Nadal and Sharapova - Winners of BNP Paribas Open

Rafael Nadal won his first major tournament after his comeback from a long injury layoff... in a tournament which fared the entire fab four group of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. It is an amazing comeback by Nadal and looks like he is a force to reckon with again...

Rafael Nadal staved off quite a challenge by the tall Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro beating him 4-6 6-3 6-4 in the finals of the BNP Paribas Open 2013 men's championships.

Rafael Nadal with Indian Wells BNP Paribas trophy celebrating his big victory after a long injury layoff...

Pic courtesy: Getty Images

Rafael Nadal wins Indian Wells Open beating Juan Martin Del Potro in a hard fought victory

Pic courtesy: Getty Images

In the BNP Paribas Open women's championships, Maria Sharapova beat Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 for an easy victory. This is the Russian’s first title of the season and 28th overall.

Maria Sharapova with her BNP Paribas trophy after beating Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the finals at Indian Wells

Pic courtesy: Getty Images

Russian top seeded Maria Sharapova with her Indian Wells BNP Paribas trophy poses for a photograph in front of WTA 40 Love campaign

Pic courtesy: Getty Images

A good start for both Sharapova and Nadal.. hope they continue their form for the rest of the season too!
The men's season looks quite promising with Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray in the race... plus Del Potro, Berdych and Tsonga giving a good fight too.. tight and fighting tournaments ahead for the mens :) 

Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Azarenka & Ivanovic at Indian Wells expansion program

Getting Roger Feder, Rafael Nadal, Victoria Azarenka and Ana Ivanovic all under one frame is pretty rare. But, it did happen earlier this week at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the home for BNP Paribas Open.. which is a pretty popular tennis event outside the four grand slams. 

Top tennis stars came to lay the foundation for the expansion of Indian Wells tennis garden with Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle and co-owner of the BNP Paribas event....

From left - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Larry Ellison, Ana Ivanovic, Victoria Azarenka and Novak Djokovic at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden expansion event

Pic coutesy: Nadal's facebook page

Some of the expansion ideas shared by Larry Ellison includes a court-side Sushi and a new 8,000 seat stadium. 

Take a look at some of the pictures taken during the ground breaking ceremony of the expansion program at Indian Wells Tennis Garden headed by Raymond Moore, the CEO of BNP PARIBAS Open.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Ana Ivanovic, Victoria Azarenka and Novak Djokovic serve during the Indian Wells expansion program ground breaking ceremony

Pic courtesy:  Azarenka's facebook page

"How cool is this!? Roger, Rafa, Ana, me and Djokovic serving at the photographers!! Sorry guys ;)," said Vika Azarenka on her facebook page

Ivanovic, Nadal, Federer, Azarenka and Djokovic does the ground breaking formalities at the Indian Wells expansion site with Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle and partner at the BNP Paribas Open

Pic coutesy: Nadal's facebook page

Azarenka shares a light moment during the photo shoot of the BNP Paribas Indian Wells event expansion program

BNP Paribas Open expansion ground breaking ceremony conducted at Indian Wells and attended by the tennis stars Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Azarenka and Ivanovic

Pic credit: Billie Weiss/BNP Paribas Open

Rafael Nadal's Bacardi "Mix with Rafa" event..

Rafael Nadal is back in action.. this time off court as the global social responsibility ambassador of Bacardi's "Champions Drink Responsibly" campaign. 

Bacardi Limited's “Champions Drink Responsibly” campaign offers the chance to “Mix with Rafa” in a new online promotion to meet him in person. 

Rafael Nadal poses for Bacardi Limited's Champions Drink Responsibly campaign

@championsdrinkresponsibly

Fans who successfully answer three questions relating to responsible drinking behavior will go into a free prize draw to win a trip to “The Champions’ Party.” 

Nadal's "Mix with Rafa" contest poster to meet him personally at the Champions' Party

@championsdrinkresponsibly

This competition is open till 8 April 2013, and legal drinking age consumers can enter the competition via the “Champions Drink Responsibly” Facebook page. “The Champions’ Party” will be hosted by multiple Grand Slam winner and tennis champion Rafael Nadal. The Bacardi Limited Global Social Responsibly Ambassador has taken a personal interest in this new promotion and helped the “Champions Drink Responsibly” team select the location, entertainment, music, food and drink for the one-of-a-kind party. The undisclosed venue will be spectacular, with international DJs and world-class Bacardi mixologists preparing cocktails and mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails) for the lucky winners and their guests.

