Sick Nadal to miss Australian Open

Updated December 29, 2012 12:21:33

French Open champion Rafa Nadal has been forced to withdraw from next month's Australian Open because of a stomach virus that has disrupted his recovery from a long-term knee injury, the world number four said.

"My knee is much better and the rehabilitation process has gone well as predicted by the doctors, but this virus didn't allow me to practise this past week," the Spaniard, who has also pulled out of the Qatar Open in Doha, said in a statement.

"Therefore I am sorry to announce that I will not play in Doha and the Australian Open, as we had initially scheduled."

Nadal was due to make his competitive comeback after the knee injury sidelined him for six months at this week's Mubadala World Tennis Championship, an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi that is not part of the ATP Tour.

The 26-year-old won the event in 2010 and 2011 but withdrew on December 25 citing the stomach virus.

He has not played since June when he suffered a shock defeat in the second round of Wimbledon to Czech Lukas Rosol.

He was subsequently diagnosed with a partial tear of the patella tendon and inflammation in his left knee and was unable to defend his Olympic title at the London Games.

The 11-times grand slam singles champion also missed the US Open and the season-ending World Tour championships before returning to the practice court on November 20.

At last year's Australian Open, Nadal was runner-up to Novak Djokovic after an epic five-set final that lasted almost six hours.

It was the longest match at the event and the longest men's grand slam singles final on record.

"It is completely understandable and we really feel disappointed for him," Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said on the event's website.

"But without any match practice and without sufficient lead up time on the practice court, it makes it virtually impossible for him to get his body ready.

"We just hope he gets better quickly and we see him back on the tour as soon as possible. Tennis fans across the world have been missing him.

"I am confident we will see him back on the tour soon and back in Australia for 2014."

Nadal, who won a record seventh French Open crown in May on his favoured clay, said doctors had advised a period of rest without any sport for the next seven days starting on Friday.

"As my team and doctors say, the safest thing to do is to do things well and this virus has delayed my plans of playing these weeks," he said.

"I will have to wait until the Acapulco tournament (at the end of February) to compete again although I could consider to play before at any other ATP event.

"I always said that my return to competition will be when I am in the right conditions to play and after all this time away from the courts I'd rather not accelerate the comeback and prefer to do things well."

Nadal's athletic, aggressive playing style places huge demands on his muscles and joints and he has been sidelined several times by injuries during his 11-year career.

He said last week he does not expect to be back to full fitness and close to his best until the Masters event at Indian Wells in March.

"Rafa Nadal suffered last week a viral process that provoked a gastroenteritis with high fever for four or five days," doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, the head of Nadal's medical team, said on Friday.

"Due to this it's been recommended a break from sports for a week.

"Because of this, and considering that the next event is Doha, starting next week he won't be in sufficient physical conditions to continue with his rehabilitation process."

Nadal's uncle and coach Toni added: "We consider it inappropriate to play the Australian Open since we will not have enough preparation for a...grand slam tournament.

"It is simply not conceivable that his first event is a best of five sets event, he wouldn't be ready for that," he added.

"It is true we have been quite unlucky with this but there is nothing we can do. After all this time it is better to do things well and the most professional thing to do is to start when we are ready."

Reuters

Tags: tennis, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted December 29, 2012 09:00:37

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Rivals support Nadal comeback bid

Updated January 02, 2013 10:18:36

Two of Rafael Nadal's top ten rivals have spoken out against critics who say that the winner of eleven major titles can never again be the player he was.

David Ferrer, the world number five from Spain, and Richard Gasquet, the French world number 10, both contradict the idea that Nadal's prolonged absence is too long even for him to become the world's best player again.

The murmurs of doubters increased with Friday's news on Nadal that his six months on the sidelines with a damaged knee will be followed by more weeks out, reportedly because of gastro-enteritis.

But Ferrer, voted Spanish player of the year in Nadal's absence, talks differently.

"The good news is he doesn't have pain in the knees, so that's the most important," he said, contradicting suggestions that the statement that Nadal has been unwell is merely cover for continued mobility problems.

"I spoke with him few a days ago. He was sick with a virus, and he preferred to stop (practising). And he will come back in South America (Acapulco in February).

"Rafael, he can do it because he's a very good player. He's a special player, no? He's not like anyone else. Rafael, he's very competitive, he's a winner, and he's young also.

"I have confidence that when he comes back he will play good.

"Maybe not in his first tournaments because they are often tough, but I am sure he is coming back to number two or number one in the world."

Gasquet sounds even more certain of Nadal's resilience, suggesting that the seven-time French Open champion will be adding to his record-breaking exploits as soon as June.

"For sure he has problem with his knee, but I'm sure he's coming back on clay in a month, and I'm sure he will be ready for Monte Carlo, that kind of tournament," Gasquet said.

"He will be 100 per cent. I'm pretty sure he will come back at his best level soon.

"He's coming back on a clay court, which is better for his knee. For sure he will come back at his top form for Monte Carlo (in April), these kind of tournaments. And for me he's still the favourite for Roland Garros.

"Nadal is one of the best. He's incredible. I'm sure he will come back at his best level, and that he can still win a lot of grand slams."

Asked therefore why there were so many people who doubted that such things were possible, Gasquet had a one-word answer - "journalists."

AFP

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First posted January 01, 2013 08:07:05

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Doctors rule out surgery for injured Nadal

Updated September 06, 2012 09:07:22

Doctors have ruled out surgery to treat Rafael Nadal's knee injury and he could be back on the practice court in a month, according to Spanish tennis federation doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro.

