SEO MIAMI: Post Quarterfinal Presser

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His presser antics are the best. What on earth is he doing? Babe, lemme buy you some cottonbuds.

After Rafa's video, go check Potro's presser.

That "of course" just melted my cold cold heart. Note to self: stop lusting after younger men.

Rafa's presser transcripts here.

Del Potro's presser transcripts here.

SEO MIAMI: Potro Sends Rafa Packing

Gangly Kid beat Rafa 64, 36, 76(3).

Who would imagine that when the draw was released that Rafa would be playing some of his hardest match against players we initially thought would not give him any sorts of challenges? Frederico Gil and Roger's BFF gave him a run for his money, and now Potro actually has beaten him.

Kudos to the awesomely gangly kid. I thought he was gonna take more time to mature, much less beating the #1 player on the way, but then again Rafa did the same to Roger just a few short years ago. Potro showed up to the match not only with his cojones, he brought an extra pair. Even if he did not bring the spare, I suspect any number of the Argentinians in the stands would cut theirs off and lend it to him. It certainly felt like a matter of country honor than just a simple tennis match. But really, he played amazing today. Many times it looked like he was gonna roll over and die - but on this day, he didn't. That's what makes a winning tennis player. I hope he will carry it well to the future.

Although, without taking away credit from the three players, Rafa was not himself this week. He was missing forehands (I KNOW! Disaster right?), hitting long shots and short balls. Dare I say this... Okay I'll say it. All week long his matches look like he's just going through the motion. Even in Indian Wells he looked so freaking tired on interviews, and finally it is showing on the courts of Crandon Park. I really do not want to read too much into things, but earlier this year he was asked whether he is tired (before Rotterdam I think) and he answered that he is "always tired". That's not a good thing to say. That's not a good outlook for Dick or Jane, much less a sportsmen, a #1 in the world who's famous for playing so intensely he is out of gas by the last slam. I personally think he must be exhausted - physically and mentally.

To me the match was played in awful conditions - I'm talking about the linejudges, the umpire, the very noisy spectators. I'm fine with noisy spectators but they have to know when to shut up. The linejudges missed some very obvious faults that even I could see from my tiny window of live stream. The umpire even overuled one call which was out, and Rafa did not challenge. Another incident from the linejudge and Rafa again did not challenge. Very disappointing quality of play from the officials. So many wrong calls, so many was let go. It could have changed the tone of the match entirely as some happened on crucial points - but in tennis one point behind is a lightyear away. Water under bridge and all that.

So next up for Rafa is Monte Carlo. I understand that he has a lot of points to defend there, so no hope of him missing it. After that, Barcelona, then Rome, then Madrid. Boy, just envisioning it makes me tired. I wish he would let go one of the three, as After RG he'll go straight for Queen's. We know he'll try his best to win that, and by all rights he should, he had a fantastic run there last year. Not an easy run, but awesome nonetheless. He won over a very in form Nole - if you did not watch it, do get ahold of it somewhere. After Queens it will be Wimby and hell will freeze over before he will allow himself to play badly there. After Wimby he is usually on a decline to the rest of the season. I guess we'll see what happens this year.

One thing I do hope will happen is that he gets some. Freaking. Rest. Rafa, you need it. If you haven't realized it by now I don't know what to think of you.

Did anybody actually read that? One of these days I have to put up some kind of pop quiz for you my fellow Rafanatics. I have to say, I'm very glad I don't get to write any more serious stuff until Monte Carlo. I'm tellin' ya, all this serious stuff sucks a girl's fun juice dry. Lord, how I made that sound dirty I've no idea.

See you in Monte Carlo, Rafa.

Words Of Wisdom

"It's very hard to play well every day. One day you play well, one day not..."

This video is after the match against Gil Frederico.



Seems like he has been saying the same thing over and over again to many reporters and in many interviews. Probably gets tired that he has to analyze and account for every single second of his matches.. Dudes, don't you get it? Some days are just bad days. But he is Rafa Nadal, so his bad days are probably pretty good days for most tennis players.

Does he realize he's being taped? Why's he so relaxed? Not as if I'm complaining.

video via Nadal News

SEO MIAMI: Roger's BFF Made Rafa WORK!

Sounds like I missed a hell of a match. From Twitter observations, apparently the linespeople were terrible (as they have been quite a few times this week), Stan had a great strategy, and Rafa was making a lot of mistakes. But he did counter that with a lot of great shots. He won the match 76(2), 76(4).

