MC: 40 in a row

In the 3rd Monte-Carlo quarterfinal of the day, Rafa played #26 Stanislas Wawrinka. Rafa broke early in the first set, but was broken back when serving up 4-3. He broke back in the 11th game and then served out the set. He broke early again in the 2nd and then I had to stop watching, so I’m not sure if there were further breaks. Bottom line: Rafa won his 40th match in a row in Monte-Carlo and is into the semis: 7-5, 6-4.

20 Apr 2012 | by miri | 35 Comments

RafaLint: April 19th

Full 3rd round match video:

Posted by TennisVadim46.

Articles:

Racquet Reaction: Nadal d. Kukushkin – by Hannah Wilks
Nadal destroys Kukushkin – Reuters
Monte Carlo Thursday Wrap – via ESPN

The Toss: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and streaks of seven – by Courtney Nguyen and C.W. Sesno.
Report on the player’s party and the mangle.
Borg: Modern game tougher than my day – via tennishead.net

Videos:

iB3 report on 2nd round match
Audio: interview after 2nd round match (in Spanish).
Rafa’s Reaction to Thunder

Photos:

What a lovely lad

Rafa does social media:

Rafa let us know

19 Apr 2012 | by miri | 7 Comments

MC: 3rd round photos

Photos from Rafa’s match against Kukushkin.

Photos by Julian Finney/Getty Images, REUTERS/Eric Gaillard, AFP PHOTO/ VALERY HACHE,

19 Apr 2012 | by miri | 8 Comments

MC: 3rd round videos

Post-match interview for rtve.es.

Excerpt from Rafa’s post-match presser:

Posted by ATPWorldTour.

Thursday’s ATP Hot-Shot courtesy of Rafa.

Highlight reels:

Posted by NadalCuriosities2.

Posted by bojansvitac.

Posted by TvTennis24gr.

19 Apr 2012 | by miri | 6 Comments

MC: No contest

Late in the day and after an emotional match where a grieving Djokovic managed to pull out a victory, Rafa took to Court Central to play #68 Kukushkin. Frankly, there was more danger from the weather, court (“full of holes” per Andy Murray) and the impending darkness than the opponent. Rafa’s through to the quarters: 6-1, 6-1.

19 Apr 2012 | by miri | 26 Comments

MC: 2nd round presser transcript

A transcript of Rafa’s presser has been posted here.

Q. How did you feel about your performance today?

RAFAEL NADAL: Really normal. I believe that I played a really normal match, nothing special. Nothing very bad, but nothing very good. So just, yeah, normal. That’s it.

First match on clay after long time, first match after 15 days without touch a racquet, just practicing five, six days. So is happened the normal thing and most important thing is I

18 Apr 2012 | by miri | 6 Comments

RafaLint: April 18th

Articles:

Racquet Reaction: Nadal d. Nieminen – by Hannah Wilks (tennis.com)
Nadal Opens Title Defence – by the ATP
Nadal irrepressible on Monaco clay – by Dan Quarrell (eurosport.yahoo.com)
Djokovic, Nadal make Monte Carlo third round – by Gregory Blachier (Reuters)
Djokovic seeks Monte Carlo crown – by Richard Evans (foxsports.com)
Nadal, Djokovic roll at Monte Carlo Masters – from the AP
The Most Useful Talent – by Steve Tignor (tennis.com)
Catching the Tape: So…What

18 Apr 2012 | by miri | 3 Comments

MC: 2nd round videos

Full match:

Posted by TennisVadim46.

Rafa sends us a message after the match – in Spanish:

and English:

How sweet is that?

More stuff:

Post-match interview in Spanish on Daily Motion or on YouTube or on the rtve.es site.
Highlights
Match report from France 3 – includes a short presser clip.

18 Apr 2012 | by miri | No Comment

MC: 2nd round photos

Photos from Rafa’s match against Nieminen.

Photos by Julian Finney/Getty Images and VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

18 Apr 2012 | by miri | 5 Comments

MC: Post 2nd round interview (video)

Excerpt from Rafa’s presser:

18 Apr 2012 | by miri | 6 Comments