Rafael Nadal News Feed

He’s the King Again: Nadal Defeats Djokovic for His Sixth Rome Title

Tennis Now — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:25:13 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

(May 21, 2012)—Three and a half months ago—after losing his seventh straight heartbreaking final to his new archrival in Australia—it seemed like Rafael Nadal would never beat Novak Djokovic again. Today, after an inspired 7-5, 6-3 victory at the Internazionali BNL D’Italia final in Rome, it feels like Djokovic might never beat Nadal again.

Not only has Nadal’s second consecutive win over Djokovic given the Spaniard his swagger back (and maybe taken it to a new level), it’s also moved him back into the No. 2 ranking slot and thrust him into pole position as the clear favorite to win a record-breaking seventh French Open title early next month.

Welcome to the dog-eat-dog world of ATP tennis, where fortunes can turn with the snap of a racquet string.

Like two prizefighters exchanging body blows, Nadal and Djokovic took turns constructing magnificent points in the early going.

Nadal drew first blood in the fifth game, converting on his fourth break point of the set when Djokovic’s ill-advised drop shot sat up just long enough for Nadal to swoop in and casually swat a crosscourt winner.

But Djokovic, in spite of a mounting error count, leveled things in the very next game when Nadal netted a forehand.

It appeared that Djokovic was going to strike the decisive blow late in the set, but when a crucial missed call by a linesman forced a replay after Djokovic’s forehand had kissed the line at 30-30, 4-5, Nadal had avoided facing set point.

It would prove to be a turning point in the match.

The Spaniard ended up holding, much to Djokovic’s chagrin, and broke the very next game after executing a daring drop shot followed by a reflex volley winner that caused the Serb to demolish a racquet during the changeover.

Nadal, who now owns twice as many Rome titles as anybody else in history, held convincingly to seal the set 7-5.

In the second set Nadal broke to start the set, then weathered six break points in two games from Djokovic to lead 3-1. During these tense times, Nadal seemed to display so many of the things he was lacking during his losing streak against Djokovic: depth and power on the backhand, avoiding the Djokovic shoulder-high strike zone, the use of angles to get Djokovic on the move, and the conviction to use his forehand as a weapon.

In spite of Nadal’s stellar form, Djokovic stayed within a break until the ninth game, when the mental pressure that Nadal had placed him under led to a double fault on match point.

Though the final was a near perfect display for Nadal, who hit twenty less winners than Djokovic and who now owns a 200-2 record when winning the first set of a match on clay, Djokovic managed to challenge him in spite of his 41 errors and poor results on his second serve (he lost 63 percent of those points).

But in the end, the Serb was too inconsistent to stay with a very determined Nadal. His flashes of brilliance were enough to give him hope at times, but not nearly enough to get into past the Tasmanian Devil on the other side of the net.

Djokovic will have to be a lot better if he plans to become the first man since Rod Laver to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time.

Nadal, meanwhile, will just have to keep doing what he’s been doing.

Immortality awaits the Spaniard at Roland Garros, but for a player as humble and focused as Nadal, you can bet that he’s just thinking about making every shot count.

The rest, as they say, will take care of itself.

Djokovic Downs Federer, Will Face Nadal in Rome Final

Tennis Now — Sat, 19 May 2012 16:17:23 GMT

By Chris Oddo Photo Credit: Filippo Monteforte/Getty/AFP

(May 19, 2012)—Novak Djokovic weathered a late rally from Roger Federer to book a spot alongside Rafael Nadal in the BNL Internazionali D'Italia final today, 6-2, 7-6(4).

Djokovic, a two-time Rome champion, appeared to be headed for an uncomplicated victory before Federer saved a match point then mustered a late really to earn his only break of the day with the Serb serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set.

With the Roman crowd decidedly in support of Federer's surge, a cool-as-a-cucumber Djokovic maintained his composure and was able to serve his way into a tiebreaker two games later.

In the tiebreaker, Djokovic nudged his way to a 3-0 lead with some of his best baseline tennis of the day, and he never looked back. He scorched a forehand winner at 5-4 to earn his 2nd match point of the evening, and when Federer sailed his 42nd unforced error long on the next point, Djokovic was through.

"I knew he was in great form, so I needed to step in and believe I can win, and I played from the beginning to the end really good," said Djokovic afterwards.

The first set wasn't nearly as dramatic.

After each player held in the first two games, Federer surrendered the first break of the day. A crisp down the line backhand winner earned Djokovic his first break point and he converted the break to go up 2-1 when Federer hooked a forehand wide at the end of a 15-stroke rally.

Djokovic broke again to take a commanding 5-2 lead and served the set out with ease.

In the second set Djokovic gained the first break to move ahead 4-3, and he held for 5-3 before Federer mounted his comeback attempt.

In the end, Federer's subpar first serve percentage of 49 percent and his 42 unforced errors, many of which came from the backhand side in the early to middle stages of the match, made this match too much of an uphill climb for him.

For Djokovic, who now owns 11 wins in 25 matches against Federer, including five of the last six, his next challenge promises to be even more difficult than today's.

He'll face Rafael Nadal in tomorrow's final. The two have now combined for eight Rome titles in the last eight years.

The only thing to be decided? Which player with hoist the trophy.

Nadal owns a 17-14 career edge over Djokovic, but Djokovic has won seven of the last eight versus Nadal. On Sunday, Djokovic will attempt to become one of only two men to have ever beaten Nadal on clay more than twice.

Gaston Gaudio is the other.

Nadal Moves Past Ferrer and Into Rome Final

Tennis Now — Sat, 19 May 2012 13:24:51 GMT

By Chris Oddo Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/ Getty

(May 19, 2012)—Rafael Nadal withstood a serious challenge from David Ferrer in the first set today, then cruised to a 7-6(6), 6-0 victory at the BNL Internazionali D'Italia semifinals in Rome.

Nadal, who hasn't lost a clay-court semifinal since 2003 (Carlos Moya, Umag) will face the winner of tonight's semifinal between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in tomorrow's final.

After saving seven break points in his first service game, it was apparent that Nadal would make things tough once again for his compatriot. Having already won the last eleven matches they've played on clay, Nadal certainly didn't lack for confidence, even in the face of a spirited effort from the world No. 6.

In spite of his early failures, Ferrer did take the early lead when he sent a backhand down the line that Nadal couldn't handle to lead 3-1. But Nadal would break back immediately, capitalizing when Ferrer double faulted at 15-40 in the very next game.

From there Nadal slowly sunk his teeth into his opponent. Although Ferrer was two points from the set in the twelfth game and twice in the tiebreaker (5-4 and 6-6), Nadal eventually scored the decisive blow when he sprinted from well behind the baseline to hit a winner of a high-bouncing Ferrer dropshot at 6-6.

On the next point a Ferrer forehand sailed long, sealing the 86-minute set for the five-time Rome champion.

Ferrer had nothing left in the second set, and Nadal converted 3 of 10 break point opportunities to notch his first bagel of the tournament.

Nadal will look to improve upon his 14-1 clay-court record and secure his 21st Masters title in tomorrow's final.

Nadal Pushes Past Berdych, Will Face Ferrer in Rome Semis

Tennis Now — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:15:51 GMT

By Chris Oddo Photo Credit: AP Photo

(May 18, 2012)—Five-time ATP Rome champion Rafael Nadal kept his bid for a sixth title alive with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win over Tomas Berdych today.

“It was a big match and one of the higher quality matches this year because the level of the opponent is high,” said Nadal of the two-hour, six-minute battle with the hard-hitting Czech. “He plays with high confidence and I played under pressure all the time.”

Nadal saved the only break point he faced in the first set, and in spite of winning only eight return points in the first set he was able to notch the only break of serve to take the first.

In the second, Berdych broke Nadal to lead at 4-2, but he managed to lose his grip on the set when things got tense. He was broken in the next game when Nadal ran down his drop shot attempt to flick a winner cross court.

He was broken again while serving at 5-5 after hitting a drive volley right onto Nadal’s racquet when he had the whole court to work with. Nadal accepted Berdych’s generosity, drilling a backhand past him for double break point.

Berdych mounted resistance with Nadal serving for the match at 6-5, hitting scorching forehands to get to 30-30, but when Nadal hit a perfect dropshot on the back end of a grueling rally on the next point, he had finally earned a match point.

Berdych saved one, but on the second his attempt at a forehand winner went wide, handing Nadal the victory.

Nadal will face his compatriot David Ferrer in the semifinals.

Ferrer was a 7-6(4), 6-3 winner over Richard Gasquet in the first match of the day.

Nadal holds a 14-4 edge in his career head-to-head over Ferrer, including a win in the Barcelona final a few weeks ago.

Flashback Friday: Djokovic Denies Nadal in the 2011 Rome Final

Tennis Now — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:28:54 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: EPA

(May 18, 2012)—Normally on Flashback Friday we turn our attention in the direction of the heroes of tennis yesteryear, but today we're only going to travel back a few stops in our time machine, hopping off at May 2011 to rediscover Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal's Rome final from last year.

In case you've forgotten (it’s okay: short-term memory loss is very common among tennis fans) let me remind you that last year at this time we were smack-dab in the middle of the "Spring of Nole." Djokovic was riding a 37-match win streak heading into the final at Rome, including three remarkable, eyebrow-raising wins over Nadal in three consecutive finals.

Although his form was mighty impressive, Djokovic's win over Nadal in Madrid—a place that Nadal has never truly embraced—in the previous week was seen by many as an aberration, the exception rather than the norm.

In Rome, on dreadfully slow clay and at sea level, many predicted that Djokovic would finally run out of luck against the King of Clay. After all, Nadal had fashioned a 27-1 career record in the eternal city, winning five titles in six years.

Even though he'd been blowing minds since the beginning of 2011, skeptics seemed to still harbor the belief that Djokovic would soon return to his tortured, underachieving, breathing-restricted self, and start dropping matches by letting his level sag at those all-important crucial junctures of matches once again.

Little did we know.

Once again in this 6-4, 6-4 victory, Djokovic rose to the challenge, matching a hell-bent Nadal in the early going and keeping the Spaniard at bay by finding his backhand with relative ease.

Now, before we turn this piece into a Djokovic coronation, realize that Nadal played some brilliant tennis in this final as well. He was aggressive with the forehand, quick to defend, and he got the better of the Serb in a good portion of the rallies.

But in the "Spring of Nole," solutions were nearly impossible to find when it came to gaining the upper hand against Djokovic, particularly in the business end of sets.

As spirited as Nadal's effort was, Djokovic always had the plus-one: the series of shots that would take Nadal off balance, coax a short ball, and allow the sizzling Serb to execute the killshot.

Djokovic did just that on match point, knocking off an angled forehand winner and dropping to the dirt to celebrate his seventh consecutive title in style.

