RafaLint: May 13th

AP Photo/Andres Kudacki

Today’s Recommended Reading:
All the Tension Sluiced Away – by Jesse Pentecost

The conceit, unquestionably, is that even when Nadal wins easily there’s a requirement that he must be struggling against something. The discourse of el guerrero imparable is too pervasive to be casually set aside, and thus most analysis is made subservient to it. Nadal’s incredible technical skills on a tennis court, buttressed by tens of thousands of hours training, are constantly glossed over in favour of the preferred narrative that he wins through

13 May 2013 | by miri | 8 Comments

Madrid: Post final presser transcript

Photo by AP Photo/Andres Kudacki

Rafa’s post Madrid final presser transcript is up on the ASAP Sports site.

Q. Was it easier than you were expecting or really today you were playing really well in the altitude of Madrid? It’s been incredible.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, in the end, as I said the other day, I don’t expect anything. If I expect is the most difficult thing when I go out there and play a match.

In this case what I expected was to go out

13 May 2013 | by miri | 5 Comments

RafaLint: May 12th

AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza
Articles:

Interview with the champion – exclusive interview with the Madrid Open’s media reps.
Nadal: “The Kind Of Play I’m Aiming For – via atpworldtour.com
Brilliant Nadal Wins 23rd ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Title, 40th Clay Crown – via atpworldtour.com
Brain Game: Rafa Breaks Down Stan’s Backhand – by Craig O’Shannessy (atpworldtour.com)
Nadal reconquers the Caja Mágica – by Roberto Hernández (madrid-open.com)
Rafael Nadal beats Stanislas Wawrinka to win Madrid Open – via bbc.co.uk

Nadal wins Madrid title for

12 May 2013 | by miri | 18 Comments

Madrid: Semifinal presser transcript

Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
The transcript from Rafa’s semifinal presser is up on ASAP Sports.

Congratulations for your victory. You’ve already played four matches here in Madrid. Given the conditions of the court and also with the altitude and the fact that you’ve been seven months without playing, the feelings are worse or better than you were expecting before coming here?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, you know, I didn’t know if I was going to be in the final, you know. Obviously

12 May 2013 | by miri | One Comment

Madrid: Final photos

Photos from today’s title win over Wawrinka.

Photos by REUTERS/Susana Vera, REUTERS/Juan Medina, Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe, and Jasper Juinen/Getty Images Europe

12 May 2013 | by miri | 10 Comments

Madrid: Final full match video

Full match:

Posted by TennisOnlineHD.

Post match on-court interview (Spanish):

Posted by molvi1501.

12 May 2013 | by miri | 3 Comments

Madrid: On fire

AP Photo / Daniel Ochoa de Olza

Rafa played on-fire #15 Stanislas Wawrinka in the Madrid Open final today. Stan’s been playing some of the best tennis of his career lately. He’s also been playing a lot of it. Today was the day he ran out of gas. Rafa came out on fire, making a statement and breaking in the first game. Stan did pretty darn well in winning two games that set. The second set was a bit more competitive, but Rafa was still playing some beautiful clay court tennis. He wins his 3rd Madrid Open, 5th title this year, and 23rd Masters title by a score of 6-2, 6-4.

12 May 2013 | by miri | 48 Comments

RafaLint: May 11th

Photo by REUTERS/ Juan Medina
Articles:

Nadal Outclasses Andujar In Madrid; Continues Quest For 55th Title – via atpworldtour.com (includes a highlights video)
Nadal crushes Andujar to reach Madrid final – Reuters via yahoo.com
Nadal to bid for his third crown – via madrid-open.com
Nadal brushes Andujar aside to reach Madrid Open final – via espn.co.uk
Rafa’s amazing return says more about him than it does men’s tennis – by Patrick Mouratoglou (uk.eurosport.yahoo.com)
Rafael Nadal reaches 7th straight final at Madrid Open; Williams to face

11 May 2013 | by miri | One Comment

Madrid: Quarterfinal presser transcript

Photo by REUTERS/Juan Medina

The transcript from Rafa’s quarterfinal presser is up on ASAP Sports.

(Through translation.)

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

RAFAEL NADAL: Hello. Sorry for the lateness. It was a little complicated.

Heh, when isn’t it complicated?

Q. Congratulations for your victory. After how the match went, after playing against who you’ve played, I think you’re a little bit more inflated with confidence. Looking forward to what you have tomorrow or the next day?

RAFAEL NADAL: For the moment you have to look at what we have tomorrow.

11 May 2013 | by miri | No Comment

Madrid: Semifinal photos

Photos from Rafa’s win over Pablo Andujar.

Photos by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images, REUTERS/Juan Medina, REUTERS/Susana Vera, AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza, and Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe

11 May 2013 | by miri | 2 Comments