Rafa en photos

Rafael Nadal of Spain against Marcel Granollers of Spain during day three of the BNP Paribas Masters at Palais Omnisports de Bercy on October 30, 2013 in Paris, France.

(October 29, 2013 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe) 

 

 

 

Rafa en photos

Spanish Rafael Nadal during his double match with Marcel Granollers against Slovenia's Michal Mertinak and Serbia's Viktor Troicki at the ATP Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in Halle, western Germany, on June 13, 2012. AFP PHOTO / CARMEN JASPERSENCARMEN JASPERSEN/AFP/GettyImages

Rafa en photos

ROME, ITALY - MAY 17:: Rafael Nadal against Marcel Granollers of Spain in their third round match during day six of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia 2012 at the Foro Italico Tennis Centre on May 17, 2012 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Nadal hammers Granollers in Rome

Rafael Nadal kept himself firmly on course for a sixth Internazionali BNL d'Italia title by thrashing fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers in Rome.
The 25-year-old, who triumphed 6-1 6-1 in one hour 26 minutes, goes on to face Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals.
Nadal, now ranked third in the world having struggled on Madrid's blue clay last week, looked far more comfortable in his surroundings, justifying his status as the 'King of Clay' by dismissing his opponent with almost embarrassing ease.
The only previous meeting between the players saw Nadal triumph in straight sets at Indian Wells, and there was little to in the first set to discourage anyone from predicting the same outcome. Granollers held serve confidently in the opening game - only to lose the next six, as Nadal pocketed the opening stanza in some style.
Having surrendered nine games on the spin, Granollers stopped the bleeding in the fifth of the second set by getting himself on the board - but the story of the match had already been set in stone, and sure enough he could not stop Nadal from closing out a victory that was as routine as they come.
"I started the match bad with two double faults with my serve, but after the first two or three games, I started to play well - good forehand, control of the point and going to net," Nadal said. "Conditions were difficult and windy but I think I found rhythm and after third game I played very solid."

Source: http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/151297.html

Nadal se reprend

 Battu par Fernando Verdasco la semaine dernière à Madrid, Rafael Nadal (n°2) débute son tournoi romain par un succès sur Florian Mayer, mercredi, au 2e tour (6-1, 7-5 en 1h21'). Il retrouvera Marcel Granollers pour une place en quarts.

Mieux vaut se méfier d'un champion blessé dans son orgueil. N'est-ce pas, Florian Mayer ? Battu en huitièmes de finale à Madrid par son compatriote Fernando Verdasco, la semaine dernière, agacé par cette terre battue bleue qui a tant fait jaser, Rafael Nadal a perdu chez lui son invincibilité sur ocre en 2012 après ses titres à Monte-Carlo et Barcelone. Mais aussi sa place de numéro 2 mondial au profit de Roger Federer. Il n'était plus tombé aussi "bas" depuis le 10 mai 2010.

Comme après une chute de cheval, il faut se remettre en selle. Et Rafael Nadal part au galop. Onze points gagnants pour trois petites fautes directes, 100% des points remportés derrière sa première balle, le Majorquin vire en tête après vingt-six minutes (6-1). Mais Florian Mayer n'est pas n'importe qui. Il peut se targuer d'être invaincu face à son glorieux adversaire, leur unique rencontre remontant à Shanghaï, en 2011. Une rencontre remportée en deux manches (7-6, 6-3). Une autre surface, une autre époque.

De retour sur une terre battue conventionnelle, Rafael Nadal n'est plus le même homme. Si Florian Mayer - et ses variations - tient bon sur son service dans la seconde manche (une seule balle de break à écarter jusqu'à 5 partout), il craque dans le money time. Revenu à 30A, il "dévisse" en revers avant de voir fuser un coup droit croisé. S'il entame son dernier jeu de service par une double faute et un coup droit-penalty dans le filet (0/30), Rafael Nadal se reprend juste à temps. L'essentiel est assuré. 
     

Rafael Nadal : «Le premier set était important et je me suis montré agressif. Il est difficile de jouer contre (Florian) Mayer parce qu'il sait comment vous mettre en difficulté. Mais je n'ai pas souffert (...) Vous devez vous montrer vigilant, quel que soit le joueur qui se trouve de l'autre côté du filet. Marcel (Granollers, son futur adversaire, ndlr) est un de mes meilleurs amis sur le circuit.»

Source: http://www.lequipe.fr/Tennis/Actualites/Nadal-se-reprend/284387

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)

Rafael Nadal en quarts à Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - Rafael Nadal a facilement atteint les quarts de finale de l'Omnium BNP Paribas mardi, écrasant son compatriote espagnol Marcel Granollers 6-1, 6-4.

Nadal, classé deuxième au monde, a remporté ses 10 derniers matchs contre ses compatriotes, et 22 de ses 23 derniers sets contre eux. Granollers, qui est passé du 50e au 26e échelon mondial au cours de la dernière année, a réalisé un service à 132 milles à l'heure durant la rencontre, mais il n'a pu maîtriser la vitesse et la précision de Nadal.

Rafael Nadal shakes off rust with win at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS: Rafael Nadal, playing in his first event since his runner-up finish at the Australian Open, routed Leonardo Mayer 6-1, 6-3 in his Indian Wells opener on Sunday.

Two-time Indian Wells champ Nadal cruised through his second round match at the ATP/WTA hard-court tournament, winning the final eight points of the 75 minute match on centre court.

"It's fantastic. I am happy to start with a victory," world number two Nadal said. "I am taking it day by day."

Nadal advanced to the third round, where he will face fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers, who beat Tommy Haas of Germany 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

The left-handed Spaniard hit one ace, posted two double faults and won four of six break point chances.

Nadal broke Mayer twice in a 29-minute first set. He then served flawlessly in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead in the second set before breaking Mayer in the final game. Nadal celebrated his win after Mayer hammered a forehand long and wide.

"It's not easy to be back after awhile without competition, but I believe I did really well," Nadal said. "I started the match very focussed, very aggressive. Today the only thing I can say is I'm very happy. I'm very happy about almost everything."

It marked Nadal's first match since losing to world number one Novak Djokovic in a monumental five hour, 53 minute final at the Australian Open.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis/top-stories/Rafael-Nadal-shakes-off-rust-with-win-at-Indian-Wells/articleshow/12227149.cms