Skeptics would be damned, at least until Djokovic fell to Federer at the French.

Some thoughts on the video:

In the first set at the 1:15 mark on the video, when Djokovic answers a blistering Nadal backhand with an obscenely angled one of his own, it becomes apparent that these two phenoms were playing tennis about as good at is can be played on a clay court.

The look on Djokovic's face at the 2:05 mark after he played a remarkably patient chess-like point to set up a crosscourt backhand winner on set point says, "I am climbing the mountain and I can reach the top."

The "vaporized" Djokovic backhand from behind the baseline at 2:54 that not even the ultimate defender Nadal could get back.

And finally (at 3:03) the eerie precision that Djokovic executes his groundstrokes with on match point, first ripping a return to Nadal's feet to start the point at an advantage, then steering a crosscourt backhand into the corner that Nadal can barely nudge over the net, and finally putting away the crosscourt forehand to seal his seventh straight title and his fourth consecutive victory over Nadal in a final.

Go here for full match on YouTube.

Federer and Nadal March On as Isner Battles in Rome

Tennis Now — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:11:46 GMT

By Erik Gudris

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia

(May 16th, 2012) Roger Federer almost was a no-show this morning in Rome.

That's because Federer was still feeling the aftereffects of some nagging yet minor pains he suffered last week during his title run in Madrid and wasn't sure if he would be up to playing this week. But after an early morning practice, Federer decided to go ahead and take on Carlos Berlocq in their second round match. Despite being broken once in the second set, Federer notched up a still comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win in just over an hour.

Federer, who is seeking his first ever title in Rome, will next meet former World No. 1 and 2001 Rome champion Juan Carlos Ferrero.

No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal, who was very vocal last week over the use of blue clay in Madrid, let his tennis do the talking today in his second round match against Germany's Florian Mayer. After Nadal cruised in the first set, Mayer put up more of a fight in the second set but Nadal never faced a break point as he went on to win 6-1, 7-5.

The match of the day on the men's side belonged to No. 9 seed John Isner taking on Italy's own Andreas Seppi that for a while looked like it might end up being an easy day for the American after he strolled through the first set 6-2. But Seppi fought back in the second set and forced a tiebreak that he won setting up a tight deciding set.

Cheered on by a partisan Italian crowd, Seppi stayed even with Isner throughout the final set until at 5-all, Seppi finally broke Isner on his 12th break point chance. Seppi went on to close out the nearly three-hour match 2-6, 7-6, 7-5.

The other seeded player to fall early was No. 8 seed and last week's Madrid semifinalist Janko Tipsarevic who was dismissed in straight sets by Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-1.

Other winners on the day included No. 7 seed and Madrid finalist Tomas Berdych who cruised over Lukasz Kubot 6-4, 6-1 while No. 10 seed Juan Martin Del Potro had little trouble with Mikhail Youzhny winning 6-4, 6-2.

Verdasco Gives Nadal The Blues In Madrid

Tennis Now — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:31:33 GMT

By Erik Gudris

Photo Credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

(May 10, 2012) When you can upstage Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on the same day at the Madrid Mutua Open, then you must have done something spectacular. Or in the case of Fernando Verdasco, something spectacular and cringe-worthy all at the same time.

Make no mistake. Verdasco's triumph over Rafael Nadal in Madrid today in their third round clash that finally put an end to Nadal's 13 straight wins over his friend and fellow Davis Cup teammate is one of the biggest wins of his career (maybe the biggest) and could potentially be a watershed moment not only for him, but the entire tournament based on what Nadal had to say afterwards.

But first the match itself. Though both men had just met a few weeks ago in the semifinals of Barcelona with Nadal winning handily, this match had a very different air to it. With Nadal still not comfortable moving on the new blue clay of Madrid and the fact that Verdasco would likely feel the pressure of playing in his hometown against the greatest Spanish player of all time, there was a sense that today's encounter might go the way of their dreadful match in the Round of 16 in Cincinnati last year that Nadal barely won in three laborious tiebreak sets.

And so it did. There were errors galore at the start of the opening set, but moments of fine play too as it was Verdasco who looked more confident as he went after his serves, hit 15 winners and closed out the set with an ace. But Verdasco's form wasn't expected to last and, as if on cue, it was Nadal who regrouped in the second set while Verdasco was the one who now looked unsure.

When Verdasco double faulted to hand Nadal the second set 6-3 and after Nadal jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the third set, it appeared the reigning French Open champion had the match in hand. But after he hit a forehand smash into the net at 15-all, it was now Nadal who seemed less sure of himself as Verdasco broke serve, served a brilliant game and then broke Nadal at love to even the set at 5-all.

A final set tiebreak, as in Cincinnati, felt like the inevitable and only merciful end to the match that went into a fourth hour and saw both men hit a combined 82 unforced errors. But it was Nadal, serving to force a tiebreak at 5-6, who couldn't quite find enough championship form when it mattered as Verdasco hit a final forehand winner to win on his second match point 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to earn his first ever victory over Nadal and to give Nadal his first loss on clay in 23 matches.

Though he gave Verdasco full credit afterwards in his post-match press conference, Nadal minced no words about his displeasure with the blue clay and the tournament's courts. "I tried my best to prepare but I wasn't good enough to adapt my game to this court," Nadal said. "The only thing that I know is that if things continue like this I am very sad but next year will be one less tournament in my calendar."

Strong words from Nadal and it was repeated in a similar fashion by defending champion Djokovic after he saw off Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6, 6-4 in the final night match. "You are tripping and slipping and sliding all the time and winner will be the one who doesn't get hurt until the end of the week because a lot of players fell down," Djokovic said. "Generally it's a new experience and the way it looks this year hopefully the last experience."

Roger Federer looked more at ease on the main court, but that might have been because he was playing Richard Gasquet, a man he's only lost to twice. Federer glided past the Frenchman 6-3, 6-2 in just under an hour and will next meet David Ferrer who survived his own three-set battle against another Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 7-6, 3-6, 7-6.

Despite all the growing controversy over Madrid's blue courts, the day belonged to Verdasco who now must try and savor his victory as best he can tonight as he'll have to get back on the main court tomorrow to face Tomas Berdych in the next round.

STATISFACTION: Nadal Vs. Borg Clay-Court Comparison

Tennis Now — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:41:11 GMT

By Chris Oddo Photo Credit: Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

STATISFACTION is Tennis Now’s weekly look inside the numbers of professional tennis. This week we will try to decide, once and for all, who the real King of Clay is.

Different Eras, Same Domination

Unless you are talking about a high-def version of Grand Slam 2 for Playstation, none of us will ever have the luxury of watching the two greatest clay-court tennis players of all-time—Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal—square off in their primes.

Without a tangible head-to-head to go on, the truth is that it’s hard to say which player was more dominant in his prime.

The argument will certainly tilt in Nadal’s favor if he is to capture a seventh Grand Slam—there’d be no denying his supremacy to Borg then. But what if, perchance, Nadal bows out in the quarterfinals of this year’s French Open and never wins it again? I know it seems implausible right now, with Nadal knocking the yellow fuzz off the ball and dominating everybody and everything in his way, but what if?

It would leave Nadal and Borg with identical French Open records: each 49-2 and each with six titles in eight appearances. How then, to decide who the real King of Clay is?

Inside the French Open Numbers

As much as the current generation tends to assume that Rafa is superior to Borg on clay, the fact of the matter is that their bodies of work are quite similar, especially when it comes to the French Open. Both currently have six titles, both have won it twice without losing a set. While Nadal has lost fewer sets, Borg has played more dominant matches in terms of games lost.

Here’s a quick look at some of the telling numbers from each French Open career:

Borg, French Open: 6 Titles, 49-2

Year	Sets Lost	Bagels	Breadsticks	5-setters
1973*	4	0	1	0
1974	8	3	5	3
1975	1	1	6
1976**	6	2	2	1
1978	0	6	7
1979	3	2	5
1980	0	4	4
1981	2	3	5	1
Total	24	21	35	5

*Lost in 4th round

** Lost in QF’s

Nadal, French Open: 6 Titles, 45-1

Year	Sets Lost	Bagels	Breadsticks	5-setters
2005	3	2	3	0
2006	3	0	3	0
2007	1	1	3	0
2008	0	3	9	0
2009*	3	0	3	0
2010	0	0	0	0
2011	3	1	3	1
Total	13	13	18	1

*Lost in 4th round

As previously stated, it’s hard to decipher the numbers in a way that presents a clear-cut king. Nadal has lost fewer sets (13 for him, 24 for Borg) and been pushed to less five-setters (1 for him and 5 for Borg), but Borg has more bagels and breadsticks (56 for him to 31) to Nadal.

Their Most Dominant Year: Borg 1978, Nadal 2008

As great as each has been, both Borg and Nadal have had years where they were almost superhuman. Let’s take a look at the best year that each has ever had at the French:

In 1978, Borg annihilated everything in his way, losing zero sets and having 13 of 21 end in a bagel or breadstick. Before you think it was luck of the draw, take into account that Borg defeated one of the greatest clay-courters in history, Guillermo Vilas, in the final, while only losing four games. In the quarterfinals, Borg defeated Raul Ramirez (one of only seven people to own more than one victory against him on clay) 6-3, 6-3, 6-0.

In similar fashion Rafael Nadal trounced the Roland Garros field in 2008 for his fourth French Open title. Despite having a difficult draw (Bellucci in round 1, Verdasco, Almagro, Djokovic and Federer in succession in the last four rounds), Nadal ended 12 of 21 sets in bagels or breadsticks, including a 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 thrashing of Roger Federer in the final.

Which monumental effort was better, Borg’s 1978 or Nadal’s 2008?

Once again, it’s inconclusive.

Players to have defeated Borg and Nadal more than once

Another way to compare these two clay-court legends is to look analyze their results against elite competition, particularly the players that have beaten each more than once.

As of now, Nadal has suffered fewer defeats on the clay to less people, so I think you’d have to give him the edge over Borg in this category.

Players to defeat Borg more than once on clay:

Player	Number of Defeats
Adriano Panatta	5
Ile Nastase	3
Jimmy Connors	3
Raul Ramirez	3
Manuel Orantes	2
Guillermo Vilas	2
Henri Leconte	2

Players to defeat Rafael Nadal more than once on clay:

Player	Number of Defeats
Gaston Gaudio	3
Roger Federer	2
Novak Djokovic	2

Definitely, Borg fell prey to a few more victims in his career on clay, but keep in mind that Borg played a lot of tennis on American Har-Tru clay, a surface that Nadal never plays on. Connors certainly benefited from this fact.

But judging from Borg’s longer list of rivals on clay, particularly the Italian Adriano Panatta, it’s clear that Rafa has the edge in this regard.

