RafaLint: December 31st

Looks like Team Cuteness will not be defending their Doha title. Marc! will try to defend his half of it with Albert Ramos: doubles draw.

Also, in some really nice news, the ATP will be live streaming Doha for free. Check out their site to see if it’s available in your country.

Articles:

Rafael Nadal makes racquet adjustment as he looks to challenge Novak Djokovic in 2012 by Chris McHardy (sport360.com – thanks, dk)
Rafael Nadal beats Roger Federer at Mubadala World Tennis Championship

31 Dec 2011 | by miri | 5 Comments

Happy New Year!

 
Rafa shared a bit of his New Year’s Eve with is via Facebook. First, a video of him eating his grapes. Why was Rafa eating grapes? Here’s the info. Now the question is, was he wearing new red undies too?

Next, enjoying a Coldplay concert with Tsonga and Monfils. So loving the smiles.

31 Dec 2011 | by miri | 18 Comments

Abu Dhabi: 3rd place playoff videos

Fun points:

Posted by PartidoaPartido.

Start of the match:

Posted by fuocoso271.

Highlights:

Posted by bojansvitac.

Last bit of the match and post-match interviews:

Posted by vamosrafelnadal.

31 Dec 2011 | by miri | 3 Comments

Abu Dhabi: 3rd place playoff photos

I have no idea what to call this…it’s not a round-robin (as I was forced to indicate in the results), but it’s not a semi/quarter/yadda. So, it’s the 3rd place playoff. Or, photos thereof.

Photos by MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP/Getty Images and REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

31 Dec 2011 | by miri | 4 Comments

Doha: The draw

It’s almost time for some real 2012 tennis to start for Rafa. Case in point, the Doha draw is out. First up for Rafa will be Philipp Kohlschreiber. They’ve had some tricky matches in the past, but Rafa leads the head-to-head 7-0. Other seeds in Rafa’s half: Youzhny, Monfils, Troicki. Also in Rafa’s half is the sometimes dangerous, sometimes silly, Gulbis. Seeds in the bottom half are Bogomolov Jr, Tsonga, Seppi and Federer.

31 Dec 2011 | by miri | 9 Comments

Abu Dhabi: Good-bye 2011

Rafa/Roger…Fedal…the history….yadda. It was an exhibition, not an epic match today between the two in Abu Dhabi. Fed started out off his game, looking as sleepy as I felt, and not measuring his shots well. It took just 27 minutes for Rafa to win the first set: 6-1. Serving better than yesterday and still working his backhand with good results, Rafa was rarely pressured on his serve until the 4th game of the 2nd set. After saving one break point, Rafa double faulted

31 Dec 2011 | by miri | 27 Comments

RafaLint: December 30th

Nadal loses to Ferrer in the semi-finals of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships by Reem Abulleil (sport360.com) has some great quotes from the presser:

“The positive thing is that I spent over an hour on court against a player who is playing with fantastic rhythm,” said Nadal. “I said before that I arrived without my best preparation, so the most important thing is that this match helped me improve. That’s the perfect practice to keep improving a bit.”

And that’s why he’s there – practice

30 Dec 2011 | by miri | 2 Comments

Abu Dhabi: Semifinal videos

Post match interviews from both players via RTVE.

Highlights:

More available on rafanadalpartidoapartido.com.

Another highlight reel from bojansvitac:

30 Dec 2011 | by miri | 2 Comments

Abu Dhabi: Semifinal photos

Photos from Rafa’s match against Ferrer.

Photos by MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP/Getty Images and REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

30 Dec 2011 | by miri | 4 Comments

Abu Dhabi: You know, it’s not actually 2012 yet…

To start off his 2012 season while it’s still 2011, Rafa played David Ferrer in the Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament today. It was a great start to the season….for Daveeed. He grooved to a 5-0 lead before Rafa managed to get on the scoreboard. He broke and held to at least end up with a respectable score of 3-6. He was then broken right away in the second set. And in his next service game as well. Rafa had a few break points on

30 Dec 2011 | by miri | 49 Comments