The 26-year-old has been on the sidelines since his shock Wimbledon second-round exit at the hands of unheralded Czech Lukas Rosol in late June because of a torn tendon in his left knee.

That meant he missed the London Olympics, the Masters series events at Toronto and Cincinnati as well as the US Open, which is currently underway in New York and where he reached the final last year.

"We have completely ruled out surgery," Ruiz-Cotorro told a news conference in Barcelona.

"During the next month we'll be doing training with a lot of physiotherapy combined with hydrotherapy and laser and we'll see how he progresses.

"We believe that within two months the tendon will be in what we consider a normal state. In a month's time, if the tests and his progress are positive, he can get back to work on the court," he added.

Ruiz-Cotorro said the main goal of the treatment was "for the tendon to recover with the same strength it had" and not his quick return to the court.

"He wants to play when he is in perfect shape, and not take part in a tournament and then stop. He is swimming, cycling, doing physiotherapy, doing the things he has to do," the doctor added.

The former world number one has needed repeated injury lay-offs over the last few years to rest his knees, which take much of the strain that comes from his highly physical style of play.

There have been repeated fears expressed that the rest of his career could be jeopardised if the knee problems get any worse.

AFP

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First posted September 06, 2012 09:07:22

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Nadal to take next two months off to rest knee

Updated September 04, 2012 12:45:46

Rafael Nadal's injury lay-off has been extended by another two months with the Spaniard saying his troublesome knee will not be ready for the Davis Cup semi-final against the United States.

"I really want to be back competing and enjoying the tennis tour, but I have many years in front of me and my knee needs some rest," Nadal said in a statement.

"I will be back when I have no pain and am able to compete without problems."

Nadal has been having treatment for a partial tear of the patella tendon and an inflammation of the Hoffa's fat pad of his left knee.

The world number three has not played since suffering a shock second-round Wimbledon defeat to Czech Lukas Rosol in June.

He missed the Olympic Games, where he was the defending champion, and was forced to withdraw from the US Open.

"I feel better after the meeting with my doctors and happy knowing that the evolution of the past weeks has been positive and surgery has been avoided," Nadal added.

"I will continue to work with the plan my doctors have established to be able to compete as soon as possible in the right conditions.

"I would also like to thanks all for the support I have been receiving."

The statement said doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro was to hold a news conference in Barcelona on Tuesday to give further details.

Spain, which is bidding for a fourth Davis Cup crown in five year, takes on the US in Gijon on September 14-16.

AFP

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First posted September 04, 2012 12:36:20

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Nadal not thinking about another Wimbledon title

Updated June 26, 2012 18:16:26

Being neither "arrogant" nor "crazy", Rafa Nadal is refusing to think about a third Wimbledon title ahead of his first-round match against Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci on Tuesday.

Having won a record seventh French Open title at the start of the month by beating his great rival Novak Djokovic in the final, the Spaniard could be forgiven for allowing his thoughts to wander to the possibility of another title in southwest London.

"I'm very happy the way things went the last couple of months, since the beginning of the season," he told reporters.

"Thinking about winning another title here in Wimbledon is arrogant and crazy. That's something I cannot think about."

Britain's Andy Murray follows Nadal on to Centre Court as he begins his latest attempt to win a maiden grand slam title at Wimbledon against Nikolay Davydenko, while in the women's competition, champion Petra Kvitova and Serena Williams are both in action.

"I think after Wimbledon, it changed everything as a player," Kvitova said ahead of her first-round clash against Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova which will open the Centre Court programme.

"(In) the tournaments after, the players want to beat me for sure."

Queensland teenager Ash Barty will make her Wimbledon debut tonight, against Italy's Roberta Vinci.

Barty is the tournament's reigning junior champion, but has chosen to compete in the women's draw this year.

Veteran Casey Dellacqua of Australia faces a tough first round assignment against the number nine seed Marion Bartoli.

In the men's draw, Bernard Tomic will start favourite against Belgium's David Goffin, Lleyton Hewitt will meet the number five seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, while Matthew Ebden will take on Frenchman Benoit Paire.

Hewitt was the champion in 2002 but needed a wildcard to play at Wimbledon this year after missing several months with a toe injury.

He has a tough first-up opponent in Tsonga, who beat Roger Federer on to his way to the semi-finals last year.

Reuters/ABC

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First posted June 26, 2012 15:55:48

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Nadal unsure of return date

Updated August 28, 2012 15:36:13

Rafa Nadal does not know when he will return to action but insists his current ailment is a new one and not a repeat of previous knee injuries.

The 11-time major winner must recover from a nagging knee problem known as Hoffa's syndrome before returning to competition and was a doubt for next month's Davis Cup semi-final against the United States.

Spain's world number three has not played since suffering a shock second-round Wimbledon defeat by lowly-ranked Czech Lukas Rosol in June. He missed the Olympic Games and on Wednesday he withdrew from the US Open.

"The important thing is to recover well and come back when my knee is a hundred percent perfect," Nadal told said in his hometown of Manacor in Mallorca.

"We'll see if I will be ready for Gijon, for the Davis Cup. My goal, my dream is to be there if the captain has confidence in me, but it always depends on the captain and the knee."

Due to his aggressive style of play, Nadal has suffered a string of physical problems during his career, including a foot injury in 2005 and more recently with his knees.

He pulled out of the 2008 Tennis Masters Cup with tendinitis, and a year later the same complaint led to him missing the chance to defend his title at Wimbledon.

A knee injury also forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open in 2010.

The current injury forced him to pull out of a semi-final clash with Andy Murray at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami in March and is not linked to previous injuries, according to the Spaniard.

"The injury is not the same (as before)," he said.

