Rafaholics - Rafael Nadal Fan Site

Roland Garros Posters 1980-2013

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:05:31 PDT

Roland Garros Posters from 1980 to 2013

My favorite Tennis Grand Slam tournament is Roland Garros, will begin on the 21st May in Paris, France. I thought it would be interesting to see how the design trends in Roland Garros posters have changed during the years.
In this article you will find every official Roland Garros poster from 1980 to 2013. Which is your favorite? You can also purchase some of them here.

Valerio Adami
Arroyo
Jean-Michel Folon
Vladimir Velickovic
Gilles Aillaud
Razzia
Jacques Monory
Jiri Kolar
Titus-Carmel
Alenchinsky
Nicola De Maria
Claude Garache
Joan Miró
Jan Voss
Ernest Pignon
Donald Lipski
Jean-Michel Meurice
Antonio Saura
Herve Télémaque
Antonio Segui
Antoni Tapies
Sean Scully
Robert Arman
Jane Hammond
Humair
Jaume Plensa
Gunther Forg
Kate Shepherd
Arnulf Rainer
Konrad Klapheck
Nalini Malani
Barthelemy Toguo
Hervé Di Rosa
David Nash

NEW: ATP Rankings Rafa Nadal #4

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:35:34 PDT

Nadal up to fourth on rankings

Former number one Rafael Nadal has moved back to fourth on the ATP rankings released Monday after winning the Masters in Rome.

Nadal, who slipped in the rankings after missing much of last season through injury, beat Roger Federer in two sets to claim his seventh Rome title.

The only newcomer in the rankings is Serbian Janko Tipsarevic, who comes in at 10 in place of Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka.

ATP top 10 as of May 20 (previous ranking in parenthesis):

1. (1) Novak Djokovic, Serbia, 12,310 points

2. (2) Andy Murray, Britain, 8,670

3. (3) Roger Federer , Switzerland, 8,000

4. (5) Rafael Nadal, Spain, 6,895

5. (4) David Ferrer, Spain, 6,740

6. (6) Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, 4,700

7. (7) Juan Martin del Potro , Argentina, 4,320

8. (8) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France, 3,795

9. (9) Richard Gasquet, France, 3,090;

10. (11) Janko Tipsarevic, Serbia, 2,640

Rafalinkage: Latest Headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:34:56 PDT

Rafael Nadal settles an old score at Rome Masters – like a Ferrari to Roger Federer's Fiat 500 - The Independent
Nadal beats Federer, Serena wins at Italian Open - Yahoo
The Classico Returns to the Foro - Steve Tignor/Tennis.comRacquet Reaction Rome: Nadal d. Federer - Steve Tignor
Rafael Nadal crushes Roger Federer to show clay supremacy in Rome final- THEGuardian
Rampant Nadal shows class ahead of French Open by crushing Federer in Rome - MailOnline
Nadal dismantles Federer for Rome title - TennisTalk
Rafael Nadal dispatches Roger Federer for 7th Italian Masters title - UPI
Nadal captures 7th Rome title in rout of Federer - Miami Herald
Was Rome loss to Nadal the worst of Roger Federer's career? - USA TODAY
Rafael Nadal dominates Roger Federer to win Italian Open - LATIMES
Rafael Nadal gets No.4 seed for Roland Garros- TennisEarth
Nadal cruises past Federer to win Rome title - Toronto Sun
Nadal thrashes Federer in final - Express Tribune
Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams raise the bar for French Open - TheAustralian
Why isn't Rafael Nadal considered the greatest tennis player of all time? -News.com.AU
Rafa Nadal flattens Roger Federer in Rome - Scotsman
After losing again to Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer must fight on -- and on -OregonLive
Rafael Nadal Takes Down Roger Federer, Wins Rome Masters - hispanicallyspeakingnews
Nadal dominates Federer to win in Rome - USA Today - USATODAY
Federer No Match For Nadal In Rome -ESPN
Nadal, Serena set out stall for French Open - InternationalTHENEWS
Rafael Nadal climbs back up to fourth in world rankings after Italian Open title - NewsAU
Refreshed Nadal ready for French Open -ESPNUK

Rome: Video Highlights, Interviews & more

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:12:31 PDT

Getty

Presser:

