Rafael Nadal withdraws from Sony Ericsson Open with knee injury

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Rafael Nadal’s knee trouble has sidelined him again, and he hopes for a quick recovery to avoid missing any of the upcoming clay-court season.
Nadal withdrew hours before the start of his semi-final Friday at the Sony Ericsson Open because of a left knee injury that bothered him in recent matches.
With his withdrawal, 2009 champion Andy Murray advanced to Sunday’s final. He’ll play Novak Djokovic.
Nadal said his knee has been getting worse and extensive treatment Thursday failed to help. He said he’ll see a doctor soon and is optimistic he’ll be out only briefly.

“It looks like it’s nothing really different than happened a few times in the past,” he said. “Hopefully with a few days off and with the right treatment, I will be in the right conditions to start to practice on the clay. I know what to do to get better quick, and that’s what we’re going to try.”
The six-time French Open champion still plans to begin his clay season April 16 at the Monte Carlo Masters.
Nadal has dealt with knee problems for several years, and his left knee has bothered him since Indian Wells. He lost there to Roger Federer in the semi-finals two weeks ago.
Shortly before this year’s Australian Open in January, Nadal hurt his right knee while sitting in a chair at his hotel and feared he might miss the tournament. Instead he reached the final, where he lost to Djokovic in a six-hour epic.
Nadal played no tournaments in February to rest his knees. Even then, he said, his left knee bothered him some while training at home in Spain.
Knee problems prevented Nadal from playing at Wimbledon in 2009 — the only major tournament he has missed since 2006. He retired with knee trouble from a quarter-final match against Murray at the Australian Open in 2010.
“I try my best in every moment, with pain or without pain,” he said. “But when I see the situation is done and I cannot, I cannot.”
The 10-time Grand Slam champion had hoped to claim his first Key Biscayne title. His withdrawal left the tournament without a singles match for the afternoon session.
“I am very sorry for the fans,” Nadal said. “I’m very sorry for the tournament. I’m very sorry for everybody who was ready to watch the match on the television, for television, for everybody.
“I don’t have pleasure. I feel very sad to have to go out before a beautiful match for me — semi-finals against Andy.”
The No. 4-seeded Murray has played only seven sets in the tournament, because he also advanced to the third round with a walkover. He’ll go into the final with three days’ rest but perhaps a bit rusty.
“I don’t really know how I’m going to feel,” he said, “but I’ll definitely be fresh.”

Source: http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/03/30/rafael-nadal-withdraws-from-sony-ericsson-open-with-knee-injury/

Rafa en photos

Rafael Nadal of Spain, speaks at a news conference after withdrawing from his semifinal match against Andy Murray of Great Britain due to a knee injury, at the Sony Ericsson tennis tournament, Friday, March 30, 2012, in Key Biscayne, Fla.

Nadal beats big-hitting Tsonga at Sony

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla.

Rafael Nadal and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga kept a noisily involved Stadium Court crowd up past midnight in the Sony Ericsson Open with a battle filled with explosive shotmaking.

The stakes are high in the Florida sun at the Sony Ericsson Open.

Nadal came through in the end, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in 2 hours and 50 minutes, but not without failing to serve out the match in the second set — as Tsonga unleashed a barrage of massive stroke play that even the great Spaniard found impossible to handle.
Having beaten Nadal indoors in the round-robin stage of the ATP Tour World Finals in November in London, the sixth-seeded Tsonga knew he could win if he played well enough. In his opinion, however, he didn't.
"I didn't play a good match," he said, being his own toughest critic. "I didn't start well. I had played all three of my matches on outside courts, and the Stadium (Court) surface is different. It took time to get used to it."
Tsonga punished anything Nadal left short, and when the No. 2 seed put in a poor second serve on set point against at 6-5 in that second set, Tsonga latched onto it with a thunderous forehand winner to force the deciding set.
Nadal then had to save a break point in the sixth game of the third set and failed to grab a break-point opportunity himself in the next game as the big Frenchman served his way out of trouble with three first serves, including an ace.

By then, Tsonga had produced the shot of the match, if not the tournament, somehow caressing a backhand drop volley as he came charging into the net. He was off the ground as he played it, but the softness of his touch enabled him to control the ball perfectly. I can't remember having seen anyone do that except John McEnroe.
The match could have been finished on the stroke of midnight. After breaking serve for a 5-4 lead and poised to end the match on his first match point, Nadal completely mishit a forehand long. Tsonga saved a second match point with more aggressive play before he put a forehand into the net to end the match.
Luck was not in the Frenchman's corner when he reached break point as Nadal served for the match a second time. As he hit another big service return, his string broke and the ball flew out of court.
But Tsonga had another complaint after the match. With the challenge system now so crucial, players look to the umpire for some guidance as to whether a challenge would be worthwhile. Tsonga said he feels Nadal gets the benefit of their assistance more than other players.
"I challenged, and I was right many, many times," he said. "But the umpire never takes the initiative against Rafa. If Rafa doesn't like him anymore, he would not be in the chair for the final or semifinal. It's not fair. I have to focus on the ball, on my play; it gets into your mind."
On reflection, Tsonga may feel he spoke in the heat of the moment. He is not known as a player who complains, but he certainly had a go at the umpire during a changeover and felt deeply aggrieved. Superstars are always perceived to get special treatment, but I am not sure Tsonga was right in this case.


Source: http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/rafael-nadal-beats-jo-wilfried-tsonga-sony-ericsson-open-quarterfinals-key-biscayne-032812

Rafa en photos

KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 26: Rafael Nadal of Spain against Kei Nishikori of Japan during Day 9 at Crandon Park Tennis Center at the Sony Ericsson Open on March 27, 2012 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Rafa en photos

KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 22: Marcel Granollers and Rafael Nadal of Spain in action during their doubles match against Marin Cilic and Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during Day 4 of the Sony Ericsson Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 22, 2012 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)