give your best, and that it will always be a difficult task for your opponent to win!

While I am a naturalised British, and would normally root for Murray, I admire your work ethics and attitude. I am your avid fan!

I find your accent CUTE and definitely NOT funny! It is very LOVABLE / ENDEARING!

It will definitely be an interesting challenge to throw to anyone non-Spanish speaking: learn to speak Spanish and let us see how he fares with his accent?

You are doing fine, kid! No worries about your accent!

Once again, you are a great sportsman, and just keep giving your best in all your games!

[Marilena]

Hi Rafael,

I had butterflies in my stomach as you started the game today. I was really rooting for you. It was a great tennis match. It kept me on the edge of my coach the entire time. It was sad to see you go and for you not to be the one giving that interview at the end : ( …I would have loved to see you in the Finals. Well, Congratulations for getting to the semis. It was a great accomplishment. Good luck in the Davis Cup! …Oh, and you have a very cute Spanish accent : )

Mari

[Kevin O'Neill]

Rafa is a gracious winner and a gracious loser.
He is a credit to tennis.

And Murray's growth is great to behold. Come on Andy !

[Sanjay]

You're great Rafa. Your graciousness in defeat is a fantastic quality that is as great as your tennis.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Aussie Open.

[Attitudette]

Congratulations on reaching the semifinal Rafa! You've had an amazing season and given us a lot of fun tennis to watch. We're looking forward to what little is left of it. Thanks for blogging too! Enjoy your time off, it's well deserved!

[Nibor]

We love you Rafa :D.

[Laura - Pittsburgh, PA]

You're such a class act, Rafa. That is part of why I love to root for you. You're such a great sportsman. I am sorry you couldn't be in the final (it won't be the same without you), but congrats on getting to the semis and for having a fantastic year. I'm so proud of you. I loved reading your blogs and your answers to people's questions. Thanks for taking the time to do them. I'm glad that you will get to spend some time with family & friends and relax a little before you have to work again. Good luck with everything & have fun. :)

[wk]

we love you rafa!!!

[Beth]

Well done Rafa, I know you'll be back on top soon.

[Gervas Douglas]

You have proved that you are a great chmapion, Rafael. Apart from the small matter of becoming World No. 1 :), your achievement in winning Wimbledon when it is not your preferred surface was outstanding. What a great year you have made for yourself and for your fans! Spain and Mallorca have much to be proud of.

[Veljko]

Rafa, you are simply a wonder. You tennis is fascinating, and your heart is big. Well done for all the achievements this year. They will stand out for time to come.

[Ann]

Dear Rafa, sorry for your loss, please don't be too depressed about it. Andy played unbelieveable and you put in a good fight. You are a true champion both in victory and defeat. What you have done for tennis over the last few years is just huge, the sport is so much more interesting with you around. Now some well deserved holidays and rest. It has been awesome to follow your blog, thank you for doing it.
Lots of love and respect

[Oliver]

Everybody knows you were ill the first day against Murray, when he won 2 sets, Rafa. If you were ok, you would have won the tournament.

[Jane]

I agree, too many were assuming that, that was it for Roger, but he has still got it, sure it must have taken him back a bit but he's remained steady and his confidence has grew, and I'm sure it will be a great final.
I'm certainly excited in some sense because we've not had a British player yet to do tremendously well and I think Murray has the potential to do very well indeed.
Good luck for the Davis Cup I shall be watching and cheering you on.

[Linda, London]

dear Rrrrrafa,

thank you for this great blog. Its been a joy to read, and I think really unusual for a sports star of your level. Thanks also for the incredible tennis this summer- such a show of skill, artistry and strength. It was tough to see a tiger taken down, yesterday, but the tennis was amazing to watch.
You're a wonderful champion, and a gracious and charming person. We are lucky to have you!

enjoy your holiday and see you soon
buena suerte
:o)

[pbexpat]

Courteous in defeat
Respect to you Rafa

[Joseph, Philippines]

Hey Rafa...i had the best time watching and following your every game since French Open 2008 (that's when i started to become a tennis fan)...i can still remember 3 months ago saying that "tennis is the most pointless game ever created by mankind." but when i saw you played against roger, that totally changed my mind. You, and the rest of the great tennis athletes, are such an inspiration. You keep playing man, and keep inspiring. You are great--no excuses.

