In a message announced via the social networks of Facebook and Twitter, RafalNadal today announced his withdrawal from the Paris Masters …
“Hi all. I won’t be playing this upcoming week the tournament in Paris Bercy. It’s been a difficult decision to take but I understand that it is what I need to do right now to prepare well for the end of this season and also for 2012. I hope I can be back in 2012 to that great event in the most beautiful city in the world, and hopefully try to win it once day.”
Interesting that there is no mention of a withdrawal for physical issues, so before going on to discuss whether he has made the correct decision, there’s one question which is needed to be explored first and that is … can he?
Rafa is perhaps one of the most vocal of the top players when it comes to the length of the schedule and the mandatory nature of the number of tournaments to play. For Masters 1000 series that number totals eight, and whilst he has already participated in that number to date, the Monte Carlo Masters as an optional event counts only towards to the required number of 500 series. Rafa needed to compete in Paris to complete the statutory number. So if he’s not citing injury, how can he possibly withdraw without incurring a penalty?
The ATP rules state that a player’s Masters 1000 commitment can be reduced by one tournament if (1) they have played 600 matches following 1st January of that commitment year; (2) they have 12 years of service; or (3) they are 31 years of age following 1st January of that commitment year. Well (2) and (3) are out for Rafa, and whilst I’ve known that the 600 match mark was coming, I did believe that he would only pass that milestone next year. Not so. It seems that Rafa has benefited from a little quirk in the rulings in that from 2010 onwards, only the ATP World Tour, World Tour Finals, Grand Slams, Davis Cup and Olympics count towards this commitment, but any Challenger or Futures matches played before 2010 do still count. As Rafa played Challengers and Futures pre-2010, he exceeds his 600 tally for this commitment tour.
Au revoir Paris!
So whilst its sad for those fans who will miss out on seeing that great Champion there, is it the right decision for Rafa? All things considered, for me its a resounding “yes”. Indoor tennis on fast hardcourts has never suited Rafa’s game and he is least successful on them. After a gruelling season where unlike his counterparts, Rafa has had to face the re-juvenated NovakDjokovic six (unsuccessful) times, a bit of additional time off to rest not only his body, but his spirit is perhaps called for. In fact, it is very refreshing to to find that at this stage of the season, Rafa doesn’t have any injury woes because as he approaches his 26th year and 8th season in the top flight, keeping fit and healthy is tantamount.
With all that Rafa has achieved in tennis, I’m sure that he can rest easy perhaps never having his hands on the ever increasingly bizarre piece of sculpture that is the Paris Bercy trophy. Working hard for 2012 is perhaps the best thing to do, along with positioning himself as best as possible for the World Tour Finals and perhaps the main singular personal goal that is left for Rafa this season … lifting the Davis Cup.
Here is a little clip from the 2010 ATP year end finals in London. I love it when they ask players funny and embarrassing questions.. makes them a little bit more human and you can relate.
We have just been sent a great slow motion video of Rafael Nadal hitting his forehand in practice. It shows you just how much twist and wrist snap he actually gets on his forehand.
Andy Murray has defeated Rafael Nadal to win the Tokyo title. Murray easily played his best ever match against Nadal with a 3-6 6-2 6-0 win.
Anyone who can take a set of Nadal 6-0 must be playing amazing tennis. A lot of press have talked about the match being amazingly onesided towards Murray, but this simply wasnt the case as Nadal easily took the first set. After that it was a completely different match and Murray did dominate. People have to remember that in real big matches Nadal lifts his game and Andy just doesnt! Dont expect results like this in Grand Slam matches or other major tournaments.
Rafael Nadal told DavisCup.com that he is tired in the lead up to the Davis Cup tie between Spain and France.
“I played very long match and for sure it is a challenge for me. I am trying for my country but it’s tough. For me it’s not a mental problem, it’s a physical problem. I am ready to play mentally, but physically two and a half weeks was hard.”
Whether or not this was the best match of the year, it definitely was the most entertaining in my memory. When the two biggest players in the world are playing at the biggest venue in tennis, you are bound to see one of the greatest spectacles in sport.
