Nadal & Murray post final presser

Excerpts from Rafa and Andy’s post-match pressers.

Posted by jwdl.

17 Feb 2009 | No Comment

The week of Nadal

Rotterdam review and a “preview” of the final posted by mrtntnmn.

16 Feb 2009 | No Comment

Feb 15 press roundup

Another day of repetitive press. But I don’t care because I’ve had a bottle of wine. Woo!

Andy Murray wins 10th career title after beating Rafael Nadal in Rotterdam

The most expressive eyebrows in tennis belong to Nadal, and his and others’ eyebrows were working hard during a match that felt as though it contained more breaks than a busy weekend on an orthopaedic ward. But there was an explanation for the weirdness in the title-match, as Nadal was in serious discomfort from a knee injury by the early stages of the second set.

Perhaps other less spirited players would simply have given their knee and their eyebrows a well-deserved rest by quitting, but Nadal is made of sterner stuff and he stayed on court and levelled by taking a second set that included seven breaks in a row.

Sometimes, I think Rafa’s eyebrows alone could win a few games – they are just that determined.

16 Feb 2009 | No Comment

Post match interview and photos

Rafa refuses to blame the injury for the loss in his on court post match interview – always classy.

(Photos by REUTERS/ Michael Kooren, AP Photo/Ermindo Armino, Hamish Blair/Getty Images, and RICK NEDERSTIGT/AFP/Getty Images)

15 Feb 2009 | No Comment

Huh?

“Do you have any freaking idea what we are supposed to do with these lame plates and flowers?”

(AP Photo by ERMINDO ARMINO)

15 Feb 2009 | 3 Comments

Murray defeats Rafa

Rafa took on 4th ranked Andy Murray today and it wasn’t pretty. He lost 3-6 6-4 0-6 and I’m not sure how he managed to win that second set. Actually, Murray wasn’t playing that well either, so that helped negate the knee problem. By the third set, however, Rafa’s movement was seriously impaired.

I had a feeling we were in for a tough match when Rafa was grumpy with a ball-kid during the first set – you usually don’t see that from him. Then I remembered him taking a pill on his way to the post-first set bathroom break yesterday. Could something be bothering him physically? Turns out it was and we were in for a very low-energy and frustrating match.

Some stats for Rafa:
Aces: 2
Double Faults: 3
1st Serve %: 50%
Win % on 1st serve: 55% (18/33)
Win % on 2nd serve: 33% (11/33)
Break Point Conversions: 57% (4/7)
Break Points Saved: 42% (5/12)
Total Points Won: 42% (59/140)

“As it happened” updates after the break.

15 Feb 2009 | 2 Comments

Feb 14 press roundup

Everyone got their alarms set for tomorrow’s match? If you are in the US, it will be an early day for you. It’s scheduled to start at 8am EST.

Most of today’s press seems to be about the final rather than the Monfils match. I guess I can understand that a bit – it was an odd match without a lot of rhythm or momentum either way.

Rotterdam – Nadal and Murray battle for

14 Feb 2009 | No Comment

Match videos and post-match interview

merikob sends all Rafa fans a Valentine’s day present – match vids!

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Bonus: shirtless scenes

Post match interview can be found here.

14 Feb 2009 | No Comment

Rafa/Monfils match photos

Some photos from today’s match.

(Photos by Hamish Blair/Getty Images and REUTERS/ Michael Kooren)

14 Feb 2009 | No Comment

Rafa into the Rotterdam final

Rafa defeated 12th ranked Gael Monfils 6-4 6-4 to reach the finals where he will play Andy Murray in the final tomorrow. Murray demolished Mario Ancic 6-1 6-2 today, but there are reports that he finished that match limping.

It was a nice victory for Rafa since Monfils won their last hard court meeting in January of this year. However, he still holds a comfortable margin against Monfils in their head to head. After today’s match, he’s 4-1 against Monfils.

Some stats for Rafa:
Aces: 1 (to 10 for Monfils)
Double Faults: 1
1st Serve %: 71%
Win % on 1st serve: 78% (35/45)
Win % on 2nd serve: 44% (8/18)
Break Point Conversions: 50% (3/6)
Break Points Saved: 86% (6/7)
Total Points Won: 173 (to Roger’s 174)

“As it happened” commentary after the break.

14 Feb 2009 | No Comment