Watch this:



That was some inspired lob. I really have to download the match somewhere. Hey, not as if we have Tivo here in the third world!

I guess in pictures the match would be like this:

One more time:

Potro is up next for Rafa. I don't see that match being anything but boring, but who knows right? Maybe Potro will finally show up to a match against one of the top 3 (or 4 or 5) with some cojones.

video via GOTOTENNIS

SEO MIAMI: Because Miri Knows Me Very, Very Well

In case some of y'all are living in some other Rafa-universe, Miri from Nadal News was in Miami for a few days, and managed to catch 3 (THREE!) Rafa matches. I for one, salute her dedication because following her Twitter feed, I found out that she was out and running to the tournament before she so much soaked her feet in the hotel room bathtub.

Because she is very, very kind to yours truly (and you and you and you), here are a few pictures she managed to take.

Why, yessssssssss. A new twist on the "Spanish guitar shape" expression.

Arguably the hawtest man on tour in our generation. Before Rafa.

*TWITCH*

Why, Miri, how did you know I was hankering for a 300-ish Spartan tennis player?

She even managed to snap a few of Bjorn Phau!

Miri you're starting to scare me. I think you know me a leeetle too well.

But as they say, overshare, overschmare.

This is truly a milestone post. I managed to mention 300 the movie in a post with Rafa, Ginge, and Safin. Yay me. More pictures will be posted through Flickr, so stay tuned!

images via Nadal News

SEO MIAMI: Rafa Through To 4th

This time I did catch the match, but fell asleep straight after. Oy. Tennis devotion is hard on a girl's beauty sleep.

The match with Frederico Gil was not very exciting despite Rafa blowing his 3-1 lead on the first. I went to get a drink, and next I see he was down 3-4. Looked pretty annoyed and irritated at times, like he couldn't believe it himself. It wasn't that Gil was playing like Federer possesed him, Rafa was just making UEs after UEs.

He ended up taking the set 7-5, and the next 6-3. After playing superbly well in the first, Gil just didn't have any more ideas for the second.

Is it just me or is Gil's shirt actually shockingly short? Can someone tell him it's not a good look? Unless your name is Rafael Nadal, that is.

News of the day (well, for me anyways)was probably Shakira watching Rafa's match. Again.

 

Ick. Duly noted, Shaki. Now please go shake your crotch at someone else's match. I'm pretty sure Nando would oblige. Naw, I'm just kidding. I actually kinda like her. 

These images are to erase the last two:

Ya-haw, baybeee. Again, is it just me or has he become leaner this year? 

Next up for Rafa, Roger's BFF (read: Wawrinka). Match is tonight at 9 PM Miami time.

 

SEO Miami: Gotta Love American Culture

What can I say to top that?

Images via Sony Ericsson Open site and Down The Line

SEO Miami: Rafa Through To Third Round, Debuts Collar (again)

Suffice to say I didn't watch the match. I mean, who the hey wakes up at 7 AM? Not me.

Rafa smoked Gabashvili's ass, 62, 62. No news there right?

But wait:

Collar alert!!

Yeah. You know what, I'm over the whole "new wardrobe" thing. He wants to wear it. He looks good. I like the colors. Did Nike mitchy-matchy the yellow to his Babolat racquet? Hee.

When I see pictures like this, I could care less what he wears. Cos that's one hell of a good looking man, people. Collar, no collar, sleeves, no sleeves. Of course, no clothes is better, but alas, Benito is standing in our way.

Up next for Rafa, Frederico Gil who beat Ivo Karlovic 64, 64.

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

Rafa Is That Chu???

Sorry, just messing with y'all. Slow day. Can't wait til match.

But oh well. Any reason to put up some hottie pictures.

Doesn't he look deliciously pouty??

You know, considering I like a player because they play well, I have an unexplainable obsession for this one.

Probably because of his humps and lumps, ifyacatchmydrift.

SEO: Yet Another Rafa Interview (not as if we're complaining)

Another video of the interview Rafa did 2 days ago. Check it out.

The way he said "yeeaah is very interresting tourrnament" with that deadpan expression just cracked me up.



Oh, and for the record, if Nike is gonna sell those El Toro caps in pink, I am so making an homage to it. How? I will wallpaper my blog pink combined with that bull pattern. I will hurt your eyes and squeeee night and day. Why pink? My friends called me Bubblegum Princess in college. Explanation enough?

p.s: I'm not obsessed with pink, I swear, the color just fascinates me.

