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Rafael Nadal is entering unfamiliar territory
After losing to Stan Wawrinka in straight sets Friday night in the quarter-finals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, the Spaniard’s seeding fate in Paris was sealed: He will be seeded no higher than seventh at Roland Garros, where he will attempt to win his tenth title.
“I’m going to be ranked lower than ever playing Roland Garros, so that will mean the chance to play against very tough opponents,” Nadal said. “At the same time, if I go to Roland Garros and I lose and I don’t play well, life continues. It’s not the end of the world.
“I won so many times there… It’s normal that I could lose. Losing is part of life. I can be there, play bad and lose early, but I’m going to fight to change that and try to fight again to have a good tournament.”
Other unfamiliar territory for the Spaniard is that of his title drought leading into the Grand Slam on clay. This is the first time in 10 years that Nadal has not won a European ATP World Tour clay-court title in the lead-up to Roland Garros.
Here is a look at his year-by-year titles during the European clay court circuit:
2014 – Madrid
2013 – Barcelona, Madrid, Rome
2012 – Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Rome
2011 – Monte-Carlo, Barcelona
2010 – Monte-Carlo, Rome, Madrid
2009 – Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Rome
2008 – Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Hamburg
2007 – Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Rome
2006 – Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Rome
2005 – Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Rome
Nadal's loss to Wawrinka halted his chance to win at least one clay-court title leading into Roland Garros for the 11th straight year.
“I didn’t have enough luck,” he said. “In some moments, he played aggressive. He hit amazing shots in a lot of moments. He was on fire for a moment; lots of amazing shots. I congratulate him. I lost in the quarter-finals, but I had two weeks in a row playing well.”
Despite not hoisting a trophy prior to Roland Garros, Nadal won his 65th ATP World Tour title, his 46th on clay, in February in Buenos Aires. Prior to his victory in Argentina, his most recent title before that win was at the 2014 Roland Garros (d. Djokovic).
“The only thing that I am sure of is I’m going to try,” said Nadal. “The goal in Paris will always be the same one. I feel I’m playing well. I am confident that if I am able to play without nerves – I didn’t play with nerves today, I didn’t play with nerves most of the time the last three weeks, and that’s the most important thing for me.
"If I am able to control that, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m going to fight for it."
The 2015 Roland Garros draw will be made next Friday, 22 May. The tournament begins 24 May.
Did You Know?
Nadal dropped to No. 7 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday, putting him outside of the Top 5 for the first time in a decade (No. 7 – 2 May 2005).
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Ten...-Reaction.aspx
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Well, if it wasn't nerves, then what was it that cost him the first set from set point in the tiebreak? Of course, I am sure Rafa knows what the problem is and would just rather not admit to it openly in public and thereby concede a weakness. But he's losing some of these matches in his head. Wawrinka has played better than this. But Rafa's forehands were so short that he really didn't do enough to bother Wawrinka.
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French draw looks good for Fed.
1R - Falla
2R - Granollers
3R - Youzhny/Karlovic
4R - Cuevas / Monfills
QF - Wawrinka
SF - Nishikori/Berdych
F - Nadal/Novak/Murray
A dream draw for Fed. Other than Monfills he shouldn't have much trouble reaching SF. However at this stage in Clay nothing is given.
The same draw in Wimbledon could have done wonders.
With Nole, Nadal set to meet in QF this FO seems to be much more wide open.
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Monfils will be difficult. Federer's lost twice in a row against him with both on clay. Monfils will move heaven and earth to win this....
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Federer wins 1R against Falla 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
He was average overall, however BP conversion (3/17 or something) as thru' his whole career is major concern.
Mats Wilander in the commentary box was proving yet again what a comedy piece he is.
The other commentator asks Mat, if he sees Federer losing a step compared to 5-6 years?
Mats reply, not really, if anything he has improved to what 5 or 6 years ago with his new racquet.
His poor results in majors last 5-6 years are due to his lack of mental strength/confidence.
The height of it was, back 5-6 years ago there were not players like Cilic who could take it to him...
So his point is Federer dominated in a weak era. A much better version of him struggles in stronger era....
Mat, were you able to hold a racquet when you were 33-34 & play at a level Roger is doing after having played more than 1200 matches on the tour.
Don't embarass yourself further....
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Leander Paes: The Prince Of India
"ATPWorldTour.com pays tribute to Leander Paes, who has recorded his 700th doubles match win".