"I try to beat everyone at tennis, not at drinking", says Rafa Nadal in the Champions Drink Responsibly campaign by Bacardi Limited 

@championsdrinkresponsibly

Rafael Nadal in Champions Drink Responsibly campaign for Bacardi Limited

Rafa saying "I'd always tell my friends where the line is"

@championsdrinkresponsibly

Rafa Nadal, the the global social responsibility ambassador of Bacardi Limited

@championsdrinkresponsibly

Rafael Nadal with a social message for Bacardi Limited Champions Drink Responsibly campaign

@championsdrinkresponsibly

Keep it together says Rafa Nadal in this poster for Bacardi Limited's Champions Drink Responsibly campaign

@championsdrinkresponsibly

The “Champions Drink Responsibly” campaign was first introduced by Bacardi Limited in April 2008 and featured seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher with the message “Drinking and Driving Don’t Mix.”

This is an important campaign and the message that these stars are trying to convey shouldn't be lost in the race to meet Nadal. But yeah.... try your luck in the contest @championsdrinkresponsibly and see if you can meet Rafa at the Champions' Party. 

WAGS: Rafael Nadal and girlfriend Xisca

Rafael Nadal and Maria Francisca Perello - One of my favourite tennis celebrity couple. Nadal and Xisca (as Maria Perello is fondly called) are seeing each other since 2005 and the relationship is almost 9 years old. The key to their strong relationship - trying to stay away from public eye and maintain their private life as quietly as possible.

Rafael Nadal and his girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello dressed for an event

Nadal has been dating Maria Francisca Perello who is an insurance company employee from Palma, Majorca. Xisca has also got a degree in Business Administration.

Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal and his longtime girlfriend Xisca

In October, 2012 Maria Francisca Perello "Xisca" was appointed the Director for Social Integration of Rafael Nadal Foundation, in what appeared to be a big step into the future state of their relationship. 

Here are some more pictures of Nadal and Xisca.... some which I liked....

All pictures are taken from the public domain and I don't own the rights to any of them. 

Maria Francisca Perello and boyfriend Rafael Nadal 

Rafael Nadal's cute girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello or Xisca as she is fondly called giving a beautiful smile

Rafael Nadal and Xisca keeping their relationship low profile

Nadal's girlfriend Xisca cheering him in the tennis court

Rafael Nadal's beautiful girlfriend Maria 'Xisca' Perello

 Rafael Nadal's mother Ana Maria Parera (L), his sister Maria Isabel Nadal (R) and his girlfriend, Maria Francisca Perello, sit on Centre Court for Nadal's men's singles final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London July 3, 2011.

Pic courtesy:  Reuters 

Spanish tennis start Nadal's girlfriend Xisca attending an event

Xisca, Nadal's girlfriend, posing for the camera

Nadal and girlfriend Xisca holidaying

Nadal and his cute girlfriend Xisca's picture taken during their initial years of relationship

Nadal's longtime girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello "Xisca" was appointed the Director for Social Integration of Rafael Nadal Foundation

Hope we see Nadal and Xisca tying the knot soon enough... this is one couple I like to see go a long way... 

Rafael Nadal wins record 7th French Open title

Rafael Nadal won a record seventh Roland Garros title defeating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 and in the process becoming the most-crowned man in Open Era history at the French Open.

Nadal thus becomes the undisputed King of Clay, overtaking the great Bjorn Borg who won the French Open six times.

Spaniard Rafael Nadal wins his seventh French Open Grand slam title at the 2012 Roland Garros championships

Rafael Nadal poses with the ball kids at the Roland Garros after winning the French Open 2012 title for the seventh time

Novak Djokovic, the losing French Open 2012 finalist congratulates Rafael Nadal on winning the Roland Garros title

Rafael Nadal reacts after winning his seventh French Open title overtaking Bjorn Borg

Rafael Nadal with his French Open 2012 men's championship trophy

Rafael Nadal poses with John McEnroe after winning his 7th French Open Grand Slam

French Open 2012 finalists - winner Rafael Nadal of Spain and runner-up Novak Djokovic of Serbia pose with their trophies

Pics courtesy: Thanks to the roland garros official site

Nadal is a magician at work in clay courts.. he is really the undisputed king of clay.. and French Open title collection will just keep coming to him.. I hope to see Nadal adding a few more to his collection of French Open grand slams before his retirement comes :) 

Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII Advert with Nadal and Ronaldo

Spanish tennis superstar Rafael Nadal, and Portuguese and Real Madrid soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo teamed up recently to do a Nike advertisement to promote their new shoes - Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII.

