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Posts Tagged ‘Rafael Nadal’

Nikolay Davydenko Nadal eliminated in Doha
Russian Nikolay Davydenko won to advance to the final of the Doha (Qatar), after straight-sets defeat to Spanish Rafael Nadal, the tournament top seed.

At the end might not be the dream start to the year for Nadal, who as a result of an influenza played physically diminished, and ended losing to Davydenko (No.4) 6-3, 6-2.

In this way the tournament is not the dream final between Nadal and Federer, although Russian player battle wills probably Swiss.

In the other semifinal Federer eliminated France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, third seed, by a score of 6-3, 7-6 (2)

Federer will seek his third success in Doha, having won in 2005 and 2006. After the match Federer said briefly: “I am delighted, it’s nice to start the year with a final.”

Stepanek and Soderling advance to semifinals in Brisbane

The Swede Robin Soderling, top seed, advanced to the semi-finals in Brisbane (Australia), after beating local player clearly to Matthew Ebden 6-3 6-2.

In the other match of the day, Czech Radek Stepanek defeated by a double Germany’s Florian Mayer 6-3, seventh favorite, and Soderling will rival in the semis.

The other place in the final look at second-seeded American Andy Roddick, to the South African Kevin Anderson, revelation of the tournament.

Favorites advance in Chennai

Tournament to be played in Chennai (India), the favorites advanced to the semifinals after winning their respective matches of the day.

Czech Tomas Berdych, seeded first, defeated by a double 6-3 to Slovenian Blaz Kavcic, and now will cross the stage semi-final against Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka (N.3), who ousted Dutchman Robin Haase.

The other semi-final star in the Belgian Xavier Malisse, seventh favorite, with the Serbian Janko Tipsarevic, sixth-seeded.

If Nadal wins the nervousness as he approached a fourth consecutive triumph in a Grand Slam tournament, it certainly shows.

Rafael Nadal

After his victory of 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 against American qualifier Ryan Sweeting, Thursday at the Australian Open, the Spanish star player seemed equally at ease talking about his next match – against Australia Bernard Tomic 18 years – he seemed to be on the court against Sweeting.

“A little practice tomorrow, rest at the hotel, and perhaps a visit to the aquarium – I go every year. Nothing different, “Nadal said when asked how he would prepare for his showdown on Saturday.

With a shrug and a smile, he added: “If I start to get nervous before a match two days, I have a big problem.”

Nadal has not had significant problems in his most recent Grand Slam tournaments. His victory on Thursday was the 23rd consecutive major events in a series dating back to the first round of the Internationaux de France last year. Since then he has taken home the trophy at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows.

A win in Australia in the coming days, would make him the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four major titles simultaneously.

Tomic, the last Australian in contention, won 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3 against Spain’s Feliciano Lopez (31st).

Tomic will play now the biggest game of his career since it will probably take place at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night before 15,000 people who will mostly lined up behind him.

“A lot of things going through my head, but my dream is to see such a thing happen again, hoping it will follow several others throughout my career,” Tomic said the duel coming against Nadal. I will try to put aside my brain … I’ll try to stay relaxed and just play tennis. ”

Swede Robin Soderling, the fourth-seeded men, reached the third round, winning 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-1 against Gilles Muller of Luxembourg. Andy Murray, seeded fifth, had 16 aces in his win against Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko, on account of 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.

In the last game of the evening, the 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis continued his journey with a 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 against Juan Martin del Potro, who has had persistent pain wrist. It’s the same wrist that has bothered last year when he had played just three tournaments.

Argentina’s David Nalbandian, who beat Lleyton Hewitt in five sets in the first round on Tuesday, withdrew during his second round match against Richard Berankis because of fatigue. Berankis was leading 6-1, 6-0, 2-0.

Other seeded players who won in men are Mikhail Youzhny (10th), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (13th), Marin Cilic (15th) and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (32nd).

the debate about who was who or who will be the best ever, in my opinion, is useless and fruitless.

