Tennis

Rafa traveled to England today and, of course, the iB3 was there to document: Nadal s’haurà d’adaptar (mangle of text on page).More footage via YouTube. Here’s the video embeded, but do click on that link to see a translation in the video description.Posted by molvi1501.Another version with Spanish subtitles.The Wimbledon tournament’s social media people were on their toes today. They gave us Rafa in few different forms.1. Video:2. Vine: 3. InstagramArticles:Nadal: “Voy con incertidumbre, no sé cómo voy a responder” – via as.com (mangleNadal recuerda que lleva “casi dos años sin jugar en hierba” – via marca.com (mangle) Includes more airport footage.Burning questions for Wimbledon – by Courtney Nguyen (si.com)Rafa prepares for Wimbledon test – via iol.co.za“On The Call” – ESPN / Wimbledon Conference Call with Chris Evert and John McEnroe – via tennispanorama.comMcEnroe: Nadal Fourth Most Likely to Win Wimbledon – by Chris Oddo (tennisnow.com)McEnroe calls for Nadal to be seeded four at Wimbledon – not the first time I’ve disagreed with JMac.Videos/Audio:Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and top players say what they would change at WimbledonAirport footage from marca.comThere’s a quick bit with Rafa in this preview of an Andy Murray documentary (thanks, Reva)Woot! It took all night getting everything installed, but here’s a little something for you: JMac interviews Rafa after RG final.Rafa does social media:He shared a photo of his first practice.Cuando gané RG recibí un mensaje muy cariñoso de los chicos de la #Sub21. Me alegro mucho por éxitos que estáis teniendo. Suerte esta noche!— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 18, 2013I got a very warm message from the #U21 when I won RG. Im very happy to the success you guys are having and best of lucks tonight!— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 18, 2013Muchas Felicidades a la #sub21 y a su entrenador Julen por proclamarse campeones de Europa!— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 18, 2013Social media related to Rafa: [View the story "June 18th - Rafa in Social Media" on Storify]Other stuff:Tennis tournaments take steps to tighten security – by Erik Gudris (usatoday.com)How to fix tennis’ big problems – by Howard Bryant (espn.com)

Photos by Anita Aguilar. The pier at Eastbourne, opened in 1870 but mostly quiet today, has a melancholy, Gatsby-esque beauty. Flavia Pennetta celebrated a winning point in her doubles match with Elena Vesnina. As the grounds thinned out later, Flavia stayed late into the evening to practice with her coach. New British hope Kyle Edmund, 18, reacts to a close call in his doubles match Tuesday. Juan Monaco signs an autograph for a young fan. Yuliya Beygelzeimer, who lost to Laura Robson Tuesday, doesn't appear encouraged by her coach's words. Clouds, and a crowd, gathered to see a doubles match featuring Andy Murray's brother, Jamie. Old pro Feliciano Lopez, another member of the over-30 brigade, sweated out a win. Angelique Kerber is known for her defense, but she went full speed ahead with this shot in her win over Sorana Cirstea on Tuesday... ...as did Petra Kvitova with this backhand... ...as did Li Na with this forehand. Eastbourne may be best seen at night, when the lights along the oceanfront are turned on, and Big Band music floats out from the old hotels that line the street. A sight familiar to all tennis fans: Piotr Wozniacki offers (many) words of advice for his daughter, Caroline. Those words worked today; she'll play Laura Robson Wednesday. A less talkative Rory McIlroy observed from the bleachers. Asked to comment on her boyfriend's club-bending act at the U.S. Open, Caroline said, "Uh, I...next question?" A high-flying Lucie Safarova was a winner on Tuesday. The scores are still changed manually after each point on the outer courts at Eastbourne. A beleaguered teenager is usually held responsible. Most of the players stay at the Eastbourne Center, a glass-and-concrete pile referred to by at least one local as, "the ugliest hotel in the world." It's not pretty, but it isn't that bad.

Roger Federer is hilarious in this new Wilson commercial.

Follow American tennis player Irina Falconi in this “Quest to Qualify” player blog as she continues her journey through Europe playing Wimbledon qualifying this week. Currently ranked No. 182 in singles and 71 in doubles and traveling the tour most weeks of the year, she’s lost or damaged her smartphone more times than she wants to admit! So she’s glad she can rely on Protect Your Bubble’s Gadget Insurance to quickly cover her every need. Follow Falconi on Twitter for more of her fun insights at @IrinaFalconi! (Catch Parts 1 and 2 of her blog.) What up world! Alright, so I am listening to the most intense song right now as I write this. I have to tell you, music really makes my life so much better. I mean, when I’m doing high jumps and working out, how can I not have Eminem and 50 Cent blasting in the background ? I have other favorite artists but those two can really fire you up! Roehampton Courts used for Wimbledon qualifying rounds. (Photo credit: Christopher Levy for Tennis Grandstand) So, I totally tweeted this earlier but here it goes, “One is in da books!” Like I wrote in my previous blog, it’s all about that first win on the grass court. It’s amazing how one match can be the start of something so amazing. Think about it. Let’s just say you’re 150 in the world. You win your first Wimbledon qualifying match, you go on to qualify, and then win a few main draw matches. Hello cash money, hello top 75, and hello opportunity! Hence, if you’re around long enough on the tour you’ll hear this phrase more than once: “It takes just one good week.” And it’s so true. You can have one incredible performance, and it can be life-changing, if I’m not being too bold. I mean, someone can come out of nowhere and beat a top 5 player first round on the biggest stage — hello sponsors! Fan base? Check. Media attention? Check. The list goes on and on. Suddenly, the perks are flowing like the Salmon of Capistrano. Ever heard of an appearance fee, or a free room for your coach? It can all happen in the blink of an eye. Irina Falconi as a kid (Source: Unknown) It takes just one good tournament. Or, in the case of this picture of me in my youth (at right), one good article in a local newspaper…(Throwback Thursday? Why not Throwback Tuesday?) The bottom line: One big tournament or one great win can change your tennis career and outlook in a hurry, not to mention the number of digits in your bank account. If that doesn’t fire you up to get on the court, I don’t know what will. Cheers from the rainiest city in the world (other than Forks, and maybe Seattle…) Hmm, maybe I should just say rainiest tennis tournament city in the world? Does that work? Today it will… -IF

Milos Raonic is looking to finally make a favourable impression on new coach Ivan Ljubicic when the Canadian plays as a wild card at the pre-Wimbledon Eastbourne event.

As expected, Roger Federer has quietly made his way back into the Wimbledon title discussion, nudging in among his rivals to join the list of strong potential winners when the grass court grand slam begins next Monday.

Canada's Milos Raonic will look to get some grass match play in Eastbourne after suffering a first round loss in Halle last week.

Spaniard Feliciano Lopez advanced to the second round in Eastbourne with a win over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.

  (June 18, 2013) In a lengthy interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Serena Williams who does not blame the victim, commented on the Steubenville rape case saying that the victim “shouldn’t have put herself in that position.” The Steubenville Ohio rape case involved two high school football players convicted this past March for raping a [...]

All six US men who won their first round Wimbledon qualifying matches on Monday won their second round matches today, and with one more victory necessary on Wednesday to reach the main draw. Five... For the complete story, click on the title of the post to go to zootennis.com