"It is an injury that started around February before Indian Wells. I played these months with some problems, like in Miami, but normally I had the control of the pain, of the injury.

"But after (winning the French Open at) Roland Garros the injury got worse and it was impossible to continue competing and, of course, the important thing today is to recover as fast as possible after not arriving in perfect condition at Wimbledon."

Spanish tennis federation (RFET) doctor Angel Ruiz Cotorro said Nadal was suffering from a problem known as Hoffa's syndrome which is a swelling round the tendon just below the kneecap in his left leg.

"It is uncomfortable and painful, but it is not serious," Cotorro was quoted as saying on the Marca website.

"He is recovering well. Next week they will do tests and if the result is positive we will continue with the same treatment."

Nadal added: "I am practising hard on the recovery with the physio in the gym, to not lose my fitness, I am a few days outside of the tennis court to try and recover faster."

Davis Cup holders Spain beat Austria 4-1 in April, without Nadal, to set up a semi with the US on Sept. 14-16.

Reuters

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First posted August 18, 2012 09:26:00

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Nadal out of Olympics with knee injury

Updated July 20, 2012 07:26:52

Olympic champion Rafael Nadal's withdrawal from the London Games because of injury deprived the tournament of one of its biggest attractions and left Spain reeling.

The gold medal winner in Beijing four years ago has failed to recover from a knee problem and also misses out on the honour of carrying his nation's flag at the opening ceremony.

The Spanish tennis federation says Feliciano Lopez will be Nadal's replacement in the singles draw, while the country's Olympic committee will decide on Friday on a replacement flag bearer for the July 27 parade.

"I'm not in a condition to be able to compete," Nadal said in a statement.

"It's one of the saddest moments of my career."

Nadal won a record seventh French Open title in June but crashed out in the second round at Wimbledon in a massive upset against lowly-ranked Czech Lukas Rosol.

Earlier this month, he pulled out of a charity match against Novak Djokovic in Madrid, saying he was suffering from tendonitis and needed to rest.

Nadal had hoped to return to Wimbledon this month to defend his Olympic title and his withdrawal echoes his plight of 2009 when a similar knee problem meant he had to withdraw from the grass court major, a year after winning it for the first time in an epic final against Roger Federer.

"I have to think of my colleagues, I cannot be selfish and I have to think of the well-being of Spanish sport, especially Spanish tennis, and let a colleague play who has had a better preparation and is in a state to compete," the world number three said.

"I pushed until the last moment in my preparations, in training, but it wasn't to be.

"Today is one of the saddest days of my career as it was one of my biggest dreams, and perhaps the most anticipated moment to be the flag bearer at the opening ceremony for the Games in London.

"You can imagine how difficult it has been to take this decision."

The debate as to who would replace Nadal as flag bearer had already started in the Spanish media.

Sailing duo Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez, who have won a gold and a silver, were in the running along with basketball silver medallist Pau Gasol.

The tennis competition at the All England Club begins on July 28 with Serbia's Djokovic the top seed.

Reuters

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First posted July 20, 2012 07:22:43

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Djokovic, Nadal set up French final

Updated June 09, 2012 08:29:00

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal set-up a history-making French Open final courtesy of devastating semi-final wins, which confirmed their mastery of the men's game.

World number one Djokovic crushed third seed Roger Federer 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 to reach a first Roland Garros final, while six-time champion Nadal, the world number two, breezed past Spanish compatriot David Ferrer 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.

On Sunday, history will be made as a win for Djokovic will make him only the third man to hold all four major trophies at the same time.

A win for Nadal, whose record in Paris now stands at 51 wins against just one defeat, will mean he would be the first man to win the French Open seven times, breaking a tie with Swedish legend Bjorn Borg.

"I am happy to be in the final here, it's always difficult to play against Roger," said Djokovic, who had his 43-match winning streak ended by Federer at the same stage of Roland Garros 12 months ago.

"It's a dream to be in the final, but Rafa, who always plays so well here, will be the favourite."

Both Djokovic and Federer had looked far from convincing in reaching this stage.

Djokovic came back from two sets to love down to beat Andreas Seppi in the fourth round, before saving four match points against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a five-set quarter-final.

Federer had also been two sets to love down to Juan Martin del Potro in his five-set, last eight match before battling back.

The Swiss world number three ended the semi-final with an uncharacteristic 46 unforced errors, caused to some extent by the swirling wind inside the Philippe Chatrier court.

He was also left to regret twice squandering early breaks in the first two sets.

Defeat also ended Federer's hopes of making a 24th major final, while extending his long wait to add to his record 16 majors, the last of which came at the 2010 Australian Open.

"He played well under difficult conditions," said Federer, who had been 3-0 and 5-4 ahead in the second set.

"But I had chances. There are no excuses. I tried and if I had won that second set, it would have been a different match. But it didn't work out."

Nadal says his demolition of Ferrer was one of the most complete matches he has played for some time.

The Spaniard was only briefly troubled at the start of the match, saving two break points in the fourth game before accelerating away for victory.

"In my opinion I did almost everything right, because my serve worked very well, changing directions," he said.

"My backhand was at its best so far today. I hit the forehand well during all the tournament. Today wasn't an exception."

The win sees Nadal into his seventh final in eight years and once again he has done so without dropping a set. In fact he has only once had his serve broken, in the second set of his first-round tie against Simone Bolelli.

AFP

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First posted June 09, 2012 08:07:58

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Nadal and Ferrer in Spanish showdown

Updated June 07, 2012 08:12:10

Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer will meet in an all-Spanish French Open semi-final after winning their way through from the last eight.