Nadal said himself to the media after his consecration in New York. Echoing previous statements Laver or Jimmy Connors, another major, said the Spanish can not be compared to that assessment to players from different eras.

Is that tennis has changed so much that while in essence playing sport Laver, Budge, Perry and Emerson is the same as that played by the Swede Bjorn Borg, Americans Connors, John McEnroe, Agassi or Sampras or nationalized Czechoslovakian Ivan Lendl U.S. or practicing now Federer and Nadal, in practice is another. A very different.

It’s so different, especially thanks to new technologies applied to the rackets, the speed of the game is different, and therefore the preparation and the physical is much more pronounced. Sure, the hand that now there is also a greater emphasis on nutrition, physical therapy and, perhaps most influential in the change: there is more money to be distributed and more interests.

Maybe that’s what Agassi pushed himself to the abuse of performance enhancing drugs, something himself admitted in his autobiography U.S. Open and became a subject on which to reveal some details during the recent U.S. Open, he won twice in the same place where Nadal celebrated on Monday at 1994 and 1999, eight major titles.

Nadal and Agassi also share the honor of his Grand Slam, to be sure, in different years; we have added the Olympic gold medal.

Probably would benefit his archrival Sampras, among others.
The ATP, however, Agassi retired with a few years ago has virtually turned a deaf ear on the case of former world number one. Many were the means, then, linked to the stars with a mantle of protection of the governing body of the sport while others paid the bill.

Among the changes tennis before and now, as we said, is the business. And the point in question is that Agassi, in addition to over 30 million dollars in only won awards in his long career, was also the commercial image of the sport for many years.

With long hair shaved on 80′s or 90′s. With the most colorful clothing or pure white. With huge sunglasses air or view. With actress Brooke Shields at his side or with his current wife Steffi Graf. With the help of banned substances or not. Agassi put his face to sell everything from cameras to luxury cars, through the most varied products. Much like today with Nadal, Federer’s heir … and Agassi.

Rafael Nadal is on course to become the winningest player of all time. With only 24 years old just get in New York the only title that was missing from his collection of the four majors that make up the Grand Slam.

Of course, that does not mean, as many mistakenly reported that the muscular Spanish has won a Grand Slam. A Grand Slam is what got the American tennis legend Don Budge in 1938. Something that matched and then surpassed the Australian Rod Laver, once as an amateur in 1962 and again in 1969 as a professional. That is, winning all four major tournaments, the Open Australia, France, Britain and the United States in one year.

I just made Nadal equals, in some ways, what they have done well (after Budge and Laver) Britain’s Fred Perry, Roy Emerson of Australia, the U.S. also Andre Agassi and Roger Federer. All of them have won at least four major, albeit in different seasons.

The last three, Nadal, Agassi and Federer have reached further into three different surfaces: clay, grass and hard courts.

Federer, who is still regarded as the best ever despite the evident superiority that Nadal has on him for some years (14-7 leads the Spanish official clashes between the two), was just added to the previous list last year when he won on clay at Roland Garros, on the outskirts of Paris. That was the tournament itself, for example, Pete Sampras could not reach, which conspired to make the U.S. will add to that list privileged.

Nadal has just won his ninth title in Grand Slam tournaments, which could be considered minuscule by comparing the mark with the record 16 having Federer or 14 which accumulated Sampras retired. But most shocking is that no Spaniard has achieved everything he has achieved at such a young age.

That astonished more when you consider that until now has shared his career playing in the same era of the Swiss, who also holds the record for 237 consecutive weeks at number one ranking of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for A total of 285 weeks in different periods, only one of Sampras in total.

“Now is the best in the world and has the talent to be the best ever,” said Novak Djokovik between resignation felt by the final defeat and his admiration for Nadal, who beat him at Flushing Meadows for 6 -4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in a final that was completed on Monday due to rain delays.

The others can think what they want. Roger Federer believes that for its part had a very good 2010 season, which began with a victory at the Australian Open and he entered Sunday with a victory at the expense of Rafael Nadal in the Finals of the ATP.

