lundi 31 mars 2008

Miami c'est parti!

Ordre du jour
1er avril,2008
4ième tour

Stadium
11h00 a.m.
Radek Stepanek vs James Blake
Pas avant 1h00 p.m.
Roger Federer vs Jose Acasuso
Paul-Henri Mathieu vs Rafael Nadal

Stadium
7h00 p.m
Julien Benneteau vs Andy Roddick

Grandstand
12h00 a.m.
Dmitry Tursunov vs Tomas Berdych
Janko Tipsarevic vs Mikhail Youzhny
Nikolay Davydenko vs Mario Ancic

Tournois à venir. Avril/Mai 2008.

Monte Carlo, Monaco
Masters Series
21 au 27 avril, 2008
http://secure-us.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/b?ci=us-atpclick&cg=tp&tu=http://montecarlo.masters-series.com/1/en/home

Joueurs
Roger Federer (SUI)
Rafael Nadal (ESP)
Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)
David Ferrer (ESP)
Andy Roddick (USA)
David Nalbandian (ARG)
Richard Gasquet (FRA)
James Blake (USA)
Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Andy Murray (GBR)
Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)
Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA)
Tommy Robredo (ESP)
Guillermo Canas (ARG)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)
Carlos Moya (ESP)
Lleyton Hewiit (AUS)
Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
Tommy Hass (GER)

Open Sabadell Atlantico
Barcelone, Espagne
28 avril au 4 mai, 2008
www.openseatbarcelona.com

Joueurs
Rafael Nadal (ESP)
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)
David Ferrer (ESP)
David Nalbandian (ARG)
Tommy Robredo (ESP)
Guillermo Canas (ARG)
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)
Carlos Moya (ESP)
Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
Feliciano Lopez (ESP)












Player Blog: Rafael Nadal @ the Sony Ericsson Open

SUNDAY, MARCH 30

Hi everybody,
Today it was a match day, and first of all I want to say that I played really good and that I am very happy with my performance out there. The funny thing is the rain in Miami. Lot of people asked me about that but after Wimbledon I can't complain if things like this happen. This was nothing, only a couple of times in and out. At Wimbledon it was the whole day, for more than a couple of days!
So we came back a few minutes to the locker room and I simply had a little chat with Francis Roig, my coach here during this March swing. I was playing great and I was feeling really good about the match so we didn't talk much. Only a few tips here and there on a few shots that I made some mistakes. But as I say, I was feeling great and really enjoying my time out there.
The day was long at the tournament. In the end we (or I should say I) spend a lot of time on-site. I left the hotel at 11 and got back at 9.15 pm. That's 10 hours on site. I like to get there early rather than late and hang around and wait for my match rather than the other way around. Beside, yesterday my soccer team was playing and I managed to watch it in the locker room before I went on court. A few of us gathered to watch the match and the atmosphere was pretty funny.
As I said yesterday, my father came to Miami (you know that he normally doesn't travel much to tournaments) with some friends. I say this because then at night we are a few of us going out for dinner. I think we were 10 tonight and we went to a Spanish restaurant here very close to the hotel. New restaurant called Dolores Lolita or something like that. Good food. We just came back from the restaurant.
Tomorrow I have a "free day" since I don't play. Still got some work to do since I am practicing at 12 noon and then I have some autograph sessions at 1.15 pm at the Babolat stand. I hope I can see a few of you there. After that I think I am going to play some golf with my uncle Miguel Angel, my coach Francis and my PR manager Benito Perez-Barbadillo. Well, he will try to play and the three of us will play :-)
See you all.
Rafa

Nadal rejoint Mathieu en huitièmes.

Pas de problème pour Rafael Nadal qui s'est qualifié, dimanche, pour les huitièmes de finale du tournoi ATP de Miami. L'espagnol, tête de série n°2 du tableau, a facilement dominé l'allemand Nicolas Kiefer en deux sets (6/2, 6/4) et 1h50 de match. A noter qu'il affrontera le français Paul-Henri Mathieu pour une place en quarts de finale.

