World No. 1 tennis player, Rafael Nadal, has announced that he will not be defending his title at Wimbledon this year, ending weeks of speculation.  Nadal has been recovering from a knee injury that forced him to withdraw from the tournament at London’s Queen’s Club last week and may also be the reason why he was eliminated so early from the French Open (which marked the first time the Spaniard lost at Roland Garros).

It seemed that Nadal was making every effort to rest up to give his knees a chance to recover from the tendinitis but it just wasn’t enough.  He was very emotional at the press conference when he said: "I’m just not 100 percent.  I’m better than I was a couple of weeks ago, but I just don’t feel ready."

I can’t even begin to imagine his frustration.  It’s one thing when your game is off and you need to refocus or possibly find a new coach but when your body won’t cooperate, it’s so much worse because there is absolutely nothing you can do.

image: TSN

Rafael Nadal has pulled out of a pre-Wimbledon event citing a knee injury.  His doctors have advised him to rest and I’m guessing he’s taking it seriously after a shocking exit from the 2009 French Open last weekend.

Nadal will miss the tune-up at the Queen’s Club, which he won last year (followed by his first Wimbledon win).  He had the following to say about this turn of events:  "I am very disappointed to not be able to come this year to Queen’s [and] defend the title I won last year. To play in London has always been special for me, to play at the Queen’s Club is an honor and the fans in the UK are among the best I have ever seen, always supporting me since the first time I played there. 

I have been having some problems in the past months with my knees, that’s no secret, that did not allow me to compete always at 100 percent. I need to work with my team to recover well, work on my physical condition to be at my top form and get ready for the grass to play at Wimbledon. I hope I can be ready to compete by then. I am really sorry and I hope that the people at the tournament will still want me to come next year."

I’m sure he won’t lose his invitation to next year’s even due to his withdrawal – he’s one of the hottest names out on the court right now.  The highly regarded tennis player has won five titles this year and I’m sure after a brief rest, he will be back to his normal self.

image: TSN

There was a huge upset (and shock!) at the 2009 French Open yesterday when Spanish superstar, Rafael Nadal, actually lost.  Yes, Nadal was eliminated after losing four sets to Swedish player, Robin Soderling in the fourth round of the Grand Slam.

image: Newscom

Like Dinara Safina (who won yesterday), Nadal was the top seed and world No. 1 but Soderling proved to be too much to handle as he won with a 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).  Even more shocking?  Soderling is seeded 23rd and, in 21 attempts, he’s never actually made it past the third round of a Grand Slam.  WOW!  Can you imagine how he feels right now?

Other winners from yesterday’s games included Andy Murray (Scotland), Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) and Nikolay Davydenko (Russia).  They, along with Soderling, will advance to the quarterfinals.

Tomorrow’s match-ups include:

• Andy Roddick (USA) vs. Gael Monfils (France)
• Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) vs. Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina)
• Tommy Robredo (Spain) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany)

Roger Federer wanted and needed the win at the Madrid Open final and he got it. The Swiss has had a rough 2009, but did something I never predicted – he beat Rafael Nadal on clay 6-4, 6-4, Sunday (May 17)! Federer is the only top 10 player to defeat Nadal on this surface. I think those are some pretty good bragging rights.

What did Nadal think of this loss? Not much.

“To me, this tournament has nothing to do with Paris. This tournament is practically another surface compared to Paris,” said Nadal. “The conditions favored him more than me.”

What conditions is he referring to? The high altitude which carried with it some odd bounces and a faster pace. Nadal went on to say, “There are no positives, there is little to analyze. He broke and broke and I went home.”

If you’ll remember, Federer was in tears when he lost to Nadal at Melbourne. So, to say this is a sweet victory for Federer is an understatement.

“I thought I took all the right decisions today. In the end it was a perfect game for me,” said Federer. “(You) stay positive and I did. I got the win I needed badly.”

What’s up next for Nadal and Federer? The French Open and according to Federer, his Madrid Open win came at just the right time. Talk about some great preparation mentally for Roger Federer. Congrats to the Swiss player!

Source: Tennis.com

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Rafael Nadal is the master of the clay court. On Sunday (May 3), he defeated Novak Djokovic, 7-6 (2), 6-2 at the Rome Masters. This is his fourth Rome Masters title, his third clay-court title in three weeks and his 30th consecutive win on clay. It seems defeating Nadal on clay is next to impossible these days.

Djokovic took the Rome Masters title last year and had a chance to take it again after he defeated Roger Federer on Saturday (May 2) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. This now makes Federer’s title drought extended to seven months. That’s got to hurt.

Since Djokovic did not hold on to the title at the Rome Masters, he has to give up his No. 3 ranking to Andy Murray on May 11th. He’s been number 3 since August of 2007.

