TennisToday

Rafal Nadal Back on the Practice Courts - Readys for Clay Court Season

After pulling from his Sf match in Miami Rafa is already practicing.

With no tape on those pesky knees.

He'll enter the clay season with plenty to prove & a ton of points to defend.

Remember the 3 titles he won last year came during this stretch:

Monte-Carlo, Barcelona and Roland Garros.

He was also the runner-up at Madrid and Rome.

He'll need another stellar clay season to keep Federer from over-taking #2.

Next week he'll head to Monte-Carlo as the 7-time defending champ.

Will Rafa be ready to claim an 8th title?

Gulp: Nemesis (and healthy) Novak is entered at Monte-Carlo.

Photo: Merce Valero snagged via Rafaholics

Bryan Brothers Win Doubles Title at Monte-Carlo

Monte-Carlo ATP Masters 1000 - Final

1 Bryan Brothers d Juan Ignacio Chela & Bruno Soares - 63 62

I don't usually pay too much attention to doubles but...

The Bryan Brothers deserve credit for being 2 of only 3 Americans in M-C.

The third being Eric Butorac - who won a round in doubles.

I get that it's tough to be in Europe all summer long for singles players.

Especially if they aren't going to make deep runs on the dirt.

(Hmph, a summer in Europe would be a dream come true for me.)

This makes two titles for the Bryan's in M-C. They previously won in '07.

This also represents their 18th Masters 1000 title - from 33 finals.

The Bryan's are also the top seeds at Barcelona next week.

Thanks for representing boys.

After the match they Tweeted the following photo captioned:

Celebrated with $40 dollar cheeseburgers in the lobby.

Here's a pic w/ our better halves. Cute, aren't they?

Bono Attends Men's Final at ATP Monte-Carlo

Rafael Nadal: Sunday, Bloody Sunday

David Ferrer: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

Photo: TV Screen Cap

Rafael Nadal Wins Thriller Over Andy Murray to Reach Final at ATP Monte-Carlo

Monte-Carlo ATP Masters 1000 - Semifinal

1 Rafael Nadal d 3 Andy Murray - 64 26 61

Rafa won thru to the final in a 2:58 thrilling near-instant classic.

Murray did so well to take a set - only the 3rd Rafa has lost on clay in 2 years.

This was Rafa's 200th Masters 1000 match win. He has only 40 losses.

Tomorrow he will be going fo an unprecidented 7th consecutive title in MC.

If he loses tomorrow it'll be his latest into a year without a title since '04.

He'll play Ferrer in the final - who'll be eager to win his 1st Masters title.

Their H2H: 11-4/RN but David won the previous match at the Aussie.

8-1 on clay: David's one win came way back at Stuttgart in '04.

This will be their 3rd meeting in M-C and David has yet to take a set.

Remember, Rafa beat him here last year in the Sf's 62 63.

Will Murray have given Ferrer enough of an assist today? Hmm...

This is Rafa's 3rd straight Masters final (0-2) & he's going for #19 overall.

This has all the makings of a very interesting match.

My sleeping pattern is so jacked.

Photo: Getty Images

Rafael Nadal Into Semifinal at ATP Monte-Carlo

Monte-Carlo ATP Masters 1000 - Quarterfinal

1 Rafael Nadal d Ivan Ljubicic - 61 63

Yea, this was always going to be a pre-ordained thrashing.

And throw in that crazy wind and Ivan was swiftly blown off the court.

Rafa moves into his (get this) 37th Masters 1000 Sf: 26-10.

Rafa has lost only 14 games in 3 matches & extends his W/L in MC to 37-1.

Let's remember, he's the 6-time defender in MC - and going for a 7th title.

At only 24 years-of-age these are all staggering statistics.

He will next face Andy Murray - H2H: 9-4/RN.

Rafa has won both meetings on clay - including a Sf win here in '09.

The alarm is set. I'm ready.

Photo: Getty Images

Jurgen Melzer Upsets Roger Federer in Monte-Carlo

Monte-Carlo ATP Masters 1000 - Quarterfinal

7 Jurgen Melzer d 2 Roger Federer - 64 64

Jurgen has now scalped the big 3 (Rafa, Novak & Roger) in his career.

Jurgen: I have beaten Rafa last year. I have beaten Nole [Djokovic].

So this was the one missing. I'm very happy I actually did it today.

This was his 6th Masters 1000 Qf and his 1st win into the semis.

Jurgen will take a losing record into the Sf against Ferrer - H2H: 3-2/DF.