“Whenever people say losing speed, I’m able to bounce back,” Federer told Monday during a telephone interview as he waited to catch his flight out of London.

The winner of 16 Grand Slam titles has admitted that Nadal was sovereign in 2010, reviving the global leader in favor of three major titles.

But Federer said he was happy to have overcome a loss of power in mid-season – defeated in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon – to finish the season strong. Federer has been at the expense of those defeats Robin Soderling at Roland Garros and face Tomas Berdych in London after reaching at least the semifinals of 23 consecutive Grand Slams.

Also, Federer has dropped a little laugh at the assertion that he only played well early in the season and the end of 2010.

“For some, it’s almost as if I had offered to poor performance throughout the summer or that I had not played at all. It’s hardly the case. I played again and again. I had some good matches, “he said. And then I suffered a few defeats tough, some guys have played better than me, and suddenly the first half of the season was over. But I really feeling of having had some good weeks. ”

Following his disappointment at International of France and Great Britain, some are again put to doubt him. Federer did not let these comments bother him.

He is aware that opinions are changing.

“I’m not angry. As an athlete, we must remain open to criticism because it’s not everyone who shares the same opinion. Everybody does not like the same players,” said Federer, who has slipped to third in the world after Wimbledon, but that will end the year at the second position.

“The rankings are changing rapidly. Right now I’m focusing on the long term and, by doing that, I keep my composure in difficult times.”

He maintained a perfect 5-0 and won 10 of her 11 sets in the final tournament of the season in London, crowning the whole by a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 Nadal Sunday.

“It’s special to play the last game of the season against Rafa, because you can enjoy it more instead of running to play the next tournament,” Federer said.

The top two players in the world have a record of 1-1 against each other in 2010. During his career, Nadal leads the series 14-8.

“When he plays well, it’s hard to find solutions against him,” said Nadal.

The Argentine Juan Martin del Potro has collected its second straight defeat in his comeback from injury, losing 6-3, 6-0 to Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, sixth-seeded in first round of the Open in Tokyo.

The Champion International U.S. 2009 had lost to Olivier Rochus at the Thailand Open last week, his first tournament after a break of eight months due to a wrist injury.

In other matches, Spain’s Daniel Gimeno-Traver defeated Argentina’s Eduardo Schwank 6-4, 6-4 while Russian Dmitry Tursunov, seeded seventh, defeated Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis 6-3, 6 – 4.

Exempt from the first round, Spaniard Rafael Nadal, the favorite, comes into the scene Tuesday against Colombian Santiago Giraldo.

Rafael Nadal said he was “happy” Wednesday after his victory of International USA, New York on Monday, he considers a “step forward” for his career, without quench his “thirst for victory.

“As a player, it represents a step forward for me,” said world No. 1 at a press conference upon his arrival at Madrid airport.

The player was keen to stress he refused to name the best athlete of Spanish history that flows from his victory.

“I’m not the best athlete,” he said. He cites as evidence the fact that he always “the hunger for victory and hope to continue to earn” after being awarded on Monday one of the four Grand Slams to her name was missing.

“When that hope no longer exist, it will be time to think about something else,” he added.

At 24, he became the fourth player in the Open era (since 1968), and especially the youngest to win all four Grand Slams, after Rod Laver, Andre Agassi and Roger Federer.

He has realized “the dream of completing a cycle of winning all four Grand Slam tournaments, especially the International United States” until then was it that was the least successful. ”

“First there was my knees (in reference to the pain that the players had felt during the second round in 2007 against David Ferrer) in 2008, I was tired from the Olympics and last year it There was tear my lap, “he said.

Without saying so 2010 was his best year, Rafa still felt that this season has been “very special because when you do not earn for a certain time and that starts to win, it means that the it has overcome its problems.

The Mallorcan is now focusing on the latest challenges of the year, including the Shanghai tournament, the Masters Series in Paris and the Masters of London. “The last part of the year is important to continue to earn points,” he said.

