Roland Garros: Rafa Nadal, No.1

The Luniz' "I got 5 on it" is a song Rafa Nadal can now happily sing to his hearts content. In 2 hours 18 minutes, Rafa finished off spirited Robin Soderling 6-4 6-2 6-4 in the French Open Mens Final to win his 5th French Open title. This wasn't just a win, this was an 'ooohh' kind of match where Rafa reintroduced himself as simply supreme in a final on the Philippe Chatrier court.

Everything he needed to do to counter the weapons of Soderling worked well. Shots had consistent depth,  backhand slice on fire, the down the line shot worked more than not and he held a healthy first serve percentage.

Soderling made too many unforced errors to winners, his first serve was unreliable and understandably was frustrated that even when he hit his hardest, flattest shot, the damn ball kept coming back. This was Nadal Befuddlement at its greatest. The longer this continued, the more assured Nadal became and the more inevitable the result became. This was a competitive match up that lost
its teeth as Soderling was unable to take any of his break opportunities while Nadal ravished his. Small but telling differences.

The next best thing to see/hear from this match? Rafa speaking some French in his celebratory speech.

Who knew?!

Not only is Nadal the Champion at Roland Garros again, but as of Monday he jumps Roger Federer as world no. 1.

Congratulations Rafa- Bravo!

(c) images Associated Press 6.6.10

Miami Open: Good Friday, Bad Friday

Key Biscayne: Clijsters triumphed in the Battle of the Belgiums aka Womens semi match against Henin. 6-2 6-7 7-6. Tantalising final with Venus Williams awaits.



The 'shock' result was Andy Roddick downing Lemon Drop, Rafa Nadal in the first Mens semi. Such a cute, zesty outfit deserved its time to shine in a final. But alas, Roddick continues to show good form with this 4-6 6-3 6-3 result under his belt.

Photos: Getty Images, Eurosport

ATP Miami: Lemon Drop Keeps-a-Rollin' into Quarters

 vs 

Photos: Getty Images/Eveready Battery pack

Key Biscayne: Rafa Nadal aka Lemon Drop  won a nervy match against David Ferrer 7-6 6-4. In fact, I'm going to start calling Ferrer "Eveready" because the guy always gives his all and never quits, just like the handy little batteries. 

The match was tighter than the scoreline suggests. In the end, the deal was sealed by a combination of Rafa eventually pulling the trigger (in one game, Nadal had 5 break points before securing the break) and Ferrer lacking aggression in the latter part of the 2nd set. Some of Rafa's ground strokes were unbelievably short, even he seemed relieved to scramble away with the points.

But, a wins a win, especially after tonight's other disappointment - see below post...Man U, still annoyed..

On another note, how much do you love Nike's Lemon Zest outfit Nadal is sporting in Miami? It's bright, positive, perfect. Stick to those tangy and citrus flavours, Rafa. You're juicy, kid; own it.

AO Quarter Finals: Rafa Knees Out in Oz

Ugh. It's been over 10 hours since the Nadal vs Murray quarter final, since Murray led 6-3, 7-6, 3-0 in a thrilling dual. And still Nadal's early withdrawal still occupies my thoughts. It's those pesky knees again, children.

As a tennis fan and a rank n file obsessive, I felt the tear between common sense and emotional sense to proceedings on Rod Laver.
1) Murray deserves due credit. Most news sources from Espn, The Herald and Times Online concur that the standard of play and shot making was consistently incredible. From both, in fact. The boy earned his Semi's place and should feel confident about getting to that final and 'taking' his first GS title: Muzza isn't in a mood to wait any longer.

But, most nagging, is the emotional response:
2) Rafito, noooo!! (I won't miss that unfortunate Nike orange top paired with the gold-check shorts though. Confused.com. Please change. Block bright colours and dynamic prints welcome; just not together!)

After consuming my fair share of post press conferences, and various opinions, concern was quick to follow:
3) What's really wrong with Rafa and how will this impact on the season(s) to come? 

In his press conference, Nadal explained he was experiencing pain from late on in the second set. Knowing he couldn't mount a come back, i.e. go to 5 sets, and remembering the ill effects of playing through pain that started from the ATP Rotterdam event last year, the prudent thing was to retire:


Q. Could you let us know what the condition is, what the latest story is with the knee. It's very unusual for you to stop during a match.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, well, is not a lot of history because was during the match. Was in the end of the second set in one drop. And I feeled similar thing to what I had last year.
And, yes, after that I can't go down after that, no? So was impossible to win the match. When I have the chance to play, I never retired. Anyway, like I know I going to lose like I did in Rotterdam like last year. I say sorry to Andy for that.
I felt pain still there without no one minimum chance to do nothing, the same time is hard for me be five more games there without try nothing, no? So I don't know if I still playing can go worst or something. So I said, well, no repeat the same mistake like I had last year. I go to the limit, but not cross the limit, no?


We have to hope the prognosis is no worse, so Rafa is back in the mix for the season. But also that Team Nadal is pro-actively finding ways to lighten Rafa's load in training and his play - whether they choose to openly acknowledge it or not.