Both players had high expectations coming into the final of this year’s US Open. Novak Djokovic was going in with his top ranking and his prominent win-loss record of only 2 losses for the whole year. Nadal came in as the defending champion with plenty on the line. The winner of this match would be determined by the level of their concentration and the true-ness of their grit.
The first set was marked by great athletic ability with both players running around the court like wild horses on a field. Retrieving every ball as if their life depended on it, most rallies lasted more than 10-15 shots. And surprisingly, the quality of play didn’t disappoint the crowd for the rest of the match. It was hard to believe how these two could get to so many balls back in the court, which really emphasizes the importance of physical readiness and how it could help you be a better player.
After crushing Nadal in the first two sets, when Nadal was leading 2-0 in both of them, it looked as though Rafa had no more gas in his tank. But just when you think he is down, he got back up and took Djokovic to a tiebreak which he eventually won with a score of 7-3.
In the fourth set, Djokovic started receiving treatment for his back, sending the crowd into a wave of whispers and ultimately giving us the question if Djokovic will have a vulnerability that will work to Nadal’s liking. Nadal however did not deliver as expected and Djokovic took his chance to become this year’s US Open champion.
Throwing his racquet in disbelief and sinking to his knees, Djokovic’s box erupted into a frenzy. The ceremony was then quickly set up and we heard a few words from both great champions. Nadal stepped up to take his finalist plate and humbly admitted that Djokovic was just too good for him today. Djokovic also congratulated Nadal for his run to the final and gave a message of salute to his box and of course to the fans. Both players also said a few words about the incident that has rocked New York and the whole world for the last 10 years and commemorated those who have fallen and are still affected by this tragedy.
It was a great match and a great finish to the last Grand Slam of the year, but the year is still not over and there is still more great tennis to come!
Congrats to Novak for his amazing win and year so far. He goes home with the trophy and a prize of US$2.3 million dollars because of his position in this year’s Race to the US Open. Nadal on the other hand goes back to the drawing board to work on what went wrong today and how he could dismantle Djokovic in their next meeting.
It was yet another fustrating day in New York at the US Open 2011. Day 10 was rained out, but there was at least 10 minutes of play. In those 10 minutes the worlds top players started their fourth round matches, but they weren’t very happy with tournament referee Brian Earley.
Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick vented their frustrations at having to play on slipper courts!
“We don’t want to go on court if it is raining,” Nadal told ESPN.
“If I have to go on court, I go on court, but I think it’s not fair.”
Murray stated:
“It’s dangerous. The lines get really slippy. Players want to play more than anyone, but not when it’s dangerous,” he said.
It seems like Caroline Wozniacki was in such a happy mood after her win over Svetlana Kuznetsova the other day. So happy that she even joked and imitated Rafael Nadal cramping situation in the Press conference.
During Rafael Nadal’s Spanish language news conference, the Spainiard called for his trainer and slid out of his chair. It turns out he was getting sever thigh cramps!
It seems like he must not have cooled down properly after his match against David Nalbandian.
The injury list for the US Open is growing by the day, so it is going to be a very interesting tournament. The only top male player not on the list is Roger Federer.
Novak Djokovic – Shoulder and general fatigue. Has had some issues with patella tendinitis this season
Rafael Nadal – Large burn blisters on fingers and left foot
Andy Murray – Sore arm
Mardy Fish – Heel
Tomas Berdych – Shoulder
Robin Soderling – Wrist – he has announced he will travel to NYC
Jo Wilfried Tsonga – Arm. Ultrasound showed no muscle tear after he withdrew in Montreal.
Andy Roddick – Recently pulled out of Montreal with an oblique but played in Cincinnati.
Milos Raonic – Recovering from hip surgery
David Ferrer – Recovering from hairline fracture in left hand
Tommy Robredo – Withdrawn – Ongoing groin issues
Sam Querrey – Withdrawn – Recovering from elbow surgery (spurs)
Juan Carlos Ferrero – Recovering from multiple injuries
Rafael Nadal has been able to gain some much needed form with a 6-4 7-5 win over Julien Benneteau in Cincinnati.
“The moments that I spend one week ago in Montreal when I lost the match, serving for the match, always the confidence goes down a little bit after one match like that. So that probably affected me a little bit today with 5-4 and the serve. For the rest I am happy. I have to keep going, and that’s what I will try.”
Nadal will now face fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