Clay Court Finals, Titles

Lastly, we will look at each player’s record in clay-court finals, their number of titles, and their all-time winning percentage on the surface.

	Clay Titles	Record in Finals	Clay Record	Percentage
Nadal	34	34-4	241-18	.931
Borg	30	30-6	245-39	.863

Seems like you’d have to give Nadal the edge there, but to be fair to Borg, he lost a whopping 13 matches in 1973, then lost another 8 after he’d virtually retired. Without those two years, he’d be a lot closer to Nadal in terms of winning percentage. Throw in the fact that he played a lot more tennis on green clay, and the margin gets even thinner.

The Future?

At this point it’s hard to decide which player is the real King of Clay, but if Nadal can simply win one more French Open title this year, the title will be all his.

He’ll pass Borg on the all-time clay wins list, own seven French Open titles to go with his eight Monte-Carlos and seven Barcelonas, and nobody will dare dispute his dominance.

In short: He’ll be the King, the one and only King of Clay!

But until he does get that seventh French Open crown, the Borg-Nadal debate is still a legitimate—and fun—one to have.

Nadal Breaks the Bank in Barcelona, Wins Seventh Title vs. Ferrer

Tennis Now — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:19:42 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

(April 29, 2012)—Rafael Nadal survived a knock-down, drag-out battle with David Ferrer to win his record-breaking seventh Barcelona title today, 7-6(1), 7-5. With the victory, Nadal becomes the only man in Open Era history to own at least seven titles at more than one event. Last week he won his eighth Monte-Carlo title.

“The emotions are always high,” Nadal said afterwards. “But probably each year they get a bit higher as you are one year older and you don't know how many chances you are going to have left.”

Nadal’s dominance has never been in question at the event—he’s won 70 of 72 sets in 34 consecutive victories since his only loss in 2003—but today he was made to work extremely hard by Ferrer.

Ferrer, who has now lost in all six clay-court finals that he’s contested against Nadal (including four in Barcelona), had numerous chances to win both sets today.

“I played my best match of the week today,” said a disappointed Ferrer. “But to win against Rafa I had to do more.”

After saving a break point at 5-5 in the first set with a massive inside-out forehand, Ferrer put the pressure on Nadal, earning five set points in the twelfth game. But each time Nadal gave an inch, Ferrer gave back a mile. Finally, after Nadal hit his second of four aces on the day to erase Ferrer’s fifth set point, the pair moved to a tiebreaker.

Ferrer, who had played brilliantly for much of the first set, had nothing left to give.

He played scatterbrain tennis—something nobody can afford against Nadal—and proceeded to drop the last six points of the tiebreaker with some uncharacteristically loose play.

In the second set, after Nadal grabbed the first break for a 3-1 lead it appeared that Ferrer might be ready to pack it in and collect his runner-up check. But true to form the world No. 6 kept plugging, eventually breaking back on his fourth opportunity of the next game, then getting a bit of charity from the world No. 1 in the ninth game when Nadal double faulted to give Ferrer a chance to serve for the set.

It would be yet another opportunity wasted for Ferrer.

Nadal broke back, and after holding in the next game, broke Ferrer at love to seal the championship.

"This is the hardest match I had on clay court this season, David always takes you to the limit," Nadal told a television interviewer after the match today. "A bit of it was lottery, luck fell on my side today."

The victory is Nadal’s 21st consecutive win on clay, and the title is Nadal’s 34th clay-court title, good for third all-time (behind only Thomas Muster and Guillermo Vilas).

Ferrer was bidding to become only the fourth player to earn two victories against Nadal on clay. The only men to achieve the feat are Gaston Gaudio (3), Novak Djokovic (2) and Roger Federer (2).

"I have lost four times to him here in the final now but I know I have lost to one of the greats," the 30-year-old said in a post-match interview.

Nadal’s 241st clay-court victory puts him on pace to pass Juan Carlos Ferrero (250) for the lead among active players this season.

Ferrer Edges Raonic For Spot Alongside Nadal In Barcelona Final

Tennis Now — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:11:22 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: David Ramos / Getty Images

(April 28, 2012) David Ferrer survived a spirited effort from Milos Raonic today in the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell semifinals today. His reward? A date with the world's hottest player, Rafael Nadal, in the final.

Nadal holds a 10-0 record versus Spaniards in ATP finals, and he also owns a 10-1 record versus Ferrer on clay, with his only loss coming in the pair's first meeting in 2004.

But as today's 7-6(2), 7-6(5) victory over Raonic proves, Ferrer isn't the only Spaniard coming into Sunday's final in good form. Ferrer is tied for the tour lead in titles with Roger Federer (3) and he leads the tour with 28 wins.

Today he had his hands full with the hard-serving Canadian, particularly in the first set. Raonic, who notched his first top four win yesterday against Andy Murray, is rapidly becoming a threat on the clay.

"He's improving a lot, the forehand also," said Ferrer. "And the serve is one of the best on tour." Ferrer had to fight off four break points against Raonic in his first four service games before he would get some chances of his own.

When he did get his chances, things didn’t get any easier for Ferrer, who now owns a 4-0 record vs. Raonic. Ferrer failed to convert on two break points in the eighth game of the set, thanks to some big serving under pressure from the world No. 25.

But Ferrer kept the pressure up, and soon found himself with three set points in the tenth game. A couple of nervy errors from Ferrer gave Raonic hope, and from there he settled down to hold.

In the twelfth game, Ferrer had one final chance to break, but it was quickly snuffed out by Raonic's tenth ace of the set.

In the tiebreaker, Ferrer took advantage of the fact that Raonic's groundstrokes had temporarily deserted him and raced out to a 6-0 lead. Raonic saved two set points but Ferrer made good on the third to take the set.

In the second set, after Raonic saved a break point in the eleventh game, they headed to another tiebreaker. After trading mini-breaks several times, Ferrer struck the decisive blow when he drilled a backhand passing shot past a net-rushing Raonic to clinch the victory.

"In both tiebreaks I think I played better than him," said Ferrer. "That was the difference."

In the other semifinal, red-hot and revived Rafael Nadal won his thirteenth consecutive match against Fernando Verdasco, 6-0, 6-4.

Nadal lost only six first-serve points against Verdasco, and saved all four break points he faced, including three in a second set that was much closer than the first. In the end, however, it was different day, same story for Nadal and Verdasco.

"Yes, very happy," said Nadal, who needed a third-set tiebreaker to defeat Verdasco the last time they met in Cincinnati. Tomorrow's final will be the fourth contested between Nadal and Ferrer in Barcelona. Nadal has won all three, taking six of seven sets.

"Always it's a big, big match against David," said Nadal.

"It's going to be difficult to beat Rafael on the clay court, but I will try my best," said Ferrer, who is 0-5 in clay court finals versus Nadal.

Ferrer-Nadal, Clay Court Finals

Year	Event	Winner/ Score
2008	Barcelona	Nadal/ 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
2009	Barcelona	Nadal/ 6-2, 7-5
2010	Rome	Nadal/ 7-5, 6-2
2011	Monte Carlo	Nadal/ 6-4, 7-5
2011	Barcelona	Nadal/ 6-2, 6-4

Raonic Upsets Murray In Barcelona; Nadal Crushes Tipsarevic

Tennis Now — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:49:54 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Natasha Peterson / Corleve

(April 27, 2012) Big, hard-serving players like Milos Raonic used to be an afterthought when the clay-court season began.

Not anymore.

Proving that John Isner isn't the only big man with a thunderous serve that can win on clay, Raonic took out the heavily favored Andy Murray in straight sets today, 6-4, 7-6(3).

The victory was Raonic's first-ever win over a top four opponent. Raonic will face David Ferrer in the semifinals tomorrow. "To have my first win over, let's say the big four, it's something to be really proud of," said Raonic.

The 21-year-old world No. 25 came out of the gates serving lights-out, placing immense pressure on Murray to hold serve. In the seventh game, that pressure proved to be too much for Murray.

Murray tried to lure Raonic to the net with drop shots on consecutive points, but Raonic was unfazed by the tactic. He forced a Murray error with a neat backhand volley on the first point, and when Murray tried it again at 15-30, Raonic responded with a deep forehand slice, then swatted away Murray's lob attempt for 15-40.

On the ensuing break point opportunity, Murray netted a forehand on the third shot of the rally to give the Canadian an advantage he wouldn't relinquish. Losing only four points on serve in the set and serving eight aces, Raonic served the set out to love, sending a blistering forehand down the line on set point.

"The serve definitely helps," said Raonic afterwards. "But then also it's just about believing and sticking to what I know how to do best."

In the second set, Raonic would encounter a bit of turbulence while serving for the match in the tenth game. After breaking in the ninth game, Raonic got a little tight, botching overheads on the first two points of the game.

He then netted a forehand on Murray's second break point of the game, giving Murray the break for 5-all.

In the second set tiebreaker, Raonic jumped out to a lead of 3-0 and never looked back. Murray did save two match points from 6-1, but Raonic took the next point on his serve, finally forcing the error from Murray with a crosscourt backhand after a long rally.

Nadal Crushes Tipsarevic

Rafael Nadal breezed into the semifinals, winning a whopping 81 percent of second serve return points to break Janko Tipsarevic five times en route to a 6-2, 6-2 drubbing.

The win is Nadal's 33rd in 34 career matches at Barcelona, with Nadal's only loss coming at the hands of Alex Corretja in 2003.

The six-times Barcelona champion saved all four break points he faced in the first set today. "You cannot expect an easy match against the No. 8 in the world," said Nadal. "Today is a very good result for me."

Nadal will face 2010 Barcelona champion Fernando Verdasco in tomorrow's semifinals. Verdasco passed through to when Kei Nishikori was forced to retire in the first set due to back problems.

In the fourth quarterfinal, David Ferrer saved three match points in the second set to get past Feliciano Lopez, 6-7(4), 7-6(7), 6-3. The three-time finalist is through to his sixth consecutive semifinal at Barcelona.

Nadal, Murray, Book Spot in Barcelona Quarters; Raonic Upsets Almagro

Tennis Now — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:25:30 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: David Ramos/ Getty Images

(April 26, 2012)—Rafael Nadal kept up his run of scintillating tennis in Barcelona today with a hard-fought 6-2, 6-3 win over Colombian qualifier Robert Farah.

Nadal took the first set without much of a fight from Farah, but the Colombian picked his level up in the second set, answering Nadal’s early break with a break of his own in the second game. Farah then fought off a break point with some big serving in the next game, securing the hold when Nadal flubbed a forehand into the net.

“Today I didn’t play my best match,” said Nadal, “but still winning 6-2, 6-3, that’s a positive result.”