Defending champion and second seed Nadal ousted another Spaniard, Nicolas Almagro, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 6-3, while sixth seed Ferrer outgunned fourth seed Andy Murray of Britain 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-2.

Friday's other semi-final has already been set, with top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia taking on third seed Roger Federer of Switzerland.

The win over Almagro was the 50th for Nadal at the spiritual home of claycourt tennis since he first competed in Paris as an 18-year-old in 2005.

His only defeat came in the fourth round in 2009, when he lost to Sweden's Robin Soderling in a fourth-round match.

This year Nadal is bidding to become the first player to win seven French Open titles, moving him out of a tie with Swedish legend Bjorn Borg.

A win on Sunday would also be his 11th grand slam title, level with Borg and Australia's Rod Laver.

In the end Almagro went the way of so many others over the course of the last seven years but he gave a solid account of himself, especially in a hotly-disputed first set.

"He had chances in the third. He had a few very good moments hitting the ball very hard," said Nadal of Almagro, who he beat for the eighth time in as many matches.

"But my serve worked really well, and he had one mistake, one important mistake with the forehand."

Nadal's drive into the final four has come at the cost of just 30 games and he will take confidence into the semi-final clash with close friend Ferrer, having beaten him 15 times out of the 19 times they have played each other.

Ferrer is fully aware of the extent of the challenge that awaits him.

After his hard-earned win over Murray he said: "It will be a tough match against Rafa, he's the best in history on this surface, but I hope to have a good match."

"Tonight's match was very hard, physically very difficult. But I am happy to be in the semi-finals at Roland Garros for the first time."

Murray, bidding to reach a second successive French Open semi-final, comfortably matched his opponent in the gruelling, big-hitting rallies, but was undone by 59 unforced errors.

It meant his long-running quest to end 76 years of heartbreak for British tennis at the four major tournaments in tennis will now move on to the grass at Wimbledon.

"He had his chances and converted them. He's solid and consistent and if you don't convert opportunities against him, the games become longer and the pressure builds on you," said Murray, who had reached the semi-finals in the last five grand slams.

"But it was a good tournament for me. I felt better coming in this year than I did last year. I lost to a better claycourt player tonight.

"There are things to work on but I knew it would be a tough match."

Asked who he thought would win the tournament Murray replied: "I think the four best claycourt players in the world are left in and whoever plays best will win.

"I probably have to favour Rafa (Nadal) slightly, but everyone is playing very, very well."

AFP

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First posted June 07, 2012 05:47:11

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Nadal to carry Spain flag at opening ceremony

Updated June 21, 2012 08:23:00

Olympic gold medallist Rafael Nadal will carry the Spain flag at the opening ceremony for the London Games.

The world number two, who recently won a record seventh French open title, has won 11 major tournaments.

Nadal was chosen ahead of sailing duo Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez, who have a gold and a silver from the Athens and Beijing Games in the 49er class event.

The 26-year-old Nadal will be attending his third Olympic Games. He competed in the doubles in Athens in 2004 and won the singles in Beijing four years ago.

World number one Novak Djokovic will carry Serbia's flag at the opening ceremony on July 27.

Reuters

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First posted June 21, 2012 08:23:00

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Nadal seals magnificent seventh French title

Updated June 12, 2012 09:20:58

Rafael Nadal has clinched a record seventh French Open title, defeating world number one Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 and shattering the Serb's dream of grand slam history.

In a final pushed into a third week for only the second time because of Sunday's rain, the Spanish world number two, playing in his 16th grand slam final, also took his Paris record to a staggering 52 wins against just one loss.

Victory allowed him to break the tie for six French Opens he shared with Bjorn Borg.

"It's a real honour," Nadal said.

"But for me the most important thing is this tournament. For me this is the most important tournament in the world.

"I'm really, really emotional and it's probably one of the more special moments of my career."

Djokovic was left to regret his unforced error count of 53 which undermined his challenge.

After Sunday's suspension at 2:50am (AEST), the players, meeting in a fourth successive grand slam final, resumed with Nadal leading 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 1-2, but with Djokovic in the ascendancy and serving for a 3-1 lead in the fourth set.

But a forehand error from Djokovic, with the court at his mercy, gave Nadal a break point and the Spaniard seized it when the Serb had been left flat-footed by a net cord which allowed his opponent to push through a winner.

The set remained tight as would be expected with the pair meeting for a 33rd time.

Nadal moved to 5-4 as the umbrellas went up all around Philippe Chatrier Court and the players sat courtside to wait out a passing, heavy shower and complained to tournament referee Stefan Fransen about the slippery conditions.

Djokovic finally buckled when a monster forehand from Nadal set up championship point, which he converted when the top seed tamely served up a fourth double fault.

"Rafa was the better player," Djokovic said.

"I hope to come back next year and play even better."

The celebrations were ecstatic as Nadal fell to his knees and consoled Djokovic before the champion climbed into the player's box to embrace his family.

On Sunday, Djokovic had looked down and out at one stage, even picking up a warning for destroying his courtside chair box with his racquet.

After slipping two sets down, he was also a break behind at 0-2 in the third before he reeled off eight games in succession to take the third set - the first lost by Nadal in this year's event - and lead 2-0 in the fourth.

The first game of the fourth set had featured a gruelling 44-shot rally.

But Nadal had raged at tournament referee Stefan Fransen for having to keep playing as the court became increasingly treacherous.

As he stormed, Djokovic, who had been two sets to love down to Andreas Seppi in the fourth round, and saved four match points in his quarter-final victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, seized his chance to get back into the match.

The last time a French Open men's final failed to be completed on the last Sunday was 1973 when it was played on the Tuesday with Ilie Nastase beating Niki Pilic.