Rafael Nadal's interview after the VICTORY in Rome 2013 (RTVE) (Spanish)

Nadal vs Federer Masters Rome 2013 Final - Full Match HD English

On Court Interview after win

Full Highlights

Rafa signing autographs after win via Magdalina Mircheva Check out her entire videos of Rafa during Rome

Musical Montage wrap

Trophy Ceremony TennisFullHighlights

Rome: Trophy HQ Photos @ Pietrangeli court

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:30:33 PDT

Clive Brunskill

Photos: GettyImages

Rome: Final Press Conference Transcript

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:45:43 PDT

Getty

Check out: Roger Federer Presser

RAFAEL NADAL 19 MAY 2013

Q: First of all 7 wins in Rome and second somehow surprised when 1 all 30 all he you lost only 3 points – won 9 games in a row…
R. Nadal: Surprising …. I 61 and but that is what happened and the end is always surprising when you play against someone like Roger – and you win 61 – how can I explain when these things happen and you have to combine a few facts. It happened in London to me in the Masters Cup and without winning a lot of points – 51 and then 61 and to make this happen between two players when there is not a big difference and so one player is playing well and the other is making more mistakes than usual on that day.

Q: You were impressive and congratulation. I would like to ask --- according to the level of Novak and Roger – who will be the tougher opponent.
R. Nadal: Let me enjoy today and not think about tougher opponents. That will be the first round and it will not be Roger or Novak for sure and so I will go day by day as I have always done and I don’t want to think about the Roland Garros yet and let me enjoy this victory and the fantastic come back and Wednesday or Thursday and then I will start to think about what will happen there and playing there but not today.

Q: Another victory. There is a lot of talk about your injuries. Can you tell us about Roland Garros that is coming and if you feel 100% fit and health and ready.
R. Nadal: I said it during the tournament and before the tournament I don’t wasn’t to talk about health and I have talked too much about health and so questions about tennis and not health. I am what I am and I was able to compete against the great player in the world and so I am happy

Q: You won 6 tournaments up to now R. Nadal: What

Q: You won 6 tournaments this year . What is the best level of your game – like here in Rome or where. R. Nadal: I don't know I think I played great in Indian Wells and in Acapulco and in Madrid also at a high level for a moment and then my feeling I was practising and better than in Montecarlo and Barcelona but that doesn't nothing and it doesn't mean that you won but in Madrid I started to have the right feelings about my forehand an backhand and I played great matches in Madrid and here I played one bad match – against Gulbis but I was there mentally and I won that match with a lot of fight and a positive mentality and the rest of the matches I played well and against Federer…… and yesterday and today a very high level

Q: Is it beyond your wildest dreams – to win 6 tournaments and finalist in the other 2. You had some dark times last year and then the Australian Open when you couldn't play
R. Nadal: I say every day that this is a … it you tell me than 4 or 5 months ago then I would say you are crazy and so after 8 tournaments and 6 victories and 2 finals is a dream for me and I am enjoying a wonderful dream and to win 3 Master 100 and 2 Master 500 tournaments …. is more than what I ever dreamed about 4 months ago and all I can say is thank you for the support and to my team that thanks to them I have the chance to be here again and compete,

Q: You say you can't practise as much as you used to but you seem to play at your best R. Nadal: I think I explained I am practising not as much as I did but that doesn't mean that I don’t have the chance to play at a high level and the mental part is sometimes important like other things and mentally I am enjoying it and I have the chance to practice enough

Q: What is your feeling about your level going into the Roland Garros. Is it sufficient R. Nadal: Maybe it is enough but what can I tell you. If I play like this and I arrive to Roland Garros and somebody beats me I shake his hand and so I am happy and I am playing much better that some months ago and I am doing the right things to play well and I am playing well and I don’t want to talk about Roland Garros and that is only 1 tournament and when you play 1 tournament you can lose and……… when you play and win many titles in a row like I am doing then you are doing things well and I can reach Roland Garros and lose in the first round – this is the sport and this is tennis.

Q: I know you don’t want to compare tournament but how you beat Roger in the Roland Garros 61 63 60 you were almost embarrassed at the end and not too excited as you won too easily. Did you feel the same today?
R. Nadal: No. I think it is a different situation – then he played a great game 51 52 and was serving and then it was 53 and the second serve of the point of that game and I served 2 good balls with the 53 and then he gave me a backhand into the net and then love 15 and you are in a problem and so …. in the matches and the finals and a big opponent like Roger you have to close the match.