Nadal steadied himself down the stretch, winning four consecutive points to break after Farah held a 40-15 lead with the set tied at 3-all. After consolidating, Nadal then broke in the final game to finish off the victory in 86 minutes.

The six-time Barcelona champion will take a 32-1 career record at the event into his quarterfinal match with No. 5 seed Janko Tipsarevic.

Tipsarevic, currently ranked No. 8 in the world, dominated Frederico Gil of Portugal today, 6-2, 6-2.

“He’s playing fantastic,” said Nadal. “He improved a lot his level and his mentality. I have to be playing very well if I want to have chances.”

In the bottom half of the draw, No. 2-seeded Andy Murray hit nine aces and converted five of nine break points to slide past Santiago Giraldo 6-1, 6-2. “I was expecting quite a lot of long rallies and there was quite a lot at the start,” said the world No. 4. “But once I got ahead [and] started putting pressure on him, he started going for more and made more mistakes."

Murray’s win sets up a highly anticipated first meeting with Milos Raonic for the Scot. Raonic pulled the shocker of the day when he upset Nicolas Almagro in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Raonic lost only eleven points on serve in nine games, and converted all three break points he saw against the sixth-seeded Spaniard.

In other action, Spaniards David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco all booked spots in the quarterfinals with straight set wins.

Eighth-seeded Kei Nishikori was also a winner, taking out Albert Ramos of Spain 7-6(2), 6-3.

Quarterfinal match-ups:

(1) Nadal vs. (5) Tipsarevic

(8) Nishikori vs. (9) Verdasco

(3) Ferrer vs. (7) Lopez

(2) Murray vs. (11) Raonic

Nadal in Classic Form Claims Eighth Monte-Carlo Title

Tennis Now — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:42:52 GMT

By Erik Gudris

Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

(April 22nd, 2012) With Rafael Nadal going for his eighth straight title at the same time Novak Djokovic was aiming for his eighth consecutive victory over the Spaniard, something had to give in today's final at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. But instead of a battle royale as hoped for by many, the meeting between the two top players in the world became something of a royal coronation for the "king" of Court Centrale.

With Nadal seen practicing his serve to great intensity before taking the court, it was clear that Nadal knew he would have to serve well and control the rallies in order to gain the upper hand against Djokovic. But what he didn't expect was that Djokovic would continue his ragged play from earlier in the week that saw him struggle against Alexandr Dolgopolov and in yesterday's semifinal versus Tomas Berdych.

In the third game of the opening set, two quick groundstroke errors from Djokovic gave Nadal an early break lead. With a look of determined focus, Nadal made sure he kept his own shots deep, often forcing Djokovic well beyond the baseline.

Despite displaying flashes of the stellar point construction that many have come to expect from the World No. 1, Djokovic appeared subdued on court and went on to rack up 14 unforced errors including an errant backhand that allowed Nadal to break him again to claim the set.

Nadal kept up his intensity in the second set when he again pounced on Djokovic in the second game to break him at 15-40. When Nadal went up 3-0, the outcome felt like a foregone conclusion especially after Nadal grinded down Djokovic in a trademark "Rafa" point that saw the Spanish star hit a stellar lob over the Serb to set up a winning forehand that gave Nadal a double break lead.

Djokovic was able to get one of the breaks back but there would be no momentum shift as Nadal broke right back at love. It was only then that Nadal gave one of his signature fist pumps to celebrate his lead.

Serving at 5-1, Nadal quickly earned two match points and closed out the match in style with an ace out wide to earn a 6-3, 6-1 victory for his eighth consecutive title in Monte-Carlo and his first title in 10 months since winning Roland Garros.

Nadal's stats tell the whole story as he hit a total of 16 winners, committed only 10 unforced errors and served a healthy 68% first serves on the day. Nadal also never dropped a set all week.

Nadal earned another accomplishment as his win netted him his 20th ATP Masters 1000 title, setting the record for any player on tour.

Nadal Survives Simon To Set Up Dream Final With Djokovic

Tennis Now — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:28:06 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images

(April 21, 2012) Rafael Nadal survived an inspired effort from Frenchman Gilles Simon today to keep alive his hopes of winning an eighth straight Monte-Carlo title.

The 6-3, 6-4 triumph sets up another highly anticipated clash between the world's top two players in tomorrow's final. And even though Nadal has famously lost seven straight finals to Novak Djokovic, on Sunday he'll get to face him on a court that he has owned for seven years.

Nadal holds a career record of 43-1 in Monte-Carlo with his last loss coming in 2003. He also owns a victory over Djokovic, which came in the 2009 final.

If Nadal needed a tough match to declare himself ready for the world-beating Serb, he got more than he bargained for today. Simon, fresh off his first top ten win of the season in yesterday's quarterfinal versus Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, threw everything he had at Nadal.

In the end, it was not enough. Nadal saved all seven break points he faced, and finally closed the defiant Frenchman out in one hour and fifty minutes.

The match was entertaining throughout, with the pair exchanging in frequent long baseline rallies that pushed each player from corner to corner. With a packed house decidedly appreciative of Simon's efforts, the match had a classic feel.

It was Simon who threatened to draw first blood in the seventh game of the first set.

But Nadal was equal to the task, erasing two break points with stellar shotmaking under pressure. By the end of the game, all the fatigued Frenchman could do was dump a dropshot into the net after yet another long rally to give Nadal the hold. Nadal then seized the momentum gained to break Simon in the very next game for a 5-3 lead.

After serving out the first set, Nadal took the early lead in the second when he whacked a trademark forehand that whizzed past Simon down the line for a break in the third game. But Simon, to his credit, would not relent.

Down a break at 2-1, Simon earned another break point to draw even. But Nadal upped his game once again, forcing Simon into a long rally that ended with a wild forehand that sailed at least five feet beyond the baseline.

Unfazed, Simon proceeded to earn two more break points in the game. Nadal saved the first with a service winner out wide, and the second with an exquisite drop shot that feathered gently over the net and died in the clay before an onrushing Simon could get a racquet on the ball.

For Nadal, it was a recurring theme. There would be two more break point opportunities later in the third set for Simon, but the seemingly impervious-to-pressure Nadal brushed those aside as well.

He then served out the match to earn his 37th straight victory in semifinals played on clay. Nadal's 41st consecutive win at Monte-Carlo was an impressive display of shotmaking, and perhaps more importantly, fortitude.

Saving seven break points in a very tense match with an extremely dangerous foe might have been exactly what he needed to prepare for the challenge that awaits. He'll need every ounce of fortitude he can extract if he plans to keep his streak alive against Novak Djokovic tomorrow.

Nadal Passes First Monte-Carlo Test, Eases Past Nieminen In Straights

Tennis Now — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:28:10 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images

(April 18, 2012) Rafael Nadal’s 38th consecutive win at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters was a lot like all the rest. An early break, control of the rallies and a 6-4, 6-3 win over Jarkko Nieminen of Finland.

“Nothing very bad, but nothing very good,” said Nadal. “Just normal.”

The typically paranormal Nadal knows that normal won’t be good enough by the end of this week, but for now he’s happy to be back at one of his favorite stomping grounds, playing in front of old familiar faces, including three-time Monte-Carlo champion Bjorn Borg.

“Tomorrow I have another chance to keep improving, and that’s what I’m going to try,” said Nadal, who will face qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin in the third round on Thursday.

Nadal broke easily to start the match, sealing the game with an overhead smash. It was all he would need to secure the first set. After a slow start that saw most of Nadal’s trademark forehands landing feebly inside the service line, the Spaniard started to find his form, ratcheting up the depth and power as the match progressed.

Considering that the seven-time Monte-Carlo champion had taken fifteen days off without swinging the racquet since withdrawing from Miami with an injured left knee, he looked sharp. “When you stop for fifteen days, your body loses a bit of performance,” said Nadal. “That’s something usual. In this case I had very short period of time [to prepare]. I know that I have to be ready. I tried to go faster than usual in the recovery to be competitive here, and that’s what I tried.”

When asked if he had to be cautious with regard to his recently injured knee, Nadal circumvented the issue a bit, saying “I don’t think about anyone when I’m playing. I think about the ball, that’s enough work for me. The knee is still there. But it’s not without impediments to run at every ball. We’ll see.”

Picking up where he left off in the first, Nadal broke the Fin in the third game of the second set, then consolidated with a trademark hold that featured some furious defensive points and a foray to the net for a drop volley to take a 3-1 lead.

For the 30-year-old Nieminen, who has taken only one of the eighteen sets that he’s played against Nadal in seven losing efforts, it was no longer a question of would he win, but would he keep it close?

Despite flashes of brilliance, Nieminen’s inconsistency put him a double break down before he was able to muster his first break with Nadal serving for the match. It was too little too late.

For Nadal, it was enough—at least for now.

Nadal and Djokovic’s Charity Match About More Than Tennis

Tennis Now — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:03:26 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Mark Howard

(April 11, 2011) At first I rolled my eyes when I heard the news of the recently announced exhibition to be played between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic on the pitch of the fabled Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.

Why, I thought, would anybody want to try to play tennis in front of 80,000 spectators? And who, I thought, would want to shell out their hard-earned money to see a match that doesn't even count, from a vantage point that more than likely will be much less than desirable?

We hear constant complaints that Arthur Ashe Stadium is too big for tennis viewing, and it holds less than 23,000 spectators. Anybody who has ever spent an evening in the nosebleed seats there surely knows what I'm talking about. If not, imagine trying to find a single flea in the filthy coat of a sheepdog...

Now, imagine tennis at a venue that is four times bigger than Ashe!

Then I realized: that was the skeptic in me talking. Once I took a few moments to do some research on the event, I realized that the charity match between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, to be played on July 14th, has nothing to do with tennis and everything to do with humanity.

Nadal, who set up the Rafael Nadal Foundation in 2007 to help socially discriminated children and teenagers who run the risk of being excluded by society, is committed to providing educational programs to the deprived. As a guy who grinds for much of the year, risking life and limb in the eternal chase for ATP ranking points and Grand Slam titles, it's great that he can take a moment and use some of his well-deserved celebrity to foster a cause that he truly cares about.

And the fact that he's bringing his friend and rival Novak Djokovic into the fold to help is even better.

The event, which will be run jointly by Nadal's foundation and the Real Madrid Foundation (Real Madrid is one of Nadal‘s great obsessions), aims to obliterate tennis's previous attendance record. The current record of 35,681, set by Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams in July 2010, will very likely be doubled by Nadal and Djokovic this summer.

No matter who wins or loses, or how bad a lot of the seats are sure to be, tennis's longstanding tradition of philanthropy will be honored by Nadal and Djokovic in July. That's what matters more than the price of a ticket, the view, or the final score.

Sometimes it's about tennis and only tennis. Most of the time, in fact.

