Category Archives: Abu Dhabi

Nadal Pulls Out Of Australian Open

Posted on December 28, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

Rafael Nadal has made the smart decision to withdraw from the Australian Open. Rafa’s recent injury issues have been well documented as has his need to hit a lot of balls to find his groove.

Recently a stomach virus has kept Rafa from training as he would like and as a result he withdrew from Abu Dhabi which was scheduled to be his first tournament back.

While the Abu Dhabi tournament organisers scrambled to replace Rafa’s after his last minute withdrawal (and after they had snubbed Roger Federer) the Australian Open looked to be in doubt. Read more »

Posted in Abu Dhabi, Australian Open, Doha, Illness, Indian Wells, Injury, Media, Miami, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer

Nadal Plays Brandings With Ferrer

Posted on December 31, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

I always wondered if this happens… Watch from 0.52 to first hear and then see Nadal play a little bit of accidental brandings with David Ferrer in their match warm up yesterday :)

Happy New Year Everyone

Posted in Abu Dhabi, David Ferrer, Rafael Nadal

Nadal Beats Federer To Ring In The New Year

Posted on December 31, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

After being comfortably beaten by David Ferrer, Rafael Nadal has rebounded and beaten Roger Federer 6-1, 7-5 in the Abu Dhabi exhibition championship. Nadal, nursing a shoulder injury, cruised comfortably as he raced to a 3-0 lead before taking the opening set in just 27 minutes.

Federer lifted his level after looking somewhat distracted at the break between sets. Despite getting a 4-3 lead Nadal managed to stay with the Swiss former world number one and leveled the second set at 5-5. Read more »

Posted in Abu Dhabi, Australian Open, David Ferrer, Doha, Injury, Novak Djokovic, Olympics, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Wimbledon

Nadal Confirms Injury, Plans To Take February Off

Posted on December 29, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

It’s almost like a warning that we shouldn’t expect too much from former Australian Open champion and current world number two Rafael Nadal when, and if, he arrives in Melbourne for the first Grand Slam of the 2012 season.

Nadal has stated today that he will take all of February off, skipping Dubai, in favour of rest and rehabilitation to a left shoulder injury that has bothered him recently. He sought treatment for the shoulder (apparently a tendinitis) in Barcelona before Christmas. Read more »

Posted in Abu Dhabi, Australian Open, Body Watch, Davis Cup, Doctor Angel Ruiz Cotorro, Dubai, Indian Wells, Injury, Media, Olympics, Rafael Maymo, Rafael Nadal, Wimbledon

Nadal’s Injury And Illness Issues Continue

Posted on December 28, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

Rafael Nadal has apparently been struck by a virus for the third time in 2011 and it looks increasingly likely that the Spaniard will be under a cloud of doubt for the Abu Dhabi tournament which starts January 2. Should Rafa travel to Abu Dhabi, which is expected at this stage, it is unlikely that he will be a favourite due to recent fitness issues.

Last season Nadal started feeling off in the early 2011 exhibition tournaments and instead of resting he kept playing and his virus plagued him throughout the Australian Open. Viruses make athletes more likely to pick up injuries and sure enough Nadal limped away from Melbourne and it took him some weeks to get over his injuries and illness. Read more »

Posted in Abu Dhabi, Australian Open, Injury, Rafael Nadal, Toni Nadal

Nadal Beats Federer And Claims Abu Dhabi Title

Posted on January 2, 2011 by admin| 2 Comments

The Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament has been won by Rafael Nadal after he defeated Roger Federer 7-6, 7-6. It seems only fitting that the way the 2010 season ended is the way the 2011 season started, just with a different outcome.

It seemed that throughout the match Federer at times forgot the tactics that saw him defeat Nadal in the World Tour Finals just a few weeks ago. Despite the outcome, the two were  in high spirits after the trophy presentation, giggling amongst themselves as they posed for photos. Read more »

Posted in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Marc Lopez, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer

2011 Starts With A Federer Nadal Final In Abu Dh

Posted on January 1, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

After hitting five million fans on Facebook on New Years Eve, Rafael Nadal has set up a finals clash with Roger Federer in the Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament. After recently playing two exhibitions against each other for their individual charities, Nadal and Federer are going to give fans the real thing on the first day of 2011.

Both players were successful in their first games of the season, Federer beating Robin Soderling 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, while Nadal beat Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4. Read more »

Posted in Abu Dhabi, Rafael Nadal, Robin Soderling, Roger Federer, Tomas Berdych

Rafa Nadal Meets Locals In Abu Dhabi

Posted on December 31, 2010 by admin| Leave a comment

Rafael Nadal has arrived in Middle East ahead of his first match of the 2011 season at an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi. He will play his first match today against Tomas Berdych.

After being dubbed the World Champion of Champions (or ‘Champion des Champions monde de l’année 2010’) by L’Équipe, Nadal talked to media about the things that lie ahead. Read more »

Posted in Abu Dhabi, Australian Open, Injury, Media, Rafael Nadal, Rod Laver, Xisca Perello