Q: You look like you have a reply for every opponent. R. Nadal: Every day is a different day and when I go on court I know I can win or lose and it is one against one and all the players who play here have the potential to beat everybody so when I go on court I always am thinking that what is happening to me in the past 8 or 9 years in not for ever and nobody stays here for ever and nobody wins for ever and so I don't know when this will finish and so I try to take care in very moment to make sure that this happen as late as possible and I respect everyone and this is why I have a lot of success every year and to win a lot of matches on this surface …….. and also others because I respect everyone and some days I don’t play my best and I have to fight and run and be humble and this is why I won.

Rome: FINAL HQ Match Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:44:56 PDT

Photos: GettyImages

Rome: FINAL Celebratory HQ Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:44:37 PDT

Photos: GettyImages

Rome: FINAL HQ Trophy Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:44:23 PDT

Photos: GettyImages

Rome: Nadal def Federer 61 63 Match Stats

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:45:39 PDT

Rafael Nadal defeats Roger Federer 61 63 in 53 minutes! This makes their H2H 20-10! Unbelievable play from Rafa! This makes his #24 Master title, #6 ATP World Title, #56 title, #41 Clay title, #7 Rome Masters Championship title! KingOfClay!! Hello to the #4 seed to Roland Garros!!!

Rafael
Nadal

Roger
Federer

Service Statistics
Aces	1	2
Double Faults	1	0
1st Serve %	74%	67%
1st Serve Points Won	19/25 (76%)	13/26 (50%)
2nd Serve Points Won	7/9 (78%)	4/13 (31%)
Break Points Saved	1/1 (100%)	0/4 (0%)
Service Games Played	6	6
Return Statistics
1st Return Points Won	13/26 (50%)	6/25 (24%)
2nd Return Points Won	9/13 (69%)	2/9 (22%)
Break Points Won	4/4 (100%)	0/1 (0%)
Return Games Played	6	6
Points Statistics
Total Service Points Won	26/34 (76%)	17/39 (44%)
Total Return Points Won	22/39 (56%)	8/34 (24%)
Total Points Won	48/73 (66%)	25/73 (34%)

Rome: Nadal-Federer Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:21:05 PDT

Rome Masters 2013. Yet again we are blessed to be able to witness this amazing rivalry in any sport, another FEDAL final. They are currently engaged in a storied rivalry, which many consider to be the greatest in tennis history.

Roger had this to say:

“It almost doesn't matter what the surface or what the conditions are. I've got to play aggressive tennis and take it to Rafa,” “I know he doesn't give me much on clay. He's got incredible spin.”

“He is the best mover on clay of all-time, if not Top 2 with Bjorn Borg, so it's hard to play against him. But I've done it before and can put him under pressure,” “I hope this time I have a better chance than at Indian Wells, where things were a bit difficult for me. He's had an incredible comeback, so I'm really happy for him. But someone has got to stop him, so I hope it's me.”

Rafa:

"Always it's special to play against Roger, all the history that these matches have already, always for me it's an honor to play against probably the best of the history, always play against him is special, two different styles, that makes the match more interesting"

They have played 29 times, and Nadal leads their nine-year-old rivalry 19–10, Finals: Nadal, 13–6

Nadal has won 12 of their 14 encounters on clay courts.
Federer has won 2 out of their 3 meetings on grass courts.
They have split their 12 meetings on hardcourts with 6 all.

All matches: Nadal, 19–10
All finals: Nadal, 13–6
Grand Slam matches: Nadal, 8–2
Australian Open: Nadal 2-0
French Open: Nadal 5-0
Wimbledon: Federer 2-1
US Open: Have not met
Grand Slam finals: Nadal, 6–2
Tennis Masters Cup/ATP World Tour Finals matches: Federer, 4–0
Tennis Masters Cup/ATP World Tour Finals finals: Federer, 1–0
ATP Masters Series/ATP World Tour Masters 1000 matches: Nadal, 10–4
ATP Masters Series/ATP World Tour Masters 1000 finals: Nadal, 6–3
Best of five set matches: Nadal, 10–3
Five-set matches: Nadal, 3–2
Best of three set matches: Nadal, 9–7

