“At this mid-point of the year, the Race standings are really pretty reliable, and more indicative of who is in top form,” Gilbert said. “Nadal obviously is ranked No. 4 in the ATP only because of how little he played last year (Nadal missed both Wimbledon and the US Open with injury).”
Nadal has been the victim of a ranking system designed to encourage players to compete. The ATP rankings are based on a rolling, 52-week body of data. Each week, a player’s accumulated rankings points replace the points he earned that same week a year ago. The more points a player accumulates in that 52-week window, the higher his ranking.
The top point earner in any year finishes atop the Race, and is also honored as the year-end No. 1. Then he begins the new year as the top dog, but he’s still yoked to the same rolling tally as his peers—and under pressure to defend his large cache of points.
What Chance Does Serena Williams Have at Wimbledon? | SI.com
Betty Scott: “Below is Rafa’s speech to this year’s graduating class of RNA. How amazing is it that these kids are not only being taught to be world class tennis players, but also respectful adults. (Two strike rule for smashing racquets there –first time warning, next time dismissal.) Not to get into the overdone and tedious GOAT debate, but IMHO anyone draped with the Greatest of all Time mantle should be a real role model and have made a beneficial contribution to the sport as a whole. I agree with the Rolex ad — it’s about more than numbers. Rafael Nadal is inspirational.”
Todos los secretos del embarazo de Xisca Perelló | Ultima Hora
A pesar del secretismo, Ultima Hora ha podido saber en exclusiva que la pareja espera un niño y que Xisca está embarazada de cinco meses. Eso sí, esta información no ha pillado por sorpresa al entorno de la pareja, que ya conocía la buena noticia desde hace semanas. [According to Ultima Hora’s sources, Rafael Nadal’s wife Maria Francisca Perello is five months pregnant. The happy couple are expecting a boy.]
“They test him all the time, if it was against the rules he’d be caught” – Patrick McEnroe backs Rafael Nadal amidst doping rumours | sportskeeda.com
“So Nadal goes on to win. I don’t know how he does it, he said he took some painkilling injections. I’m no Doctor, I don’t know exactly what they are. People, you know, there are conspiracy theorists now coming out in the tennis world. There’s one conspiracy that Nadal is doping, he’s taking some sort of drug,” McEnroe said.
“Look, they test him all the time at the majors and whatever they’re putting in his ankle, I tink it’s just a painkiller. Again, I’m not a doctor, I don’t know exactly what it is, but if it was something that was against the rules he’d be caught,” McEnroe added.