Nadal: Winning Australian Open 2009 "was not a pleasant moment"

TT

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Jan 21, 2011, 12:44:47 PM1/21/11

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Australia Open and is already part of your winning list. It was yours
two years ago. In this edition remembered for the epic match with
Fernando Verdasco in the semis and Roger Federer's tears after losing
the final to you. What feelings come back? What are your memories of
that time?

"This is a tournament that I have great memories from the first time I
came and played against Lleyton Hewitt on Center Court. Then also when I
played a year later, in 2005, also against Hewitt an intense match of
five sets. And then, of course, the semi-final of 2009 that was a really
nice match. The semifinal against Fernando Verdasco. We both played very
well. Never in my life I've seen him play like that. And then the final
against Federer, which ended dramatically. It's the memory of the
victory that I had not ever expected to what it was until the final.. It
ended with tears of Roger Federer. It was not a pleasant moment but it's
part of the sport "

http://www.as.com/tenis/articulo/nadal-parece-hay-recambio-tenis/20110119dasdasten_8/Tes

SliceAndDice

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Jan 21, 2011, 1:01:34 PM1/21/11

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Not a nice thing to say.

TT

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Jan 21, 2011, 1:03:00 PM1/21/11

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Would you prefer him saying that seeing Roger cry was the best moment
of his life?

SliceAndDice

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Jan 21, 2011, 1:06:24 PM1/21/11

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I would prefer he did not say anything about it, especially since
everyone claims that he is such a gentleman. I do not think Roger
cried because he wanted to spoil Nadal's moment. It was a tough battle
and Roger got a bit emotional. Things like this happen. Did Roger
complain that Murray spoiled his moment by crying last year?

uly...@mscomm.com

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Jan 21, 2011, 1:24:17 PM1/21/11

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Actually I think it's a classy thing for Rafa to have said. He handles
himself very well with the media. If he's even 1/10th as humble as he
appears to be, then he's the least egocentric athlete ever.

SliceAndDice

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Jan 21, 2011, 1:30:52 PM1/21/11

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Oh I am sorry. I did not notice that he was specifically ASKED about
the Federer in tears. In which case, his answer is justified. Geez,
can't the media let go of that?`

kaennorsing

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Jan 21, 2011, 5:54:04 PM1/21/11

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Rafa's a pretty good guy and he's brought up to not brag about his
accomplishments... which on the flip side can make him look a bit
hypocritical at times. However, it's pretty honest to say it wasn't a
pleasant moment to see someone he respects and admires (and probably
cares for to an extent) in obvious discomfort and embarrassment... So
yes, very good answer IMO.

Manco

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Jan 21, 2011, 6:43:46 PM1/21/11

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Nadal's faux humility after the fact is infuriating. We all know about
the pirate pants, the VAMOS, the time wasting, the fist/leg pumps on
routine winners, the glaring across the net, making his opponent wait
for the coin toss, etc... I never bought into the Nadal is humbalito
myth!

vjg

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Jan 21, 2011, 6:51:25 PM1/21/11

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I've always been of the opinion that Roger's tears were brought on
because he really wanted to announce that he was going to be a father
at the award ceremony, but didn't do it when he lost because it would
take away from the attention that should have been directed toward
Rafa.

Manco

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Jan 21, 2011, 6:54:33 PM1/21/11

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Not likely! Roger cried because of 3 straight slam final losses to
Nadal and the general feeling that "I can't beat this guy, he'll stop
me from breaking the Sampras record". 99% of viewers agree on that
analysis of why he cried.

felangey

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Jan 21, 2011, 7:38:22 PM1/21/11

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>I've always been of the opinion that Roger's tears were brought on
because he really wanted to announce that he was going to be a father
at the award ceremony, but didn't do it when he lost because it would
take away from the attention that should have been directed toward
Rafa.<

Regardless, losing a heartbreaker on the day you found out you were to be a
father....in the swell of immense crowd appreciation that was shown....smack
me with a banjo if I wouldn't have gone under the same conditions.

SliceAndDice

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Jan 21, 2011, 7:48:24 PM1/21/11

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Does not necessarily make it the right explanation.

TT

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Jan 21, 2011, 7:54:56 PM1/21/11

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lol. Did you pull "from the same day" from your butt...

Joe Ramirez

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Jan 21, 2011, 11:10:54 PM1/21/11

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On Jan 21, 7:38 pm, "felangey" <o...@cloudnine.com> wrote:

> smack me with a banjo if I wouldn't have gone under the
> same conditions.

With or without a resonator?

Whisper

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Jan 22, 2011, 2:20:49 AM1/22/11

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When you cry it implies you think you had more entitlement to the title
than the other guy. Very poor sportsmanship imo. Nobody 'deserves'
anything in sport. You win what you win, & take your losses like a man.

Whisper

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Jan 22, 2011, 2:26:39 AM1/22/11

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The true test of a humble sportsman is how they behave when they lose -
almost everyone is humble when they win.

Rafa appears to be the real deal, while Fed fails miserably. Federer is
never humble in defeat. He only heaps praise on his opponents when he
beats them.

Whisper

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Jan 22, 2011, 2:50:37 AM1/22/11

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Hold on while I get my banjo.

Superdave

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Jan 22, 2011, 3:46:29 AM1/22/11

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Only pussies are humble in defeat. Oh wait ! It's Rafa.

Fan

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Jan 22, 2011, 8:21:00 AM1/22/11

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He was asked about Freddy in tears. You only read what you want to
read. Go and read the question. It is there. Nadal had no choice but
to speak of it. Freddy bawling his eyes out like a spoiled 6 year old
that did not get his mommy to buy him a toy was one of the worst
moments in slam trophy presentation history. It was disgraceful.
This and some others things are what I am talking about when I mention
Freddy’s character problem.