Results on each court surface
Clay courts: Nadal, 12–2
Hard courts: Tied 6–6
Indoor: Federer, 4–0
Outdoor: Nadal, 6–2
Grass courts: Federer, 2–1

Promo:

Experts weigh in:

RAFA & ROGER: THE RIVALRY

Rome: SemiFinal Presser Transcript

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:53:41 PDT

Getty

RAFAEL NADAL 18 MAY 2013

Q: You feel you played your best match of the week R. Nadal: I am sure about the first set – I need to see in the TV as your thoughts are not 100% exact but the first set was fantastic and I played a high level and everything well and no mistakes and changing direction and playing inside the court and good percentage on the times and dominating the point and following to the net and I think I played one of the best matches since I am back.

Q: Are you a player that likes to peak at the French Open and build up. It must be great to play this well but is it so soon.
R. Nadal: I am not this guy – I try the best every day and don't talk about Roland Garros before the Roland Garros and love every tournament in the clay court season in Europe and in every tournament has a big history and is important and so my feeling is that Rome, Madrid, Barcelona and Montecarlo don’t deserve to be the preparation for Roland Garros and I don’t feel these tournaments this way and I try and do my best and the Roland Garros is important but it is not the only tournament in the world. To win any of these is very important.

Q: If I am not wrong but it has been 8 finals in a row – is this incredible after 8 months off and now the finals in Rome and you are number one in the race
R. Nadal: I was already yesterday number one but these are only numbers and in Rome I am in the right way and playing well regularly and not up and down and to play finals in Rome you have to be fresh mentally and I am and I am focused and happy what I am doing and this is not new for me and after what happened last year every match is important and I am enjoying every moment and 8 finals in a row is wonderful and 4 – 5 months ago it was impossible to think about this and what we have here today and I hope to play very well and I am very happy to win the final and any result will be a fantastic result and if I lose it will also be very good and so talking about the clay court season.

Q: When you were injured Djokovic and Murray played the USA Open, Shanghai and the Australian Open final and Djokovic and Murray were the new big rivals. Were people too quick to say this
R. Nadal: No – that is what happened at that moment and you need to write and this is what happened at that moment and we cannot lie about the past and they are fantastic players and at the end they are only one year younger that me and not 5 or 6 and they are very good and I am not saying that this cannot happen and they are 1 ad 2 and I am number 5 and I think that I am better that the number 5 of the ranking without 7 months with zero points …. It is am amazing number.

Q: 2 days ago you talked about the level now and when you started from the beginning and which match you played well and Madrid and Barcelona. What is you level now compared to the best Rafa on clay – you win a lot. Which is the difference. Is it physical or what.
R. Nadal: I hope for a lot of years I have always had success on clay and sometimes playing better and sometimes worse but normally a good result and good feelings on clay and in this period ….. I played not good in Sao Paolo and in Acapulco I played good and a high level in the final and then in Indian Wells I played well and today I played great and I don’t know where is my best level but it is difficult to say 100% or 90% but I cannot say I am now happy and I said last week I was playing much better in Madrid than Montecarlo and Barcelona and against Gulbis I don’t think I played well but yesterday I played well and I had a fantastic match

Q: And perhaps we'll see tomorrow …. it may happen that you play Federer and he is 5 years older – could this be the last time in a great final and he is slowing a little bit down and its more exciting the idea that it could be the last duel of a great rivalry
R. Nadal: If my memory is not bad --- I'm not talking about you – but some of you thought about that some years ago and we are here in 2013 and he is number 2 in the world and I am number 5 after not playing months and we are still playing good and I hope that this is not going to be the last time and we will play tomorrow perhaps in the final. The results are there and you cannot be number 2 if you don’t play great for weeks and his results in the semis in Indian Wells and Wimbledon last year and the finals in the Olympics and he lost in the semi and then he played the final of the Masters Cup and this is not 2 years ago and then he lost in Indian Wells against me and he stopped for some months and then he lost against Nishgori and then not one week later had has a good chance to be in the final but I an not a specialist and I think that Roger is still here.

