Rome: Dominance

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.

19 May 2013 | by miri | 3 Comments

Rome: Final videos (Updated)

Here’s the full match:

Posted by TennisOnlineHD who has also posted a version with Spanish commentary.

Post match on court interview in Spanish. It’s also available on YouTube:

Posted by molvi1501.

Genny summed up a few of Rafa’s comments:

Rafa in Spanish TV: Rafa’d have rated as mad to anyone who would’ve told him 4 months ago that by now he’d have won 3 M1000, 2 M500 & 1 M250— Genny SS (@genny_ss) May 19, 2013

Rafa thinks today wasn’t the best day of

19 May 2013 | by miri | 3 Comments

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

19 May 2013 | by miri | 6 Comments

Rome: Final photos

Photos from today’s Rome final.

Photos by Clive Mason/Getty Images, Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, and REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

19 May 2013 | by miri | 5 Comments

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

18 May 2013 | by miri | One Comment

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

18 May 2013 | by miri | 6 Comments

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

18 May 2013 | by miri | 4 Comments

Rome: Semifinal photos

Photos from today’s semifinal against Berdych.

Photos by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, Clive Mason/Getty Images, and REUTERS/Tony Gentile

18 May 2013 | by miri | One Comment

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.

Highlights: Part 1; Part 2.

18 May 2013 | by miri | 2 Comments

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.

18 May 2013 | by miri | 26 Comments