Athletes as Bloggers Edit
Rafael Nadal Gives Daily Updates at Australian Open

You’d think Rafael Nadal would have enough on his mind as he competes at the Australian Open, but the tennis star has actually been giving his international fans daily updates on his personal blog.

We’re used to seeing celebrities blogging, but more and more, we’re seeing high-profile athletes use the Internet as a medium to connect with their fans in a way that no interview or television special can. Take this excerpt from Rafael Nadal’s blog on January 23, after an Australian Open match, for example:

“Thanks for all the support you gave me during my last match. It was a comfortable day for me on court, however, I lost my concentration in a couple of occasions, which is not usual for me.

I didn’t really mean for that to happen but once I realized what I was doing I went back to my usual self. I just think the match kind of lost it’s [sic] rhythm at times and that may be the reason why I lost my concentration.”

Such candid confessions are sometimes seen in traditional media interviews, but coming right from Rafael Nadal’s fingertips, this Australian Open-focused entry feels far more genuine than anything a journalist could regurgitate.