Rafa's parents back together!!!
uly...@mscomm.com
By Chris Chase
A report on the official website of Tennis Canada says Rafael Nadal's
parents, Ana Maria and Sebastian, have reunited after separating two
years ago. Ordinarily, this sort of thing wouldn't merit mention,
except that Nadal has admitted that the family trouble played a big
role in his struggles on the court in 2009.
Nadal's stunning loss to Robin Soderling at the French Open that year,
still his only defeat at the tournament, came in the weeks after his
parents announced their separation. At the time, a source told
London's Daily Mail:
'Rafa is devastated. All through the past couple of months he has been
trying to get his tennis back on track, but his heart has been
elsewhere. In public he has put on a brave face, but in private he has
been hoping for a reconciliation and fervently wishing this wasn't
happening.
Tennis.com's Peter Bodo speculated about what it meant:
"The rumors that Nadal's parents are about to divorce keep popping up
in the gutter press and in my inbox via emails from acquaintances and
sources, and I bring it up for this reason only: there's a parallel to
be drawn between how domestic turmoil might affect an obedient son
who's never questioned the impermeability of the familial cocoon, and
how losing dominion over a patch of earth where he has known only
spectacular success might affect a young and still not fully formed
tennis player."
And later in the year, Nadal reflected on how the divorce affected
him:
"My parents' divorce made an important change in my life. It affected
me. After that, when I can't play Wimbledon, it was tough. For one
month I was outside the world."
"I am OK now but you need time to accept. And it's more difficult to
accept when you are outside home and don't know what's happening. At
least the injury gave me time to be with my friends and family."
"I played with less calm [at Roland Garros]. One of the reasons was
the pain in the knees. And I was down because of the divorce.
Soderling played really well and he beat me. But I wasn't ready,
mentally or physically, this year."
After his first-round victory on Monday, Nadal spoke about his parents
being in attendance (without confirming or denying the rumors and
possibly making it seem like he was talking about their seats):
"Too many beautiful things to see my mom and my dad in the Royal Box.
I think for them (it) was a great experience. So, everything in
general was very, very nice today."
Nice.
PeteWasLucky
Acting like a baby about his parents' divorce. The guy was 23 years
the number two player in the world, give me a break!
uly...@mscomm.com
personality. His demeanor on- court I don't like, but off-court he
seems basically like a fairly sensitive man, which is to his credit. A
lot of these stereotypical Latin men who put on this macho front about
family matters. Nadal wore his heart on his sleeve about this, which
is a nice switch.
Nadal's mom especially is a class act. When Roger won the YEC in
London, she was in the tunnel after the match and kissed Roger on the
cheek and said, "You deserved it, Roger." Now that is one classy lady.
ahonkan
I second that. I don't like the on-court persona of Rafa because
it is so
much in contrast with his modest, humble, nice-to-a-fault
character.
Some may call it false modesty but I think uncle Toni has imparted
excellent values to his ward.
Fan
I feel very sorry for you for not appreciating your parents
Fan
The only thing that bothers me about Nadal is his ass picking. Rest of
his court demeaner is fine
Shakes
I agree about Nadal. I think he is very grounded. Good guy.
Patrick Kehoe
IF Rafa has phases of false modesty it has NOTHING to do with off
court Rafa personality... it's the "I'm not the favourite" mantra
that's just bizzare if he means it... and gamesmanship if he's using
it as a dodge...
P
Patrick Kehoe
Certainly is a great guy over all... great attitude and determined,
talented champion, to be sure...
P
Patrick Kehoe
I agree... wonderful news about them patching things up and getting on
with what must be a great life on their island paradise...
P
PeteWasLucky
So are we going to feel bad for Nadal again if his father decided to
be with another pretty young woman?