Rafa stat of amazingness

[louiselux]

Rafael Nadal is only the fourth man to win major singles titles on three different surfaces, after Jimmy Connnors, Mats Wilander and Andre Agassi.

Unlike those people, who did it over a number of years, he's actually the first ever man to win major singles titles on three different surfaces in one year. Like eleclya_m, I shuffled over to wikipedia to check this out and as far as I can tell it's true. No other man has ever done this, not even Rod Laver, because he won his grand slams on two surfaces. Rafa is a phenomena. non.

But, not only is he quite good at tennis, here's a man who also finds time to organise his commemorative stuffed wombats into his trophies during high pressure moments.




Oh and while I'm here posting about tennis related geekery, here's a really fascinating breakdown of the 2009 AO final. It uses a system to calculate effectiveness of play called the 'aggressive margin', but added to this is a breakdown of each time Roger and Rafa played a shot in order to force the other into error.

Oh, and. Toni Nadal cried at that ceremony. Twice. Once when Roger did and once afterwards, when reports asked him about it.

Comments

[daegaer.livejournal.com]

He's unstoppable! Like some sort of tennis-playing robot!

(Actually, he looks a bit like an action figure of himself in that picture . . .)

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

It's EXACTLY as if he's some kind of tennis playing robot. Makes me wonder. Also, my mum made a comment about his batteries yesterday, which makes me think she's on to something.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

It's interesting that overall Roger had the better stats. He just didn't play well when it really mattered, on the important points. The break points converted stats were looking very different during the match.

I'm really impressed by Rafa. I was wowed with that first Wimbledon final that he lost, that a clay court player had turned himself into a good enough grass man that he could take Roger to 5 sets. And then to better him. Awesome play.

[kanzenhanzai.livejournal.com]

It's a little frightening that Rafa with his "commemorative stuffed wombat" just might be what lures me into tennis fandom...

[tarteaucitron.livejournal.com]

oh toni, you giant softie. <3

[aramley.livejournal.com]

He is incredible. I love him and his stuffed wombats.

And oh, Toni. <333

[somarem.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the geekery. That's pretty interesting breakdown.

Uncle toni, didn't he said a couple of times if his nephew had Federer's talent then Rafa would be unbeatable. loves him.

There is a picture of him lying down after he won that he really looked like one action figure. i'm like where can i buy one?

(http://s437.photobucket.com/albums/qq92/espigol_pluma/Rafi/?action=view&current=nadal_aussie09_291.jpg)

Wombat placement ;)

[kaoticwords.livejournal.com]

I've read something you might like *g*: Rafa wants to put Roger forward for the Sport's Prince of Asturias Award 2009 because "Federer is exceptional, as a tennis player and as a person".

They're really cute :)

Fernando Alonso and Schumacher support it too~

[morebliss.livejournal.com]

WOMBAT LOVE!

[fedal-fangirl.livejournal.com]

Wombat!