Monday finishes have become common at the US Open in New York with the last four finals taking place on the extra day while the 2001 Wimbledon final was also completed on a Monday.

Roland Garros will eventually avoid late finishes as a main court with a retractable roof is to be built in 2017.

AFP

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First posted June 11, 2012 22:06:33

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Nadal leads Spanish charge at French Open

Updated June 03, 2012 08:28:36

Rafael Nadal tightened a Spanish stranglehold on the bottom half of the French Open draw, while Andy Murray set up a last 16 round clash with Richard Gasquet.

The top seed and defending champion coasted into the fourth round with a lop-sided 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 win over qualifier Eduardo Schwank of Argentina.

Earlier sixth-seeded David Ferrer flattened Russia's Mikhail Youzhny 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 in just 101 minutes, whilst 12th seed Nicolas Almagro saw off the challenge of Argentina's Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.

Marcel Granollers then edged a hard-fought 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-1 win over French wildcard Paul-Henri Mathieu to ensure that half of the qualifiers for the last 16 in the bottom half of the draw were from Spain.

In contrast, there were no Spaniards through in the top half of the draw.

Murray looked to be over the lower back problems that beset him in the previous round as he defeated Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Nadal, who turns 26 on Sunday, had Schwank on the defensive from the start, jumping out into a 4-0 lead that set the tone for the entire match.

In the end he conceded just eight games, taking his total in three matches to a meagre 17.

The Spaniard is set on winning the French Open for a record seventh time in eight years, having first played at Roland Garros in 2005 as an 18-year-old.

With a match record of 48-1 in his favour Nadal next goes up against Juan Monaco of Argentina who defeated Milos Raonic of Canada 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4.

"I have started well the tournament - into the second week now, that is the most important thing," he said.

"Now I have a big confrontation against Monaco. He is having a fantastic season."

The 30-year-old Ferrer, who has yet to make it past the quarter-finals at Roland Garros despite being one of the best players on clay for the last few years, had Youzhny by the throat from the start, winning the first set 6-0 and leading 2-0 in the second before the Russian got off the mark.

Thereafter Ferrer conceded just another three games as he set up a last 16 round meeting with Granollers.

"This match was easier than planned, and I was immediately into the match," he said.

"When the situation was a bit difficult, I managed to overcome these difficulties.

Almagro's routine win over Mayer was his seventh straight victory following his title triumph in Nice last week.

His previous best at Roland Garros were quarter-final appearances in 2008 and 2010 and on both occasions he lost to Nadal who he will face again should the two Spaniards make it through to the last eight.

On his rest day on Friday, Murray had been left fielding criticism from such as British legend Virginia Wade and French champion Henri Leconte that he had acted in an unsportsmanlike manner in his win over Jarkko Nieminen on Thursday.

In that tie he had looked down and out in the first few games, clutching at his lower back and legs and needing medical treatment three times.

After dropping the first set 6-1, Murray suddenly settled down in the second and eventually ran out an easy winner.

Many felt his actions could have destabilized his opponent whose game fell apart after the opening set.

Against Giraldo though there was no sign of the back spasms that Murray said had been the problem against Nieminen and a single break in each set was enough to put him through into the last 16 at Roland Garros for the fourth straight year.

"Obviously it was very hot today and I warmed up very quickly," he said.

"I felt better yesterday when I woke up than I had the day before, and then had a very light practice.

"I woke up this morning again feeling better than I did, but that's because of the work my physio has done the last 48 hours and all the recovery work that we've done between the last match and now."

Also through to the last 16 was eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia who worked his way past Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

Tipsarevic won the last five games of the match after being 4-1 down in the third set to reach the last 16 at Roland Garros for the first time and will next take on Almagro.

There was better news for home fans with the victory of 17th seed Richard Gasquet 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 over German veteran Tommy Haas.

Gasquet, who won 13 games in a row from 5-3 ahead in the second set to destroy Haas, will next play Murray in a bid to reach the French Open last eight for the first time.

AFP

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First posted June 03, 2012 08:03:34

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Nadal, Murray through to last eight

Updated June 05, 2012 08:27:52

Defending champion Rafael Nadal stormed into the French Open quarter-finals on Tuesday (AEST) as three Spaniards plus Andy Murray made it through to the last eight in the bottom half of the draw.

Nadal demolished Juan Monaco of Argentina 6-2, 6-0, 6-0 in an awesome display of claycourt tennis that must have sent shivers through his rivals for the title here.

Countrymen David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro had earlier gone through comfortably.

Sixth-seeded Ferrer cruised past countryman Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-2, 6-0, and 12th seed Almagro pushed aside Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Murray then joined them with a disjointed 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 win over Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

The Scot will play Ferrer, while Nadal will go for his 50th win at Roland Garros against Almagro.

Joining them in the last eight, in matches held over from Sunday in the opposing top half of the draw, were Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina.

Tsonga, seeking to provide a first French win in the men's singles since Yannick Noah in 1983, returned to action against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 4-2 ahead in the fifth set.

And despite dropping his serve in the opening game, he held steady to pull off a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 3-6, 6-4 win that saw him into the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the first time.

Next up will be a meeting with top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who has history-making on his mind too as he bids to become the first man in 43 years to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time.

"It was tough yesterday as it was dark at the end. I don't know if was great for me or not," Tsonga said.

"But I came on the court this morning with a good spirit. I had a good night's sleep and I was ready to play again."

Del Potro was two sets to one up against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic when darkness fell on their fourth round tie late Sunday and he wasted little time on their return Monday to complete a 7-6 (8-6), 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 win.