The standard response when asked about such changes has been prickly:


Q. Are there any changes you're going to make to your training style or your playing style?
RAFAEL NADAL: Don't start, guys, with these questions right now. I think is not the right moment. I think I changed the style to play. If you see my matches 2005 or 2004, 2006, I run a lot compared to now, no?


On one hand, Rafa is right- that old message to take a more aggressive approach is clearly kicking in. He's not running around following the dictates of an opponents play as much.

But there remains big questions about 'what else' he can do to lighten his load, to shorten points, to save a little for the moments when needed, in the hope his body can endure the 11-month tour season. Only he and his team can answer that.

My own question is this: does Rafa believe he can only play in the manner he does to have the confidence to compete at the highest level? He might not know. History so far has shown us that Nadal continually improves- he's a whole lot more than a gutsy big armed road runner.
An athlete at the height of any sporting discipline will understand exactly what, why and how they perform as they do. They also possess more control. Because of this, they are in the rarefied position of being able to adapt to injury and age, utilising their experience, fitness and calm in key moments to compete like winners...in a modified way.

With some careful tweaking, practice and belief, Nadal too can find a way to adjust to his new reality, and possibly gain a new edge.


(c) Lucas Dawson/Getty Images (top) and PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images (above)

ATP Masters Paris: What In High Haddes...?

(Flickr photo- iPh4n70M, 13 Nov 2009)

I love tennis. Sometimes for the technical brilliance on display, the feats of dogged determination, a single handed backhand pinging the ball down the line before the opponent even begins to move, and you're sat at home going, Ohhhh!

Other times it's because, occasionally, events do not follow the predicted script. AT ALL. Julien Bennetau, a 27-year old French man is the sort of player who simply perspires hard work. I haven't yet seen him on court without his blonde curls matted to his scalp, his shirts translucent with sweat- forget Dri FIT- and trails of rubber soles etched in his wake. He really tries out there. But against a rested Roger Federer, in the penultimate tournament of maybe his most emotionally satisfying year yet, the end we got was not at all expected: Bennetau won in 3 sets!

I casually checked into the match on the off chance some tennis might still be in play. Instead I caught the tail end of a thrilling third set, with Bennetau running down and hurling himself like a lemming with no fears after increasingly exasperated Federer shots.

A quick scan at the stats showed Federer's first serve percentage was low in the 50's, a slew of unforced errors and only 1 in 7 breakpoints converted. All of which points to Federer's unease on the Paris indoor courts (historically speaking, he's not been a hit) and some gutsy play on Bennetau's part, to the absolute delight of the Paris crowds. Yes, you read right- Paris crowd. Delighted. Not a loftily held nose in sight.

So on day 3, the Masters series Paris sees the loss of the world no.1, but Rafael Nadal (2) remains on track after narrowly escaping 5 match points against Nicolas Almalgro, Del Potro (5) remains with a win over Marat Safin (aurevoir Marat, who's retiring after Paris) and Andy Murray (3) takes on James Blake now.

US Open: It Must Be Madness

That entry is for insane scheduling.

Every sports section of NY-LON news outlets acknowledge the same thing- US Open scheduling sucks. Notably, The Times online suggests the US Open 'get [their] act together', while Jim Courier even posted a tweet referring followers to the NY Times explanation of this notoriously tricky process of any sports tournament. ESPN have been conveniently quiet, but then, given the not-so-content reviews of their tennis coverage at times, I'm not surprised they favour commenting from the sidelines (Times Online has nada to lose; they've got viewers and renewal rights to think of).

We all know the demands of TV and her alluring kerching play a major factor in scheduling matches, but surely we have to draw the line when such scheduling puts a possible strain on the players who we all tune in/pay to see in the first place? Is it fair that some players are expected to play a semi and final back to back, or indeed a quarter, semi and a final? The USTA would seem to think so. Of course sportsmen have to deal with the circumstances and conditions they find themselves in (who's going to care or remember, if they go on to win the tournament?).

I just think making the battlefield a level one from the outset should be the priority- if a win is earned by testing mental, physical, emotional and technical ability, then the control over the conditions set by the organisers ought to be equal. For everyone.

That way, when my boy Rafa Nadal gets the better of Roger Federer, I can happily gloat; or if Rogie finesses past Rafa, I take it on the chin while simultaneously avoiding the gloating calls from my Fed Friends in our ongoing rivalry (check the oh-so-true 'You're Either For Federer or Nadal- Not Both' article)

*Footnote- as it happens, Rafa was solidly beaten by an inspired Juan Martin Del Potro (aka Gentle Giant) 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. No reminiscent update of the rivalry this year. After Rogers defeat of Djokovic and that utterly SICK penultimate between the legs shot, have to say El Fed is looking very sharp. We'll see who takes it! (updated Monday, 14/9/09 at 03:24 while watching the Womens Final. Wozniacki should have won the 1st set already. Will she be made to rue those lost chances??)