RafaLint: January 13th

Let’s clean some of this up before the deluge of draw analysis articles appear.

Pictures from a Richard Mille product launch. I have no words about that sweater. No words.

AO articles:

‘This will be my only shot at doing the Grand Slam’
Ace High
Federer-Nadal: Same Story, New Hemisphere

Players in holding pattern – info on Rafa’s practice session from his hitting partner

We’ll net tennis yobbos early

Stars rally together to raise money for flood victims
Another Rafa blog?

As many of

13 Jan 2011 | by miri | 29 Comments

Marc! speaks

Thanks to the other Maria for sending in a link to an interview with Marc! and to Bee for doing a translation. I was just going to post the Rafa related bits…but…but…it’s Marc!

Marc López: “Being among the best is an award I’m enjoying it” – By David Menay as translated by Bee (who asks that you do not re-post her translation without permission)

He has accumulated five titles, three together with Rafa Nadal and two more with David Marrero as his partner. This week

10 Jan 2011 | by miri | 14 Comments

Doha: Doubles final highlights

Yay! Match footage:

Posted by ksyuzi.

8 Jan 2011 | by miri | 21 Comments

Doha: Last presser

Rafa’s last presser is up on the ASAP Sports site:

Q. Well done on winning the doubles.

RAFAEL NADAL: Thank you.

Q. You how do you feel now? Do you feel any better or not?

RAFAEL NADAL: I feel okay, no? The problem is I’m not ready to play at that rhythm like the rhythm of Nikolay. Even in doubles, when I play a little bit longer points, I feel the strain, no?

Yep, I need a little bit rest and recover perfect now, because I was

8 Jan 2011 | by miri | 35 Comments

Doha: Singles/doubles coverage

Singles:

Rafael Nadal loses to Nikolay Davydenko at Qatar Open (Thanks, Phyzzie)
Davydenko Dismisses Ailing Nadal; Closing On Title Defence

Doubles:
Nadal/Lopez Take Doubles Title in Doha
Lopez-Nadal Clinch Doha Crown

“It’s a perfect feeling for me to win my third doubles title here in Doha after a not easy week for me,” said Nadal. “It’s a very positive thing to finish with a victory. I’m very happy for that and right now I’m going to work hard to

7 Jan 2011 | by miri | 10 Comments

Doha: Doubles final photos & videos

A couple of photos:

Photos by AP Photo/Hassan Ammar and JULIEN CROSNIER/QTF

Post match interviews:

Posted by s999a.

Trophy ceremony:

Posted by ksyuzi.

Watch that one, then listen to this one to hear the speeches without a voice-over.

7 Jan 2011 | by miri | 12 Comments

Doha: Semifinal videos

Highlights:

Posted by WivoRN.

Another point compiclation vid:

Posted by tennis24RG10.

7 Jan 2011 | by miri | 3 Comments

Doha: Semifinal photos

Photos from today’s match against Davydenko.

Photos by REUTERS/Jamal Saidi, AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, and MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP/Getty Images

7 Jan 2011 | by miri | 14 Comments

Team Cuteness Doha Domination: Complete

After looking half-dead in the singles semi, Rafa got Marc! to help and those crazy guys went out there and won the dang doubles title. *shakes head in amazement* I didn’t get to see any of it, but followed along thanks to MiniArbre’s wonderful tweets. The first set seemed to be pretty straight forward while the second was break after break. In the end, Marc!/Rafa win: 6-3, 7-6(4). Go Team Cuteness!

7 Jan 2011 | by miri | 47 Comments

Doha: Crawling to the finish line

Today’s second Doha semifinal was a rematch of last year’s final: Rafa vs. Davydenko. Would the result be the same or would Rafa level his head-to-head against the Russian? Things started well for Rafa as he broke at love in the 3rd game. Davydenko broke right back and then, thanks in part to Rafa losing his serve rhythm, broke again in the 8th game for 5-3. He went on to serve out the set.

Still rolling, Davydenko broke in the first game

7 Jan 2011 | by miri | 98 Comments