Rafael Nadal (No. 1) has qualified for the third round of the International United States Friday, defeating Denis Istomin 6-2, 7-6 (7 / 5), 7-5 at the end of a match very competitive when Uzbek has caused problems for the Spaniard.

In the next round of the only Grand Slam to his record is missing, the world No. 1 will face the French Gilles Simon, 42nd World.

“Denis has really played well, he did a great tournament in New Haven last week (finalist, ed), it is confidence,” Nadal said. I had a few chances in the tiebreak but my service worked well. ”

“I feel really good my department a few days,” he added. One of its services has been clocked at 215 km / h, a speed unusual for Mallorca, which emphasizes the effect of regular power.

The figures involved are putting themselves: eight aces, 43% of services are not returned by Istomin, 83% of points won on first serves, 72% on second serves and none conceded despite seven break opportunities for Istomin.

Nadal has only played six sets in two matches but already three decisive games. He had played two against the Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili in the first round.

He sent the first set in just over 30 minutes, after an initial break at 2-2, but needed 2:10 minutes to wrap the other two, often shaken by the intensity of the Uzbek.

However, he passed an unusual rescue, as he alone has the secret. Led 5-1 in the tiebreak when qu’Istomin had to do a show incredible defensive to win a point “on Nadal” to cheers and a standing ovation in New York, Spanish is the mind of Airin managed to include six consecutive point to remove the sleeve.

Andy Murray also argues
Andy Murray, seeded fourth, won her second round match in three sets 7-5, 6-3, 6-0 Dustin Brown.

In doubles, Canadian Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic beat Maximo Gonzalez and Santiago Ventura in three sets 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1.

The young American Ryan Harrison has wasted three match points in the tiebreaker in the fifth inning and lost against Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round.

The 18-year, based on qualifications, led 6-3 in the tiebreaker before losing five points. Stakhovsky, 36th Racquet World, won 6-3, 5-7, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) in four hours and 13 minutes.

Harrison, ranked 220th in the world, had caused a surprise in the first round by eliminating the 15 Racquet World, Ivan Ljubicic.

The Ukrainian Stakhovsky won seven consecutive games since winning his second title of the year tournament at New Haven last week.

American John Isner has for its part, served 24 aces and hit a top speed of 230 km / h serve to win his second round match, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6 – 4 against the Swiss Marco Chiudinelli.

In other matches, Mikhail Youzhny (No. 12) defeated Dudi Sela, 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka, seeded 25th, beat Juan Ignacio Chela 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 Jeremy Chardy and French was eliminated by Daniel Gimeno-Traver 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 , 7-6 (2).

The Spaniards Feliciano Lopez (No. 23) and Fernando Verdasco (No. also reached the third round. Lopez has won after 4:39 of play, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-2 Pair Benoit, and Verdasco has had a day much more easy, winning 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 against Adrian Mannarino.

French Julien Benneteau was forced to withdraw in the middle of the tiebreaker of the second set, when he trailed 6-2, 6-6 (2-1) against Tommy Robredo. Benneteau broke his wrist, but an MRI performed several hours later revealed a simple tendinitis.

David Ferrer (No. 10) had the upper hand over Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 Michael Llodra has proceeded in rejecting Victor Hanescu 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-2. Llodra is the one who eliminated the seventh seed and Wimbledon finalist to Tomas Berdych in the first round.

For fans choose: Rafa, Roger, Novak or Andy. All these former Cup champion Rogers seem in great shape, and they all have a reasonable chance to regain their crown this year.

After several years where one or two players were heavily favored to sweep the board, the 2010 edition of this tournament, the overall prize money of 2.43 million USD, will stage seven or eight players with a legitimate chance of winning.

The world and the favorite, Spaniard Rafael Nadal won the tournament in 2005 and 2008. Switzerland’s Roger Federer, seeded third, had prevailed in 2004 and 2006. He is always at the top of his art, if not the top of the ATP rankings. Between these two players is the deuixème seeded champion of 2007, Serb Novak Djokovic.