Q: In F rance we are waiting since Noah f or 30 years and Sp ain has had 12 titles – do you this is logical – what is your explanation
R. Nadal: It is what it is….. I don’t know why – and it is not a coincidence . Its because in Spain there has been good generations in a row meaning that also there is in France but winning Grand Slams and important titles is difficult and what we had in Spain is success and it is not for ever and so this is a combination and it is difficult to have amazing generations in a row like Sweden some time ago …… they had Soderling and I hope this will not happen with Spain in the next few years and this is normal and this happens and perhaps we will have a lot of winners of Grand Slams and you have the possibility and the French federation gives more help that the Spanish federation

Q: Yesterday you were wondering how to recover form 5 hours – how did you do it R. Nadal: I was tired today after the first set and I tried to play with a lot of energy and since I woke up I tried to move and all day and at the end of the match I felt tired a little but ……. no injury and so I was lucky

Rome: Video Highlights, Interviews, Full Match

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:54:12 PDT

Getty

Full Match: via TennisOnlineHD

Set 1 SEMIFINAL Highlights via Rafapedia

Part 2 SEMIFINAL Highlights

On COurt Spanish Interview

Rome: Nadal Def Berdych 62 64 Match Stats

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Sat, 18 May 2013 09:24:20 PDT

Rafa Nadal defeats Tomas Berdych in straight sets 62 64 for a spot into the finals at Internazionali BNL d'Italia. He awaits the winner of Paire-Federer!

Tomas
Berdych

Rafael
Nadal

Service Statistics
Aces	5	0
Double Faults	0	0
1st Serve %	62%	78%
1st Serve Points Won	18/30 (60%)	27/35 (77%)
2nd Serve Points Won	10/18 (56%)	10/10 (100%)
Break Points Saved	1/4 (25%)	1/1 (100%)
Service Games Played	9	9
Return Statistics
1st Return Points Won	8/35 (23%)	12/30 (40%)
2nd Return Points Won	0/10 (0%)	8/18 (44%)
Break Points Won	0/1 (0%)	3/4 (75%)
Return Games Played	9	9
Points Statistics
Total Service Points Won	28/48 (58%)	37/45 (82%)
Total Return Points Won	8/45 (18%)	20/48 (42%)
Total Points Won	36/93 (39%)	57/93 (61%)

Rome: Video Highlights, Interviews, Full Match & More

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Sat, 18 May 2013 09:24:38 PDT

Rafael Nadal: Interview after the victory over David Ferrer in QF Rome 2013 (RTVE) via Tanika Molvi

Nadal Talks About Tough Rome Battle With Ferrer

Ferrer's Hot Shot Defence Wins Rome Set Vs. Nadal ( I would have thought another shot would have made it but oh well ) via ATP

Highlights Set 1 via Rafapedia

Highlights Set 2

Nadal vs Ferrer Masters Rome 2013 QF - Full Match HD - Spanish via TennisOnlineHD

Full QTRS Highlights via TennisprosHD

A few Videos from Thursday via fan raficionada

Rome: Qtr-Final Presser Transcript

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Sat, 18 May 2013 09:24:52 PDT

RAFAEL NADAL 17 MAY 2013

Q: Which part of your game are you more satisfied with today R. Nadal: I think almost everything and I played a great match against a difficult opponent and I played my best and the worst moment in the third I played my best tennis and I an happy. He is a fantastic player and a big example for the kids and positive and fighting and correct on court and a great example and so this victory for me is very special

Q: How difficult was the second set and then the let point and then the warning and David's defence. R. Nadal: Not difficult and I know not to lose concentration and so I was thinking of the beginning and I thought to start to be strong mentally and not have changes mentally. At the beginning of the third he had big confidence after winning the second and so you feel you don’t want to miss balls and so I had to stop this moment and I think I did, winning the second and the third was a fantastic match for me and I played aggressive with my forehand and I ………. This is an important victory for me after two tough matches here.
Q: You have not played best of 5 since Wimbledon and so, how important are these long matches for you R. Nadal: Long term good, short term bad because I am preparing for tomorrow and with 2 matches in a row it is tough and it is normal. It is the first time that I play long matches in a row and so it is positive because physically on court and I can resist longer than a few weeks ago and I can do this extra in the moments when I need which I wasn't able to do before and so we'll think of tomorrow and the tough situation

Q: Tonight will we watch Federer against Janowicz or Atletico against Real Madrid R. Nadal: If you let me go early then I will go to see the match and I still have to go to the hotel so please finish.