Other times it's about so much more.

Thankfully, our sport has prescient personalities who see -- and embrace -- the bigger picture.

So, if you find yourself rolling your eyes like I did at the sheer gargantuan-ness of the event, just remember: there are lives in the balance. There are children in this world who are in dire need of help. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, dedicated and passionate men that they are, are more than willing to help their collective cause.

We should be immensely proud that our sport's biggest stars want to make a difference.

Visit the Rafael Nadal Foundation for more information.

Triple Threat: Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer

Tennis Now — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 18:48:18 GMT

By Nick Georgandis

Photo by Mark Howard and Tony Chang

NUMBER CRUNCH: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic are still re-writing the record books of tennis, with the Swiss bagging the most Slams (in singles), Nadal dominating the Roland Garros clay, and Djokovic impressing the tour with his winning record in 2011. As they go about their own achievements, something to consider about this exciting time in men's tennis: the three of them together might just be the most dominant concurrent trio in Open Era history.

Since the 2005 French Open, Federer, Djokovic and Nadal have combined to win 27 of the 28 (96%) Grand Slam titles, the lone exception being Juan Martin Del Potro's triumph over Federer at the 2009 US Open -- that's 12 titles for Federer, 10 for Nadal and five for Djokovic.

No three men have ever dominated the ATP like these in the Open Era. The closest by comparison came from 1974-1979 when Sweden's Bjorn Borg, ArgeNtina's Guillermo Vilas and the US' Jimmy Connors racked up 17 out of the 25 (68%) Slams during that span (two Australian Opens in one year makes for the odd number). Borg’s haul tallied eight, Connors five, and Vilas four.

Also impressive is the achievement of Aussie trio Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall and John Newcombe between 1969-1973. Of the 20 Slams held in that timeframe, Laver and Newcombe each won four and Rosewall notched three for a total of 11 (55%). From 1978-1984, the dominant trio was Borg, Connors and John McEnroe. McEnroe and Borg each won seven Slams, and Connors added four for a total of 18 out of 28 possible - 64%.

From 1984-1990, it was a different posse, but almost as dominant: Ivan Lendl (eight), Mats Wilander (four) and Boris Becker (four) combined for 17 out of 28 - 61%.

In the 1990s, it was an American trio that took control - Pete Sampras (11), Andre Agassi (five) and Jim Courier (three) racked up 19 crowns out of a possible 32 (59%). This is the most dominant performance from any one country on the tour.

What has been a relative statistical anomaly for the men over 40 years of the Open Era has been vastly more commonplace for the women of the WTA.

Beginning with the 1969 Australian Open and stretching through to the same event in 1974, Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and Billie Jean King combined to win 19 of 21 Slams - with only Britain's Anny Haydon Jones (1969 Wimbledon) and Virginia Wade (1972 Australian Open) interrupting the streak. Court was the heavy hitter of the era, with 11 wins, followed by King with five and Cawley with three - totalling 90%.

Beginning midway through 1978, the WTA tour became the near-exclusive home of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. From Wimbledon in 1978 through the US Open in 1987 - a span of 37 Slams - Navratilova and Evert won a combined 28: 17 for the Czech and 11 for the American. Add in the four titles won by Hana Mandilkova, and this trio took 21 of 28 crowns (75%).

From the beginning of 1988 until just after the 1994 Australian Open, it was another two-woman wrecking crew demolishting the ladies' tour. Of the 25 Slams played, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles took 14 and 8 titles respectively - 88% of the Slams.

For a shorter period, and with four players in the mix, a bloc of American women thoroughly dominated the Slams. Beginning with Lindsay Davenport's triumph at the 1998 US Open and lasting through to Serena Williams' victory at Wimbledon in 2003, Davenport, Serena, Venus, and a resurgent Jennifer Capriati racked up 16 of the 19 possible Slams (84%), including a stunning 11 straight from Serena's 1999 US Open crown (her first Slam) to her win at the Australian Open in 2003.

The current WTA women haven't formed their alliances; in recent years, the winners' list has included four straight first-time winners beginning with the French Open last spring.

Nadal Forced to Withdraw from Miami Semis

Tennis Now — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:01:47 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Tony Chang/Chang Photography

(March 30, 2012) –Rafael Nadal announced his withdrawal from today’s Sony Ericsson Open semifinals, citing an aggravated left knee that has plagued him over the last few weeks.

The knee flared up during matches with Kei Nishikori and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Nadal had to seek medical attention in both matches before eventually advancing.

As a result, Andy Murray will move on to Sunday’s final, and await the winner of the Novak Djokovic-Juan Monaco semifinal to be played later this evening.

“I am very sorry for the fans,” said a disappointed Nadal, who took the month of February off to rest and recuperate for the meat of the tennis season.

It was not enough.

“I'm very sorry for the tournament,” he added. “I'm very sorry for everybody who was ready to watch the match on the television, for television, for everybody.”

Nadal has been no stranger to knee injuries in the past, and he claims to be familiar with the type of ailment he’s suffering. “I have problems on the left knee,” he said during a media conference in which he announced the withdrawal. “I have to go to doctor, but looks like [it] is nothing really different that happen a few times in the past.”

In spite of the injury, and its recurring nature, Nadal doesn’t feel that making a full recovery before the clay court season begins should be a problem.

“I know what to do to get better quick, and that's what we're gonna try,” he said. The 25-year-old plans to head home to see his doctor in the next twenty-four hours. “I will be working hard to be back quick on court, and to play my best in Monte‑Carlo.”

Brad Gilbert believes that Nadal’s withdraw won’t plague his quest for a record seventh French Open title this spring. “I think that’s something that he’ll learn to have to deal with the rest of his career—managing himself,” said Gilbert during ESPN’s coverage this afternoon. “I think he’s got about 18 to 20 days to get ready for Monte Carlo because he’ll even have a bye in that. He really knows about this tendinitis now, it’s something that he’s been dealing with for a long time, but obviously when he does play on a hardcourt it is a big concern for him.”

Nadal will benefit from the fact that there are no hardcourt events between now and mid-summer, and he will also benefit from his belief that, in spite of their current state, he’s knees are in far better shape than they were in three years ago.

“The tendons are much better today than three years ago. The treatments worked fantastic,” said Nadal, who missed the chance to defend his Wimbledon title in 2009 when he had to undergo treatment for similar problems.

“In 2009 I really compete, but compete in very bad conditions a lot of times,” he said. “For the last couple of years, 2010, 2011, I was able to compete with perfect conditions for almost all the year.”

“This year I started well with no problems. Today is bad news, but that's the sport. We cannot expect playing as much as we play, to be perfect every day of our life.”

Nadal Squeaks by Tsonga in Thrilling Night Match

Tennis Now — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:51:40 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Mark Howard

(March 28, 2012)—Rafael Nadal and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made their tenth career match a perfect ten.

The two-hour, fifty-minute affair came in like a lamb but went out like a lion, with a grimacing Nadal holding on for dear life as Tsonga’s last-ditch forehand found the tape on the Spaniard’s third match point.

“Probably wasn’t one of my best matches, but I am through,” said Nadal.

Nadal’s 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory sets up a semifinal with Andy Murray on Saturday.

It looked like it was going to be a short night for the Spaniard, but it turned out to be a lot longer than he would have preferred.

Nadal broke in the first game of the match, after Tsonga tried an ill-advised drop shot off a deep Nadal return at deuce.

Tsonga continued to struggle, and when he failed to convert on two break points in the fourth game of the first set he ended up muttering to himself like a vagrant who wanders the streets in search of stray cats to take in.

Soon after, the Frenchman handed Nadal a break opportunity by double-faulting at 30-30, and quickly found himself down 4-1.

Tsonga made 17 errors in the first set, hit only six winners, and won only two of eleven second serve points.

In the second it looked like it was going to be more of the same.

Tsonga saved a break point in the first game of the second set with some fine serving, but a persistent Nadal kept the pressure on, breaking Tsonga in the fifth game with a perfectly placed topspin return that forced an error from the net-rushing Frenchman.

But Tsonga wouldn’t relent. He kept forcing the issue with big forehands, crazy forays to the net (some worked, some didn’t) and huge serves to keep him within striking distance. All the while Nadal was playing great defense, moving the ball all around the court and allowing Tsonga to beat himself.

But the Frenchman got wise to Nadal’s passive approach, and soon started to take the play to Nadal. Even after failing to convert on break points in the sixth and eighth games of the second set, Tsonga kept pushing, and when Nadal double-faulted at 15-30 while serving for the match, the Frenchman had his window.

“I had a few mistakes,” said Nadal. “5-4 serving for the match, my serve didn’t work well. Against a big player like Jo, you cannot have these types of mistakes.”

An error by Nadal let the Frenchman draw even, and after he held to go up 6-5, Tsonga earned another break point then smashed a forehand winner off Nadal’s second serve to force a third set.

In the third the chaos continued.

Tsonga was down 15-40 in the first game of the decider, but wiggled out of trouble by punching a volley down the line to nullify the first break point. He then hammered a 130 mph ace on the next to stay on serve.

Nadal, who had to have his ailing left knee rubbed on multiple occasions during changeovers during the set, fought off a Tsonga break point attempt in the sixth game, coming to the net to knock off a winner.

Nadal scored the decisive break in the ninth game and took the balls to serve for the match a second time.

In a hotly contested final game that featured two break points saved by Nadal and two match points saved by Tsonga, Nadal finally closed it out when the Frenchman’s forehand couldn’t climb over the net cord on Nadal’s third match point.

Rafael Nadal: 'I Love Golf'

Tennis Now — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 23:33:05 GMT

By Nick Georgandis Photo by Mark Howard

(March 27, 2012) Michael Jordan once quit basketball for baseball; Jim Brown left football to become an actor; and Wilt Chamberlain even tried professional volleyball for a while -- a really terrible while.

What about the tennis pros? Could Rafa ever consider leaving his racquet behind for a bag of golf clubs?

In a recent interview with The Miami Herald, Nadal revealed his growing passion for golf.

"I love the game of golf in general, no?" Nadal said. "I was watching all the afternoon the last round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational."

The relevation that the game's No. 2 player spent all afternoon watching golf probably doesn't sit well with Radek Stepanek, who was his opponent Sunday night. Knowing that Nadal is strong enough to whip you 6-2, 6-2 after watching five hours of television isn't exactly a confidence-builder.

Some of Nadal's least favorite things about tennis seem to draw him more and more to golf.

"Golf is great, because you are always in beautiful places when you are playing," Nadal said. Is that a veiled insult at some of tennis' less-glamorous locations? (We're looking at you, Cincinnati.)

As the bearer of more than a few war wounds from tennis, Nadal also likes golf's relative lack of wear and tear on the body. “The risk for injury, as you know, is very small,” he said.

