Roger Federer has done it. He upset Rafael Nadal on clay in Spain 6-4 6-4 after 86 minutes of play.
The Swiss played great. He, most importantly, kept the points short and prevented the Spaniard from getting into any rhythm. His serve helped him get ahead in games, so Federer was never really in trouble during the match. Being ahead shielded him from his mental meltdowns that have hurt him in the last five tournaments. Also, inopportune errors did not help the Nadal's cause.
The win gives Federer his first title of the year. It also snaps Nadal’s 33 clay-court streak and denies Nadal from winning all three Masters titles on clay this year. It should also give Federer a boost for the French Open.
On the doubles side, second-seeds Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic maintained order by beating Simon Aspelin and Wesley Moodie 6-4 6-4. This is their fifth title of the year.
Championship Sunday
Singles Final
2 Roger Federer (SUI) def. 1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6-4 6-4
Doubles Final
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA) 6-4 6-4
(Image: Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images)
You were correct if you picked Roger Federer, which no one did. The poll results are as follows:
0% Federer - Champion
75% Nadal - Final
12% Simon – Round of 16 exit
12% Other
The majority has picked correctly three of five tournaments. Its winning percentage is now down to 60%. The French Open poll will be up next week.
Rafael Nadal celebrates his semifinal victory over Novak Djokovic with his nephew. Que lindo!
(Image: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images)
Roger Federer had a much easier time with Juan Martin del Potro in his semifinal match. He beat the Argentine youngster 6-3 6-4 after 81 minutes of play.
Del Potro is still trying to get into the mix with the top four. He should be encouraged now that he has beaten Nadal and Murray this year. The Argentine still needs more work and experience to compete consistently with the top four.
Federer will now play Rafael Nadal for the championship. The Swiss is currently titleless this year, so the win could jump start his year. The final is his first meeting with Nadal since the epic Australian Open final this year, where Nadal won his first hardcourt grand slam. Nadal currently leads their head-to-head matchup 13-6 and has won five-consecutive matches over Federer. If Federer had an opportunity to prevail over Nadal, it would be tomorrow. Nadal was on the court 2.5 times longer than Federer, and Nadal’s knee problems are back.
Saturday’s Results
Singles Semifinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. 3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) 3-6 7-6(5) 7-6(9)
2 Roger Federer (SUI) def. 5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 6-4 6-3
Doubles Semifinals
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. J Del Potro (ARG) / M Fish (USA) 6-4 6-3
S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA) def. 5 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) 3-6 7-6(3) 10-6
Championship Sunday
Singles Final
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. 2 Roger Federer (SUI)
Doubles Final
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) vs. S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA)
Sunday’s Order of Play
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(Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic had quite the epic battle today. After four hours and two minutes of play, Nadal eked by Novak Djokovic 3-6 7-6(5) 7-6-(9) in another great match between these two players. The fact that Nadal was left standing at the end of the day speaks volumes of Nadal as a champion because the beginning of the match did not look so promising for the Spaniard.
Rafael Nadal came out looking sluggish and was often caught flat-footed. He was not moving well and was hitting a lot of unforced errors. Conversely, Djokovic was sharp from the first point. His shotmaking was impeccable. The result was the Serb jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Luckily for the Nadal, he stopped the bleeding by holding serve, but he did so under duress. Djokovic was able to off Nadal to take the first set. The advantage took all the wind out of the hometown crowd.
In the second set, Nadal called for the trainer after game two, and it looked like the begi
nning of the end of the Mallorcan because Djokovic was hitting on all cylinders. Nadal was still able to hold onto his serve but had to really fight off the Serb throughout the set. In taking care of his serve, Nadal was able to force the set into a tiebreak. He was able to ratchet up his game enough to secure a mini-break and was able to hold on to win the second set.
In the third set, Djokovic struck first with a break in game four. Nadal broke back to level the set. Nadal stepped up his strokes and was back to his usual style of play by running his opponent around the court. Djokovic was visibly tired and called the trainer after game five after suffering from cramps. The two players dug in on their service games and took the match to a third-set tiebreak.
The two players saved their best for the tiebreak. They were really slugging it out and going for the most insane shots. Both players were hitting big shots and running each other around the court. With the match being so close, both players did not back down and kicked it up a gear.
Djokovic secured a minibreak at 4-3, but a forehand error gave the advantage back. A Nadal forehand error then gave Djokovic a match point at 6-5. Nadal saved one match point with the biggest forehand winner ever. He then hit a backhand error and gave Djokovic another match point. Nadal saved the second match point with another big forehand and catching the Serb off balance. The crowd was awakened really for the first time in the match. A Djokovic error handed Nadal his first match point, and now the crowd went into full soccer-cheer mode. Now, Djokovic received a chance to save a match point by luring Nadal into the net with a drop shot and hitting a subsequent winner. Djokovic followed up with a big serve to give him his third match point. Nadal saved another match point with a big serve that cause the Serb’s backhand to go long. The Mallorcan followed up with another big forehand winner after a Djokovic return to secure match point number two at 10-9. Two times is a charm because the Spaniard was able to convert his match point with another big forehand winner.
