Playing indoors on a fast hard court with a low bounce has never been ideal for Rafa. When you factor in the nasty tummy bug that he picked up early in the week, it's hardly surprising that his performance this year was less than stellar. I am going to leave the talking to our members.


I can honestly say I don't give a WTF about tonight's result, to me Rafa looked better and going off the previous years indoor,hard court will never ever be his best surface, I never have high expectations of this tournament so I'm never disappointed and I'm still proud of what he's achieved this year and hopefully maybe a DC title to add to what he's already won.

I'm just grateful we've had him on the circuit for another year and hope 2012 will bring more trophy biting. - Electricwitch


Yes there's work to do, and yes he probably could have done better, but he fought for the match. Tsonga played brilliantly and on a surface much more suited to his game than it is Rafa's. I thought that after the second set there was an opening but it wasn't to be. Indoor hard is never going to be a good surface for him and that I can deal with. He didn't disappoint me tonight me in any way, shape or form. - woody


He is amazing to do all he does. When they rotate the WTF on all surfaces it will be worth something. So happy he will travelling to join all his buddies for DC in Sevilla. If it's anything like Cordoba it will be fantastic!!! - daisy


He didn't disappoint me either, he's so devoted to everything he does it's really admirable! And what if he has to keep on working? That means he's still playing and competing and God, I love it's that way. Things will get better, we can't judge or look into the future wondering how things are going to be based on these 3 matches alone.

I think that, with the exception of the missing Finals to Djokovic Rafa did have a very good year and that it could have been even better if he'd won some more tournaments. But he reached Finals in every tournament since IW until USO. And he won Monte Carlo, Barcelona and RG! After the USO things were not that great results wise, but it's the part of the season Rafa's usually most tired.

Watching him play makes me happy. Of course I suffer when he does not win or when he struggles but I don't know, to me it would have been much more disappointing if Rafa had to withdraw like Andy Murray had to. Rafa did his best and that's all we can ask of him! - piliii


As for tonight's match I applaud him for the way he stayed in it. He fought hard and tried his best, on his worst surface, against an in form Tsonga.

He is still and will always be my number 1. I hope he is able to do whatever makes him happy. - feetofclay


I'm proud of Rafa's efforts. Lady Luck has not been kind to him this season with illness, getting fingers burnt, food poisoning, etc. Just when he thinks he's ready, something will happen to disrupt the hard work he put in. What frustration but he's not giving up It has been a long season.

Hope that Rafa's calm, confidence and passion will return with DC and that will help him come back even stronger in 2012!

My heart and soul also loves Rafa and want to see him happy and healthy. Vamos Rafa! - serene


Since the stomach problem on Sunday, I didn't expect much from this tournament. I even thought Rafa might pull out from it. It's no way to compete when you are sick. Honestly, some of us also can tell he's probably having a cold or flu from the ATP trophy ceremony on Wednesday. But he's brave enough to keep fighting and trying. Rafa, I am so proud of you. Wish you good health and best luck in DC and 2012. - luvrafa


I love Rafa as does everyone @this site & have always been amazed at Rafael's professionalism & work ethic. He doesn't need us. We need him. He can retire to Manacor tomorrow & have a beautiful life in the sun under the palm trees, cracking scampi shells & snapping short putts into golf cups.

Davis Cup matches should be good for his spirit. Clay, Spain, Feli, pan e tomate. All good.

Rafael will refuel his passion for tennis & sport & roar & rip up the courts in 2012. - gioconda


I believe in Rafa 101%. There is no other tennis player or any athlete or any celebrity for that matter that can make me feel proud of being a fan. I am enjoying the roller coaster ride of being a Rafa fan. - venice

And I just want to say (yet again) that we are a bunch of spoiled fans! I mean, Rafa got one slam win and 2 slam finals! For every other player (except Fed) it would have been called a "breakthrough year"! Including world No. 3 Murray. And if Djokovic got Rafa's results this year people would have called it "breakthrough" for him too. Apply that to Rafa and we get "a slump year"...totally unfair!

There is a Chinese saying that luck is circular, meaning one cannot be unlucky (and lucky) all the time. I feel that Rafa's good luck is just around the corner. - holina


Knowing what I know now about how ill he has been I am in total awe of him once again.

It's just impossible for me to reconcile in my mind the shy, slender, boylike figure that emerged from the boat at the pier yesterday with the colossus of a man that we see on court.

How much courage must it have taken for him to come out to play Fed on Tuesday knowing what a beating he was about to receive and all the hoo ha that would follow with the media circus? Which of us could deal with all that whilst feeling so ill and not even feel able to make an excuse?

I cannot find the words to express my admiration for this amazing champion. He is a truly exceptional human being and I'm so lucky and proud to be his fan. - Janken


This has been a tough year for Rafa, and for everyone who cares about him - but as is always the way with him, he reveals himself more fully in the tough times than in the easy ones. He almost always gives more of himself than he has to give, and it is not always enough for the situation he is in, but is always just a privilege to see.

An absolutely enormous effort throughout this year, through difficult times, with all of the bad luck that could possibly find him. I hope that Davis Cup gives him a lift, so that 2012 comes more easily to him, and we can all cheer him on to more victories. He truly is an example to everybody, and I couldn't be prouder than being a fan of his. - JLB


I'm busy and tired, but just want to say that I am, as always, extremely proud to be a fan of Rafael Nadal Parera. - Tuulia

I love and admire that boy so much and how anyone doesn't is just beyond my comprehension. - jen

My heart is bursting. Thank you all for helping me learn all the special, wonderful, amazing qualities of this precious boy. - jackieg


I had tears in my eyes for some reason after reading that, don't know why even...

Rafa does that to you, so much heart and soul after all that happened this past year, he is still his old self...

I just love him so much..

I want him to do well so much next year it hurts

He is just as good as it gets... - sherry123

Not much to add to the great posts here by you good people, except to join you all in my immense admiration for Rafa as a person. Truly, I don't think the sports world has ever seen his like in terms of graciousness, honesty, and kindness. I love that boy with all my heart. - midsun


My heart is full -- he is just exceptional. And I tell him so, in tweets and on FB. Not about his tennis, but about his actions as a person and what a fine example he is. - oliva

He will be back. He will fight. I will never doubt that until he says that he will no longer fight, and all I have heard from him is that he wants to be back, he wants to be better. As always.

As so many of you have said, he's beautiful. He inspires me every single day, and that's the truth. layceelee13


I feel such immense love for this man who makes the world a better place.

His personality and character bring light to sport and to everyone he meets.

When you feel that your hero is genuine your heart responds.

I wrote this as part of a poem two years ago and when I look at it again I wouldn't change one word. He is, if anything, more of all the things that I loved about him then. How incredibly lucky I feel to have 'found' him and let him influence my life. I wouldn't change a thing about that either! - ladydks


I just love Rafa so much and hope he has success in the DC to give him a great end to what has been a difficult year. Our boy did us proud by playing on despite being unwell but I guess that's the least we can expect from him being the person that he is. - Stretty

One thing we can guarantee is that Rafa will give his ALL, no matter how he's feeling and/or what he 'can' actually give... there is nothing NOT to love about that... - Ging