IW: A nail-biter with a happy ending
Photo by AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
After his surprise 3rd round walkover, Rafa had a challenge on his hand in the 4th as he played an in form and recently re-dedicated to tennis Ernests Gulbis. Both men held serve with relative ease until the 10th game when two errors from Rafa (one absolutely horrid) gave Gulbis the break and the set: 6-4.
Rafa broke in the first game of the 2nd set, but Gulbis broke back in the 4th. Gulbis’s brain went on a bit of a vacation in the 7th game as his shot making decisions became suspect and he was broken. Rafa went on to serve out the set: 6-4.
Things got weird and testy in the 3rd set as Rafa got a coaching violation. The line judge says he overheard Roig telling Rafa to hit to the backhand (which would be dubious advice). Rafa says they speak Catalan and not Spanish so the line judge couldn’t understand. Angry Rafa went on to hold. The match kept getting tighter and tighter and points crazier and crazier. Aggressive Rafa showed up in the 11th game and he broke to go up 6-5. He looked a little shaky in that last game (double faulting on match point), but he ended the match on an awesome forehand winner. He’s through to the next round: 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
This tweet from Darren Cahill pretty much sums up the match for me:
Geez…. I’ve missed Rafa. Love the struggle, love the fight, love the emotion, love the hate to lose attitude. #vamosrafa
— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) March 14, 2013
Stats:
| Nadal | Gulbis | |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics on Serve | ||
| Aces | 2 | 8 |
| Double Faults | 3 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 66% | 66% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 52/69 (75%) | 47/62 (76%) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 14/34 (41%) | 13/31 (42%) |
| Break Points Saved | 2/4 (50%) | 5/8 (63%) |
| Service Games Played | 16 | 16 |
| Statistics on Return | ||
| 1st Return Points Won | 15/62 (24%) | 17/69 (25%) |
| Second Return Points Won | 18/31 (58%) | 20/34 (59%) |
| Break Points Won | 3/8 (38%) | 2/4 (50%) |
| Return Games Played | 16 | 16 |
| Statistics on Points | ||
| Total Service Points Won | 66/103 (64%) | 60/93 (65%) |
| Total Return Points Won | 33/93 (35%) | 37/103 (36%) |
| Total Points Won | 99/196 (51%) | 97/196 (49%) |
| Other Stats | ||
| Winners | 22 | 40 |
| Unforced errors | 28 | 40 |
| Net Approaches | 11/20 (55%) | 11/17 (65%) |
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ive had no sleep but what a match. The tension and excitement in Stadium 1 was awesome. After having to endure the awful Roger/Stan match (Where Roger wasn’t so good yet Stan as usual still couldnt make the most of his opporunities)it was Rafa as always who thrilled the crowds. I loved his fighting spirit,the fist pumping the emotion the atmosphere that only Rafa creates (other players do to but with Rafa it’s different somehow) on the court. This intensity was sorely missed during his absence. im so glad he waited til he was ready to return because it was matches like last night that make the wait worth it.
Fedal match scheduled to play at 2am in the UK so another late night but with Roger’s alledged stiff back problems and playing consecative days i fancy Rafa’s chances. Cannot wait!
Like Sharon and many others, I didn´t get any sleep, but what a match! When Rafa finally broke Gulbis´serv in the third set, the tennis world really saw, who and what they have been missing for so many months. The will to win, the fighting spirit, the ability to step it up when it mattered the most, the fistpumping, the VAMOS, oh yeah.
Just moments before the break of serve, he could have lost it all, but once again he dug in and found the “Rafa way” to pull through. And it is only his second match on a hard court, and hopefully his knee will respond well going into the clash against Federer.
I will look forward to this one, as always, when these two great Champions play against each other. They bring back so many great memories of why I love and enjoy the game of tennis. We don´t know how many more of these meetings, we will get in the future, so I will cherish each and everyone.
Tignor says it so well in this article:
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/03/winning-creaky/46782/
Miri, thank you for the report. My one question is whether the coaching penalty was ever resolved. On my stream Rafa was talking to the Chair umpire and saying the linesman couldn’t possibly have understood what was said since it was not in pure Spanish. Then the linesman came over and it did seem to me ( watching on the computer ) that he didn’t really get the subtle difference in dialects. Was there a final verdict?