While it might seem that pro tennis players can seldom focus on much else aside from training for matches, golf has a passionate following on the ATP tour - with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Mardy Fish all certified fanatics.

At this week's Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, Nadal defeated Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-4 in the fourth round on Tuesday and will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarters. They share the bottom half with Andy Murray and Janko Tipsarevic.

Nadal Resigns from ATP Player Council

Tennis Now — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:18:50 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Mark Howard

(March 26, 2012) –Several sources—including Daniel Kaplan of the Sports Business Journal and Christopher Clarey of the New York Times—are reporting that Rafael Nadal has resigned from his position as the Vice-President of the ATP’s Player Council. The Council, which includes 10 different past and present players from varying backgrounds and two alumni, delivers advisory decisions to the ATP’s Board of Directors on matters that directly affect the sport.

Simon Briggs of the London Telegraph is reporting that Nadal’s resignation has more to do with his vision of a two-year ranking system, which would allow top players more time to rest without losing their ranking in the process, than anything else.

But Nadal has yet to make an official statement to the press.

"It's a protection for the players who are injured, that will not last until the end of their careers," said Nadal, in an interview with dpa last year. "It's true that when you get injured today with the one-year ranking you can go up faster, but you also have to comeback from No. 700 in the world, like what happened to Del Potro. It's more important not to have to come back and to play with less pressure when returning."

Roger Federer’s views on the matter strongly contrast with Nadal’s, and many are speculating now that the disparity was Rafa’s main reason for stepping down. “I’m not a big fan of it, just because I think it would make things rather boring,” said Federer, when asked about the issue prior to the ATP’s World Tour Finals last November. “But that’s my personal feeling. Other than that, as the president of the Player Council I think it’s not a good thing for the lower-ranked players to be quite honest.”

Nadal Pulls Away from Stepanek, Isner Mauled by Mayer

Tennis Now — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:18:32 GMT

By Chris Oddo Photo Credit: Michael Regan/ Getty

(March 24, 2012)-- He's never won Miami, and he's been held without a title since June of last year, but judging from the way he's played so far, he looks like the man to beat at the Sony Ericsson Open.

Rafael Nadal, a three-time finalist at this event, was dominating at times and downright scary at others, as he raced to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over 33-year-old Radek Stepanek in third round action.

"Two good matches, comfortable wins. So happy to be in the fourth round," said a contented Nadal.

His night didn't start out easy, however.

After four games and 24 minutes of back and forth action, Nadal and Stepanek were even at two games apiece. Nadal looked a little out of sorts in the wind, and Stepanek appeared to be ready to push him.

Not so fast.

From there, the 10-time Grand Slam champion found his groove, taking the next seven games on the trot, including closing out the first set with an impressive eight consecutive points.

Stepanek, who tried everything he could to break Nadal's rhythm, finally notched a pair of consecutive holds to climb within 4-2 in the second set. But it was too litle too late. Nadal's fourth break of the evening ended Stepanek's campaign in eighty-six minutes, but not before the eclectic Czech displayed some of his trademark soft hands and quirky personality to the Miami tennis faithful.

Nadal will face Kei Nishikori in the round of 16.

In the final match of the evening, world No. 10 John Isner was trounced by Florian Mayer, 6-4, 6-2.

With the top American ranking spot on the line, the performance was surprisingly lackluster from Isner.

After saving the first seven break points he faced, Isner lost his traction on the eighth, surrending a break to Mayer in the 9th game.

Mayer then coolly served out the set and broke Isner for good measure to start the second when the American buried a half-hearted attempt at a drop shot into the bottom of the net.

Looking more and more lethargic by the minute, Isner seemed to finally be showing the effects of all the intense tennis he has played in the last two weeks. The Indian Wells finalist had nothing left to offer down the stretch, and Mayer, sensing the big man's vulnerability, poured it on, reeling off one sensational shot after another.

Mayer advances to the fourth round and will face Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga next.

Federer, Nadal In Different Sections of Miami Draw

Tennis Now — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:38:48 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Tony Chang/Chang Photography

(March 19, 2012) – Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will play in opposite halves of the draw at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

The draw ceremony, held earlier today, revealed that Federer will play in Novak Djokovic’s half of the draw, while Nadal will play in Andy Murray’s half.

Federer, who will attempt to achieve his third career Indian Wells-Miami sweep this year (2005, 2006), might have the easiest trip to the semifinals ahead of him, as slumping American Mardy Fish is the next-highest seed in his quarter.

Federer could face young American Ryan Harrison in the second round and Andy Roddick in the third.

Djokovic, the defending champion, could be challenged by Juan Martin Del Potro and David Ferrer in his quarter.

Murray who could face Milos Raonic in the third round, would face Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals if the seeds held, and Nadal could face either Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or John Isner in the quarterfinals.

Chilean Fernando Gonzalez will open his last ATP World Tour appearance against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut. Gonzalez, a former World No. 5 and Australian Open finalist, has elected to retire after a 13-year professional career.

American James Blake will face Nikolay Davydenko in the first round, while Sam Querrey will face Matthew Ebden of Australia.

Wildcard Ryan Harrison, who has never won a match in Miami, will face Italian Potito Starace in the first round, with Federer awaiting him in the second.

For a more complete analysis of the Miami women's draw, read Tennis Now's Sony Ericsson Open Digital Magazine Preview coming out later this week.

Federer Takes Down Nadal With A Bullet

Tennis Now — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 10:43:44 GMT

By Chris Oddo Photo Credit: Tony Chang

(March 17, 2012)—There was Roger Federer, painfully close to taking out his arch nemesis Rafael Nadal, having to sit down and think about it for a while.

Not exactly what he wanted, but he used the time productively.

Federer came out of his chair to nail an ace after a brief rain delay, sealing his 6-3, 6-4 victory over the Spaniard in windy, sometimes wet conditions at the BNP Paribas Open.

With the win Federer now leads the hardcourt head-to-head with Nadal at 6-5.

“It felt like ten,” said Federer of the less-than-five minute rain delay.

Federer’s victory over Nadal is his tenth in 28 tries, and it marks the first time he has beaten his rival on an outdoor hard court since 2005.

“It was a great match under tough conditions,” said Federer. “Man I couldn’t be more happy. Against Rafa it’s always special – he’s a great champion.”

Unlike their last meeting (won by Nadal in four sets at the 2012 Australian Open in January), Nadal had trouble dominating points with his forehand. Refusing to deviate from the script, the world No. 2 continued to serve to the Federer backhand even though Federer seemed to have an answer every time.

It’s a gameplan that’s worked before for Nadal, but Federer was just too good today.

Federer took the early lead in the match, using a wide-angle topspin backhand to draw the Nadal error for his first break in the second game. After Nadal broke back in the fifth game, Federer struck the decisive blow in the eighth, earning a break point on a backhand cross-court winner, then goading the backhand error on the next point to go up 5-3.

Federer held to love, closing out the set with a dropshot that Nadal didn’t even bother to chase.

He then broke Nadal to love in the third game of the second set; and again in the seventh to claim the double-break lead.

Nadal, finally finding the range on his forehand, answered back with an authoritative break of serve. He then tried to strike again in Federer’s last service game, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Nadal got to 15-30 but the Swiss won the last three points to finish the win.

A happy Federer will seek to tie Nadal tomorrow when he goes for his 19^th career Masters title.

Nadal, Federer to Meet in Indian Wells Semis

Tennis Now — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:50:36 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Tony Chang / Chang Photography

(March 16, 2012) -- Rafael Nadal and David Nalbandian made up for every bit of drama that the match between Roger Federer and Juan Martin Del Potro lacked on Friday, as Nadal advanced to his seventh straight Indian Wells semifinal with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 win over ornery Argentine David Nalbandian.

Also see: Federer-Nadal By the Numbers

Nalbandian was on the cusp of what would have been a monumental upset, but couldn't close out the second set when he was two points from victory, with Nadal serving at 4-5, 15-30.

Nadal, who hit 30 errors and 39 unforced errors on the day, rallied to take the second set, and he never trailed in a third set that became very tense at the finish.

Nalbandian found second wind to rally back from 5-2 down in the third, but after the 30-year-old earned two break point chances while down 5-4, the ever resourceful Nadal won four points in a row, closing the affair with a brilliant drop shot at the 2:39 mark.

Federer had a much easier go of it. Once again the Swiss Maestro went to work on Del Potro's mobility, moving the big man around on the court as if he were pawn on a chess board, 6-3, 6-2.

Federer has now taken 11 consecutive sets from an otherwise perfect-on-the- year Del Potro. It was his fourth win of the year against the man who defeated him in the 2009 US Open final in five sets.

It was Del Potro who actually threatened to take the early lead, with two break points in the first game of the match, but after Del Potro challenged a bad line call with Federer serving on deuce, chaos struck.

Hawk-Eye was unavailable due to an Internet-related glitch, and even though Del Potro was right to challenge, he lost the point anyway. Visibly upset, he was never the same.

It may have been the bad call, an all around bad day, or it may have been Federer being Federer that made the difference.

Federer held, broke the Argentine in the next game, and didn't surrender another break point all day.

The 30-year-old's biggest resistance might have come from a moth that nearly flew into his face as he shanked a backhand in the early part of the second set. The moth drew the ire of the 16-time Grand Slam champion, but a non-threatening Del Potro did not.

The win gives Federer a milestone 250th Masters victory, his 13th consecutive victory, and his 20th win of the year.

He will face Rafael Nadal tomorrow for the 28th time.

Federer-Nadal, By the Numbers

Tennis Now — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:18:29 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images

After a pair of quarterfinal victories today at the BNP Paribas Open, iconic rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are set to clash for the 28th time.

Here’s a number-by-number, blow-by-blow account of the rivalry as it stands today.

Saturday will be the first Nadal-Federer match to be played at Indian Wells. It will also be the duo's first in an American city other than Miami.

18-9

Two for Nadal, one for Federer. What are the odds that Federer wins the next nine in a row?

1729

Number of days between their birthdays. Both Federer and Nadal were born on Tuesdays, with Federer older by nearly 5 years.

20,158,530 Combined Facebook likes between the pair, as of Friday evening. The number is growing steadily. It was 18,728,385 in the days prior to their last meeting at the Australian Open. Federer currently holds a slim 100,732 lead, but Rafa is gaining on him steadily, as the lead was over 400,000 in January.

1380

Combined tour level wins by the pair. Federer has 826, Nadal 554.

118

Total titles held by the pair, of which Federer owns 72.

Number of hard court matches Federer and Nadal have played. The pair have played to a 5-5 record on hard courts, but Rafa owns the two wins they played on hard courts in Slams.

