Rafa en photos

INDIAN WELLS, CA - MARCH 14: Rafael Nadal of Spain against Roger Federer of Switzerland during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 14, 2013 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Rafael Nadal advances at Indian Wells after Leonardo Mayer's withdrawal

Indian Wells: Twice champion Rafael Nadal was gifted a place in the last 16 of the BNP Paribas Open on Monday when Argentina's Leonardo Mayer withdrew before their third-round match with a back injury. Spaniard Nadal, who said he had been "very scared" after experiencing his first earthquake a few hours earlier, will next face Latvian Ernests Gulbis, who fought back to beat Italy's Andreas Seppi 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
"That's bad news, for sure, for the fans and for Mayer, especially," world number five Nadal told reporters at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. "I talked with him. It seemed like it's nothing very, very bad. Just a typical back problem, beginning when he was warming up his serve. The physio says maybe in four days, five days he will be ready. That's the most important thing, that nothing is serious."
Asked when he had heard that Mayer had pulled out of the tournament, left-hander Nadal replied: "I was ready (for the match). I was doing my fingers tape. I am so sorry for him especially. I talked with him just one minute, two minutes. He was calm and said no. Sad situation."

Mayer's withdrawal came as a mixed blessing for Nadal who could do with more matches under his belt as he continues his comeback after being sidelined for seven months last year by a lingering left knee injury. Seeded fifth at Indian Wells where he won the title in 2007 and 2009, the former world number one beat American Ryan Harrison 7-6, 6-2 in his opening match here as he competes in his first tournament on a hardcourt surface in almost a year.

HEAVILY ANTICIPATED COMEBACK
Nadal only returned to the ATP circuit last month in South America but his heavily anticipated comeback went surprisingly well as he won twice after reaching the final in three relatively minor claycourt events. "I gonna go a little bit to the gym, I gonna go practise a little bit more later, but no match," Nadal said of his plans for the rest of the day. "I am not practising a lot."
Nadal won his 11th grand slam singles title at the French Open last June before his season came to an abrupt end two weeks later following a defeat to Czech journeyman Lukas Rosol in the second round at Wimbledon. Mayer's withdrawal was the second shock of the day for Nadal who had earlier been frightened by a flurry of three earthquakes, measured at magnitudes of 4.6 and 4.7, that rattled the Southern California desert.
The quakes struck shortly before 10 a.m. PDT (1700 GMT) local time within moments of each other about 22 miles south of the resort community of Palm Springs. "I was very scared," Nadal smiled. "First time in my life. I was on the massage table preparing for my warm-up. I think the massage table moves even more. I finish the earthquake, and my legs were like this," he grinned while wobbling his legs.

Source:  http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rafael-nadal-advances-at-indian-wells-after-leonardo-mayers-withdrawal/378192-5-22.html

Nadal triumphant on his hardcourt return

                                         REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - With the tennis world watching closely, Rafa Nadal made a successful return to Indian Wells with a 7-6 6-2 victory over Ryan Harrison in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday.
Though initially looking a little rusty, the Spanish left-hander showed no visible sign of discomfort after being sidelined for seven months last year by a left knee injury before sealing the win in just over an hour and a half.
Playing his first match on a hardcourt surface in 346 days, Nadal edged a close first set 7-3 in the tiebreak, then broke Harrison's serve in the third and fifth games of the second to take firm control.
The Spanish world number five, who had his left knee taped up through the match, served out to book his place in the third round, ending Harrison's brave challenge with an overhead smash to spark loud roars from the crowd.
"I am very happy to be back here at Indian Wells for sure," Nadal, who clinched the Indian Wells title in 2007 and 2009, said courtside. "It's one of my favorite tournaments and I love being here.
"I didn't know if I was going to be able to come two weeks ago but I am very happy to be here."
Nadal, who has enjoyed a successful tournament run on clay in recent weeks, was given an electrifying welcome by a vocal crowd when he first walked out on to the showpiece Stadium Court.
He made a confident start, racing into a 4-1 lead before his 73rd-ranked opponent broke back in the seventh game to take the opening set into a tiebreak.

Nadal, who had occasionally blasted his ground strokes long as he tried to find his range, stormed 5-1 ahead in the tiebreak before wrapping up the set in 54 minutes after he struck a deep forehand which forced an error by Harrison.
The Spaniard did not look back, breaking Harrison in the third game of the second set with a stunning crosscourt pass and also in the fifth with a dipping forehand service return which the American could not retrieve.
While Nadal did not attempt to slide in his customary manner as he moved from side to side in some of the longer baseline rallies, he did not appear to be in any discomfort on the surface expected to trouble him most following his knee injury.
The Spaniard, who returned to the ATP circuit last month in South America where he competed in three relatively minor claycourt events, winning two of them after reaching all three finals, will next face Leonardo Mayer of Argentina.
Mayer brushed aside Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-2 6-3 earlier in the day

Source:  http://ca.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idCABRE92901U20130310?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

Rafa en photos

INDIAN WELLS, CA - MARCH 09: Rafael Nadal of Spain against Ryan Harrison during day 4 of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 9, 2013 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images/AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)