[Noel Hastings]

Well done Rafa
You are a real sporting gentleman. Anyone who can accept defeat with such grace really deserves all the accolates. You will be back of course but for now I hope Andy goes all the way.

Enjoy your break.

Noel

[pete best]

Cool bloke.

[Bob Gaffney - Hawaii]

Thank you, Rafa,

The time you’ve spent writing the blog and answering questions is appreciated. As you have a chance to learn about us likewise we have a change to learn about you.

I was sad to see you fall short of the US Open final but as you often say tennis is a game of winners and losers. Sadly you were one of the losers Sunday. You still have important tournaments ahead and after some rest hopefully you will continue to be successful during the remainder of this 2008 season.

As a long time fan and admire, I’m grateful I had an opportunity to see your match with Nicolas Lapentti in person. Remembering when you became Number 2, I thought you would be Number 1 in just a few months. Having followed your career through these last three years it has meant much to see the determination and patience you brought to the quest to be Number 1. Still it is the humility shown in interviews and public interactions that makes your efforts so memorable.

Although I was born in the United States, I’m British by heritage. Tomorrow I may still be sad you lost in the semis but I will be cheering for Andy Murray to be as successful as he was in Cincinnati. Andy is beginning to show the same qualities of sportsmanship which have made you a true Champion. Hopefully we will see a rivalry develop between you and him both meaningful and entertaining for all who love professional tennis.

May the time at home refresh and re-energize you. You have many fans in the United States and it seems certain we will be following your remaining competitions and cheering for you to win.

Vamos Rafa!

[Cheryl]

Well, this may not get posted since you are leaving and Andy plays tomorrow. I have my preference of who I want to win, but I'll be respectful and I won't say who that is.

Thank You for the blog, I know it took a lot of your time. You are an amazing person, so humble, respectful etc.... I use to cry some when I lost my matches!! - of course I'm a gal and we can get away with that. LOL!!!

Take Care of yourself Rafa and GOOD LUCK in the end of September playing us -- the USA!! :>)

ONE LAST TIME-- "KICK SOME BOOTIE" -- your next match of course!!!

[BC]

What a great sportsman Rafael Nadal is. Let the whiny footballers take a lesson from him.

[Monica]

Thank you for your kindness and your availability to your fans Rafa. You're someone incredible! I wish you good holiday and take care of you too. Big kisses! See you soon.

[Christine]

What a sposrtsman! What a tennis player! What a looker!
You were excellent Rafa and thank you for taking the time to talk to us even writing for us today shows the calibre of young man you are. It was a privilege reading your blog and awesome watching you play. You are an exemplory sportsman and many have much to learn from you. Enjoy your rest. You are still No1...and not just in tennis:)

[Theo]

Rafa, you played great too. It was some match! I think you need a good long rest now. Look forward to seeing you fresher in your next matches - and thanks for being an amazing contestant and a great sport - so gracious no matter whether you win or lose. There are players who could learn from you!

[Tijana]

Rafa you are great no matter if you win or lose. It is pure joy watching you play. People truly love you. Wish you all the best.

[Fernando Gonzalez]

I think that all players are vulnerable. And even more if you've been playing lots of matches along last month.

All of us must be proud of Rafa's tennis and his first position on ATP, as he deserves it, but yesterday, all the people had to stand up, and give an ovation to Murray ;)

Even if Federer beats him, it's a good improvement on his career, and let's see what he can do for next season :o

We have to thank these players the good tennis they are offering us last years ;)

Cheers

Fernando

[Steve]

Rafa - you are a true sportsman - gracious in both defeat & victory - you have my utmost respect.

[sunil sood]

Dear Rafa
Right now, I am in The Himalayas, but when I was in England, I saw your match at Wimbledon with Andy Murray, which I enjoyed very much. It was also my first time I watch you play.
I would like to thank you for being a gentleman and a great sportsman and I hope you all the success for the future and hope to watch you when I am back in the civilised world.

With kind regards
Sunil
www.ski-gulmarg.com

[Lynn]

Hi

I have worked in professional sport for over 20 years and you are truely one of the greats. Go and have some fun, relax, recharge and come back fighting as you always do.

As you say - Hasta pronto !!!

ps : Murray is not our favourite.

[Suna]

Nadal, like Federer, has brought grace to tennis. He has, time and again, shown that it is more important to have a good game than to win the game no matter. Congratulations Rafa. You are a joy to watch. All the best.

