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Rafael Nadal

US Open: Rafael v Roddick and more…

by the Abbot on September 9, 2011

in Tennis

U.S. Open action really heats up today & onward with a good number of top seeds through into the quarter-finals.

Rafael Nadal should kick the surprising Andy Roddick’s butt all over the court…if for no other reason than Roddick took a grueling 37 games to get past Rafa’s Spanish buddy David Ferrer, whereas Rafa himself didn’t need nearly as long to dispatch Gilles Muller from Luxembourg.

Roger Federer eliminated the pesky Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to earn himself a date with Novak Djokovic on Saturday. Roger’s going to be a sentimental favourite, but Djoko, at 64-2 this year, will prevail, we think.

In the women’s draw, the semis are set with Caroline Wozniacki v Serena Williams playing the winner of Sam Stosur v Angelique Kerber. Stosur’s looking great this week after finishing off world #2 Vera Zvonareva in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.

Best Player predicts this:

  • a Nadal-Djokovic final with Djoko taking it in 4 sets
  • Stosur v Serena final – Stosur in a 3rd-set tiebreak

 

Tagged as: Andy Roddick, Caroline Wozniacki, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams

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U.S. Open – who’s through?

by the Abbot on September 1, 2011

in Tennis

Andy Roddick (below) and the rest of the big boys are through round 1 of the U.S. Open. So far, the tournament is unfolding as we might expect, with top seeds (Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray, Fish, Ferrer, Tsonga, Monfils, Berdych, et al) winning their first matches.

Things haven’t gone as predictably in the women’s draw. Top seeds Venus Williams, Li Na, and Marion Bartoli are all now packing picnic baskets and sunblock to watch the rest of the tourney. Well, Williams may not be courtside – apparently she’s suffering from an illness that forced her to withdraw from the competition.

Watch this space for more on this week’s exploits of the world’s best tennis players.

Tagged as: Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Venus Williams

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ATP Rankings: Rafael Nadal retains world #1 spot with French Open win

by Superscout on June 6, 2011

in Men's Tennis

Nadal is still number one

Nadal is still number one

With his big French Open win over Roger Federer, Spain’s Rafael Nadal managed to stay on top of the ATP rankings, ahead of Novak Djokovic. Prior to his semi-final match versus Federer, Djokovic had been riding a 43 match winning streak and looked destined for the world #1 spot by the end of the tournament. Trouble is that the old Roger Federer showed up and put Djokovic in his place. But Federer could not do the same to Nadal on Sunday. Had Federer won, Djokovic would indeed be number one this morning. Some think that it’s only a matter of time before the Serb gets to number one and that once there he will stay on top for a while. We’ll see about that. For now it’s Nadal – who many think has chance to be thought of as the best player ever.

Here are the ATP rankings as of Monday June 6, 2011:

1. (1) Rafael Nadal, Spain, 12,070 points

2. (2) Novak Djokovic, Serbia, 12,025

3. (3) Roger Federer, Switzerland, 9,230

4. (4) Andy Murray, Britain, 6,625

5. (5) Robin Soderling, Sweden, 4,595

6. (7) David Ferrer, Spain, 4,150

7. (6) Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, 3,490

8. (9) Gael Monfils, France, 2,780

9. (10) Mardy Fish, United States, 2,440

10. (11) Andy Roddick, United States, 2,200 – Sapa-dpa

Tagged as: Rafael Nadal

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A 6th French Open win – but Rafael Nadal has only just begun

by Superscout on June 5, 2011

in Men's Tennis

Nadal loves to play on the clay in Paris

Nadal loves to play on the clay in Paris


During pre-match commentary on NBC’s broadcast of the men’s French Open final, tennis legend John McEnroe said that if Roger Federer could beat Rafael Nadal on the clay of Roland Garros, he’d have to be considered the best tennis player of all time.

Well, he didn’t and – I guess – he isn’t.

Hard for me to say that. I love Roger Federer. He has been a great champion. He has won many trophies and he has done so with beauty and brains on the court and grace and intelligence off of it.

But you could see today in Paris that as well as he did to make each set close for Nadal – he has reached his limit. He is 29 years of age and has won 16 majors.

Meanwhile, today’s winner and current ATP World #1 , Nadal, has won 10 majors, is only 25 years old and has the drive and skill and power to make it seem as though he has only begun his ascent of the eternal tennis mountain top.

A while back we created a poll asking: “Who is the best tennis player of all time?” Many people voted heavily in favour of Federer but other legends like Laver, Sampras, Borg, Agassi, McEnroe, Becker, Connors, Lendl and Nadal were recognized too.

But it may be time to revisit that poll. For, with 10 Slams locked up and time on his side, it’s looking like Spain’s Rafael Nadal and not Roger Federer is looking like he could become the best player ever.


—
Note: ESPN’s Greg Garber makes a similar case about time being on Nadal’s side > Check out his excellent piece

Tagged as: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer

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Federer & Nadal move to quarters

by the Abbot on January 24, 2011

in Tennis

the Swiss maestro conducts

On Sunday, Roger Federer moved past Tommy Robrero into the quarter-finals of the 2011 Australian Open; and on Monday, Rafael Nadal followed suit with a victory over Marin Cilic (the only player in the men’s draw sporting a palindromic last name).

You want consistency? Check this: Federer has now reached the quarters in twenty-seven straight Grand Slams. You have to go back to 2004 to find a Slam when he was eliminated early; and you have to go back to Jimmy Connors’ record – also 27 straight quarter-final appearances – to find anyone as consistent.

With Federer, Nadal, and world #3 Novak Djokovic all on top of their game down under, the Aussie Open’s remaining rounds promise some great tennis.

Tagged as: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer

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The Nadal watch: Is he wearing “it” for luck at the Australian Open as he tries to win his fourth consecutive Grand Slam?

by Superscout on January 23, 2011

in Best Gear,Tennis

Wearing what? What is “it”?

It’s a watch, silly.”The” watch.

Rafael Nadal’s famous watch.

And we have a photo of “it”, instead of a close-up of the best tennis player in the world setting up for a serve.

Were you thinking that maybe we were “watching” Rafael Nadal’s progress at the Australian Open?

Well…we’re doing that too.

But what we’re really watching for is Nadal’s Richard Mille watch.

The RM 027 Tourbillon.

It’s a real beauty and takes our slogan, “the best gear for the best players in the world”, to a new level.

The $525, 000 super-light watch has been a hot conversation piece since Nadal wore it at the French Open.

That watch was then stolen at the Rogers Open in Toronto.

Though only fifty of the special edition RM 027 Tourbillons were made, Nadal received a new one and vowed to keep it on his wrist at all times – because when he did not wear it during matches in the US last year, he failed to win. Lost.

Shall we assume then that he is wearing his watch at the Australian Open as he attempts to become the first player since Australia’s own Rod Laver to win four straight Grand Slams?

Let’s not assume though. Let’s do a little search: Google > Australianopen.com > Photo Galleries > Players > Rafael Nadal…

Click!…

Beautiful. Look closely – “it” is on his right wrist, right where it belongs. Guess he’ll have luck on his side then and the coveted fourth consecutive Grand Slam will be his…

Tagged as: Rafael Nadal

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