Pas de surprise dimanche à Miami.

Aucune surprise n'a marqué la journée de dimanche dans le tableau masculin du tournoi de tennis de Miami, Master Series de l'ATP doté de 3,77 millions de dollars. L'Espanol Rafael Nadal (ATP 2/N.2) s'est débarrassé de l'Allemand Nicolas Kiefer (ATP 51) 6-2, 6-4, sans même être perturbé par l'interruption de 45 minutes due à la pluie très ciblée qui a contrarié certains courts uniquement."Je suis très content de ce succès. Au retour sur le court, la balle était une peu plus lente et ce fut une peu plus difficile pour moi. Je pense que j'ai joué un match complet", a confié Nadal. Le N.2 mondial, à la recherche de son premier succès de l'année, va retrouver au prochain tour le Français Paul-Henri Mathieu (ATP 16) qui a battu l'Espagnol Carlos Moya (ATP 21) 7-6 (7/1), 7-5.
Le finaliste 2007, l'Argentin Guillermo Canas (ATP 15) a remporté son duel sud-américain face au Chilien Fernando Gonzalez (ATP 18) 7-6 (8/6), 7-5. L'Américain James Blake (ATP 9) a réussi à se sortir des coups de raquettes du magicien français Fabrice Santoro (ATP 49) 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4. A moins de deux semaines du quart de finale de la Coupe Davis contre la France, Blake est en train de se construire une belle confiance puisqu'il avait battu leur N.1 Richard Gasquet, à Indian Wells il y a quinze jours. "Je n'ai été vraiment rassuré qu'après la balle de match", a cependant confié Blake.

Sony Ericsson Open 2008 - Nadal Interview (30-03)

Miami c'est parti!

Ordre du jour
31 mars, 2008

Stadium
11h00 a.m.
Roger Federer vs Robin Soderling
7h00 p.m.
Ivo Minor vs Andy Roddick

Grandstand
11h00 a.m.
Nikolay Davydenko vs Simone Bolelli
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs Julien Benneteau
Janko Tipsarevic vs Thomas Johansson
Mikhail Youzhny vs Nicolas Almagro
Pas avant 5h00 p.m.
Juan Monaco vs Mario Ancic
Rafael Nadal
3.30.08
R. NADAL/N. Kiefer
6‑2, 6‑4

An interview with:
RAFAEL NADAL

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You had to stop a couple times because of the rain. Was it difficult to keep a rhythm?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it was not the best day because I was playing unbelievable in the beginning, you know, playing very well, hitting very well the ball, and playing almost perfect match, no?
So I was very happy about my victory. When I come back to the court the ball was a little bigger and slower, and it was a little bit more difficult for me.
Anyway, I feel I played very complete match. Only thing the last game. It was more mistakes than usual.

Q. You play Mathieu next?
RAFAEL NADAL: I play Mathieu.

Q. Can you speak a bit about playing him? He's made a lot of progress in the last year.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, he always is a very good player, no? I played against him some time before and it was always very, very tough matches. I know he's playing well. He's doing well. He won against Moya today, a very good match.
I saw the match on the TV, and he played very well. So I need continuing playing like this for try to win this match, no? So it's going to be an important match for me.

Q. I have one historical question for you. I know Carlos was your mentor, but Gustavo Kuerten, was he someone you admired when you were younger? And what do you think he meant to tennis, and especially clay tennis
RAFAEL NADAL: Oh, he's one of the most important players in the last years, no?
So I'm happy for met him. I'm happy for be here in the same tour like him. So I saw him winning in Roland Garros few times, won the Masters. Maybe was in Lisbon when he won. He won I think Agassi and Sampras, and he was the No. 1. So, well, he was amazing player. For sure, I have to admire Guga, no?

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

Miami c'est parti!







Rafa vs Nicolas Kiefer (suite)


dimanche 30 mars 2008

Miami c'est parti!




