It was a remarkable win for Nadal because he won a match that he should have lost. Djokovic played really well the entire game, but he allowed Nadal to hang around. When the opportunity presented itself, Nadal got his act together enough to sneak off with the match.
The win keeps his clay-court winning streak alive that is now at 33 matches. He is now in his third Masters final on clay this year. He has already won three of the four Masters titles of the season and is going for his fourth Masters title of the year.
It will be interesting to see if Nadal will have enough left to keep his winning streak intact after having such an intense match.
(Images: Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open)
Juan Martin del Potro is currently the ATP world number five. The 19-year-old has had trouble beating the top four in the past. With a little more experience under his belt this year, he is beginning to breakthrough. This year, he beat Rafael Nadal in the Miami quarterfinals, and now the Argentine has upset the defending champion, Andy Murray. Del Potro upset the Scotsman 7-6(4) 6-3 in less than two hours of play.
The young Argentine has now advanced into the semifinals to play Roger Federer, who is currently 4-0 over del Potro. Federer had a brutally dominant performance over the Argentine in their last meeting in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. The two players have never met on clay, so tomorrow’s match should be an interesting one. Del Potro will also do double duty tomorrow because he is in the doubles semifinals with partner Mardy Fish.
Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. 6 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 6-5 7-5
2 Roger Federer (SUI) def. 7 Andy Roddick (USA) 7-5 6-7(5) 6-1
3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. WC Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 6-4 6-4
5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) def. 4 Andy Murray (GBR) 7-6(4) 6-3
Doubles Quarterfinals
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. M. Granollers (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) 4-6 6-4 10-8
5 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) def. F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) 7-5 6-2
S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA) def. N. Djokovic (SRB)/D. Vemic (SRB) 4-6 6-3 11-9
Saturday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. 3 Novak Djokovic (SRB)
2 Roger Federer (SUI) vs. 5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)
Doubles Semifinals
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) vs. J Del Potro (ARG) / M Fish (USA)
5 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) vs. S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA)
Saturday’s Order of Play
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(Image: AP)
Rafael Nadal was able to get passed Fernando Verdasco to take a slot against Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. Nadal won 6-4 7-5 after 118 minutes of play. The Spaniard extends his winning streak to 32-consecutive clay-court matches.
Nadal was never in any trouble until the second set, where Verdasco jumped out to a 4-0 lead. The Mallorcan buttoned down his game and went on a five-game run. Verdasco held in game eleven but was in full meltdown mode by then. Nadal then won the next two games to take the set and match.
Nadal will now play Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. He is currently 13-4 over Djokovic and is currently on a four-match winning streak. Djokovic has never beat Nadal on clay or grass. We shall see if this trend continues.
(Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Thursday’s Results
Singles Round of 16
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) walkover - leg
2 Roger Federer (SUI) def. 14 James Blake (USA) 6-2 6-4
3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-4 6-4
4 Andy Murray (GBR) def. 16 Tommy Robredo (ESP) 7-5 6-1
5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) def. 11 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 4-6 6-4 6-4
6 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def. Juan Monaco (ARG) 7-5 6-2
7 Andy Roddick (USA) def. 10 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) walkover - leg
WC Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. 8 Gilles Simon (FRA) 3-6 6-4 6-3
Doubles Quarterfinals
J. Del Potro (ARG)/M. Fish (USA) def. S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) 6-7(9) 6-2 10-4
Doubles Round of 16
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. M. Lopez (ESP)/R. Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) 6-3 6-7(7) 10-6
N. Djokovic (SRB)/D. Vemic (SRB) def. 8 M. Melo (BRA)/A. Sa (BRA) 6-2 7-6(9)
5 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) def. A. Fisher (AUS)/T. Parrott (USA) 7-5 4-6 12-10
Friday’s Matches
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. 6 Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
2 Roger Federer (SUI) vs. 7 Andy Roddick (USA)
3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. WC Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
4 Andy Murray (GBR) vs. 5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)
Doubles Quarterfinals
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) vs. M. Granollers (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP)
5 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) vs. F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK)
N. Djokovic (SRB)/D. Vemic (SRB) vs. S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA)
Friday’s Order of Play
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Fernando Verdasco emerged victorious over Juan Monaco 7-5 6-2 after the Argentine put up a good fight in the first set. Monaco obtained an early break in the first set and managed to hold onto it for most of the set. While serving for the first set, Monaco had a sloppy game that allowed Verdasco to break back. The break leveled the set to 5-5. After a contested service game, Verdasco managed to hold after Monaco had a few break point opportunities. The Spaniard broke Monaco after the Argentine had another sloppy service game to win the first set.