His reward will be another crack at third seed Roger Federer, against whom he lost a thrilling five-setter in the 2009 semi-finals.

Second seed Nadal won 17 games in succession to destroy Monaco and afterwards said he had to feel sorry for his close friend for suffering such a heavy defeat.

The Spaniard, bidding to become the first man to capture seven Roland Garros singles titles, celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday while title rivals Djokovic and Federer were struggling into the last eight.

Monaco, the 13th seed, went into Monday's match with solid claycourt form under his belt having captured titles in Vina del Mar and Houston this year.

But he had lost all three previous clay meetings against Nadal, claiming just 10 games in the process, and the 28-year-old was swept aside again by the champion in just one hour and 46 minutes on Suzanne Lenglen court.

Fourth seed Murray looked all at sea for a set and a half before his fourth round clash with Gasquet turned dramatically late in the second set as the Scot found his touch and Gasquet totally lost his.

The win means that Murray has reached a Grand Slam quarter-final for the sixth straight time, with Ferrer, who he has never beaten on clay, waiting for him as his opponent.

For Gasquet there was the disappointment of failing to join countryman Tsonga in the last eight. The last time two Frenchman made the quarter-finals at Roland Garros was in 1990.

"He started very, very well, went for his shots, high risk and was playing unbelievable," Murray said of his opponent.

"I was lucky to turn it around at the end of the second set and then I started to play a lot better."

AFP

Tags: sport, tennis, france

First posted June 05, 2012 08:22:26

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Nadal scampers past opening rival

Updated May 30, 2012 06:51:53

Rafael Nadal, bidding for a record seventh Roland Garros crown, sped into the second round at the French Open with a straight sets win over Italian Simone Bolelli - but stressed it was too early to think about surpassing Swedish legend Bjorn Borg.

Nadal and Borg have both lifted six titles in Paris but aged just 25, clay king Nadal, one of just seven men to lift all four majors, is odds on to shatter the record and take sole ownership of the mark.

He survived a momentary second set blip to sweep past his 111th-ranked rival 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in just under three hours and set up a meeting with Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, who whipped Russian Igor Kunitsyn 6-2, 6-1, 6-2.

Despite the wide margin of his win Nadal, whose record in Paris is now 46-1, insisted he had had to battle some early butterflies.

"All matches are always difficult - the more so here, as you are a bit more nervous. It's not easy to get your bearings right off as the court is big and it's difficult out there," said the Mallorcan, who is looking to join Borg and Rod Laver on 11 grand slam singles titles.

"But I'm always happy to play here - it's an incredible feeling."

Also moving through among the men was British fourth seed Andy Murray, who crushed Japan's Tatsuma Ito 6-1, 7-5, 6-0.

Likewise was Murray's potential quarter-final opponent, Spanish sixth seed David Ferrer, who dismissed Slovakia's Lukas Lacko 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.

The biggest casualty of the day was 16th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov who went down to fellow Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-3 in a match resuming from the second day.

Locals Richard Gasquet and Julien Benneteau both advanced, as did Serbian eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic, who ousted big-serving American Sam Querrey 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.

Other seeds Nicolas Almagro (12), Juan Monaco (13), Mikhail Youzhny (27) and Florian Mayer (32) also all progressed.

AFP

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First posted May 30, 2012 06:35:23

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Nadal captures sixth Rome title

Updated May 21, 2012 22:59:19

Rafa Nadal enjoyed the perfect fillip ahead of his French Open defence with a commanding 7-5, 6-3 victory over world number one Novak Djokovic in the delayed Rome Masters final on Monday.

Beaten surprisingly early on Madrid's blue clay earlier this month, the 25-year-old Mallorcan was at his destructive best to claim the title in the Italian capital for the sixth time.

In doing so he will rise back to second in the world rankings after being overtaken by Roger Federer last week.

The match, the 32nd between the pair, had been postponed by rain on Sunday, but both players came out firing in front of a healthy crowd in the Foro Italico as the sun returned.

Nadal went immediately on the attack, carving out two break points in Djokovic's opening service game only for the elastic-limbed Serb's defences to dig him out of trouble.

The Spaniard did draw first blood when he punished a dreadful Djokovic drop shot in the fifth game to move ahead but he immediately handed the service break back with a lacklustre game culminating in a forehand error.

Djokovic briefly switched up a gear and began to dominate the rallies but was broken again at 5-5 after a volleying exchange and Nadal served out a 76-minute opener.

Nadal made it five games in a row when he moved 2-0 ahead in the second set and although Djokovic hung on grimly, threatening to break back in the fourth game only to mess up an easy smash, he stayed in control.

Two bad bounces and a double-fault on match point helped Nadal close it out and improve his career head-to-head record over the Serb to 18-14.

Reuters

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First posted May 21, 2012 22:51:25

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Djokovic, Nadal set up Rome rematch

Updated May 20, 2012 13:55:41

World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic swept past Roger Federer to set up a Rome Masters final rematch with five-time winner Rafael Nadal.

Top seed Djokovic ended Federer's brilliant run of recent clay form, defeating the world number two, and last week's Madrid champion, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) while Nadal reached a seventh Rome final with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-0 win over compatriot David Ferrer.

Federer saved a match point for 5-5 in the second set as he broke Djokovic on a stinging forehand winner.

But he could not extend that battling instinct into the tie-breaker, with Djokovic taking victory on his second winning chance as the Swiss put a backhand long after an hour and 39 minutes on court.

"This was my best match on clay so far," said Djokovic.

"I was focused from the beginning and very determined and concentrated.

"I was hitting the ball well and returning extremely well. I was making him play the extra shot and make errors. I'm very pleased to be back in the final."

