Rome: Dominance
Rafa met Federer for the 30th time in today’s Rome final. That’s XXX in Roman numerals. Everyone was hoping the match was as sporntastic as the title suggested. For Rafa fans, it certainly started that way. He was playing aggressively and broke Fed in two of his first three service games. And while dominance by your favorite is sexy in a way, it lacks the prolonged foreplay that makes the final result as ultimately satisfying. Fed did what he could by breaking while Rafa was serving for the match, but …
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Rankings: May 20th
The post Rome rankings are up. Looks the seeding issue for Roland Garros is the total non-issue I’ve thought it was all along. Other than that, the only movement was with Wawrinka dropping back out of the top ten to be replaced by Tipsarevic.
Rome: Post final presser transcript
Photo by REUTERS/ Alessandro Bianchi
The transcript for Rafa’s post-final presser is up on the Italian Open’s website. It’s another impressive example of transcribing.
Q: First of all 7 wins in Rome and second somehow surprised when 1 all 30 all he you lost only 3 points – won 9 games in a row…
R. Nadal: Surprising …. I 61 and but that is what happened and the end is always surprising when you play against someone like Roger – and you win 61 – how can I
Rome: Final photos
Photos from today’s Rome final.
Photos by Clive Mason/Getty Images, Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, and REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
RafaLint: May 18th
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Articles:
Eight From Eight For Rafa – via atpworldtour.com
Rafael Nadal outclasses Tomas Berdych to reach Rome Masters final – by Kevin Mitchell (guardian.co.uk)
ATP semi-finals – as it happened – via internazionalibnlditalia.com
Return of Serve Analysis: Rafael Nadal Dominates at the Right Time – by Juan José (changeovertennis.com)
Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer set up Italian Open final meeting – via bbc.co.uk
The Classico Returns to the Foro – Steve Tignor (tennis.com)
Italian Open final features two of the
Rome: Post semifinal interviews
The in studio interview in English:
Posted by ATPWorldTour.
Rafa’s post match interview for Spanish TV. Also, available on YouTube:
Posted by molvi1501.
Genny translated parts of the Spanish interview for us:
Rafa in the Spanish TV: He’s said that he’s started the match really strong, w/a lot of energy. He thinks that 1st set has been 1 of best…— Genny SS (@genny_ss) May 18, 2013
Rafa in Spanish TV: sets he’s played this year. In the 2nd set he’s started to feel a bit
Rome: Semifinal presser transcript
Photo by AP Photo/ Andrew Medichini
A transcript (such as it is) of Rafa’s post semifinal presser is up on the tournament’s site.
Q: You feel you played your best match of the week
R. Nadal: I am sure about the first set – I need to see in the TV as your thoughts are not 100% exact but the first set was fantastic and I played a high level and everything well and no mistakes and changing direction and playing inside the court
Rome: Semifinal photos
Photos from today’s semifinal against Berdych.
Photos by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, Clive Mason/Getty Images, and REUTERS/Tony Gentile
Rome: Semifinal match video (Updated)
Here’s the full match video from today’s victory over Berdych:
Posted by TennisOnlineHD. They have also uploaded an English version.
Rome: Berdych’s number
Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images
In the first of the Italian Open’s semifinals, Rafa played #6 Tomas Berdych. At first, it looked like Rafa had an appointment to get to – he was on fire and took the first set in just 31 minutes. The second set was much more competative as Rafa’s level dropped and Berdych’s went up. Neither of these changed enough to cause the upset, though. Rafa scores his 13th win in a row over Berdych: 6-2, 6-4. Despite having the kind of game that can trouble him, Rafa clearly has Berdych’s number.
RafaLint: May 17th
Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images
Articles:
Racquet Reaction: Nadal d. Ferrer – by Steve Tignor (tennis.com)
Nadal Grinds out Ferrer – via atpworldtour.com
Rafa Edges Novak In Year-End No. 1 Battle – via atpworldtour.com
Return Of Serve Analysis: Rafael Nadal Barely Survives Ernests Gulbis – by Juan José (changeovertennis.com)
French Open 2013 – Rafael Nadal looking sharp ahead of Roland Garros – via crunchsports.com
Videos/Audio:
Friday’s Hot Shot – in which Daveeed out-Rafas Rafa.
Friday’s Highlights
Photos:
Check out kulitat’s flickr stream for some photos.
Some practice photos
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