Rafa vs Nicolas Kiefer

30 mars, 2008



Player Blog: Rafael Nadal @ the Sony Ericsson Open

SATURDAY, MARCH 29

Hi everybody,
Here I am again writing this blog for Tennis.com. I hear that this is one of the biggest web sites in tennis so I am happy that the tennis fans are the ones really getting to read this.Today I would like to talk about doubles. I do this since I played today a fantastic doubles match. I don't refer to the way I played. This comment is more about the atmosphere we lived today out there on court. It was Tommy Robredo and me against the Bryan brothers. We played on Court No. 1 and it was really a fantastic atmosphere. I hear there were really big queues to come to the court. The match was also a great match and I think the people had a great time watching it. I had a lot of fun playing it since I love to play. I love to compete and also in doubles since as I have said many times it is a team playing. Really, I had a great time out there today. We lost but that's not the most important thing...As I say the atmosphere on court was unbelievable and I also feel we had a lot of support from the crowds although we were playing against two locals. But well, maybe in Miami with so many Spanish speaking people we are also locals... :-)I have always said I like doubles and I like to play doubles. But I also think that there are some rules nowadays that make us not play as often. It is true it is easier now to play since we can get in the doubles draw with our singles ranking but there are also times that when we have an injury, or we lost in singles and don't want to stay for doubles, only we have to stay and play or we lose ranking points and prize money. Then we play with no motivation and it is kind of ridiculous. They explain that the rule is to avoid that we sign in and then we retire, but in the end I am not sure what's worst, specially for the spectators. I would redo these rules and make them better, to tell you the truth.Coming back now to my day and singles, tomorrow I play my second match against Nicolas Kiefer. I know it is not easy but it is important for me to go through this round here and go into the second week. I am planning on leaving at 11 am the hotel since I have my warm up at noon. My father and some of his friends arrived today so I also take the opportunity to thank the tournament organizers who very kindly gave me some extra tickets for them. My family normally never travels but when they do they always come with friends and it is not easy to find tickets for a tournament like this. So really, thanks... they are really nice to me and I have to thank them also here.Let's see how it goes tomorrow.

Many thanks to all,
Rafa

samedi 29 mars 2008

Miami c'est parti!

30 mars, 2008
Horaire du jour
Simple Homme
3ième tour

Stadium
Pas avant 1h00 p.m.
Fabrice Santoro vs James Blake
Nicolas Kiefer vs Rafael Nadal
7h00 p.m.
Guillermo Canas vs Fernando Gonzalez

Grandstand
11h00 a.m.
Dmitry Tursonov vs Feliciano Lopez
Paul-Henri Mathieu vs Carlos Moya

Miami c'est parti!



Rafa en double.
29 mars,2008

Photos de Rafa en vrac à Miami.











Rafael Nadal - 3.28.08

R. NADAL/B. Becker
7‑5, 6‑2

An interview with:
RAFAEL NADAL


THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. In the first set you were down a couple of games during the beginning, which is, of course, that's not uncommon. But do you ever start to panic, or does it kind of affect your game if you're down a couple of games? How do you handle that?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, he start playing so crazy, playing well in the beginning. So, well, he break me in the second game, but I have little bit luck and I can come back, break in the next game. So happy for that, because I played a comfortable game, comfortable match today, no?
So I'm happy with my victory.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

