Sports Commentary - Times Online - WBLG

Rafa Nadal leads the way, but who are the world's most sporting sportsmen?

Times Online

Rafa Nadal has won new friends around the world due to the graciousness with which he accepted his first defeat at the French Open on Sunday.

After four straight victories at Roland Garros, it would have been understandable for the world No 1 to shun the press, hop on a plane and sulk at home in Mallorca.

Far from it. Nadal, speaking exclusively in his Times Online blog, insisted his defeat to Robin Soderling in Paris "was not a tragedy". "It was only a tennis match," he said. "No big drama. It happens, and I knew it would happen one day. I played really bad and on top of that he played well.”

Readers of his blog have been quick to congratulate the Spaniard on his attitude. “The way that you and Roger Federer conduct yourselves, win or lose, is a great credit to you both and your sport. I wish people in other sports could learn from that,” said Chris.

Send your well-wishes to Seve Ballesteros

Seve Ballesteros, the man who restored the pride to European golf, has confirmed he has a brain tumour and this is where you can wish him well.

The flamboyant Spaniard led the way for a golden generation of European golf, bursting onto the scene at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 1976, where he finished second as a 19-year-old, before going on to win the Open in 1979, 1984 and again at Royal Lytham in 1988.

He won 94 titles, five majors, six Orders of Merit and four Ryder Cups, but it was Seve's panache, his heart-on-sleeve emotion and his brilliant shot-making that the public adored.

Arguably the moment that he will always be remembered for came on his way to winning his first Open Championship in 1979. After his tee-shot at 16th at Royal Lytham found the overspill car park, Seve carved a miracle three-wood on to the green and holed out for a birdie. A legend was born.

The world of golf has responded to news of Ballesteros's illness. Jose Maria Olazabal, Seve's Ryder Cup playing partner, visited his great friend in hospital and said: "I thought Seve seemed very well. We were talking for a good while. I wish him a speedy recovery."

Miguel Angel Jimenez added: "Seve, we love you. We hope you recover as soon as possible."

Sam Torrance, a Ryder Cup team-mate of Seve's, said: "It's tragic news, he's one of the best-ever players. I have many fond memories of playing with him and against him. I was on tour before he started and I was on tour after he finished, so I was a witness to his glorious career. I hope he gets better."

Send your comments to the great man below, perhaps recounting your favourite moments of his incredible career.

Should we blame Nick Faldo for Ryder Cup defeat?

Just like he infamously sang when he won the Open Championship in 1992, Nick Faldo did it his way.

It was always going to be fascinating to see if a man who built a tremendous career as a player by being single-minded and often insular, could turn his hand to captaincy. His strengths were always based around the individual, so could he inspire a team?

The European players all rallied round their leader throughout the week, sprinkling the word "respect" whenever they were asked about him. But there is no doubt Faldo ruffled feathers even within his own side.

He left Lee Westwood out of the Saturday morning foursomes against the Englishman's wishes and then opted to load the bottom end of the singles pairings with his big-name players, by which time the match was already over.

Faldo said afterwards that he would not have done anything differently, but should he have done? Did his tactical naivety cost Europe the Ryder Cup or would they have lost anyway? Did his slip-up in revealing his Friday foursome pairings have any bearing on the result? And would the atmosphere within the team have been any better had Faldo attempted to get the press on his side, rather than mocking them with his "sandwich menu" lie?

Or is this more about the American team? Was Paul Azinger simply too clever? Were the American players just too good?

Read The Times's analysis of Faldo's captaincy and then let us know below if you think he was to blame for Europe's Ryder Cup defeat.