Defending champion Andy Murray is back as number four. There are also Sweden’s Robin Soderling (No. 5), Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko (No. 6), Czech Tomas Berdych (No. 7) and American Andy Roddick (No. 8). In other words, several players can aspire to the highest honors in Toronto.

“It’s great for tennis,” said Djokovic. There are more guys who can win big tournaments. It makes things more interesting for the crowd and for us. The challenge is greater. ”

Djokovic beat Federer in the rankings, but it still identifies the Swiss star and Nadal as the players to beat.

“For sure Rafa and Roger are the favorites to win any tournament,” said the Serb. We respect that. But there are players who rise like Berdych and Soderling, and Roddick is still obviously in the portrait. It a lot of guys who are challenging the most dominant players. ”

For the organizers, the dream final would be a duel between Nadal and Federer, who are at opposite corners of the table. They competed only once in 2010, when Nadal beat the Swiss in the final in Madrid in May

Four Canadians were awarded passes: Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, Pierre-Ludovic Duclos of Sainte-Foy and Peter Polansky and Milos Raonic, both of Thornhill, Ontario.

The eight top seeds have received a free pass to the second round. The first round games starting Monday.

Rafael Nadal will play his fourth final at Wimbledon on Sunday, after defeating Andy Murray in three sets.

The Spaniard has shown his best Friday as he took the measure of Columbia, seeded fourth, 6-4, 7-6 (6), 6-4. He needs one more win his second Wimbledon title and eighth in a Grand Slam.

Nadal’s opponent Sunday will be the Czech Tomas Berdych, who beat Novak Djokovic in three sets in the other semifinal.

Nadal has dashed hopes of Murray to become the first Briton to win the tournament since Fred Perry English in 1936. No representative of the Queen has reached the Wimbledon final since Bunny Austin in 1938.

The Scot has not played badly but never had a real impact on important points.

A single break was enough for Nadal to take the first set in 37 minutes, without ever having given any opportunity to Murray rob him of his commitment.

Unable to convert two break points in the second set, when Murray has transferred after a tiebreak won 8-6 by the Spaniard, after 63 minutes.

Murray, aged 23, has raised hopes in the third set when he took a 4-2 lead. But Nadal then removed the four games following control of the proceedings.

“I had a very good game, he takes to beat Andy,” said Nadal.

“I have not done a bad game at all, for his part, Murray revealed. I did not fully returned, but otherwise my game was pretty good. I sometimes put in a good position, but I don ‘I could not enjoy it. ”

In the first semifinal of the day, Berdych, who had created a huge surprise with the six-time champion Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, continued its momentum by winning 6-3, 7-6 (9) 6-3.

Berdych, aged 24, is the first Czech to reach the final of Wimbledon since Ivan Lendl in 1987. January Kodes is the only Czech to win the title in men in 1973.

“The feeling is absolutely incredible. It’s really hard to describe,” said Berdych. I think for any young person who begins to hit balls, it’s a dream to be in the final of any Grand Slam. It’s definitely the biggest tournament for me. ”

Berdych dictated play for most of the match with his powerful forehand service and lightning. He took control of the match by winning a dramatic tiebreaker in the second set. He lost his serve only once in 16 games and he broke Djokovic at three occasions. The Czech has totaled 11 aces, 34 moves Winners and committed only 17 unforced errors.

This is the first victory at the expense of Berdych Djokovic after two defeats.

Djokovic, winner of the Australian Open in 2008, failed in his attempt to reach his third final of a Grand Slam.

The Serb has not helped his cause with eight double faults, including two in a row in the eighth game of the third set to concede its service and enable Berdych serving for the match.

The second set, which required 70 minutes, constituted in itself a mini-game in the match with some spectacular shots, controversial decisions, changes of pace and saved in extremis points in a tiebreaker caper .

With Berdych serving and ahead 6-5, Djokovic got his first break to force the holding of the tiebreaker. Led 6-2 in the tiebreaker, Djokovic saved five balls then set and he finally gave up on a double fault at 10-9.