Player Blog: Rafael Nadal @ the Sony Ericsson Open

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

Hi everybody,
Here we go with my second blog entry from Miami. I am sorry it is always coming late at night but I only have the time to sit down and write it after I come back from dinner. This is true, believe me, since I don't have that much free time during the day. I do think from time to time on what I can write, but physically I don't have much time during a normal day. I finished tonight all my work at 10 pm!. Then I went for dinner (a very Spanish time) and here I am.
So to explain you my day, we had decided the day before to meet at the lobby of the hotel at 11 am. We went to have a coffee next door to the hotel and got on the car to drive to Key Biscayne at around noon. I had a warm up practice court at 1 pm so we thought we had plenty of time. Bu the truth is that we got to the site very late. It took us over 45 minutes to do a very little distance because of the heavy traffic. I am staying at a hotel in Brickell and so it is not far away. But the traffic was unbelievable. I normally need like 30 to 45 minutes to get ready for a practice or warm up since I have to do the taping of both feet and the taping I use on my knees. Lots of people keep asking me about those tapes I wear. I simply have them for protection, just in case. Since I had that injury on my knees, I wear them. It worked with the first one and then I got injured the second one so that's the only reason.
So as I say, I got late and had to do everything really fast, which I don't like to do when it is about this. Got my warm up and then simply waited in the locker room for the start of my match. I don't think I need to talk about the match since you probably read here, on this website, the reports about it. It is always good to start well and with a striahgt-set win to build up more confidence, but it is also not that important. At least for me.I left the tournament site around 7.30 pm and had a meeting at my hotel with my manager Carlos Costa. Initially it was supposed to be a 30 minutes meeting but in the end it lasted for almost two hours. Not a problem but I had to do a TV interview and I started the interview at 9.45 pm! I am sorry Aarthi (the woman that interviewed me) for being so late...
Anyway, tomorrow I have also a match but this time doubles. I have a practice at 12 noon and then the routine work to get ready for the match.
See you tomorrow and thanks,

Rafa

vendredi 28 mars 2008

Nadal "L'héritier du trone".

Rafael Nadal accuse 845 points de retard sur le premier rang mondial détenu par Roger Federer.
Mais selon l'ex-numéro un du tennis mondial Bjorn Borg, l'Espagnol sera celui qui détrônera le Suisse de sa chaise de numéro un... d'ici deux ou trois ans.
« Je crois que l'Espagnol sera l'héritier du trône », a déclaré Borg au journal sportif AS, en marge d'un tournoi exhibition à Madrid auquel participe son grand rival des années 80, l'Américain John McEnroe.
Borg estime également que le Serbe Novak Djokovic, 3e au classement ATP, peut aspirer au titre de numéro un mondial, « mais dans le futur ».
Borg juge que Nadal « est en train de travailler dur pour devenir un joueur total, complet ». Le Suédois ne croit pas que le jeu physique de Nadal lui nuise.
« On disait la même chose de moi. Que ma façon de jouer entraînerait des blessures, mais j'aime son tennis. C'est clair qu'il doit se ménager, ne pas trop jouer. Mais il est jeune et il a un grand avenir. Il gagnera beaucoup de tournois du Grand Chelem », ajoute Borg.
Lorsqu'on lui a demandé si Federer deviendra le plus grand joueur de tous les temps, Borg a dit qu'il préférait attendre deux ou trois ans avant de répondre.
« S'il n'a pas de blessures et se concentre sur le tennis, avec motivation, c'est clair qu'il le peut. Mais pour cela, il doit conserver sa faim de victoires, de records, et cela, ce n'est pas facile.

Miami c'est parti!

29 mars, 2008
Ordre du jour
Homme 2ième tour

Stadium
11h00 a.m.
Jo- Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs Jurgen Melzer (AUT)
Pas avant 1h00 p.m.
Viktor Troicki (SRB) vs Andy Roddick (USA)
Pas avant 8h00 p.m.
Roger Federer (SUI) vs Gael Monfils (FRA)

Grandstand
11h00 a.m.
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs Janko Tipsaveric (SRB)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) vs Bobby Reynolds (USA)
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) vs Jose Acasuso (ARG)
Pas avant 5h00 p.m.
Mario Ancic (CRO) vs Andy Murray (GBR)
Thomas Johansson (SWE) vs David Ferrer (ESP)

Court 1
Pas avant 3h00 p.m.
Bob, Mike Bryan (USA) vs Rafael Nadal, Tommy Robredo (ESP)

Miami c'est parti!




















Rafa vs Benjamin Becker