Considering we probably won’t have tennis in 2020, here’s a thread to relive Rafa’s 2019:
January starts with Rafa flying to Brisbane. He begins to train but understands immediately he won’t be able to play due to an injury to his left right. He withdrew without even playing his first match.
He doesn’t lose his amazing smile tho and keeps training for AO💙
Rafa also finds time to meet ball kids and volunteers of Brisbane tournament.
Before flying to Melbourne he holds a Tennis Clinic for kids.
In Sidney, Rafa plays an exhibition match teaming up with Milos Raonic, winning against Nick Kyrgios and John Millman.
Rafa arrives in Melbourne and attends the Kia Event in Federation Square.
Rafa starts to train in Melbourne in January 9th.
Australian Open starts and Rafa reaches the final.

1R vs Duckworth 6-4/6-3/7-5
2R vs Ebden 6-3/6-2/6-2
3R vs De Minaur 6-1/6-2/6-4
4R vs Berdych 6-0/6-1/7-6
QF vs Tiafoe 6-3/6-4/6-2
SF vs Tsitsipas 6-2/6-4/6-0
F vs Djokovic 3-6/2-6/3-6
In early February, Rafa takes part in the Banc Sabadell event held in Vigo and poses with Celta’s footballer Brais Mendez.
In February 12th Rafa participates in the Baearic Islands’ golf Championship, ending second.
Rafa flies to Mexico where he inaugurates the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center.
In February 22th, Rafa arrives in Acapulco and participates to the Black Party with his coach Carlos Moyà and some friends.
... and the white party too, the next day.😂
Acapulco starts and it’s not Rafa’s best tournament at all. He loses in Round 2.

R1 vs Zverev M. 6-3/6-3
R2 vs Kyrgios 6-3/6-7/6-7
March arrives and Rafa flies to Indian Wells where he participates at the Eisenhower Cup, together with a bunch of other players.
He wins his first match against Fritz 10-8 and loses against Stan Wawrinka 13-11.
Raonic will win the exho.
Rafa trains in Indian Wells.
Indian Wells starts. Rafa looks well but in the QF match against Khachanov his knee bothers him. He finishes the match winning it but has to withdraw from the following sf against Roger.

R1 Donaldson 6-1/6-1
R2 Schwartzman 6-3/6-1
R3 Krajinovic 6-3/6-4
QF Khachanov 7-6/7-6
RET.
April brings the clay court season. Rafa attends the Monte Carlo Master’s draw ceremony.
Monte Carlo starts and Rafa is far from his best self. He loses in the SF against Fabio Fognini.

R1 vs Bautista 6-1/6-1
R2 vs Dimitrov 6-4/6-1
QF vs Pella 7-6/6-3
SF vs Fognini 4-6/2-6
Rafa leaves Monte Carlo and flies to Barcelona where participates in the promotional event of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell with Kei Nishikori.
This is probably the worse part of Rafa’s season. He struggles to concentrate and to feel good on court but he tries hard nonetheless.
“I was on court and I kept wondering why I was even there”. Rafa will confess it months after, rethinking about his first matches in Barcelona. He falls in the sf against Thiem.

R1 vs Mayer 6-7/6-4/6-2
R2 vs Ferrer 6-3/6-3
QF vs Struff 7-5/7-5
SF vs Thiem 4-6/4-6
Rafa lands in Madrid with slightly better feelings in May 3rd and attends the presentation of the Mutua Madrid Open at the Prado Museum with Garbiñe Muguruza.
He starts training in Madrid the next day.
Before the tournament starts, Rafa participates in the ceremony in honor of David Ferrer with Roger and some other players.
Rafa finds himself back in Madrid but he’s still not at his best. His tournament ends in the sf against Tsitsipas.

R1 Auger-Aliassime 6-3/6-3
R2 Tiafoe 6-3/6-4
QF Wawrinka 6-1/6-2
SF Tsitsipas 4-6/6-2/3-6
Finally the first title of the season. Pure relief for Rafa in Rome.

