Barcelona: Peach Pride
Photo by David Ramos/ Getty Images
Rafa played #20 Fernando Verdasco today in the semifinals of Barcelona. I missed all but the last game of the first set, but the score says volumes about the level play. (Twitter peeps seemed to sum it up this way: Rafa playing well, Verdasco okay and not at his 2009 best). Verdasco’s game improved in the second set, but it still wasn’t enough. Today Rafa once again proved that unless a player can find another gear against him on clay, they are toast. He’s through to the final where he will meet David Ferrer: 6-0, 6-4.
I never thought Rafa would pay so much attention to me when I said that he shouldn’t feel the need to dilly-dally just so I could watch part of the match. I should tell him that more often! Oh, the title is from @Ataraxis who replied to my “just got some peachy toenails” tweet last night with that phrase.
Stats:
| Nadal | Verdasco | |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics on Serve | ||
| Aces | 2 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 70% | 76% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 29/35 (83%) | 20/38 (53%) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 7/15 (47%) | 5/12 (42%) |
| Break Points Saved | 4/4 (100%) | 4/8 (50%) |
| Service Games Played | 8 | 8 |
| Statistics on Return | ||
| 1st Return Points Won | 18/38 (47%) | 6/35 (17%) |
| Second Return Points Won | 7/12 (58%) | 8/15 (53%) |
| Break Points Won | 4/8 (50%) | 0/4 (%) |
| Return Games Played | 8 | 8 |
| Statistics on Points | ||
| Total Service Points Won | 36/50 (72%) | 25/50 (50%) |
| Total Return Points Won | 25/50 (50%) | 14/50 (28%) |
| Total Points Won | 61/100 (61%) | 39/100 (39%) |
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I’m glad you got to finish your walk/run just in time. Ferru played
the better semi today, but so thrilled that Rafa will get to play his 7th Barca final. Vamos!
definitely 7th title but still skeptical about Madrid….(skip ????)
vamos Rafa , i hope he lifts Barcelona title once again and then he goes after yet anither successful clay swing which i hope he manages to win madrid and rome ans eventually RG
VAMOS RAFAAAAAAA!!
Perfect 1st set from Rafa! He may have consciously or unconsciously loosened up a bit in the 2nd… anyway, a nice win and we’re in the final! Now we like the number 7! Vamos Rafa!
Quote : “Perfect 1st set from Rafa! He may have consciously or unconsciously loosened up a bit in the 2nd”
That’s exactly what I thought Nana.. After the bagel, he may have done just that..I say consciously ! :)
On to the Seventh trophy , Rafa ! VAMOS !
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Yep Rafa was really awesome in the first set. I think his rythmn was slightly upset in the second due to the rain and damp conditions. He went off the boil a bit. But the first set he was like an express train – wonder if it had anything to do with getting the job done quickly to see his beloved Real Madrid match? Coz I haven’t seen him come out of the blocks so fast. I was watching it on sky TV and the commies even hinted that Rafa was making a statement to Nando – as if there was some history between them, some sort of needle. Can’t see it myself, the only thing I could think of that Nando likes the bright lights of the city and Rafa the quiet life, but on the tennis court its in reverse!
Glad Rionic lost today – I think he would have caused more trouble for Rafa than Ferrer will tomorrow. Hope I don’t jinx it or eat my words. Enjoy all you fellow rafa fans for hopefully another final win tomorrow – no 7 Barcelona title. Vamos x
Poor Ferru played for almost (or is it) 5 hours the last two matches. Hope he recover well to play his best tomorrow. Can’t decide who I want to win – Rafa already got 6 titles and Ferru, played 4 finals and has none. May the best on the day bite the trophy.
As much as I like Daveed, I still want Rafa to bite this one ;-) I hope it’s a good match cause Rafa seems to thrive in those!
anti-jinx anti-jinx anti-jinx
I know. If I could cope with Rafa losing to anyone it would be Ferrer.
Yeah, I agree. IF Rafa looses I will be happy for Daveeed, I almost wanted Raonic to win so that David wouldn’t have to face another final defeat in a tourney he realllly wants to win…time will tell.
and it looks like Marc! will be another Spanish finalist along with Marcel…..yippee
Yep! I’m really happy for Marc! He’s been doing amazingly well. :-)
As for Rafa-Ferru, I can’t root against Rafa but if Daveed does win I’ll be happy for him.
in set1 Rafa’s level was amazingly high. 6-0: what a beatdown!
then, and understandingly, his focus dropped a bit, and I guess he mentally checked out of the match which was getting embarassing, for Verdasco and for the eerily quite crowd.
as for tomorrow, I reckon it depends on how much he wants it after all, but the match is totally on his racquet!
Rafa está demostrando porqué es el rey de la tierra batida, y este año se va a llevar todos los trofeos en esta superficie
Eso espero, eso espero. Sera Hermosa!
missed the match – does anyone have a link to the highlights (or better yet the whole first set!! I’d love to watch Rafa on a roll!!)
Working on a post – haven’t found the full set yet.
I just can’t cheer against Rafa even if it is Daveed! I think a win here is really important for Rafa’s confidence going forward to the 2 tournaments he lost to Djokovic last year…and French Open. David has won 3 tournaments already this year so Vamos Rafa- All the Way! Todo el camino!
Actually I guess Rafa said it best; ‘I wish David the best just not tomorrow’.
Rafa is going for history again – 7th Barcelona and 77th consecutive clay court win in the month of April. And he could really use those ranking points.
It was fantastic seeing Rafa on a roll in the first set. He was so focused and full of concentrate. But felt a bit bad for Verdasco, with the bagel. Just a wee bit.
Hope Rafa continues to have a good run on clay! Vamos!
Yeah I feel for Ferrer. He is an awesome clay court player but he loses to Rafa like each and every time. I wonder what his mentality will be tomorrow.
Love Daveed, he is so good. “Born too Late” and old old song–he is playing in Rafa’s era and Rafa is the Dream Smasher on clay.
Rafa is called “THE WORLD’S HOTTEST PLAYER” in some reviews.
He has to keep rolling on, has to be on-fire and win, win, win..
He has to forget the finals he lost in 2011.
He has won one trophy (MC) this year whereas David has 3 of them.
As much as I like David , I can never cheer for him when he plays
vs Rafa.
VAMOS RAFA ! Bite that 7th trophy ! :)
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Video of the full semifinal. (sorry if it’s a duplicate)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Y7ZaAaI-dYQ
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VAMOS RAFA!! I LOVE YOU !!:)
Rafa played well yesterday let’s hope he can do the same today !!:) VAMOS!!!