[Natalie]

You played a great game. Like you said, this is the furthest you've come in the US Open so it is an accomplishment for you. Your compliments to Andy and Roger really show what a nice and fair player (an person) you are. Enjoy your well deserved three day rest!

[paul mcinnes]

Rafa is the complete sportsman. At the very top of his sport and still as honourable in defeat as he is in victory. Many others should follow his example.

[Tinneke]

hi,
thanks so much for writing the blog, it means a lot to us. So you lost to Andy but you played a great tournament, getting to your first semifinal at the us open, congratulations! Enjoy your time at home, you deserve it. Thanks and good luck for the Davis cup!

[Brenda Hayles]

Halo Rafa

On behalf of your millions of British fans, including myself and indeed, around the World, today Mon 8 September, is a very sad day. Unfortunately, you we lost at the US Open and some of us cried. When you were up 3-1 in the 4th set, we thought you would take the 4th and go through to win 5th and then the Final. Your fans wanted you to win, but you looked tired on Court. As you say no excuses. We, the crowd will always be supporting you even if you lose - but much better when you WIN.
We wish you a safe flight to Mallorca, a well deversed holiday, plenty of sleep, rest and relaxation so that you come back, fresh, stronger, fittier and better than before. You and Toni and your Tennis Coach are probably planning a new tougher, top level game strategy for when you start practicing stronger, faster tennis for 2009 Championships. We will see you then.

We hope you will always be World No. 1 Tennis Champion - your fans will always be there for you.

Rafa, take care and thank you :)

Brenda Hayles (London, UK - Nadal fan)

[Ana]

Rafa,

In Spain we are so very proud of you, as a player and as a beautiful human being. You are an example to many people. I love your attitude, it never changes and it does not matter if you win win or lose, you are always the same nice, humble and geniune sweet young man.

¡¡Buen viaje de vuelta a casa, que te relajes un monton con tu gente y seas muy feliz!! Te queremos.

[Vin]

That was a great blog to read. :)

[VAL]

VAMOS RAFA (:
so nice of you to write another blog entry for us fans!!
you're such a gracious loser <3
haha take care yeah and rest well!!
enjoy your short break!!
maybe you'll come over for the f1 race in singapore no? haha

cya RAFA!!

[mona]

hi rafa im sooo sad for your loss to murray and i really dont know what happend at there nobody can believe the no. 1 rafael nadal losing the match to murray while he won all of 5 matches that they did in career!
i prayed so much but i dont know why god didnt help us and i cried so much but rafa remember u always the best if even u lose a match or win u are always our no.1 and best player ever and dont miss your passion i know maybe u were so tired cause u had a very busy year and u won the most important tournaments just except this one but doesnt matter no? u can win it next year!
i love u rafa and i always wish the bests for u cause i know u're the only one who desereves to be the best! so take a rest and keep going like the always rafael nadal the person who nobody can beat him if he will be himself! so go for davis cup baby.

[kirsty]

Rafa can i just say how proud all of ud are for you! we all know that you are to kind to make excuses but we know about all the drama before your match on saturday, and we saw that you struggled. yesterday you came out fighting, with some stunning shots, and thats the mark of a real champion.
so go home and have some well deserved rest and reflect on all the unbelievable achievements that you have made in this year alone.
all the best and hope to see you back to your winning ways soon.
Kirsty in London

[Iara, Brazil]

Rafa, you did great in the tournament, you should be proud of yourself, you've been playing like crazy this last months, non stop. Congratulations for reaching semis for the first time in the US Open!
I'm sad that this your last post... We really get used to it heheh. Thanks for taking the time to write and answer to your fans, we really appreciate :) I hope you have a good rest with your family and friends, and can recover some energy... Até logo!

[gillian salmon]

Get some rest Rafa- you deserve it!!

You had a wonderful run in the tournament, reaching new ground and no doubt further stimulation to have another go next year. New York is waiting for you, that's for sure:-) The match was both thrilling (I still had hope...) and also distressing, because you did seem more fatigued than usual. Way more. But, Murray played well and got the better of you. As you often tell us in the blog, tennis is like this.

Thank you for your sportmanship and positive attitude and all the best with the remainder of the season Champ!! Much love, Gill

[Daniel Santana]

It was a joy to watch Murray and Nadal playing tennis. Murray was brave and intelligent. He managed to gather mental and emotional stability to win a great match.
Nadal did his best which this time was not enough.