Number of tiebreaks they’ve played. The pair are tied, 10-10. Federer has the only shutout in a tiebreaker – he blanked Nadal 7-0 in the first set tiebreaker of the Rome final in 2006. Federer also won the only tiebreaker that went past seven points, when he took the 4^th set of their 2008 Wimbledon final, 10-8 in the tiebreak.

Total number of sets the pair has played. Nadal has won 53 and Federer has won 36.

1309

Distance, in kilometers, between their hometowns, Basel, Switzerland and Manacor, Spain.

115,024,173

Combined ATP prize money earnings, in dollars, between them. Federer has earned $68, 723, 311 and Nadal $46,300,862. In case you’re wondering, Saturday’s winner will bag an extra $300,000.

Number of winner-take-all sets they have played. Nadal has won 6, Federer 5.

Number of 5th sets they’ve played. Nadal has won 3, Federer 2.

Number of total bagels in their 26 matches. Three for Federer and one for Nadal.

On Tap: Only Argentina Stands Between a Federer-Nadal Semi

Tennis Now — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:47:25 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Natasha Peterson/Corleve

(March 16, 2012) -- The two most loved and revered players of their generation, and arguably of all-time, will take the court with the purpose of forcing the twenty-eighth installment of their rivalry today. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will be the heavy favorites in their respective BNP Paribas Open quarterfinal matches, but attempting to block their paths are a couple of Argentines who’d like nothing more than to pull a double upset that would surely reverberate back home in South America.

It should be a fine Friday for tennis—here’s a preview of what’s in store:

Federer vs. Del Potro, 1:00 Pacific Time

Federer leads head-to-head 10-2

Federer has been the thorn in Del Potro’s side ever since the big man shocked the world by notching back-to-back wins in the 2009 US Open final and the ATP World Tour finals a few months later. But Federer took the power back when Del Potro returned from wrist surgery, and since then he’s toyed with him, winning nine consecutive sets against the Tower of Tandil.

But in the Dubai semifinal, Delpotro pushed Federer to tiebreakers in each set. If it’s any indication, the steadily improving Argentine could be ready to break through and actually take a set. If that happens then we might have ourselves a thriller.

Federer, meanwhile, is a three-time Indian Wells champion who hasn’t won the tournament since 2006. He’s won thirty-six of his last thirty-eight matches, losing only to Nadal in Australia and John Isner in Davis Cup.

To beat him, Del Potro will have to serve well and take control of as many points as he can. And when he does he’ll have to hit his spots. This rivalry peaked in 2009, when Del Potro pushed Federer to five sets in the Roland Garros semis, then pulled the miracle in New York later in the year.

It’s about time that they played another thriller, and what better place for that than Indian Well?

Nadal vs. Nalbandian, Next Match, Not Before 3:00 Pacific Time

Nadal leads head-to-head 3-2

Roger Federer apparently isn’t the only thirty-year-old that can still make some noise at the Masters events. David Nalbandian, currently ranked No. 74 in the world, but coming off a confidence-building upset of No. 6-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the round of 16, will take the court against Rafael Nadal in today’s second semifinal.

Nadal and Nalbandian played one of the most memorable matches in recent years at Indian Wells, when in the 2009 round of 16, Nalbandian misfired on 5 match points in the second set. He paid dearly for that, eventually getting bageled by Nadal in the third set, and he’s never beaten the Spaniard again.

In spite of losing three straight to Nadal, Nalbandian still matches up pretty well with the 10-time Grand Slam champion. He seems to not be bothered by Nadal’s high-bouncing topspin as much other players, and he’s also exhibited the ability to outmaneuver Nadal in rallies, something that very few people can do.

But as good as Nalbandian plays, it’s likely that his age will catch up with him at some point in this match. And even if it doesn’t, the fine form of Rafael Nadal—who has won all fourteen sets he’s played this year at Indian Wells (six singles and eight doubles), is a two-time champion and is bidding to reach his seventh straight BNP Paribas Open semifinals—likely will.

Rafael Nadal fan trades faceplant for hug

Tennis Now — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:16:57 GMT

By Nick Georgandis

If you're the biggest Rafael Nadal fan around, is it worth a hug from your favorite player to fall flat on your face in front of thousands of fellow fans?

It was at least to one fan at Indian Wells, who while pursuing a tennis ball lobbed into the crowd by Nadal, took a nasty misstep, tripped over the court bumper and went face first onto the sidelines.

Nadal visibly cringed as he watched the fan eat turf, then followed two stadium workers over to make sure the man was all right and proceeded to give the fellow a hug.

Nadal Skit On French TV Earns Boos and Lawsuits

Tennis Now — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:26:01 GMT

By Erik Gudris

(February 8th, 2012) First it was former French Open champion Yannick Noah getting into hot water over his comments about Spanish tennis players but now it's French television channel Canal + that is under fire for a skit using a puppet of Rafael Nadal that is generating more boos than laughs.

During a recent airing of the show Les Guignols, or The Puppets, a puppet of Nadal is shown walking into a gas station shop to buy a bottle of a water which he drinks before stepping outside to fill up his car's gas tank with his bladder. Nadal is then pulled over by police for speeding after which a logo of the Spanish Tennis Federation flashes on screen with the words "Spanish Athletes. They do not win by chance."

After the skit was shown, it prompted an immediate outcry from the Spanish Tennis Federation who plans to sue the channel for inappropriate use of its logo while the International Tennis Federation denounced the "unfounded insinuations" of the program saying that the skit went against the ITF's efforts to stop doping and other illegal drug use within the sport. The ITF is also asking that the video be removed and for the channel to issue an apology "to all Spanish players who have been wrongly implicated".

The skit was introduced on the program with the news about Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador was banned from the sport for two years after failing a doping test during the 2010 Tour de France, an announcement that Nadal himself protested against on his own Twitter account.

The video was pulled down from You Tube but is still viewable on Marca.com, a Spanish news website.

Federer Suits Up While Djokovic and Nadal Sit Out Davis Cup

Tennis Now — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:18:58 GMT

By Erik Gudris Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

(February 3^rd, 2012) One hopes that Spain had a chance to sing “We Are The Champions” to celebrate their fifth Davis Cup title over Argentina back in December because it’s time again for teams to put on their nation’s colors and do battle in this year’s competition starting next weekend. But even with this being an Olympic year, some of the sport’s biggest stars may not appear on their country’s rosters until well after the Summer Games conclude in July.

One star who is definitely putting on his team jacket next weekend is Roger Federer who despite his recent track record of skipping duty for Switzerland is scheduled to play for his homeland against the U.S.A. when the teams meet in Fribourg. Along with his Olympic gold medal doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka, Federer will lead the Swiss who are slight favorites over the U.S. that will be without usual Davis Cup go-to guy Andy Roddick who continues to recover from a hamstring injury suffered in Melbourne last month. Also missing will be Bob Bryan of the Bryan Brothers doubles team as he is staying home to adjust to his new role as father after his wife just gave birth to their new daughter. That leaves Mardy Fish, John Isner, Mike Bryan and young American hope Ryan Harrison with the responsibility of keeping America in the World Group after their early round loss to Spain in Austin last year.

With their near six-hour final in Melbourne still making headlines, it’s not a huge surprise that Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will be sitting out next weekend despite their recent success in Davis Cup ties. Spain, lead by Nicolas Almagro and Juan Carlos Ferrero, will be looking to extend their record 21-0 unbeaten home run as they meet Kazakhstan in Oviedo, Spain while 2010 champion Serbia faces Sweden. Janko Tipsarevic leads the Serbs against Sweden who will be without their biggest star Robin Soderling as he continues to recover from mono.

Andy Murray will also be sitting on the sidelines even though his Great Britain team squares off against Slovakia on Murray’s home turf of Glasgow in a Europe/Africa Group 1 tie. Murray said in a statement, “I’m gutted to miss out on the Davis Cup having really enjoyed playing last year, but as it’s only the start of an important season, which includes the Olympics in London, it’s probably a sensible decision.”

Probably the most anticipated tie is the one between the “young guns” of Canada and the experienced French team who will meet in Vancouver. Rising stars Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil raised some eyebrows and earned some laughs as they both appeared in posters promoting the event that featured some clever trash talking against the French with Raonic saying “Hey France, I’ve got a 151 m.p.h. serve. Try returning that with a baguette.” while Pospisil was shown saying "Hey France, Welcome to Vancouver. My hometown and your worst nightmare." The Canadians are hoping a loud and excited crowd will create a hockey game like atmosphere that will give them an edge as they face the deep French team consisting of Michael Llodra, Gael Monfils, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The rest of the ties in the World Group during the weekend of February 10^th through the 12^th feature Austria vs. Russia, Czech Republic vs. Italy, Japan vs. Croatia and Germany vs. last year’s runner-up Argentina.

Wordplay Day 14: Quotes From Djokovic-Nadal

Tennis Now — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:26:59 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson / Corleve

Also see:
Day 1 Quotes
Day 3 Quotes
Day 4 Quotes
Day 5 Quotes
Day 6 Quotes
Day 7 Quotes
Day 8 Quotes
Day 9 Quotes
Day 10 Quotes
Day 11 Quotes
Day 12 Quotes
Day 13 Quotes

From Nadal:

“Is something unbelievable how he returns, no? His return probably is one of the best of the history. That's my opinion, no? I never played against a player who's able to return like this. Almost every time.” – Rafael Nadal, on Novak Djokovic’s world-class return game.

“I had in 2011 all these mental problems. Today I didn't have.” – Nadal, on his mind state during the final.

“Too long. Highlights only.” Nadal, on whether he’d watch the final on videotape in the future.

“So when you are fit, when you are, you know, with passion for the game, when you are ready to compete, you are able to suffer and enjoy suffering, no?” Nadal, on the grueling nature of the final, which lasted 5:53.

“So I just lost the final of a Grand Slam. I am not happy to lose the final, yes, but that's one of the losses that I am more happy in my career.” – Nadal, on taking the positives from the loss.

“So that's another positive thing. Probably never say that many positive things after I lose.” – Nadal, on how he was encouraged by how close the match was.

“For me it was a little bit more special the 2008 (smiling). But I really understand that was a really special match, and probably a match that gonna be in my mind not because I lost, no, because the way that we played.” – Nadal, when asked to compare this final with his other epic, the 2008 Wimbledon final.

From Djokovic:

“I think it's probably the longest finals in the history of all Grand Slams, and just to hear that fact is making me cry, really.” – Novak Djokovic, on the longest Grand Slam final in the history of tennis.

“We live for these matches. We work every day. We're trying to dedicate all our life to this sport to come to the situation where we play six hour match for a Grand Slam title.” – Djokovic, on how he could get through such a grueling match.