Starting May 25th, Rafael Nadal will try for his fifth consecutive title at the French Open. Do you think he can do it?

Source: NY Times

Image Credit: Newscom

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are facing each other today (May 2) at the Rome Masters and their match has been halted due to a rain delay. Swiss second seed Federer was leading 6-4 2-1 when the match had to be stopped.

Djokovic’s focus was interrupted when someone in the stands whistled just as he was about to serve a crucial point. I hope they found out who it was and booted that jerk out of there!!

Rafael Nadal will play against Chilean 12th seed Fernando Gonzalez later today. If Nadal defeats him, the winner of the Federer/Djokovic match will play Nadal on Sunday in the Rome Masters finals. I am predicting that Federer wins, goes on to play Nadal and Nadal takes yet another title for the year. What are your thoughts?

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This was my prediction! Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer all have advanced into the Rome Masters semifinals. Nadal defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3. Federer defeated Mischa Zverev 7-6 (3), 6-2 and Djokovic defeated Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-4. Next meeting: Federer against Djokovic today, May 2nd.

Djokovic and Federer both like the fast clay court, so it should be a great match.

“I think both of us like it, so it’s going to be interesting,” Djokovic said. “I feel quite confident playing here. Each match I play, I feel more comfortable moving on the court and just playing my style of the game.”

Federer’s thoughts are still on how he played in Miami. He needs to erase those thoughts and focus on today’s match!

“I hope I can play better than in Miami,” Federer said.

Federer is seeking his first title of the year, so to say that his match against Djokovic is important is an understatement.

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This comes as no shock to me. Rafael Nadal has made Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list. He’s listed under the Heroes & Icons section along with Michelle Obama, Tiger Woods, George Clooney and Sarah Palin…just to name a few.

In an article written by Serena Williams, she has this to say about Nadal:

I have never seen such tenacity, such ambition, such fight and such honor go into every shot as when I watch Rafael Nadal.

What is it about Nadal that makes him stand above the crowd?

What is so unusual about Rafa (which is what he likes to be called) is that unlike many of his fellow Spaniards, he can dominate on all surfaces. He has never lost a match on the French Open’s clay, but he also has a Wimbledon title to his name, as well as one from the Australian Open. This year he’s the only man able to go for a true Grand Slam.

Yep, he is definitely one of the tennis greats and is a joy to watch on the court. I am looking forward to seeing what he does with the rest of this tennis season.

Image Credit: Newscom

Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic all defeated their third round opponents on Thursday (April 30) and have cruised their way into the ATP Rome Masters quarter-finals. Nadal played against Robin Soderling of Sweden and won 6-1, 6-0. Federer defeated Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-1 and Djokovic defeated Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-1, 6-1.

In the match against Nadal, Soderling took the first set, but Nadal came back to win the match in 1 hr and 24 minutes.

“I think the match was really tough, if not the result," insisted Nadal. "In the beginning I was winning 4-1 but at the same time I could have been losing 4-1.

"I think I played really well. It was one of my best matches on clay this year or maybe even in my career."

Nadal will face Fernando Verdasco next. Federer will face Mischa Zverev of Germany and Djokovic will face Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. The quarter-finals are this Friday, May 1st.

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Rafael Nadal has done it again. On Sunday (April 26), he won his fifth straight title at the Barcelona Open against Spaniard David Ferrer 6-2, 7-5. Last week, he won his fifth straight title at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Ferrer was having an inconsistent serving game and Nadal used that for his advantage.

The four-time defending French Open champion goes into the Rome Masters on a 25-match unbeaten run with only three defeats in his last 133 matches on clay.

Nadal and Ferrer traded breaks in the first two games before Ferrer’s service game became erratic—he hit four double faults—and Nadal broke him twice more to take a 5-1 lead.

Nadal rifled an ace down the middle to take the set. Ferrer managed only four winners alongside 16 of his 41 unforced errors.

I imagine Nadal has put some fear into the men of tennis. He seems unbeatable right now.

In other Rafael Nadal news, he has given the new roof at Wimbledon the thumbs-up. He had no problem with the club’s decision to introduce the covering for the event this year.

"I saw a picture and it looks good," said Nadal. "I think it’s a good option but I hope we don’t need to use it."

He went on to talk about his final in Barcelona and Wimbledon.

"I didn’t have any tough games except the final in Barcelona," said Nadal. "So I’m not tired. I hope I can continue to play well two weeks in a row.

"I love this tournament, I won it three times in the past and I would love to win it again.

"I’m going to try my best every day knowing that (Roger) Federer, (Andy) Murray and Novak Djokovic are also good on clay."

Source: Press Association

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