After defeating Ferrer for the 12th consecutive time on clay, Nadal will face Djokovic for the 32nd time on Sunday, with the Spaniard going into the contest holding a 17-14 lead.

Nadal won their last meeting in April for the Monte Carlo title, snapping a run of seven consecutive losses to his rival in finals dating back to March 2011.

"I've raised the level of our rivalry," said Djokovic.

"Playing Rafa in the finals again is very encouraging. It is what I want before Roland Garros."

Djokovic controlled Federer in their first meeting since the US Open semis last autumn when Federer held two match points but lost. Since that disappointment he has won seven ATP titles.

"Overall, I wasn't playing quite good enough," said Federer, who admitted that he was relieved the tournament was over.

"I've played a lot of tennis in the last few weeks. Novak was looking fresh, he was better tonight. He really put pressure on me."

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, italy, australia

First posted May 20, 2012 09:19:34

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Defeated Nadal threatens to boycott blue clay

Updated May 11, 2012 08:58:43

Rafa Nadal suffered his first clay court defeat in 23 matches and threatened to boycott next year's Madrid Masters if officials did not ditch the blue clay that players have labelled "too slippery" and only fit for "smurfs (to) play on".

After a shock 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 third-round loss to fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, the French Open champion vowed not to return to the Masters event unless traditional red courts, which are slower and more suited to his game, were reinstated.

"The movements are very important for me and here I cannot move so I cannot hit the ball the way that I want," he told a news conference after squandering a 5-2 lead in the final set.

"The ATP and the tournament can do what they want," he added referring to the controversial innovation sanctioned by the governing body for this year's tournament.

"I tried my best to prepare but I wasn't good enough to adapt my game to this court.

"The only thing that I know is that if things continue like this I am very sad but next year will be one less tournament in my calendar."

Nadal's outburst was perhaps understandable considering he would have fancied his chances of beating Verdasco, the 15th seed, having won all 13 of their previous meetings.

However, an error-strewn performance ended the world number two's bid for a third straight clay title this season and deprived him of a chance to avenge his defeat by Novak Djokovic in last year's final.

Verdasco broke his Davis Cup team-mate seven times in all, losing his own serve six times, and clubbed 31 winners to his opponent's 19.

A typically crashing forehand drive sealed victory on his second match point and he fell flat on his back on the court before kissing the clay and heading off to play a doubles match.

"I lost because I deserved to lose today," Nadal said.

"Even when I was 5-2 ahead and I had a chance to close the match I didn't know how to do it. He played better than me and he beat me, that's it."

Verdasco next plays Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych, who was the first player into the last eight when he thrashed 12th-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-1.

It was entirely another story for top seed Djokovic, who needed two match points to beat Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 and Roger Federer, who rolled over Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-2.

Djokovic also slammed the court after his laboured second-round victory before announcing he would not play in the Spanish capital next year unless the red clay courts were reinstated.

"They are saying it's exactly the same as the red clay which is not true because there is a big difference," the Serb said.

"You are tripping and slipping and sliding all the time and winner will be the one who doesn't get hurt until the end of the week because a lot of players fell down.

"Generally it's a new experience and the way it looks this year hopefully the last experience."

With the exit of Nadal, Federer now has a chance to return to the number two ranking if he can win the title.

"It was a surprising loss for Rafa," Federer said.

"But Verdasco is a quality player who should have maybe beaten Nadal in the past.

"Down two breaks in a match on clay you don't expect a guy to come back. But the tournament goes on without Rafa.

"I did well today, playing clean tennis. Maybe I had some unforced errors when I went for shots, but the ball flies here.

"I served well when I had to and played well on big points," he said ahead of his clash with fifth seed David Ferrer, who beat compatriot Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-6 (10-8).

Alexandr Dolgopolov, the 16th seed, edged out French fourth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 and will play 10th seed and former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro after the rangy Argentine thumped fellow big-server Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-2, 6-4.

In the women's draw, Serena Williams overcame a lethargic start to upset fellow former world number one Caroline Wozniacki and set up a quarter-final meeting with old foe Maria Sharapova.

The ninth seed powered to a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over the Dane, clubbing a blistering 43 winners to reach the last eight in the Spanish capital for the first time.

Sharapova progressed without hitting a shot in the morning after unseeded Czech Lucie Safarova pulled out with a gastro-intestinal illness.

Fourth-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska, who climbed to world number three this week, won 7-6, 6-4 against Italy's Roberta Vinci and will meet American qualifier Varvara Lepchenko, a 6-1 6-7 6-3 victor over Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues.

AFP/Reuters

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First posted May 11, 2012 07:56:52

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Nadal wins seventh Barcelona title

Updated April 30, 2012 08:11:25

Rafael Nadal confirmed his status as king of clay by winning his seventh Barcelona Open title with a high-quality 7-6 (7-1), 7-5 defeat of David Ferrer.

World number two Nadal went from one history-making weekend to another after claiming an unprecedented eighth straight title a week ago in Monte Carlo where he beat world number one Novak Djokovic.

Seven days later, he took nearly three hours to add to his records in Barcelona as he held off compatriot Ferrer.

Nadal and his friend were playing their fourth final at the Real Club de Tenis, with Nadal winning all of them dating back to 2008.

He now stands as the only man to win two different events at least seven times each.

"This was my hardest match since the start of the clay season," said the winner. "David always takes you to the limit.

"I was lucky when I saved break points. The odds were on my side. In the second set David played very close, but I had the luck at the end. I'm so happy and I feel sorry for him. I'm starting to feel my game well on the clay."

Nadal's victory was his 34th in a row at Barcelona and improved his finals record on clay to 34-4.