 

Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Real Madrid soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo promoting Nike's new Mercurial Vapor VIII sneakers

The two sports superstars had an amazing time doing the Nike advert which combined tennis moves with football tricks as they matched each other in the tennis court.. all the while promoting the new Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII cleats.  Here is a look at the new Nike Mercurial Vapor III shoes advertisement... 

The advertisement is a funny one with both Nadal and Ronaldo enjoying all along. Initially, Ronaldo displayed great soccer skills using tennis balls while competing with Nadal using Nike's Mercurial Vapor VIII sneakers. Then, Nadal traded for the Nike shoes and did a few soccer tricks. Its an amazing advertisement... its a great advert for Nike and am sure this Mercurial Vapor VIII shoes will definitely have a few fan following... :)

After the shoot, Ronaldo and Nadal sat for a quick interview with Nadal taking the interviewer role and shooting some questions about tennis and his likings towards that sport to Ronaldo.
Here is the video showing Rafael Nadal interviewing Cristiano Ronaldo.... 

An amazing advertisement for Nike using Ronaldo and Nadal very well to showcase the new Mercurial Vapor VIII shoes... I thoroughly enjoyed watching Nadal and Ronaldo play it out and the added video of the interview makes it even more interesting :)

Novak Djokovic wins longest Australian Open finals against Nadal

Just witnessed an amazing and gruelling 5 hour 53 minutes marathon finals between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open Grand Slam finals held at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

Serbian Novak Djokovic thus won the longest Grand Slam final in history and defended his men's singles crown by beating Spaniard Rafael Nadal in a thrilling five setter - 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5.

Here are some pictures of this amazing epic finals between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

 

Novak Djokovic wins Australian Open Grand Slam men's title 2012

 

Serbian Djokovic celebrates shirtless after his Australian Open victory after beating Rafael Nadal in a 5 hour 53 minutes epic finals

 

The Legend Rod Laver presenting the Australian Open trophy to Novak Djokovic

 

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal - The winner and runner-up of Australian Open 2012 Grand Slam

 

The epic match finalists - Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal after playing the longest finals in the Tennis open era. You can see that both of them are visibly tired and couldn't even stand during the presentation ceremony

 

Thank god for the chairs :) Rafael Nadal and Djokovic were thankful after getting to sit in these chairs during the presentation ceremony after their epic Australian Open finals

 

Novak Djokovic wins his 3rd Australian Open title and his 5th Grand slam title

 

Rafael Nadal becomes the unlucky runner-up after being beaten by Djokovic in an epic 5 set match. 

Nadal unable to beat Djokovic in 7 of their previous final encounters

Thank You Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal for giving us such an amazing finals!!! You both are winners...
What a final it has been.. even am tired after watching it for so long.. gotta get some break now.. :)

Rafael Nadal models for Armani...

Top tennis star and current world no. 2 Rafael Nadal of Spain is the current model for Armani for their fall collections, following the footsteps of the soccer players David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Rafael Nadal modeled for Armani Jeans and Emporio Armani Underwear for the Italian designer Giorgio Armani.

The 25-year-old Spanish tennis star Nadal posed for the advertisements as part of the Fall 2011 campaign for the brand earlier this year and the following pictures are taken as part of those advertisements that Nadal modeled for.

 

Spaniard Rafael Nadal models for Armani Jeans and Emporio Armani Underwear

 

Top tennis hunk Nadal in Armani Jeans photo shoot

 

Rafael Nadal of Spain models in an Armani photo shoot

 

Tennis stud Nadal showing his six-pack abs in an Emporio Armani Underwear

 

Rafael Nadal shirtless posing in an underwear for Armani

 

Tennis mens world no. 2 Rafael Nadal photo shoots for Armani Underwears

 

Rafael Nadal advertisement for Emporio Armani Underwears with his six-packs abs

 

Rafael Nadal models for Armani Jeans advertisement

Armani said that he selected Nadal this year because he is the ideal image and he represents a healthy and positive model for young people...

Photo credit: Armani and their photo shoots..

Rafael Nadal is currently going through a tough time as he is nursing a sore shoulder and his practice for the Australian Open 2012 grand slam is going to take a hit... He has hinted that he'll be taking a break for a month after the Australian Open for his shoulder to heal. Wishing him good luck.. May the best man win :)