AllyR in Ciny – final report

I’ve been trying to remind myself of the reasons I’m happy to be home:

1. I sleep more than 4 hours a night here.
2. Bottled water doesn’t cost $5.
3. The chances of skin cancer and Rafa-induced cardiac events are much lower in Pittsburgh.
4. I’ve missed my dog.
5. Low likelihood of bumping into Novak at breakfast in my kitchen.
6. I earn an income rather than bleed money.
7. I no longer coat everything I touch with a filmy white layer of sunscreen.

But I will miss

24 Aug 2009 | by AllyR | 18 Comments

Rosana reports on the semi

Posted by vamosrafelnadal

23 Aug 2009 | by miri | 11 Comments

Post semi-final presser

Transcript is up here.

Q. What happened in the first set when you got broken twice in terms of was there something about his game that threw you off?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I think he played good. He played really good with very good intensity during all the match. In the last games I think he decrease a little bit more than the rest.

But I think he played really well, no? So I told you yesterday, no, it’s another step.

23 Aug 2009 | by miri | 13 Comments

Semi-final match photos

(Photos by REUTERS/John Sommers II and Nick Laham/Getty Images)

23 Aug 2009 | by miri | 32 Comments

Cincy repeat

It was a repeat of last year’s Cincinnati semi-final as Rafa took on Djokovic under cloudy skies. At stake? Rafa being the first guy to make the finals in 9 different Master Serious events, an opportunity to regain his #2 ranking if he should go on to beat Federer in the final, and, more importantly, confidence. But, it wasn’t to be. Nole showed up in the mood to take Rafa to the woodshed and with passive play and a poor return game Rafa went along. Djokovic through to the final in straight sets: 6-1 6-4.

22 Aug 2009 | by miri | 30 Comments

Rosana reports on the quarterfinal

Video on the rtve site.

22 Aug 2009 | by miri | 5 Comments

Quarterfinal presser

The transcript from the quarterfinal presser is up. Excerpts:

Q. How pleased were you with that performance out there tonight?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, very happy, no? I think I improved every day a little bit more, so today I played very good match. I think normal level when I am on rhythm, so that’s very good news. Win against Tomas on this surface is very good win for me, so I’m very happy for that.

Sure, very, very good news being

22 Aug 2009 | by miri | 24 Comments

AllyR in Cinci – practice sessions

Still reeling from a fantastic few days here. The last 3 days have shown all 4 top men in action, and I thank my lucky stars that the trend will continue tomorrow. Tonight’s match was a nice reminder of the Rafa of old. Let’s all hope that trend continues too. 14-4 head-to-head is pretty good for the confidence, no?

Lately I’ve been feeling the need to shoot my own commercial, “It Must Be Love: Practice Courts Edition.” Matches are filled with an atmosphere of

22 Aug 2009 | by AllyR | 36 Comments

ESPN2 post quarterfinal interview

22 Aug 2009 | by miri | 11 Comments

Quarterfinal on court interview

The post-quarterfinal on-court interview is up on TennisTV.com.

21 Aug 2009 | by miri | 11 Comments