Q: A question about Benoit Paire who you have played twice and what do you think about him. Are you surprised he is in the semi
R. Nadal: To be in the semi in a Masters is a big deal and you have to win against good players. Surprised that he is playing .. No. After my match in Madrid he has great potential and I said to the coach of Granollers he is playing well and I saw him play in Montecarlo in the second round and then in Barcelona and Madrid and his level is improved a lot and he is one of the strongest of the tour and he is serving very well and his forehand is improving and if he keeps improving his forehand he will be in a good position in the ranking.

Rome: HQ Photos Mary Perello

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Sat, 18 May 2013 09:25:09 PDT

Check out Maria Francesca Perello, being vocal during Rafa's matches lately is always a pleasure to see! Vamos Mary!

Photos: GettyImages

Rome: Qtr-Final HQ Match Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:38:42 PDT

Photo by Clive Mason

Check out some of favorite photos of the qtrfinal match today. Check out the complete HQ photo album on ~~facebook~~!

Photos: GettyImages

Rome Match Stats: Nadal Def Ferrer 64 46 62

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:49:03 PDT

Game Set Match! Rafa Nadal defeats David Ferrer for the 16th time in a row! 64 46 62! In 2 hours 46 minutes! He faces Tomas Berdych in the semifinals! #KingOfClay #IBI13

MATCH
1
2
3

David
Ferrer

Rafael
Nadal

Service Statistics
Aces	1	1
Double Faults	3	2
1st Serve %	66%	70%
1st Serve Points Won	39/66 (59%)	53/80 (66%)
2nd Serve Points Won	16/34 (47%)	12/35 (34%)
Break Points Saved	5/10 (50%)	13/16 (81%)
Service Games Played	14	14
Return Statistics
1st Return Points Won	27/80 (34%)	27/66 (41%)
2nd Return Points Won	23/35 (66%)	18/34 (53%)
Break Points Won	3/16 (19%)	5/10 (50%)
Return Games Played	14	14
Points Statistics
Total Service Points Won	55/100 (55%)	65/115 (57%)
Total Return Points Won	50/115 (43%)	45/100 (45%)
Total Points Won	105/215 (49%)	110/215 (51%)

Rome: R16 HQ Match Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:28:45 PDT

Few of my favorite Match Photos from the R16. Full album up on ~~facebook!~~

Photos: GettyImages

Rome: Video Highlights, FUll Match & Interviews

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:28:25 PDT

Rome 2013 Thursday Interview Nadal via ATPWorldTour

On Court Interview (SPanish) RTVE via Tanika Molvi

Rafael Nadal speaks about Roland Garros with Mats Wilander

Full Highlights via TennisprosHD

Babolat Serial Player Wanted - Rafa Nadal #3 via BabolatWorld

Nadal, Djokovic Advance via ESPN

Check out Gulbis presser..

Rome: Nadal R16 Presser Transcript

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:12:24 PDT

GettyImages

RAFAEL NADAL 16 MAY 2013

Q: About the draw – this time you had Gulbis next time Ferrer, Djokovic or Federer and going into the Roland Garros as 5th seed is a problem
R. Nadal: I can be 4 th seed. Is there no chance for me. The draws are tough and if you are fifth then you can have tougher draws but being 7 ~~years~~ (months) out of the completion and still being number 5 is a miracle and I had a very good change to be number 10 and there are lots of chances to be worse and I accept the situation and I am number two in the race today and tomorrow I have a chance against a very difficult player and I needed to play better and to win and being in the quarter finals is great … Fognini was tough, the second round was tough and tomorrow will be tough and since I cam back, if I am 4 th or 5 th or 6 th it is no difference. The important thing is to be healthy and play well.

Q: Can you explain the match of today. He said that he was the better player on court but you are the champion.
R. Nadal: Tennis is not like football where you score a goal and you stay back and you can win the match. In tennis you play every point and not only, normally but not always, the best player wins and if you understand that the best player is him. If you hit as hard as you can and hit every ball at 216 or 220 and then that means being the best player then perhaps he was the best player. For me the best player is to try and find solutions against he other player and when I served for the second set and I lost and also in the third and I still was fighting and I found solutions so the best player won. Gulbis is a fantastic player and he needs to pace himself a little more and he asked to many times to the umpire to look at the ball and I never do that and I don’t like this attitude on court but everyone is free and he needs to be a little cool and he is a great player.