He also kept Roger from advancing to his (get this) 40th Masters 1000 Sf.

Roger: I wish I could have gone further in the tournament.

I got three matches. I'm pretty happy.

I know tons of tennis writers & bloggers have written him off but...

This is the first time since Wimbledon that he's lost before the semis.

Nobody else can say that. Just saying...

Monte-Carlo ATP Masters 1000 Round of 16

I've been crazy busy today and haven't time to blog at all.

And only have time now to pump out a quick post. Better stuff tomorrow.

Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 - Round of 16

1 Rafael Nadal d 13 Richard Gasquet - 62 64

2 Roger Federer d 15 Maric Cilic - 64 63

3/WC Andy Murray d 16 Gilles Simon - 63 63

4 David Ferrer d Milos Raonic - 61 64

Ivan Ljubicic d 5 Tomas Berdych - 64 62

7 Jurgen Melzer d 9 Nicolas Almagro - 61 64

Q Frederico Gil d 8 Gael Monfils - 76(6) 62

11 Viktor Troicki d Tommy Robredo - 36 2-1 ret.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Drag in Monte-Carlo Player Party

This has been a crazy couple of days for crazy outfits.

But ding ding ding, we have a clear winner...

Caro tweeted this of Jo-Willy early from the MC player party.

Ok, we sooooo need video of this...

Rafael Nadal: Winning Start on Clay in Monte-Carlo

Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 - 2nd Round

1 Rafael Nadal d Jarkko Nieminen - 62 62

Rafa picked up the 2011 season where 2010 left off - winning.

He is now on a 23 match streak on clay - since losing Qf RG in '09.

Rafa has only lost one match at M-C in the 3rd R in '03 to Coria: 35-1.

He is going for an incredible 7th consecutive title:

Photos: Reuters/Getty Images

Roger Federer Makes Winning Start in Clay Season

Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 - 2nd Round

2 Roger Federer d Philipp Kohlschreiber - 62 61

Ruthless: Roger was off the in under an hour.

He is a 3-time runner-up in M-C to Rafael Nadal: '06-'08.

He didn't play here last season for what ever reason...

That decision may have cost him that Pete record of most weeks at #1.

Roger: [It was] clearly a good start for me into the clay-court season.

Roger will next play the winner of Cilic/Riba on Thursday.

Rafael Nadal: It's the King of Clay Time

2011 is already a fascinating one as Novak Djokovic is the one unbeaten.

Monte Carlo starts Monday & like last year Rafa enters titless on the year.

He also comes to Monte Carlo as the 6-time defending champion.

We've never been able to say that very often in men's tennis history.

Let's look at his unreal W/L numbers for the May/June clay season since '05:

'05: 26-1, '06: 24-0, '07: 26-1, '08: 22-1, '09: 22-2, '10: 22-0. That's 142-5.

Even more amazing: last years 22-0 only saw the loss of 2 sets.

Of the 51 (51-2) sets he won in '10 only 7 of them had a '7' in the set score.

Rafa lost both IW/Miami finals to Novak Djokovic - who pulled out of MC.

They can't see each other again unless they both reach the final in Madrid.

But Federer is entered in MC - so another chapter can be written with them.

Rafa's possible seeded road to the Monte Carlo final looks like this:

Gasquet in R16, Berdych or Tsonga in Qf's, Murray, Monfils or Simon in Sfs.

Rafa on repeating his unbeaten clay season last year:

That's a once in a lifetime to win every tournament on clay.

Nobody else has done it in history, only myself last year.

So it's difficult to imagine two years in a row I can repeat that.

Also last year Madrid and Rome were not back-to-back.

With Rafa really wanting to play Barcelona - Rome may have to go...

Photos: Rafa posted these today of Facebook of Port of Monaco

Rafael Nadal vs Fernando Verdaco - Monte Carlo Final: Point of the Match

Rafa may have (easily) won the match but Fern won the point of the match.

Probably even the point of the entire tournament. His reaction is priceless.

Fernando Verdasco: YOU WIN TODAY OR YOU DIE

Photo: Reuters

Rafael Nadal makes History Winning Monte Carlo Title

2 Rafael Nadal d 6 Fernando Verdasco - 60 61

RAFA-NOMENAL

He becomes the 1st man in the Open Era to win a tourney 6 years in-a-row.

And he can duplicate that feat in the coming week in Barcelona.

The way his scores read this week I certainly wouldn't bet against him.

***

This was Rafa's 1st title since the Rome Masters 1000 in May of last year.

