Paris, November 17, 2009

The draw for this year's ATP World Tour Finals has been revealed this afternoon in London before the tournament officially kicks off this Sunday 22nd of November at the O2 Arena.  

The two top players in each of the round-robin groups advance to the semi-finals of the tournament and out of those 4 players, two will play the final on the 29th. 

Group B in the end-of-season showpiece event features world number two Rafa Nadal, recent Paris Masters champion Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko and late-entrant Robin Soderling. 

In Group A, world number one Roger Federer will face his U.S Open conqueror Juan Martin del Potro, Andy Murray, and Spain's Fernando Verdasco. 

ORDER OF PLAY – MONDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2009

Vamos Rafa!

Paris, November 17, 2009

Just over a week ago, Donald McRae from ‘The Guardian’ got the chance to sit down with Rafa Nadal in Paris for an exclusive interview.

During the meeting, Rafa took the opportunity to share with the media more details about his personal journey during what has been a very complicated, but equally rewarding year. 

“For everybody there are tough moments. Unluckily for me, this year mine came when I arrived at the most important tournaments in the worst possible condition." he said in reference to Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

"It was a hard moment for me," ..."I couldn't play Wimbledon and it's my favourite tournament. I also lost at Roland Garros and I had a few personal problems. So everything coming together [at the same time] made it hard," he concluded. 

Just before the champ heads over to London for the first time since his epic victory over Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final, he took a moment to acknowledge and praise his relationship with the man who is without doubt “one of the best players in history”.

"He always did a very good job for our sport and he is a nice person. I have spent the most important moments of my career playing against Roger – and the same is for him, too, playing against me. So we have a big respect and, off the court, we have a very good relationship."

Next week, at the O2 Arena in London, they will both play in the ATP World Tour Finals – when the top eight men gather for one last lucrative tournament before their brief winter break. 

Rafa's main goal for the tournament is still driven by a simple purity of purpose. It underpins both his ferocious dedication to tennis and his winning humility off court: "I always work with a goal – and the goal is to improve as a player and a person. That, finally, is the most important thing of all."

Click here to read full article…

By Donald McRae

The Guardian

Paris, November 14, 2009

Rafa Nadal’s exciting run at the Paris Masters Series Tournament has sadly come to an end after a straight set loss, 6-2, 6-3 to Serbian Novak Djokovic on Saturday afternoon. 

The world No.2 got off to an impressive start in the very first game of the match when he looked to have secured two break points on Djokovic's serve. However, the Serb correctly challenged an overrule from umpire to ensure the score remained 15-30 and then confidently served out to avoid the threat of a break.

The first four games of the contest went with serve, but Djokovic then raised his level to streak into the ascendancy as he won seven straight games to take the first set 6-2 and move into a commanding  lead in the second.

Rafa remained as tenacious as ever in defence and tirelessly chased around at the back of the court, but he was unable to contend with the accuracy and imagination of his opponent's raking groundstrokes.

The good thing is "I finished this tournament much better than I started...The confidence will not go away because I lost," said Rafa at the end of the match before giving Novak full credit for an incredible victory. "Nobody likes to lose, but you have to be realistic and accept when your opponent is better than you." 

"He played extremely well," admitted Rafa. "He played unbelievable, in my opinion.  I didn't play bad.  That's the truth.  But with this level of Novak’s, [it] is very difficult to play at this level, especially [on] this surface.  I finish the tournament playing much better than  [how] I started [it]."

Vamos Rafa!

Paris, November 13, 2009

Rafa Nadal has set up an exciting semifinal showdown against Novak Djokovic at the Paris Masters Series event with a convincing 7-5, 7-5 win over defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga this afternoon.

As it was expected, playing with a local meant Rafa had the crowd against him from the start. He was facing a strong challenge from a powerful opponent, who not loves fast indoor courts, but also, had an extra-especial reason motivating his every move…A spot in the eight-man ATP World Tour Finals in London later this month.