Kind regards from Spain.

[Anne, Glasgow (not East though)]

Hi Rafa,

Thank you for your support for Andy Murray, I am aware that you are friends and it showed at the end of the match. We in Scotland are very, very proud of what Andy has achieved and didn't think it would be so soon. England's Tim Henman took a bit longer but then only reached the semi's. However, Andy has always been complimentary about Tim which shows a maturity not acknowledged.

Anyway, Rafa, I look forward to further matches between you and Andy in the future, especially in the finals of Grand Slams. Have a great holiday and remember to visit Scotland as it is a beautiful country and full of fabulous people.

Anne, Glasgow, Scotland (a very proud Scot)

[Ben]

Great coloumn rafe, have thouroughly enjoyed the insight into the life of a professional, if only more would do likewise.

Also despite other posters views and despite how much we do admire you, Scotland is behind its champ Andy Murray!

[Mary Beth]

Rafa... You are such an inspiration. Your graciousness in defeat is astounding. Tennis, as is all sports, is played to see who is better that day, and you seem to understand this completely. That said, your fighting spirit & kind words of your opponents are ALWAYS winners. VAMOS!!!

Enjoy your time at home.. :)

[u2onair]

Oh Rafa,

I'm sorry for your loss against Andy. But you gave your all today, so I think you did the right thing by exiting with your head held high. At least you're in the semis this year. There's always next year to grab the title!

Thank you so much, Rafa, for sharing your life with us through this blog and answering our questions. (And thanks to The Times too!) It's the greatest way to share with your fans.

Adios, for now. Have a good, well-deserved rest, and I'll see you again in Davis Cup and Masters...

Pase lo que pase, RAFA siempre!

[JAMES COLE]

I have enjoyed your blogs Rafa and it gives you great credit that you were so compleimentary after losing to Andy Murray. I am a huge Andy Murray fan and was delighted with the result but agree that you have brought so much to the game. Personally I think all of Britain should get fully behind Andy in the final, recognising his great achievements and talent.

[Christopher]

Thanks Rafa for the great blog (and those at TOL whose idea it is!!) and, of course, the great tennis. Your amazing graciousness in defeat is inspiring and a credit to you and your family.

Getting into the semi-final of the USO was a good result and I'm sure you will continue to improve your hardcourt game; Andy is a great player in his own way good luck to him tonight - it will be tough!!

Enjoy home and your well earned break! Hopefully it really will be "hasta pronto!" :-)

Chris

PS Oh and vamos! & good luck for the Davis Cup!

[Ajaz]

What a class act you are, on and off the court. Enjoy the rest, you deserve it - I'm still relishing the tennie yesterday and the Wimbledon final with Federer. What a great future for Men's tennis over the next few years with yourself. Federer, Murray and Djokovic. As a spectator, it is a thrill to watch you play each other and the way you conduct yourselves off the court, in victory or defeat, is an example to all sportsmen. True champions.

[Dubravka]

Thanks for all the things you did and all the things you will do in your career. I know you always had to do the things the hard way, winning titles, becoming No1 and fighting for your rights. That's how this world works, good people always have to suffer to achieve their goals. That's what makes all your victories even bigger and better. You must know that you have huge support from your fans and you will always have it. After all, the thing that matters the most is a smile on your face,
VAMOS RAFA keep doing what you do and stay the way you are. Good thing return to good people.
Greetings from Serbia, Dubravka

[John Cook]

What a gentleman you are Rafa. A great example to aspring champions.

I wish you the best of luck next season.

[piyalak, thailand]

enjoy reading your blog, thank you for your time to do this.

and thank you for playing a great tennis and being a real sportman. it's always a great ride to watch you play.

as you said, ''hasta pronto''

[cherice]

thank you rafa for the blog again!!!! it's been a pleasure getting to know you more through it!! go rest world no. 1 , you gave it your best in the US open! :)

[The Phantom Of 'The Club']

Sorry I wasn't available to read this blog when it was posted. I didn't think you'd drop by for another blog. You're such a man!

Congrats on your best result on US open yet. I know you tried you best and you should be pround of your effort. The good thing is you'll have another chance to try to go further next year (and the next, and the next...). Champions know how to win, true champions learn from their loss and come back on top. You're a true champion and beyond. I know you'll come back stronger.