His only clay finals losses have come against Djokovic and Roger Federer, each beating him twice.

The Barcelona triumph in front of 8,000 fans came exactly 10 years to the day that a 15-year-old Nadal made his debut on the ATP Tour in his native Mallorca.

Sunday's final was the 10th between Spaniards at the tournament in the Open era, the sixth featuring Nadal and the fourth in five years between Nadal and Ferrer.

Spaniards have won the home title for the past 10 years since 2003.

"Rafa is Rafa and he is very good," Ferrer said in defeat. "I've lost four times to him in this final. But I've always lost to one of the greats. He is a very good player and even better as a person."

The marathon final looked never-ending after a first set lasting 93 minutes with Nadal saving five set points in the 12th game before the tiebreaker which he dominated.

Ferrer, 30, refused to roll over, with the third seed coming from 1-3 down as he broke Nadal in the fifth game and then did it again for 5-4 as Nadal produced a double-fault.

But Nadal was not done, with the top seed breaking back for 5-5, producing a love game for 6-5 and breaking again to end the dramatic contest a game later on the first of three match points.

Nadal now stands 14-4 over Ferrer after winning the 48th trophy of his career.

AFP

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First posted April 30, 2012 08:09:12

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Nadal, Ferrer set Barcelona date

Updated April 29, 2012 13:56:00

Rafael Nadal crushed Fernando Verdasco for the 13th time in his career to set up a fourth Barcelona Open final with long-time rival David Ferrer.

The Sunday showdown will be a repeat of the 2008, 2009 and 2011 finals which were all won by Nadal.

French Open champion Nadal, who is fresh from winning an unprecedented eighth straight title at Monte Carlo last weekend, overwhelmed Verdasco 6-0, 6-4 in just 85 minutes with four breaks of serve.

Third-seed Ferrer had a tougher afternoon, requiring just over two hours in defeating huge-serving Canadian Milos Raonic 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-5).

"I'm very happy to reach a fourth final. It's a very special relationship I have with this tournament," said Ferrer, who had said this week it would be the culmination of his career to lift the trophy.

"I hope I can finally fulfil my dream of finally winning here."

Nadal has dominated the Barcelona event, winning six titles in seven previous appearances. On the one occasion he didn't play -- he missed 2010 with knee problems -- Verdasco took the honours.

Nadal's victory was his 38th winning semi-final in a row on clay, with his last loss coming against Carlos Moya in August 2003.

Raonic had turned in a breakthrough week on the clay of the Real Club de Tenis, winning all of his matches in straight sets.

He defeated Spaniard Nicolas Almagro and upset second-seeded, world number four Andy Murray in the quarter-finals.

"It was very tough to beat Raonic," said Ferrer. "We each had chances but it came down to winning on the key points. He has a huge forehand and he's very difficult to break."

The 21-year-old, ranked 25th, threatened early in the opening set against Ferrer but could not convert on four break chances.

Raonic saved six set points before Ferrer finally clinched it in the tiebreaker from the Canadian's netted forehand.

In the second set, the pair stayed on level-pegging, with Raonic saving the lone break points of the set in the 11th game.

In the tie-breaker, Raonic salvaged a match point as a return caught the line. But Ferrer advanced on his second opportunity from a Raonic error.

"I felt I played very well on the clay this week. I had some very good sensations," said Raonic. "I'm ready for my next objective, Madrid (from next weekend).

"But he was too good when it mattered, that's what makes him a great player who has beaten me every time we've played."

Ferrer improved to 28-4 this season with three titles.

AFP

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First posted April 29, 2012 07:39:39

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Nadal fights off Tsonga challenge

Updated March 29, 2012 16:44:21

World number two Rafa Nadal has qualified for the semi-finals of the Miami Masters, but only after being pushed all the way by France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Nadal threw away chances for an easier win, before he finally emerged with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory in two hours, 49 minutes.

Nadal next faces fourth-seeded British player Andy Murray, who also had to fight hard for his 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Serb Janko Tipsarevic.

Having won the first set comfortably, Nadal was within two points of victory on his own serve at 5-4 in the second set.

However Tsonga began his comeback by breaking the Spaniard's serve, aided by an untimely double-fault from Nadal.

He won three games in a row, claiming the set with a magnificent forehand return winner.

The third set produced some highly entertaining tennis and the Frenchman combined explosive shots, deft slices and glorious backhand work around the net to stay in touch.

Tsonga came close to breaking in the sixth game but Nadal held his nerve. The pair managed to remain on serve until the ninth game, when Nadal made the decisive break.

Although the Frenchman staved off a number of match points, the second seed claimed the match when Tsonga dumped a forehand into the net.

Medical attention

Murray was also given a scare as the world number four trailed by a set and a break before receiving medical attention for what appeared to be a stomach problem.

The Scot then promptly turned the match around as he broke the next service game from ninth seed Tipsarevic and went on to clinch the second set.

He then broke in the third game of the final set and held firm with his serve to ensure a last-four showdown against Nadal.

Overall Murray's backhand was below standard, contributing to a worrying tally of 34 unforced errors.

Murray said after the game that his health problem was almost certainly related to over-hydrating before the game.

"I have this thing that tests how hydrated you are, which I used for the match, and (afterwards) I was very hydrated, even though I'd drunk nothing the last couple of sets,'' Murray said.

"So I don't know if I drunk too much beforehand and kind of over-hydrated and my stomach was filled with liquid.

"It was so hot and humid, and to come off the court hydrated after not really drinking would probably suggest that I had drunk way too much."

Reuters

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First posted March 29, 2012 13:08:50

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