In the second set, Monaco broke in the first game of the set and held to take the lead at 2-0. Verdasco then stepped up his game. The Spanish heat caused Monaco to make more unforced errors. Verdasco then went on to win six games in row to take the set and the match.
Verdasco will now meet Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals. Nadal is currently 8-0 over Verdasco, so it looks like the Madrileno has a large task on his hands. There is always a first time for everything.
(Image: Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open)
This year has not been the greatest year for Gilles Simon. The Frenchman has struggled of late. Today, we were treated to some of the style of play that helped Simon rocket up the rankings last year.
Simon came out playing well. He was playing Ivan Ljubicic off the court. The result – the Frenchman was up a set and a break in the second set. It looked like Simon was on his 
way to a routine win.
Simon was in total control of the match until Ljubicic broke in game eight to level the second set to 4-4. The Croat went on to win the next two games to take the set and level the match at one set apiece.
In the third set, Simon fell completely apart. He was back to playing like he has been playing as of late. He began hanging out on the baseline and counterpunching. The unforced errors crept into his game, and it was downhill from there.
All credit to Ljubicic. The veteran was down and out. He made adjustments to turn the match around, and the Frenchman had no answers for these adjustments. In the end, the Croat was able to take the match from Simon 3-6 6-4 6-3 and advance to the quarterfinals, where he will play Novak Djokovic. Their head-to-head matchup is tied at 1-1.
(Images: AFP/Getty Images, DPPI)
Everyone’s favorite Argentinean surfer had an easy time with twelve-seed David Ferrer. Juan Monaco sent the Spaniard packing 6-4 6-4 after 90 minutes of play. The Argentine did just enough to advance.
Monaco will meet Fernando Verdasco in the next round. Monaco leads their head-to-head match-up 4-1, and the Argentine has won three-consecutive matches against Verdasco. Their last meeting was in Kitzbuhel in 2007.
On the doubles side, all of the seeded teams lost today. The usually reliable Bryan brothers exited early for the second week in a row. The second, fifth and eighth seeds still remain.
Ashley Fisher and Travis Parrott, who is Filip-less, advanced after rallying to beat Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi 4-6 6-3 14-12. They will play the fifth-seeds Bruno Soares and Kevin Ullyett in the round of 16.
Wednesday's Results
Singles Second Round
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 6-3 6-1
3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. WC Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 6-3 6-3
5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) def. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-2 4-1 Ret. (leg)
6 Andy Roddick (USA) def. Q Tommy Haas (GER) 1-6 7-6(9) 6-4
8 Gilles Simon (FRA) def. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-3 6-2
11 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) def. Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-4 7-5
10 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. Florent Serra (FRA) 7-5 6-3
WC Juan Monaco (ARG) def. 12 David Ferrer (ESP) 6-4 6-4
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) def. 13 Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-1 6-7(5) 7-6(2)
14 James Blake (USA) def. Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(4)
Andreas Seppi (ITA) def. Sam Querrey (USA) 6-3 4-6 6-4
Doubles First Round
A. Fisher (AUS)/T. Parrott (USA) def. S. Bolelli (ITA)/A. Seppi (ITA) 4-6 6-3 14-12
N. Djokovic (SRB)/D. Vemic (SRB) def. J. Coetzee (RSA)/J. Kerr (AUS) 7-6(4) 6-3
Doubles Second Round
S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA) def. 1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) 6-7(4) 6-1 11-9
F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. 3 O. Hernandez (ESP)/A. Montanes (ESP) 6-3 6-2
S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) def. 4 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) 6-4 7-5
J. Del Potro (ARG)/M. Fish (USA) def. 6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) 6-3 6-4
M. Granollers (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) def. 7 M. Mirnyi (BLR)/A. Ram (ISR) 5-7 6-2 14-12
Thursday's Order of Play
(Image: Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open)
Seventh-seed Fernando Verdasco had no problems with Juan Carlos Ferrero today. After 96 minutes of play, Verdasco dismissed the former world number one 6-3 6-2. He was able to overpower the veteran to advance into the round of 16. Verdasco now awaits the winner of the Juan Monaco-David Ferrer match.