-By James Buddell, ATP News, May 27, 2015
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Ten...s-Tribute.aspx
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Nadal Says He Asked to Have Carlos Bernardes Not Officiate His Matches
https://youtu.be/FOY1scQtjZA
- See more at: http://www.tennisnow.com/News/2015/N....jnCERnOp.dpuf
Rafael Nadal confirmed the rumors that started to circulate last week when Simon Briggs of the Telegraph wrote this piece. Basically, the piece suggested that Nadal used his influence to get Bernardes banned from his matches after the pair had a disagreement in Rio.
Nadal confirmed this rumors after his first-round victory in Paris on Tuesday.
While Nadal’s revelation will likely be met with some disappointment in the ATP, Briggs himself wrote in the article that the organization has seen to it that umpires who have had run-ins with players have been removed before.
Still, many will agree that it’s a slippery slope we are treading when star players get to have a say in who officiates or doesn’t officiate their matches.
Nadal explained the incident, and what led to his request from the ATP in full in his press conference in Paris today.
Q. Can you tell me what happened with Bernardes? Is it true the situation he cannot umpire your matches, or do you know anything about it? Because I read it, but I have no exactly the clue what happened.
RAFAEL NADAL: Is easy, no? There is a lot of umpires on the tour. I respect a lot Bernardes. I consider him a great umpire and a good person, but I think when you have some troubles with the same umpire, sometimes it's easy to stay for a while away, no? I think that's the real thing. I think is better for both of us if we are not in court at the same time for a while after what happened in Rio de Janeiro. That's it. No problem with him personally.
Q. But not your request?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, it was my request, and the ATP talking about -- well, I asked if it's possible, but nothing personal against him 100%. I respect him like umpire, I respect him like person, and I consider him a good person more than that. So for me is not -- I am not happy with that situation. That's the first thing. Because I would love to have Bernardes on the court again. Will happen, but, you know, I think for both of us it is better to have a break, you know. We had some problems. For me he hasn't -- he was not enough respectful with me in Rio de Janeiro . That was my feeling when I put my shorts the other way. He wants to put me warnings four times, that's fine. But if I put my shorts other way and I ask him if I can change my shorts, I can put my shorts the right way, and his answer is, Yes, but you will receive a time warning. For me, that's not fair, you know, (smiling.) When something like that, something like this did happen on court, that I think is not fair. I think is, you know, shows not respect, because I cannot play a full game with the shorts the other way. So it's better. It's better to be away for a while. That's all. No personal problem with him, no? Seriously, I'm not saying that because I am in front of you. I respect him, I like him, but he was not right. And I believe that is for relationship and everything is better to be away for a bit.
Later in the day, Novak Djokovic was asked if he'd ever encountered similar experiences in his career with umpires, and he replied that he's had his differences but never felt the need to ask to be kept away from an umpire.
"There are some chair umpires in some matches that I remember that I wasn't very happy with how they did their job, but I never thought of requesting a chair umpire not to ever or whatever, for a certain time, be a chair umpire in my matches," Djokovic said. "I don't think that's fair. I don't think that's fair to them. You know, they do their job as best as they can. Of course, sometimes they do it better or worse."
To be fair to both Djokovic and Nadal, it didn't appear that Djokovic was briefed on the story about Nadal before he was asked the question. He was asked the question in a press conference, and the reporter who asked made no mention of Nadal's comments or situation. Whether or not Djokovic knows about Nadal and Bernardes' rift was not made clear.
Nadal will be in action again on Thursday when he faces his compatriot Nicolas Almagro in the second round.
- See more at: http://www.tennisnow.com/News/2015/N....jnCERnOp.dpuf
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Mats Wilander is a @@#$ ba@!#u!!. Avan pesaradhai ellam edhukku kekkuringa,omega !?
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Yeah, anybody with a brain can see Fed has slowed down. And slowed down since 2008 or so. LOL @ Fed not having had to face strong players like Cilic in his prime. Yeah, like how Nadal was such a weakling in 2006 and 07 Wimbledon? Or how Safin, Hewitt, Roddick grand slam winners all were hopeless? Sure, the Big Four era is a strong one but there is nothing to show that Fed too is playing better than in his prime. Since the Big Four era is strong anyway, why does it bother the Rafa-Nole fans so much that it doesn't have a prime Fed?
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The argument is,
Nadal was still a baby in grass till 2008, infant in hardcourt till 2010 & continues to be developing on indoors till date.
Novak didn't mature until 2011 so any beatings by Federer prior won't count much.
Murray didn't break through till 2012 Olympics, so any prior beatings by Federer naturally won't count....
Once they all showed up a much improved version of Federer (supremely primed version) struggles against everyone of them..
And 'Mad Foolander' is not alone in this argument...
They simply can't digest Fed is still ranked as high as No.2 in the world.