“Well, if that's the way, you know, then I guess I will have to go through it. I will have to accept it the way it is.” – Djokovic, when asked if he really wanted to repeat his 2011 dominance, now that he knows how tough it’s going to be.

“So I want to do well and I want to get the first final at least in Paris, you know. I have never been in finals there, and I have a feeling that I'm ready this year to achieve that.” – Djokovic, on his next priority.

“Oh, yes, very pleased. I think we both were.” – Djokovic, on being thankful that tournament staff were kind enough to bring chairs out for the players during the award ceremony.

“I don't know. Food is not on my mind right now.” – Djokovic, when asked if breakfast would factor into his victory celebration.

Djokovic Earns AO Title Over Nadal in Instant Classic.

Tennis Now — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:54:14 GMT

By Erik Gudris Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

(January 29, 2012) From a ragged start to a classic finish, the Australian Open Men’s Final in Melbourne became part of tennis history as Novak Djokovic defended his title over Rafael Nadal in five extended sets that earned the match the distinction of being the longest Grand Slam men’s final in the Open Era.

Momentum shifted multiple times during this instant classic, but it was the first set that provided the clues to what would be the overall narrative in this the 30^th meeting between the two men. The two questions asked early on were how would Djokovic’s body hold up after his five set battle with Andy Murray in the semifinals and how would Nadal hold up mentally after losing six straight times to Djokovic.

The first set was a mess all around from Djokovic’s sartorial choices (going from a white to a black shirt that didn’t quite match the rest of his kit), seagull feathers falling onto the court and from both men struggling to find their games for the opening 80 minutes. Nadal should have wrapped up the first set early on after Djokovic dropped serve at 3-2 but then Nadal failed to hold serve later allowing Djokovic to catch him at 4-all. Nadal, hitting bigger first serves than he had in previous encounters with Djokovic, broke again and finally closed out the set 7-5 but not without another struggle in his service game.

Holding serve for Nadal became his biggest test for the next two sets as Djokovic used his return game to put more pressure on the Spaniard. After going up an early break, Djokovic looked in command of the set as he went up 5-2, but Nadal, after holding serve, responded in the next game with a forehand winner and then a nervy volley to set up a break point which he converted after Djokovic double faulted. But then Nadal returned the favor as he double faulted away the set on his own service game. With Djokovic cutting down on his errors and winning most of the longer rallies, the Serb went up an early break in the third set before racing away with it 6-2.

By then, it seemed the match was in Djokovic’s hands. But Nadal responded by playing more aggressively especially with his forehand that saw him smack several 100 mph winners. Despite that, Djokovic punched his way to opening a 0-40 lead on Nadal’s serve at 3-4. But Nadal responded with more aggression to hold for 4-4. After a rain delay forced play to be halted for 15 minutes until the roof was closed, both men returned and held serve until a tiebreak was necessary to decide it. Even with Djokovic looking slightly fatigued, he surged to a 5-3 lead before Nadal, urging himself on at every point, got even with Djokovic and then served out the fourth set to the delight of the crowd.

With Djokovic looking physically done, the momentum now appeared to be on Nadal’s side as he began holding serve with ease while Djokovic continued to spray shots from both sides. After breaking Djokovic to go up 4-2, Nadal had a chance to put the match away almost when in the next game he lined up a backhand down the line pass at 30-0. But Nadal just missed sending the ball wide.

This lapse from Nadal revived Djokovic who went on to break Nadal for 4-3. After playing an extended 30 shot rally that earned both men a standing ovation in the next game, Djokovic held for 4-all and now it was Djokovic who once again became the aggressor while Nadal reverted back to playing more defensively. At 5-all, Djokovic capitalized on a second break point when a Nadal slice backhand landed in the net.

Now serving for the match after over five hours of play, Djokovic went up 30-0, before tired errors from him brought Nadal back into at 30-all. Nadal forced another break point at 30-40 that Djokovic saved by hitting a huge crosscourt forehand out of Nadal’s reach. At deuce, Djokovic looked up at the sky and crossed himself while begging for two more points. Djokovic got his wish as he won the first off of a Nadal backhand that landed in the net and then finally on match point when Djokovic hit a big serve down the middle of the court setting up a forehand winner for him that sealed the 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 victory and his third Australian Open title.

For a match that became an instant classic, it seemed appropriate that tennis legend Rod Laver was on hand to present both Djokovic and Nadal their trophies marking a fitting end to a now historic two weeks in Melbourne. Djokovic now joins Laver along with Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in winning three Majors in a row.

Wordplay: The Best Tweets And Quotes From Djokovic-Nadal

Tennis Now — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:37:56 GMT

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson / Corleve

(January 29, 2012)

Also see:

“Azarenka looks like she's sweating more in the stands tonight than she did in final set versus Sharapova.” – Christopher Clarey, tennis writer for the NY Times, Via Twitter.

“Zzzzzzzzzz. Speed it up boys. They're going to start running 30-second ads between points next time.” – Stephanie Myles, tennis blogger for the Montreal Gazette, via Twitter.

“Believe we've already surpassed time of women's final...” – Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim, commenting on the length of the first set, via Twitter. .

“Nadal and Djokovic the No 1 trending top in the world. Take that Bieber.” – James LaRosa, Tennis Channel blogger, via Twitter.

“As Martina Navratilova said, "Novak Djokovic is the drama king." – Jon Scott, Daily Spin writer for Tennis.com, via Twitter.

“This is redefining what’s supposed to be physically possible.” – Chris Fowler, ESPN, at 5-5 in the 5^th set.

“Can we come up with a way where someone doesn’t have to lose this.” Patrick McEnroe, ESPN, as Rafa served to save a break point at 5-5 in the 5^th set.

“A new definition…of suffering.” – Chris Fowler, ESPN, as Novak Djokovic celebrated his 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5 victory.

“And now Nadal and Djokovic will answer questions from adjacent stretchers...” – Tom Perotta, tennis writer, via Twitter.

“That was PRIMAL.” – Doug Robson, USA Today tennis scribe, after the final, via Twitter

“Thank you Novak, thank you Rafa – that’s why we love the sport.” – Chris Fowler, ESPN, post-match.

“No words for the match...the level of tennis is getting higher and higher...Congratz to both @DjokerNole & @RafaelNadal ..True champions.” – Janko Tipsarevic, via Twitter.

“Game, set, unmatched...two champions, Djokovic wins.” – Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim, via Twitter.

“For a man who has won and won and won for most of his life, Rafael Nadal knows how to lose.” – Tom Perotta, tennis writer, via Twitter.

“Think we all need T-shirts that say 'I survived AO Final 2012.’” – Erik Gudris, Tennis Now writer, reflecting on the final.

Djokovic Streak Over Nadal Continues In Historic Final

Tennis Now — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:03:07 GMT

By Robert Martin

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson / Corleve

(January 29, 2012) A Grand Slam final would not be complete without some history associated with it. Not only were Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal playing in their third consecutive Grand Slam final, an Open Era record, but they set another record for the longest men’s final in history.

In a match that was defined not by the shotmaking of each player, but by determination and unwillingness to lose, there is nothing that can take away from the record 5 hour 53 minute contest between Djokovic and Nadal. In the end, it was the exhausted Serb that would find those few extra points that would carry him to a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 victory.

Entering the match with a full day of rest less than Nadal, the question was whether or not Djokovic would be in any way recovered to take on the physical brutality associated with squaring off against the Spaniard. It was up and down throughout the match, but at the crucial times, Djokovic was just a fraction sharper than his opponent.

A short rain delay late in the fourth set led to Nadal leveling the match after willing himself to capture the tiebreak. Entering the fifth set after 4 hours 39 minutes, it was obvious that Djokovic was struggling with his legs, frequently stretching between points and lacking the explosiveness in his movement.

Nadal looked to have the momentum and the match in hand when he broke to go up 4-2 in the decisive set, but a key error opened the door for Djokovic to break back. With no fifth-set tiebreak allowed at the Australian Open, Djokovic began trying to find a way to close the match out as quickly as possible, and got his wish when he broke serve against Nadal again to give himself the chance to serve it out at 6-5.

It was this final game that would see Djokovic pleading to the heavens to let the match end, asking for, “Just one more point.” With a final serve down the middle and an easy midcourt forehand winner, Djokovic fell to the ground as the repeat Australian Open champion.

This was not a surprising result when looking back at the match, but the course of events definitely featured more twists than the numbers indicate. In the end, it was the return of Djokovic that was the deciding factor, and despite only converting 35 percent of his break opportunities, Nadal was unable to recover from facing 20 break points on his serve.

With the repeat win in Australia, Djokovic will head to Roland Garros as the holder of three majors with his eyes on the one that has so far eluded him. The nearly automatic champion, Nadal, will look forward to exacting revenge on the Serbian, but seven straight losses still seems to be in his head.

Djokovic-Nadal, By the Numbers

Tennis Now — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:55:08 GMT

By: Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson / Corleve

(January 28, 2012) When Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal contest their third consecutive Grand Slam final this evening, it will be an Open Era record.

If Nadal loses, another more infamous record will be set: Nadal will become the first man to lose three consecutive Grand Slam finals in the Open Era.

Here’s a number-by-number, blow-by-blow account of the rivalry as it stands today.

Number of player to have reached all four Grand Slam finals multiple times in the Open Era. (Nadal, Agassi, Federer, Lendl, Rosewall)

Consecutive finals won by Djokovic over Nadal.

Grand Slam matches that the duo has contested. Nadal leads 5-2, having won the first five and lost the last two.

2,300,000

Amount, in Australian dollars, to be awarded to the winner.

Number of times that Djokovic has retired from a Grand Slam match while facing Nadal. Djokovic retired from the 2006 French Open due to a bad back, and 2007 Wimbledon due to infected blisters on his toe.

7,768,436

More likes from Facebook fans for Rafael Nadal. Nadal leads Djokovic 9,236,372, to 1,467,372.

950

Combined tour level wins by the pair. Djokovic has 400, Nadal 550.

Total titles held by the pair, of which Nadal owns 48.

Number of hard court matches Djokovic and Nadal have played. Djokovic owns a 10-5 record vs. Nadal on hard courts, including the last four.

Number of tiebreaks they’ve played. Nadal owns the edge, 6-2. Nadal has also won the only tiebreak the pair has contested in a Grand Slam.

983

Distance, in miles, between their hometowns, Belgrade, Serbia and Manacor, Spain.

Number of players who have won their 11^th Grand Slam title before their 26^th birthday (Borg, Federer). Nadal is seeking to become the third tonight.

Number of 5th sets they’ve played.

Number of total bagels in their 29 matches.

players in the history of tennis who have been in more Grand Slam finals that Rafael Nadal, who’ll be playing in his 15^th tonight. (Federer, Lendl, Sampras, Laver, Borg, Rosewall)