Tuesday's Results
Singles First Round
10 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-2 6-2
13 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-2 6-7(4) 6-1
14 James Blake (USA) def. Victor Hanescu (ROU) 6-2 6-4
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. Albert Montanes (ESP) 4-6 7-5 6-3
Andreas Seppi (ITA) def. Q Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 7-5 6-4
Tomas Berdych (CZE) def. LL Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-0 7-6(5)
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) def. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 3-6 7-6(5) 6-4
Jeremy Chardy (FRA) def. Jose Acasuso (ARG) 6-3 6-2
Q Fabio Fognini (ITA) def. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 6-7(5) 6-4 3-0 Ret. (Throat)
Singles Second Round
2 Roger Federer (SUI) def. Robin Soderling (SWE) 6-1 7-5
4 Andy Murray (GBR) def. Simone Bolelli (ITA) 7-6(9) 6-4
7 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 6-3 6-2
16 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Mardy Fish (USA) 3-6 7-6(5) 6-2
WC Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 6-4 7-5
Doubles First Round
WC M. Lopez (ESP)/R. Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) def. C. Kas (GER)/R. Wassen (NED) 7-6(4) 1-6 11-9
J. Del Potro (ARG)/M. Fish (USA) def. N. Almagro (ESP)/D. Ferrer (ESP) 6-2 6-3
M. Granollers (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) def. F. Lopez (ESP)/F. Verdasco (ESP) 7-6(3) 6-1
S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA) def. ALT M. Gonzalez (ARG)/J. Monaco (ARG) 6-4 7-5
*ALT M. Gonzalez (ARG)/J. Monaco (ARG) replaced T. Berdych (CZE)/N. Kiefer-hip (GER)
Wednesday’s Order of Play
(Image: Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open)
It was a battle of the big men and their serves. The two players had never met in ATP competition. In the end, ninth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga bested Marat Safin 6-4 7-5 and dismissed the retiring Russian, who was playing in his last Madrid Open.
The match was close, but the difference was that Safin could not a make on dent on the Frenchman’s serve. He only had one break opportunity the entire match. Tsonga, on the other hand, had six opportunities and was able to take advantage twice.
Tsonga will now play Ivan Ljubicic in the next round. Tsonga leads Ljubicic 1-0 in their match-up. The Frenchman beat the Croat this year in the second round of the Australian Open.
Monday's Results
Singles First Round
9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. Marat Safin (RUS) 6-4 7-5
11 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) def. Q Marco Crugnola (ITA) 6-2 6-0
12 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Q Guillermo Canas (ARG) 6-2 6-2
WC Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-4 7-5
Oscar Hernandez (ESP) def. Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 6-3 6-3
WC Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. Q Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 6-3 6-2
Mardy Fish (USA) def. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 7-6(3) 6-4
Simone Bolelli (ITA) def. Q Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 7-5 7-6(3)
Q Tommy Haas (GER) def. Ernests Gulbis (LAT) 6-2 5-7 7-5
Florent Serra (FRA) def. Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-2 6-4
Robin Soderling (SWE) def. LL Ivan Navarro (ESP) 6-4 6-2
Doubles First Round
S. Huss (AUS)/R .Hutchins (GBR) def. WC P. Andujar (ESP)/G. Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 4-6 7-5 10-7
F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) 6-2 7-5
Tuesday’s Order of Play
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The Tennis Channel – 6:00 AM EST
(Image: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images)
Preview: Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
City: Madrid, Spain
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 1000
2008 Singles Champion: Andy Murray
2008 Doubles Champions: Mariusz Frystenberg and Marcin Markowski
Andy Murray will be on hand to defend the title. He won the tournament last year, but the tournament had previously been an indoor hardcourt event. This year and from now on, the tournament will be played on clay.
Now that the tournament is on clay, there is no doubt that Rafael Nadal is the hands-down favorite. He is having another great year and posting ridiculous stats along the way. The million-dollar question is whether anyone else will step up and beat him. On clay, even Djokovic, Murray, and Federer have yet to really challenge him. We shall see this week.
Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles
Tournament Malfeasance
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs. Juan Monaco (ARG)
Nicolas Kiefer (GER) vs. Tommy Robredo (ESP)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. Marat Safin (RUS)
Mario Ancic (CRO) vs. Tomas Berdych (CZE)
And The Qualifiers Are . . .
Guillermo Canas (ARG) def. Flavio Cipolla 4-6 6-3 6-3
Teumuraz Gabashvili (RUS) def. Dusan Vemic (SRB) 4-6 6-4 7-6(5)
Eduardo Schwank (ARG) def. Evgeny Korolev (RUS) 6-2 6-2
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-1 6-3
Marco Crugnola (ITA) def. Ivan Navarro 1-6 6-2 6-1
Fabio Fognini def. Alberto Martin 1-6 6-3 7-6(9)
Tommy Haas (GER) def. Pablo Andujar (ESP) 6-3 6-4
Singles First Round
Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Nicolas Kiefer (GER) 3-6 6-2 6-2
Sam Querrey (USA) def. 15 Radek Stepanek (CZE) 7-6(2) 5-2 ret - left knee
WC Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-3 4-6 6-4
Monday’s Order of Play
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The Tennis Channel – 4:00 AM EST
(Image: Getty Images)
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