Can't wait for your next game (whenever it is). In the meantime, make the most of your holidays. No one deserves it more.

[Kate]

Thank you for all that you do for tennis. I have never been as emotionally invested in any tennis player until you came along and defeated Roger. And time and time again, you wow me with your passion, graciousness, and humility. Thanks for taking the time to write this blog. I hope it won't be the last.
Take a well-deserved break and finish the year strong at Davis Cup and the Masters. We'll all be here rooting for you.

[Dan]

I'd just like to agree with the comments on Rafael Nadal. He is an inspration the way he conducts himself on and off the tennis court. The same has been and still is true of Roger Federer who is a great and gracious champion. The season Rafael has had has been astounding - how he could keep up this standard all year against such stiff opposition is amazing!
Rafael had to lose sometime and this was the most likely occasion in a tournament he has never done well in. This is Andy Murray's favourite surface and he always had a good shout against Nadal. Andy won through great play rather than Rafael wilting after a long and successful summer. The final is hard to call with Federer going for a fifth straight win near the end of an illustrious career against a rapidly improving and more confident Murray on his favourite surface and his favourite tournament.
I am Scottish and so would love to see Murray win the US Open. It's good to follow people from your own nation but better still to appreciate talent in any walk of life wherever it is from. The future of tennis is bright with loads of great young players about. Having great ambassadors like Federer and Nadal can only be great for the game as there is so much to learn from them.

[Loretta, Sydney]

Rafa, thanks for blogging and answering our silly questions, even though you were exhausted and had to concentrate on your matches. I'm going to miss reading your blog!

Although you didn't win, you still played your best US Open ever in your career. You kept fighting even though you had nothing left in the tank after such an unbelieveable (yes, your favourite word!) season. All of us here love and support you and are very proud of what you have achieved.

I hope you enjoy your short, but well-deserved break. And best of luck for the Davis Cup - I hope you and Feli and the boys beat the US 5-0! Vamos! ;)

[A Mahmood]

I must admit it took me a while to warm to Rafa but now i respect him as a player and as a person. He is one of the nice guys in sport which is a credit to his parents and his uncle. Murray should be proud of beating a player who can be considered one of the greats of modern tennis.

[The Judge]

I don't really follow tennis, but this blog caught my eye: respect to Nadal!! why can't other sportsmen adhere to such high standards of decorum???

[josie]

Rafa thanks for this lovely final Blog
love you Rafa

[Babafunke]

Hello Rafa,

I just want you to remember that you have had a fantastic season , this is the best you have ever done at the U.S open.

Murray is a better player on hardcourts , however i know you will conquer this surface as you have already done on grass.

Good luck in the Davis Cup and God bless.

[BABE]

Awww, Rafa, we'll miss you and your blog, chico. Thank you for the wonderful memories this summer. And thank you for writing this blog and answering our sometimes not very intellectual questions.

I hope you enjoy your much needed rest, you deserve it.

But Rafa, please stop saying Andy is our favorite. He's not you are. We appreciate Andy but whose blog are we reading and commenting on..!??! Unless you're teasing us....:)

Bye, Rafa. :'-(

[Janice]

Rafa, thank you for the pleasure of watching you play. Thank you for your charm and class. This was one match. I can hardly wait to watch you again soon. Have a good few days off. You deserve them. Thank you for this blog. I appreciate your time and efforts.

[Abi]

Rafa, what can I say? You have had the most amazing year and it is not over yet. Maybe the US open was not to be but you have demonstrated such amazing sportsmanship and are a great ambassador for the sport and Spain. Hope you have a lovely few days rest at home - you truly, truly deserve them! Love the blog by the way x

[theodore]

I've always been your big fan,Rafa.
one of the reasons why is proven here: your humility.
i know every defeat will only make you stronger.
you will obviously come back next year.
I'll always be cheering for you,boy.
"Vamos Rafa".

[Carol]

It's official: Rafa Nadal is the nicest and sweetest among the great champions.

A true gentleman and a wonderful person. Well done.

[Dotti]

Rafa, I will miss you so so much. Come back to the states soon. I love you.

[Maria J]

Rafa, I hope you get a chance to read all the comments to your blog. You're a great man and I wish you all the best in your time of rest. You certainly deserve it. It has been such a pleasure to read your blogs. You are doing terrific in building your language skills. I hope this helps and I hope we help by sending in comments and questions. Godspeed and much success with the Davis Cup and Masters Series. You have a lot of work ahead of you and we hope many wonderful years of tennis. We sure enjoy watching you.