Tsonga got off to a storming start in front of a packed Bercy Stadium but he was unable to convert any of his 6 break-point opportunities against a man who is famously known for his ability to overcome adversity. This week only, Rafa saved five match points against Nicolas Almagro in the third round on Wednesday and narrowly escaped Tommy Robredo.

To his credit, the flamboyant, ‘Muhammad Ali-of-tennis’, put up an amazing fight against Rafa. However, it was the world No.2 who showed more composure when it mattered.

"[It] was [a] very important victory for me," said Rafa. "[It was] probably the first big victory after my comeback from the injury. So I'm very happy for that. I started the tournament playing almost terrible, and right now I'm in the semi-finals.

"I played aggressively during all the match. I went to the net a lot of times and had good volleys. I think I served really well, much better than the rest of the days. In important moments I had a few aces, so that give me a lot of confidence." 

In the semifinals tomorrow, Rafa will face Novak Djokovic. He is definitely one of the hottest players on tour, arriving in Paris fresh off of his title in Basel last week.

Their match is scheduled second on Center Court not before 2:00pm (local time). 

Vamos Rafa!

Paris, November 13, 2009

Rafa Nadal had to do it the hard way again last night to keep his Paris Masters Series campaign alive.

After an intense 2-hour-battle, (and only a few points from losing the match) Rafa gained all of his strength to level the match and overcome his Davis Cup mate Tommy Robredo, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in what is now his second nail-biting match in a row.

"I didn't play my best but I played better than yesterday and managed to play big rallies without making mistakes, so that's positive," Rafa said.

In the quarter-finals, Rafa will face his biggest Paris challenge yet in France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The two men will battle for a spot in Saturday’s semifinal. Rafa owns a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over Tsonga – and one of those wins was on the lightening-fast hardcourts of Rotterdam earlier this year.

At an interview yesterday, Rafa was quick to say that the Frenchman "is the favourite to win". "He's playing at a great level, he loves this surface, he feels comfortable and on top of that, he won here last year... That gives you a lot of confidence. It will be a very complicated match," he concluded.

Their match is scheduled second on Center Court after the Soderling –vs Djokovic encounter, which is set to start at 2:00pm (local time). 

Vamos Rafa!

Head-to-head stats: (Cheryl Murray)www.tennistalk.com

Paris, November 12, 2009

Rafa Nadal has extended his record against Spanish compatriot Tommy Robredo to 6-0 at the Paris Masters Series tournament this Thursday evening after defeating his Davis Cup team mate in what is now his second nail-biting match in a row.

After two hours and 15 minutes of play, Rafa scored a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory for a quarter-final clash against Jo-Wilfred Tsonga this Friday.

This was easily the closest Robredo had ever come to beating Rafa. In five previous meetings, Tommy had not even taken a set off the world No.2.

"I didn't play my best but I played much better than yesterday," said Rafa after the match. "I felt the ball much better than yesterday. For moments, I felt [like] I had the control of the ball. I had the chance to play big rallies without making mistakes. So that's very important for me."

In regards to Jo, Rafa was quick to say that the Frenchman "is the favourite to win". "He's playing at a great level, he loves this surface, he feels comfortable and on top of that, he won here last year... That gives you a lot of confidence. It will be a very complicated match," he concluded.

Video: ATP Tour Youtube Channel

Vamos Rafa! 

Paris, November 10, 2009

Rafa Nadal has secured a titanic victory over compatriot Nicolás Almagro on Wednesday evening to reach round three of the BNP Paribas Masters tournament.

Back in the French capital for the first time since his Roland Garros campaign, Rafa didn’t expect to progress with ease against the world number 27, but saying that, he didn't anticipate such an intense battle either.

Almagro had lost his previous four encounters against his fellow Spaniard without winning a set but today he had 5 opportunities to serve out the match. Rafa never let that distract him as he roared back, taking full advantage of his opponent's decreasing mobility to win the match in three hours and 14 minutes and set up a meeting with 14th-seeded countryman Tommy Robredo. 

