Rafael Nadal Article in the Latest New York Observer

An interesting article in the New York Observer has just hit newsstands on America's indifference to Rafael Nadal ahead of the US Open. Mmm, I read the article thinking that I've seen Rafa at the Indian Wells tournament the last couple years and every time he's out on the practice courts the fans have gone nuts. And from a personal standpoint, Rafa is easily the most popular searched player on this blog - Roger and Serena are distant seconds.

Here's an excerpt: Mary Carillo says, "I gotta think if he really gets on a run, the New York fans are going to like that. They like someone who is willing to throw themselves around and grind and burn. I agree with you he's never shown his best stuff in New York. But I don't think he's like Borg, who just didn't like the chaos of New York. Borg never really warmed up to the noise and the traffic and the airplanes and the blimps! Ha-ha! That did not fit his personality and his sensibility. I think Rafa wants to be good everywhere."

There is hope! After the French ended this year, Rafa told NBC, "See you in the U.S. Open! Because it is the one that remains for me, and I have special motivation for that." And he smiled. (He has an adorable smile.)

But can he win here, even without the crowd necessarily behind him?

"Yeah, eventually, yeah," Jon Wertheim said. "I don't think he's ever going to tell us about the great smoked fish he had at Russ & Daughters and the great runs in Central Park, but Barney Greengrass can wait. Tennis-wise? It'll click."

Art: Philip Burke/New York Observer

Comments

[bibi]

Where the article gets it wrong is driving into the ground the perceived difference between Nadal and Federer.

No, Nadal is NOT your simple staying-in-hotelroom brooding islander, he's very publicly enjoying his Apple shopping, Nobu eating, Shakira meeting, musicals watching, Central Park running, Ground Zero visiting... But mentioning that would spoil the black-and-white picture the article is peddling.

True, he's NOT Wintour hobnobbing. Must be some cardinal sin or something.