R1 vs Chardy 6-0/6-1
R2 vs Basilashvili 6-1/6-0
QF vs Verdasco 6-4/6-0
SF vs Tsitsipas 6-3/6-4
F vs Djokovic 6-0/4-6/6-1
Finally Roland Garros. Rafa attends the draw ceremony in Paris with Simona Halep.
RG is back and so is his smile during training sessions.
Amazing 12.

R1 vs Hanfmann 6-2/6-1/6-3
R2 vs Maden 6-1/6-2/6-4
R3 vs Goffin 6-1/6-3/4-6/6-3
R4 vs Londero 6-2/6-3/6-3
QF vs Nishikori 6-1/6-1/6-3
SF vs Federer 6-3/6-4/6-2
F vs Thiem 6-3/5-7/6-1/6-1
RG19 photoshoot
Rafa starts his preparation on grass on Mallorca Open’s courts.
Rafa also finds time to attend the match between Mallorca Football Team and Deportivo La Coruña.
Rafa’s preparation for Wimbledon continues with the Hurlingham Club exhibition tournament against Cilić and Pouille. He loses both matches but his form is pretty good and he looks confident.
Wimbledon starts and Rafa is strong. Not enough to beat Roger Federer in the sf, but nothing to be upset about.

R1 Sugita 6-3/6-1/6-3
R2 Kyrgios 6-3/3-6/7-6/7-6
R3 Tsonga 6-2/6-3/6-2
R4 Sousa 6-2/6-2/6-2
QF Querrey 7-5/6-2/6-2
SF Federer 6-7/6-1/3-6/6-4
On August 1st Rafa arrives in Montreal and immediately starts training.
Another title for Rafa in Canada.

R1 vs Evans 7-6/6-4
R2 vs Pella 6-3/6-4
QF vs Fognini 2-6/6-1/6-2
SF vs Monfils w/o
F vs Medvedev 6-3/6-0
Rafa starts to train as soon as he lands in US.
Kid’s day at US Open 2019
The 19th Slam title in US.

R1 vs Millman 6-3/6-2/6-2
R2 vs Kokkinakis w/o
R3 vs Chung 6-3/6-4/6-2
R4 vs Cilic 6-3/3-6/6-1/6-2
QF vs Schwartzman 6-4/7-5/6-2
SF vs Berrettini 7-6/6-4/6-1
F vs Medvedev 7-5/6-3/5-7/4-6/6-4
Laver Cup 2019 Photoshoot
Laver Cup opening ceremony💙
Some practice in Geneva.
Laver Cup gala✨
Rafa and the coaching.
Rafa wins his match against Milos Raonic 6-3/7-6.
Rafa has to withdraw from the tournament due to a wrist injury but he doesn’t leave his spot on the bench to cheer for his team.💙
And Team Europe wins the Laver Cup 2019.
In October 24th, Rafa plays an exhibition match in Kazakhstan against Djokovic. He wins it 6-3/3-6/11-9 (super tiebreak).
November starts in Paris Bercy for Rafa. He wins his matches and conquers the sf but he has to withdraw with an abdominal injury.

R1 vs Mannarino 7-5/6-4
R2 vs Wawrinka 6-4/6-4
QF vs Tsonga 7-6/6-1
RET.
Against all predictions, Rafa shows up for the WTF. He’s not ready at all and loses his first match. He wins the next 2 but he’s still out due to the RR dynamics.

RR. Match 1 vs Zverev 2-6/4-6
RR. Match 2 vs Medvedev 6-7/6-3/7-6
RR. Match 3 vs Tsitsipas 6-7/6-4/7-5
Nonetheless, he has the certainty to be the Year End World number one for the fifth time in his career.
No time to feel bad cause it’s already time for Davis Cup. 🇪🇸
You can follow @_rafaholic.
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