"I played great tennis in that moment [from 5-6, 0/40], the only moment," said Rafa, smiling. "For the rest of the match, I am very lucky to be in third round.  I didn't play well.  I was practising really well in Mallorca, but when I arrived here, it's tough to [get] good rhythm.  I have another chance to improve tomorrow.  I hope [I] don't play worse.  I think the win today is a very important win, and I am going to have another chance tomorrow to improve."

Their match (on Thursday) is scheduled to start not before 7:30pm (local time) on Center Court.

Video: Tennis24grTV

Vamos Rafa! 

Paris, November 11, 2009

Rafa Nadal secured a titanic victory over compatriot Nicolás Almagro on Wednesday evening to reach round three of the BNP Paribas Masters tournament where he will play against Tommy Robredo today.

Rafa admitted he was "very lucky" after edging Almagro 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5, by saving five match points in a three-hour and 14-minute marathon.

He was very critical of his game but highlighted his "attitude". "I've shown that if there is something to not worry about it's the attitude, that has been good at all times, even playing a game badly enough," he said.

"I am very lucky to be in third round.  I didn't play well”, said Rafa smiling. “I was practicing really well in Mallorca, but when I arrived here, it's tough to [get] good rhythm.  I have another chance to improve tomorrow.  I hope [I] don't play worse.  I think the win today is a very important win, and I am going to have another chance tomorrow to improve."

Tommy Robredo does not have a good record against Rafa. The world No. 15 has a 0-5 disadvantage against the world No.2. The two men last played in Shanghai a few weeks ago; Rafa won the match 6-1, 6-4.

Their match is scheduled to start not before 7:30pm (local time) on Center Court.

Video: Tennis24grTV

Vamos Rafa! 

Paris, November 12, 2009

Rafa Nadal had to do it the hard way again last night to keep his Paris Masters Series campaign alive.

After an intense 2-hour-battle, (and only a few points from losing the match) Rafa gained all of his strength to level the match and overcome his Davis Cup mate, and country man Tommy Robredo, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in what is now his second nail-biting match in a row.

"I didn't play my best but I played better than yesterday and managed to play big rallies without making mistakes, so that's positive," Rafa said.

In the quarter-finals, Rafa will face his biggest Paris challenge yet in France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The two men will battle for a spot in Saturday’s semifinal.

Tsonga has just the sort of game that can trouble Rafa. He has big groundstrokes and a big serve, not to mention the backing of the Parisian crowd. The Spaniard owns a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over Tsonga – and one of those wins was on the lightening-fast hardcourts of Rotterdam earlier this year.

At an interview yesterday, Rafa was quick to say that the Frenchman "is the favourite to win". "He's playing at a great level, he loves this surface, he feels comfortable and on top of that, he won here last year... That gives you a lot of confidence. It will be a very complicated match," he concluded.

Their match is scheduled second on Center Court after the Soderling –vs Djokovic encounter, which is set to start at 2:00pm (local time).

Vamos Rafa!

Paris, November 10, 2009

Rafa Nadal and countryman Nicolas Almagro will meet in the second round of the BNP Paribas Masters Series tournament in Paris, this afternoon. 

Almagro is 0-4 against Rafa in their lifetime series with their most recent match coming from the 3rd round of this year's US Open.  Almagro has never taken a set of off Rafael nor has Almagro forced many tiebreakers as the two players have only played one tiebreaker against one another.

«We know each other well and I know he's a very complicated opponent because he likes to hit the ball hard and he also serves real well. I have to take my chances whenever he gives me an opportunity because there won’t be too many of them. It will be a very difficult match, specially given that it will be the first match for me and he's already had more competitive time on court", said Rafa after his doubles match yesterday.

Their match is scheduled third on center court.

DOUBLES: Rafa and ‘Pico’ Monaco didn’t have much luck on Tuesday afternoon after losing a very close first-round doubles encounter (6-4, 5-7, 13-15) against Germany's Christopher Kas and Phillipp Kohlschreiber.

Vamoa Rafa!