[cindy]

Rafa, it was a good fight & a great yr. it has been since bjorn borg that i have admired a tennis player as much as you & roger. humility & respect are 2 wonderful traits to have. we enjoy watching you play hard on every point. thanks so much for the blog. get some well-deserved rest. all the best, much love & thanks for being you.

[Manuela Kaltenthaler]

Hola Rafa,
first of all i want to thank you for this great amazing blog. You spent a lot of time to answer the questions from your fans. It means a lot to us and we feel always very close to you.
I’m sorry for your loss. Yesterday I felt very sad.....I can’t believe it – you really lost the Match. I was hopefully that you can win this match and the final. You have deserved it, but it’s ok, this is Tennis with winners and losers. You have played such a good breathtaking year and look what you did this year at Roland Garros, Hamburg, Queens, Wimbeldon, Toronto, Number 1 in the World, Gold medal at the Olympics in Bejing .....It is unbelievable. I like the way you play tennis. I have so much fun watching you on the court. :o)
So, now I wish you good and safe flight to Mallorca. Enjoy your time with your family and friends – especial the time with your girlfriend – take a lot of sleep, rest and relaxation.

I wish you good luck for the Davis Cup – oh man I’m envious of my best girlfriend Tanja – she will see you next week in Madrid at the Davis Cup . I could’t get off from my job , maybe the next time I will come and watch you “live”. But Tanja will give you all the support from her and me…..Don’t worry.

Best regards
Manuela, Germany

Please approve my comments to the blog!!!

[brie]

more than anything you've done, or will ever do on the court, how you handle yourself off of it, is what i admire most.

i continue to be astounded by how gracious you are in defeat. i'm older than you, but admire you greatly.

all my luck for the davis cup.

brie

[Helen Hives]

Well done on your fantastic year so far. I am always so excited and nervous watching your matches and especially yesterday when you played Murray. I can tell when you are not at your best and normally I think you would have taken this match. Either way, you always have my support, you add magic to my life, so thank you from my heart for being the tennis player and person you are. Enjoy your rest and I will be shouting for you in the Davis cup and in Shanghai and always. God bless. Vamos Rafa y muchas gracias!

[Anna Severinova]

Dear Rafa,

Thank you so much for writing this blog for us! Congratulations on reaching semis! During this championship you showed us so wonderful, unbelievable tennis - it was a real pleasure and joy to watch you playing.
You're the inspiration for so many people!!!
Wish you to have a good rest before the Davis Cup! Good luck our wonderful Champion! :-) Love you.

[Lisa]

First of all Rafa i would like to congratulate you on an extraordinary season; you have accomplished the impossible with the victories that you have had. I don't care what anyone may say, but you are by far the best tennis player ever!!

You truly are to be admired, not just as an athlete but as a human being. You have conquered so many fans all over the world and we are all so proud of you!!! To us you were, are, and always will be #1.

I wish you a safe trip back home and a good rest; nobody has earned it more!

[theguy99]

Hey, Rafa.

You did alright, champ. There is nothing, and I mean _nothing_, to hang your head in shame about. It's been a fantastic year for you.

Wimbledon, French Open, some hard court titles, and gold. I'm sure when you get back home and actually sit down to think about it... you'll be all smiles. ^_^

Take care.

[Joanna, England]

You are as gracious in defeat as you are when you win, Rafa. A true sportsman and a very nice guy.

I hope you have a good rest and enjoy your time at home. I look forward to watching you play again soon.

Vamos Rafa

[Vicki C. Macariola]

I always read your blog, actually hoping that eventhough you lose , you will still find time to write and I'm glad you did.. Congratulations on your blog, you probably don't have any idea, how inspirational you are and I know you will always be, not only to the young ones but also to not that young anymore. Hope that you will have more of this blog in the future.
This is your best performance so far in the US Open, I know you will keep on improving as the times goes by. Lastly, I would like you to know that you will always have my support and respect. Get some good rest, because there are more matches for you to be won.

