lundi 30 avril 2012

Rafael Nadal Wins 34th Clay Title Then Jumps in Pool

Classement ATP/ ATP ranks

Classement au 30 avril :

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 13.020 pts

2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 10.170

3. Roger Federer (SUI) 8880

4. Andy Murray (GBR) 7860

5. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 4830

6. David Ferrer (ESP) 4280

7. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 4080

8. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 2820

9. Mardy Fish (USA) 2725

10. John Isner (USA) 2620 (+1)



11. Gilles Simon (FRA) 2525 (+1)

12. Juan Martín Del Potro (ARG) 2495 (-2)

13. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 2175

14. GaËl Monfils (FRA) 2075

15. Juan Monaco (ARG) 2015

16. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 1795

17. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 1735

18. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 1595

19. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 1595 (+1)

20. Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr. (UKR) 1565 (-1)

23. Milos Raonic (CAN) 1425 (+2)

Nadal Reflects On Winning Seventh Barcelona Title

Nadal's Hot Shot Instincts Vs Ferrer In Barcelona Final

ATP 2012 Barcelona F Nadal vs Ferrer RUS

dimanche 29 avril 2012

Rafa en photos

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 29: Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with the trophy after defeating David Ferrer on their Final match of the ATP 500 World Tour Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell 2012 tennis tournament at the Real Club de Tenis on April 29, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. Rafael Nadal won 7-6, 7-5. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Rafa en photos

Rafael Nadal of Spain against compatriot David Ferrer during the final match of the Barcelona Open tennis tournament Conde de Godo on April 29, 2012, in Barcelona. Nadal won 6-2, 6-4. AFP PHOTO / JOSEP LAGOJOSEP LAGO/AFP/GettyImages

Nadal wins seventh Barcelona title


Barcelona, Spain (Sports Network) - Rafael Nadal continued his dominance on clay by beating No. 3 seed David Ferrer, 7-6 (7-1), 7-5, to win the title at the Barcelona Open for a second straight year and seventh time overall.
It was familiar territory for the two Spaniards, their fifth meeting in the event, including fourth time in the final and second year in a row.
Having just won his eighth Monte Carlo title in a row, the world No. 2 Nadal became the first player in the Open Era to win two ATP World Tour events seven times. He is now on a 34-match win streak in Barcelona, also winning the last 32 sets he's played in the tournament.
The top seed moved to 14-4 lifetime against Ferrer and has won their last 11 clay court meetings.
Nadal, of course, is the "King of Clay." Of his 48 career titles, a whopping 34 have come on the surface. He has a 21-match winning streak on clay since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Rome final last May. Nadal has won an astounding 77 straight matches on the surface in April.
"It's almost unimaginable to win here seven times," Nadal said. "It's a special tournament for me, at home in my club. To win at home in front of the people you know is always more special. I played at a very high level to win in Monte-Carlo and now Barcelona without losing a set, but I've been playing at a high level from the beginning of the year starting in Australia."
Nadal saved five set points in the 12th game of the opening set, first with a blistering forehand down the line, then when Ferrer hit a return long, a return into the net, and another ball wide after a long rally. Nadal then fired an ace to fend off the fifth set point chance and got the advantage with an overhead slam before forcing the tiebreak when Ferrer's backhand went wide.
A bevy of unforced errors was the downfall for Ferrer in the tiebreaker, when he lost the final six points.
Nadal broke Ferrer's serve to move to a 3-1 lead in the second set and was poised to take a commanding advantage, but failed on his chance. Nadal fended off three break point chances, but then gave it away when he banged a return into the net despite having a wide-open court.
Ferrer caught a break when Nadal double-faulted. That gave Ferrer a 5-4 edge, but he failed to cash in during his service game thanks to more miscues, most notably a poor slam that gave Nadal an opening for a solid return.
Nadal held serve for a 6-5 lead and then ended the match with a blistering backhand winner to capture the $398,000 first-place prize.
"It was a very equal match," Nadal said. "He didn't let me play my best level in the first set. I feel sorry for David and hope he can win here one day because he deserves it. Of course I am very happy to win two titles in a row and to start the clay court season like this."
It was a case of missed opportunities for Ferrer, who went 3-of-15 on break point chances.
"I had chances in both sets; he played better in the important moments," Ferrer said. "It's always hard to lose a final, but especially today it's hard because of the way it happened. It came down to small details, but Rafa deserved it."
Going after his 15th career title, Ferrer was in his fourth final of the year. He won titles in Auckland, Buenos Aires and Acapulco before the first week of March had concluded. He was a surprise loser in his first match last week in Monte Carlo, falling to Thomaz Bellucci.
"Overall I am happy with my week. I played my best match of the week today, but to win against Rafa I had to do more," Ferrer said. "I played a bit too conservatively on the set points in the first set. It's difficult to lose my fourth final. It was a very good tournament for me."
This was the 10th straight year a Spaniard has won the Barcelona title
 Source: http://www.canada.com/sports/tennis/Nadal+wins+seventh+Barcelona+title/6537681/story.html

Nadal toujours maître sur terre battue

BARCELONE- Rafael Nadal est devenue le premier joueur depuis 1968 à remporter deux tournois sept fois ou plus, dimanche, battant son compatriote espagnol David Ferrer 7-6 (1) et 7-5 en finale à Barcelone.

Le numéro deux mondial remportait ce tournoi pour la septième fois, grâce à un 21e gain de suite sur terre battue. Nadal donnait suite à un huitième titre d'affilée à Monte Carlo.

Le Majorquin Nadal a sauvé 12 balles de bris sur 15 dont sept sur huit en première manche, dimanche. Il a ponctué son gain avec un bris à zéro dans le jeu décisif.

«C'est le match le plus difficile que j'ai eu à livrer sur terre battue cette saison, a dot Nadal à la télévision publique espagnole. David vous pousse toujours à la limite. J'ai eu la chance de mon côté.»

Distancé 3-1 en deuxième manche, Ferrer s'est bien battu pour faire 3-3 et même 5-4 en sa faveur, mais Nadal a absorbé le coup, cheminant ensuite vers la victoire en deux heures et 40 minutes. Il a empoché 400 000 $ pour son 48e titre en carrière.



Nadal a notamment sauvé cinq balles de set en première manche, dont la dernière à l'aide d'un as. En bris d'impasse, une double faute de Ferrer lui a donné l'avance 4-1, puis il a finalement enlevé le set en une heure 33 minutes.

Nadal a une fiche de 10-0 sur terre battue en 2012, ayant toujours triomphé en deux manches. Pour l'ensemble de sa carrière, seuls Roger Federer et Novak Djokovic ont réussi à le vaincre en finale sur une telle surface.

Ferrer, sixième au monde, a perdu quatre finales en autant d'occasions contre Nadal, à Barcelone.

samedi 28 avril 2012

Rafa en photos

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 28: Rafael Nadal of Spain against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during their Semi-final match of the ATP 500 World Tour Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell 2012 tennis tournament at the Real Club de Tenison April 28, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. Rafael Nadal won 6-0, 6-4. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)