Q: When he is playing like today is it like Soderling. R. Nadal: Even if Soderling hit hard every ball and had a big serve, my feeling is that you need to play with a little more tactic and … you can make this comparison but in my opinion, no.

Q: Well played. While you were on court, David Beckham has retired from football and all forms of football. Can you tell us some memories of him.
R. Nadal: I met him a few times in Madrid and he is amazing on court and always fighting and even if he is a big star outside the football stadium he is a big professional and always has a fantastic smile for the kids and everybody. All my respect for him and all the best that he will do as next projects and all my admiration and he is a great example.

Q: It is not so easy being so famous and living a public life. R. Nadal: Sometimes it bothers you and probably this is what happened to him and he always has a smile for everyone and respectful for everyone and I congratulate him for his career and he is a fantastic football player and so it is a big loss for the sport.

Q: You have had a lot of matches in the past few months. Physically how do you feel. R. Nadal: I am fine but I don’t want to talk about my knee. In general I'm fine and I am fine and happy to be through and fighting a lot to be where I am today and I had a tough months and it is tough with matches like today when you are behind and fighting for every ball. This is the mentality …… to fight for the victory and this means a lot for me, especially for me and when I have one (victory) then it is special.

Video: via ATPWORLDTOUR

Rome: Nadal def Gulbis Match Stats 16 75 64

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:15:30 PDT

Fifth seed and six-time champion Rafael Nadal overcame a display of power tennis from qualifier Ernests Gulbis on Thursday to book his place in the Internazionali BNL d'Italia quarter-finals.

Nadal survived his second epic encounter in as many weeks with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 win in two hours and 38 minutes. Last week, he overcame David Ferrer in a marathon Mutua Madrid Open quarter-final.

On Friday, Nadal meets his fellow Spaniard again. It will be their 23rd FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting.

Nadal has a 33-2 match record (28-2 on clay) this season and he's reached the final in all seven tournaments he's played.

MATCH
1
2
3

Ernests
Gulbis

Rafael
Nadal

Service Statistics
Aces	15	0
Double Faults	3	1
1st Serve %	61%	76%
1st Serve Points Won	43/60 (72%)	44/70 (63%)
2nd Serve Points Won	16/39 (41%)	10/22 (45%)
Break Points Saved	7/11 (64%)	5/9 (56%)
Service Games Played	15	14
Return Statistics
1st Return Points Won	26/70 (37%)	17/60 (28%)
2nd Return Points Won	12/22 (55%)	23/39 (59%)
Break Points Won	4/9 (44%)	4/11 (36%)
Return Games Played	14	15
Points Statistics
Total Service Points Won	59/99 (60%)	54/92 (59%)
Total Return Points Won	38/92 (41%)	40/99 (40%)
Total Points Won	97/191 (51%)	94/191 (49%)

Rome: R2 Nadal Press Conference Transcript

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:42:40 PDT

ANDREAS SOLARO

RAFAEL NADAL 15 MAY 2013

Q: Just an assessment of your performance R. Nadal: I think I played the right match to go through and I played well and the beginning Fabio had more mistakes but I prefer to talk about myself and aggressive when I had the chance.

Q: Last year many problems – do you feel better that this year? R. Nadal: I don’t want to talk any more about my pain and my knee in every press conference. I have talked too much about that and now I wasn’t to talk about tennis.

Q: Today Murray Wawrinka and then Tsonga. What does that change. R. Nadal: Do you see any difference. Nothing changes. I am still in the same place with fantastic players and sometimes one loses and one wins and we are here competing with the top 50 players in the world on a Masters tour. Wawrinka came with 2 finals and he is probably tired, Tsonga had a tough match against Janowicz and Murray gets injured and the calendar is tough. I wish him a fast recovery.

Rome: R2 HQ Match Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Sofie) — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:42:51 PDT

ANDREAS SOLARO

Check out some of my favorites from the match today Rome Round 2: Rafa Nadal defeats Fabio Fognini 61 63. Complete HQ Photo album is up on ~~facebook~~ ! Enjoy!

Photos: GettyImages