Rafa Answers For Once, And The World Shakes

So everyone's talking about this.

Q. Would you prefer to go out with a girl that is in tennis, that is a tennis player, or any other girl? Just has nothing to do with it.

RAFAEL NADAL: It is not -- I don't have any preference, you know. Prefer go out with nice and funny girl. Doesn't matter if is player or artist.

This is from the presser yesterday - and looks like it's shaking things up in the Rafanatics/Rafisca/Rafana obsessive world. Oh yes, there is a video recording the interview too!



The whole video is worth watching by itself - fully animated Rafaexpressions! The part of The Question (and The Answer) is at the very end. Frankly? I read and watched the video yesterday and didn't think much of it. But you tell me, Rafanatics!

I did wonder though.. Nice and fun? I can be nice. In fact, I can be verrrrry nice to you, Rafito. And I'm definitely funny, just ask my readers.

*points guns to readers' heads*

Just sayin'. In case. You know. Ahem.

Yep, definitely going out with her because she's nice and funny.

Presser transcript here.

Video by luneworld.

Miami: Conference Pictures, Is Rafa Getting A New Line From Nike?

Down The Line Tennis got me wondering. Rafa has been seen wearing this cap a few times. RiCh from DTL is working on a nagging suspicion if Nike is cutting El Toro a new line much like Roger's RF.

I don't know what to think about Rafa comandeering his own line, as we all know what people think of Roger and his RF.

On the other hand, his expression is always a laugh.

And just because this is my blog - The Ginge Hotness:

Okay, he looks 14. Now I feel guilty. No wait, not really.

Am I the only one who thinks he looks a little gaunt? Come to think of it, Rafa's cheekbones are quite evident. Lovers' quarrel? Aww.

And because it cracks me up (and some of you might like it):

Sydney Swans rugby team in training. (swans? seriously?)

Fantabulous!

Miami: Sony Ericsson Opening Party (UPDATED)

What does it say about me that I think it's adorable how he hasn't actually figured out this dressing up stuff?

Says I am GONE.

Love the shoes though. Or have I been hanging out too much with my best gay?

Yes, the hair is a bit rough, but we all know he doesn't give a fig.

Benito probably threatened to take away his cookies to make him attend this party.

UPDATE: found more pics!

Ah, Maria Sharapova and her fashion sense.

Don't like her, don't like what she's wearing, but damn she looks good.

Looks REALLY good. Almost can't believe it's her. Are we sure that's her eyes, her jawlines? But those are deffinitely her shoulders.

I like the curls James, why did you shave it off? A little overdressed, but I'll take him.

Serena Williams and her confidence! I'd kill for a sliver of that.

Truth? I think the dress is awesome on her. Suits her to a T.

"Yeah you know I put the D in D-I-V-A."

Venus is the coolest girl on the block!

I don't like the dress, but the hair makes me forgive everything. Doesn't she look fab with that pixie cut? I totally approve.

But is that all? Where's JJ? Ana? Ginge??

Found more pictures at Great Tennis Photos!

JJ's makeup/hair color is verra verra nice. "Opens" her eyes. Approval stamp.

She looks really good with a simple LBD donchathink? I'd burn the shoes though.

Dasco is.. agh. I can't believe I ever made a post of Nando vs Rafa. He's such a skanky manho.

The jeans. The perfectly calculated opening of the shirt. The tucked in shirt. THE SHIRT. The belt. The hair. The shoes.

AGH AGH AGH.

Moving on.

Dress is fine. Agi has a gorgeous bod. The shoes - burn baby burn.

May I ask, what is the point of kitten heels? I never did get it.

Nole's such a goof. The smile erases all his mistakes here, such as the black jacket with the black sneakers, the pants that are too long...

You know what? The smile doesn't erase. Fail.

And I'd actually wear this combination - with different hair and with my complexion, I'd look gorrrrrrge.

I know, I'm so humble. Or delusional. You must get used to it.

What is going on HERE?? Is Coyote Ugly making a sequel?? What's with the random LV bag? Combined with snake pants?? Is this some kinda twist of Cavalli??

I don't even know what's happening with the rest. It's too much for my sensibilities to handle so I'll let you judge for yourselves.

/snark