Category Archives: Barcelona

Nadal Wins Seventh Barcelona Title

Posted on April 30, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

As great as it is to sit back and watch Rafael Nadal display his clay court brilliance again you have to feel sorry for David Ferrer. While Rafa was busy claiming his seventh Barcelona title and becoming the only player to ever win two tournaments seven or more times, David was suffering his fourth defeat in Barcelona at the hands of his friend.

David pushed Rafa for almost three hours but ultimately Nadal secured the title 7-6, 7-5.

Ferrer, it seems, is destined to always be the bridesmaid and never gain a major title despite the fact that he undeniably deserves one for years of consistently grinding the best in the game to within an inch of cramps. Read more »

Posted in Barcelona, David Ferrer, Rafael Nadal

Looking At Nadal’s Knees

Posted on March 31, 2012 by admin| 4 Comments

There is something about the Indian Wells-Miami hard court swing that seems to consistently destroy Rafa Nadal’s troubled knees. Today Rafa announced that he would not continue with the tournament by withdrawing from his semifinal match against Andy Murray.

There are two ways you can look at this latest set back:

1) It’s about self preservation.

Nadal’s been having trouble with his knees since the Australian Open (and years before that). His right knee locked up and he could barely move it when he stood up from a chair.

He stood up from a chair.

He wasn’t sprinting, twisting or changing directions he was just standing up after sitting down. To say this is unusual is an understatement. Since then, despite six weeks of training and rehab, Rafa hasn’t been right. Read more »

Posted in Andy Murray, Australian Open, Barcelona, Cincinnati Masters, Davis Cup, Indian Wells, Injury, Lleyton Hewitt, Madrid, Media, Miami, Monte Carlo, Physio Perspective, Rafael Maymo, Rafael Nadal, Rogers Cup, Roland Garros, Rome, Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic Secures Year End Number One

Posted on October 14, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

Despite Rafael Nadal’s best attempts, including playing Barcelona thinking that the 500 points could be key to the race to number one, Noval Djokovic’s insane form has secured the Serbian the year end number one. Nadal’s third round loss to Florian Mayer in Shanghai yesterday has secured the position for a delighted Nole.

The official year ending number one ceremony will occur at the Tour Finals in London later this year.

Posted in Barcelona, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Shanghai

Lorenzi Gives Nadal A Run For His Money

Posted on May 11, 2011 by admin| 1 Comment

Paolo Lorenzi put on a brilliant show in Rome today. The home grown hero, who at 29 has struggled to put a mark on the ATP circuit, showed other players on the circuit just how far Rafael Nadal, the King of Clay, is from being in full flight. Nadal worked hard, really hard, and looked exhausted from beginning to end but eventually won 6-7, 6-4, 6-0

On his beloved red dirt, even when his knees had seen better days in 2009, Rafa has always been a superior clay court player. Lorenzi commendably went for broke against the world number one and he made him work for a third round position showing that he too has some great clay court abilities. At one point he won seven consecutive points, a number which Juan Carlos Ferrero struggled to get from a much stingier Nadal last season. Read more »

Posted in Barcelona, David Ferrer, Injury, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Match Report, Novak Djokovic, Paolo Lorenzi, Rafael Nadal, Roland Garros, Rome, Toni Nadal, Xisca Perello

Nadal Wins 6th Barcelona Title

Posted on April 25, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

Rafael Nadal has claimed his 45th career title and 6th at Barcelona beating compatriot David Ferrer 6-2, 6-4 after 1 hour and 49 minutes. Nadal did not play last year and was looking to try and add 500 points to hold off the advances of Novak Djokovic for as long as possible.

Rafa has made history winning the tournament in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011. Read more »

Posted in Barcelona, David Ferrer, Injury, Rafael Nadal

Ferrer Finalist In Barcelona, Faces Nadal Again

Posted on April 24, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

David Ferrer continues his great run of form this season by progressing to the Barcelona finals where he will play Rafael Nadal, again, for the title. Ferrer had a more difficult semi than his opponent who had to battle past Nicolas Almagro, eventually winning 6-3, 6-4. Nico has also had a great season and as a result of his results in Barcelona will break into the top ten for the first time in his career.

This will be Ferrer’s third final at the Barcelona tournament – he has never won the tournament. Read more »

Posted in Barcelona, David Ferrer, Injury, Nicolas Almagro, Rafael Nadal

Nadal Joins Another Exclusive Club

Posted on April 24, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

After spending his career making, breaking or equaling records Rafael Nadal has now joined an elite group of players with more 500 or more career wins after his 6-3, 6-2 win over Ivan Dodig in the Barcelona semi finals. Nadal, who arrived in Barcelona looking to gain some extra points to try and secure his number one ranking, is now on the hunt for his sixth Barcelona title. Prior to last year, which he missed due to injury, Nadal had won five consecutive titles at the Barcelona club. Read more »

Posted in Barcelona, David Ferrer, Injury, Ivan Dodig, Rafael Nadal

Nadal Beats Monfils For 499th Career Win

Posted on April 23, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

Rafa Nadal needed just 75 minutes to comfortably beat Gael Monfils 6-2, 6-2 and progress to the semi finals in Barcelona. Next up Nadal faces Ivan Dodig for his 500th scalp.

The match was a better one from the Spaniard who only surrendered 8 points on serve. His first service percentage was still well off the mark at 57% but at least he was able to consolidate breaks. The world number one still has a long way to go if he wants to perform a clay court sweep like he did last year winning all three Masters 1000 events and Roland Garros. Read more »

Posted in Barcelona, Gael Monfils, Ivan Dodig

Nadal Keeps Rolling In Barcelona

Posted on April 21, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

After some rusty play and some long matches in Monte Carlo Rafael Nadal was gifted an easy 6-1, 6-1 second round victory over compatriot Daniel Gimeno-Traver. Prior to last year when Nadal did not play due to injury, Rafa had won the 500 point tournament five consecutive years in a row. Now the world number one is looking for six titles from six appearances to try and distance himself in the rankings from Novak Djokovic who is nipping at his heels.

 

The match lasted just 66 minutes, Nadal now 25-0 at the tournament since 2005 (26-1 lifetime record). Read more »

Posted in Barcelona, Injury, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal

Almagro A Win Away From Top Ten

Posted on April 20, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

Nicolas Almagro, another brilliant Spanish tennis player who is often over looked for the Davis Cup team, is just one win away from entering the top ten for the first time. Nico has had a great clay court season so far winning Costa do Sauipe and Beunos Aires and was also a runner up in Acapulco.

Nico is currently ranked 11.

Another great Spaniard is happy to be on the clay. Juan Carlos Ferrero is returning to play after dealing with knee and wrist injuries and is just happy to be back on the court and to “finish the match without injuries, as it is still early in the day to set higher objectives. For now, staying injury-free is the most important thing. Read more »

Posted in Barcelona, Injury, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Nicolas Almagro