Rafa has tied Roger Federer with 2nd most Masters 1000 titles with 16.

They are both behind Andre Agassi who has 17.

It'll be interesting to see who breaks that record first.

***

How many 'sooth-seeing' articles have I read announcing Rafa's demise?

I hope his play this week will silence all that crap.

Um, 3 of his 5 matches featured a 0 and a 1... including the final.

Rafa lost 14 games this week - that's less that 3 per set folks.

***

Not a bad week for Fernando either - he reached his first Masters 1000 final.

He will move back into the top 10 tomorrow - at #9.

And the 200 thousand Euros he earned will but a lot of Calvins.

After the match Rafa addressed the crowd: "For me [today] is very emotional. [It] is probably my favourite tournament. I love this tournament. [To] win here another time is a dream for me. The atmosphere here is unbelievable. I feel like [I'm at] home. No one match during seven years [have] I felt the crowd against me. I just can say thank you very much everybody."

Photos: Reuters

Rafael Nadal & Fernando Verdasco to Meet in Monte Carlo Final

2 Rafael Nadal vs 6 Fernando Verdasco - H2H: 9-0

Fernando has his work cut out for him tomorrow - he's 3-20 in sets played.

And Fern is playing against big-time history in the making.

Rafa is looking to become the 1st man to win a tourney 6 straight years.

Mmm...

***

Semifinal Results

2 Rafael Nadal d 11 David Ferrer - 62 63

No contest. Nuf said.

6 Fernando Verdasco d 1 Novak Djokovic - 62 62

Not Novak's day. He looked completely out of it almost from the start.

Fernando will contest his first Masters 1000 final.

Photos: Getty Images

Djokovic & Nadal Lead Players into Semifinals at ATP 1000 Monte Carlo

Three Spaniards and a Serb

***

1 Novak Djokovic (above) vs 6 Fernando Verdasco - H2H: 5-2

Fernando won the 1st two in '05 & '06 but it's been Novak ever since.

Novak is playing his 17th Masters 1000 semifinal - Fernando his 1st.

Both are known for parading around in their underwear.

***

2 Rafael Nadal vs 11 David Ferrer - H2H: 9-3

They played a couple weeks ago in Miami - Rafa won in tight straight sets.

Expect Rafa to move his side of the H2H into double-digits tomorrow.

It sure feels like nothing will keep him from biting that trophy on Sunday.

--- Except possibly an inspired Novak Djokovic.

Photo: Novak's hand - Getty Images

Fernando Verdasco Advances to Semifinals in Monte Carlo

6 Fernando Verdasco d Albert Montanes - 63 67(4) 60

Fern was playing in his 10th Masters 1000 quaterfinal - he finally won one.

He will play his first semi against Novak Djokovic tomorrow.

Fern was leading this match 63 51 and had 3 match points - then fell apart.

Sure he regrouped to bagel Albert in the 3rd but Fern, Fern, Fern...

Photo: Getty Images

Novak Djokovic Advances to Semifinals in Monte Carlo

1 Novak Djokovic d David Nalbandian - 62 63

Novak reaches his 17th Masters 1000 semifinal - 3rd in MC.

He is looking for his 6th Masters 1000 title.

David played well & will take plenty of positives from this tournament.

I don't think he has enough time to get seeded at Roland Garros.

So, he may just be setting himself up nicely as a dangerous spoiler.

It's no secret the top players don't like playing him...

Photo: From my TV - Novak's physio wears Novak tee

Rafael Nadal Advances to Semifinals in Monte Carlo

2 Rafael Nadal d 9 Juan Carlos Ferrero - 64 62

Rafa needs just two more matches to take the title and make a little history.

He'd become the first man to win a tournament 6 straight years.

Rafa has a 2nd opportunity to accomplish this next week in Barcelona as well.

But the way he's been playing this week I'd bet he gets it done on Sunday.

Rafa improves his record in Monte Carlo to a massive 32-1.

His lone loss was in '03 to Guillermo Coria in the 3rd round - Rafa was 16.

Photo: Reuters

David Ferrer Advances to Semifinals in Monte Carlo

11 David Ferrer d Philipp Kohlschreiber - 75 76(1)

David earns his 1st MC semifinal following 4 previous quarterfinal showings.

After a dismal '09 clay season David will be adding plenty of ranking points.

David will face Rafael Nadal in the semis and carries with him a 3-9 H2H.

That includes a win on clay... way back in '04. The challenge is certainly on.

Photo: Reuters