[jo]

Rafa,
I love you so much and the reason I care about tennis so much. You are always number 1 in my heart.GO RAFAAA

[Olga]

I 'm so happy for you Rafa, you didn't win but you're the winner in your fans' hearts. And be sure in Spain (and the rest of the world as I can tell by these comments) people admire you and are very proud of you as the great man you are and naturally as the great tennis player you've become.
Un abrazo y que descanses lo máximo posible.
See you in Madrid

[Olive, Indonesia]

Yes, Rafa, the blog indeed brings you closer to us. Thank you for doing this (and also huge thanks to Times!). Please, keep blogging whenever you can. Have a nice holiday back home and best of luck for your next matches.

You're the true champ! Vamos Rafa!

[Hiromi]

Rafa,thank you so much for writing this blog and answering questions during US open!
It has been such a pleasure reading them everyday.

You are a true N0.1 in the world because of your true sportsman spirit!!
I was moved by seeing you waving the crowd and signing the autographs when you are leaving the court.....!
You really care about fans and people around you. It means a lot to us.
This is why we love you not only your tennis but also your personality.

Thanks again for the great tennis as always and enjoy your little bit of time off!!
Hope you can catch a big fish!!!

Take care,love,Hiromi

[haru,Japan]

Hi,Rafa.Today you did a good job and we all admire you.The strong mind you showed us in the match impressed me.I respect it and want to say...thank you.The result may be a sad thing but I believe it'll make you stronger.I'll continue to support you!
Besides,thank you for sparing your time to writing this blog and answer questions.Of course this blog allowed us to know you better and feel closer.I enjoyed it.Thanks again.
Take a good rest.
haru, japan

[Alex]

Rafa, we are very proud to be your fans.

You treat winning and losing the same. A lot of players could learn a lot from you. Without you the tennis world would be missing a lot. Thank you for taking your time out to do this blog.

[Tina]

Rafa,

Thank you for taking the time to write this blog and to answer our questions. It means so much to each and every one of your fans that you made this connection with us, even during times when you were trying to physically and mentally prepare for some tough matches. I can only say I'll miss logging on every morning to read your latest news, but I hope you have a really good rest back at home. You deserve it.

With your grace and humility you have shown that you truly have the heart of a champion. We're all so very proud of you.

All my love, Tina xoxox

[Jenny, England]

Hi Rafa

Thanks for writing the blog - NOT boring at all. Its great to hear your thoughts throughout tournaments. Good luck for Davis Cup, I'll be supporting Spain. Can't wait until next French Open and Wimbledon.
Suerte and vamos!!

[Simon Chapple]

That was the best tennis match involving a British player that I have seen in 50 years: Murray played the best tennis of his life and your huge heart finally capitulated after a marathon of brilliance which has enchanted your fans everywhere. I was pleased for Murray - especially pleased that he was able to raise his game for the biggest occasion of his life (British players have tended to under-perform when it matters most); and I was pleased that he showed you the respect that you have earned.

Tennis has been lucky to have two of the finest sportsmen ever seen as its flagship players over the past five years. From the evidence of yesterday's match it seems that a little of your humility, decency and quiet determination is finally rubbing off on Murray.

May you have many more matches with him.

[Nicole]

Rafa, thank you so much for spending the time to do this blog. It has definitely brought you closer to us your fans, and it's been something for us to look forward to everyday of the US Open. I'm so happy we've had the opportunity to get to know you better.
I'm sorry you couldn't make it into the finals, but we are proud of you still for having put in your best performance at NY so far. You definitely deserve a good break back home, please get some rest and have some time to reflect on what a fantastic year it has been for you and all that you have achieved.
I greatly admire you for your amazing talent, and I especially love your charm, strong character and great sense of humility. You really are a one-of-a-kind World No. 1, we are very fortunate to have you in tennis. Take care of yourself, and all the best for the Davis Cup!

[micci]

Hi Rafa,
what can i say .... I adore (with my heart), admire (with my mind) and respect you as a player and a person. You are an inspiration!

Ps. YOU are our favourite! and the blogs are fabulous!

[Doreen]

Congratulations on reaching the Semi's. Playing until 2 in the morning the previous match, having the time and court change on the semi, and then the rain interruption -- you put up with a lot. You always give us a great show and we thank you for that. I have a question - it seems that the slice shot is not very successful for you and it leaves you in a strange body position where you can't easily run to the return shot. Has Tony ever analyzed the success of that shot for you? Looks cool and takes a lot of skill, but I don't think the statistics are good for that particular shot. Enjoy your holiday and good luck on the Davis Cup - Hope your country wins.

[tri]

thank you for the blog rafa!