Not sure what you mean by verdict – the warning was given and that was final.
Verdict may have been the wrong word, but the announcers said something about getting a penalty, which to me means something more serious than a warning. I didn’t know if the issue is something Rafa could argue off the court with the tournament director. I am reading too much into this, but the announcers seemed to be making a big deal out of it – so I am just wondering :-)
I think the first instance is a warning. If he’s then called for more coaching, it’s a penalty. Just looked it up in the rule book:
l) Coaching and Coaches
i) Players shall not receive coaching during a tournament match. Communications of any kind, audible or visible, between a player and a coach may be construed as coaching. Coaches on-site are prohibited from:
aa) Using an audible obscenity or making obscene gestures of any kind.
bb) Abusing any official, opponent, spectator or other person, verbally or physically.
cc) Engaging in conduct contrary to the integrity of the game of tennis. Conduct contrary to the integrity of the game shall include, but not be limited to, comments to the news media that unreasonably attack or disparage a tournament, sponsor, player, official or the ATP. Responsible expressions of legitimate disagreement with the ATP policies are not prohibited. However, public comments that one of the stated persons above knows, or should reasonably know, will harm the reputation or financial best interest of a tournament, player, sponsor, official or the ATP are expressly covered by this section.
ii) Violation of this section shall subject a player to a fine up to $5,000 for each violation. In addition, if such violation occurs during a match, the player shall be penalized in accordance with the Point Penalty Schedule. In circumstances that are flagrant and particularly injurious to the success of a tournament, or are singularly egregious, the supervisor shall have the authority to relocate the position of a coach if there is reasonable belief that coaching is occurring or the supervisor may order the coach to be removed from the match site or tournament site and upon his failure to comply with such order, may declare an immediate default of such player.
And then the schedule:
2) Point Penalty Schedule
a) The Point Penalty Schedule to be used for Code Violations is as follows:
FIRST OFFENSE WARNING
SECOND OFFENSE POINT PENALTY
THIRD AND EACH SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE GAME PENALTY
However, after the third Code Violation, the supervisor shall determine whether each subsequent offense shall constitute a default.
b) In ATP World Tour and ATP Challenger Tour tournaments and events, Code Violations shall be levied by the chair umpire for on-court offenses. In the event that the chair umpire fails to levy a code violation, then the supervisor may order him to do so.
c) In doubles, code violations shall be assessed against the team.
Thank you :-)
I am curious…what kind of “coaching” can any of the Big Four receive thats beneficial to them at this point in their careers? I know the rules are there to prevent unfair advantage I guess? In my opinion however, the team of any of the top players are just to provide a focal point – to shut out the noise and disturbance; to regroup.
I hate it when this happens though. I know the “family” is emotional. They kinda need to keep it in check so as not to appear to break the rules.
The official should always penalize coaching; warning-aka caution, is given only when the official can not determine with certainty that a violation occurred. It is meant to be a deterrent for further misconduct. So I think the chair umpire could not determine for sure what happened. A first time violation will get a warning but a first code violation results in point penalty, as long as the official is certain that the punishable action occurred. As per USTA regs.
Didn’t see any of the match as I had no access – but I really appreciated the Twitter updates, so thanks muchly for those – and of course I really appreciated the result! Vamos, Rafa :)
I also got to bed at 5am. Couldn’t join in the chat with all of you because of nerves.But there was no way Rafa was going to let anyone else play Roger. They have a special bond. Two icons battling it out together. And i will be there in there in the early hrs, watching with the rest of you. xx
Gonna watch it niw…. Glad that i know the result, mucho better for the nerves and more time to enjoy Rafa tennis, Rafa figthing spirit, Rafa angry and….. Uh you’ll get it, time to enjoy Rafa;)
I got no sleep either! stayed up all night! Rafa was awesome! I love to watch Rafa in battles. It brings out the best in him. I will sleep for a few hours and get up at 2am to watch Rafa v Roger. May it be a great 3 set match with great drama and good play from both guys. That would be the icing on the cake for me. Vamos Rafa!
Rafa is so sweet and charming off court and such a warrior on court and we love when he goes to war! You watch Fed for the style but Rafa for the War. Which is why the match up is so entertaining.