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: 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: April 28th

Photo by AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

Articles:

Nadal Wins Eighth Barcelona Crown – via atpworldtour.com
Nadal beats Almagro to claim 8th Barcelona Open title – via usatoday.com (This is the same AP story that most sites seem to have based their stories on
ATP Barcelona Open: Rafael Nadal claims his eighth crown in Catalunya – via SkySports
Nadal Clinches Record Eighth Barcelona Crown – via barcelonaopenbancsabadell.com

Videos/Audio:

Last game of the final
On-court post-match interview (in Spanish)
And one in English
Trophy presentation
Hot Shot of the

28 Apr 2013 | by miri | 7 Comments

Barcelona: Final photos

Photos from today’s victory and trophy bite.

Photos by David Ramos/Getty Images and AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

28 Apr 2013 | by miri | 10 Comments

Barcelona: Final video

Here’s full match video of Rafa winning his 8th Barcelona title.

Posted by TennisOnlineHD.

28 Apr 2013 | by miri | No Comment

Barcelona: Neither rain, nor cold, nor Nico…

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

…could keep Rafa from winning his 8th Barcelona title.

Rafa played fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro in the Barcelona final today. I missed the first three games, but based on twitter, Almagro came out firing winners and was soon up a double break. When I got home, they appeared to be sitting out a bit of rain. Did this slight delay give Almagro too much time to think about that 3-0 lead? Or was Rafa just waiting until I got home

28 Apr 2013 | by miri | 65 Comments

MC: That’s the sport

Photo by Beth Wilson

Let’s just start with the facts: Rafa Nadal is, for the first time since 2005, not the champion of the Monte-Carlo Masters. He lost today to Novak Djokovic 6-2, 7-6(1). Now the emotions: I left the court very sad; I left Rafa’s presser reassured. As usual, his perspective helped restore mine. He’s happy to have made the finals after his time away. He was happy that he fought and played his best match of the tournament. As he said, he prefers

21 Apr 2013 | by miri | 152 Comments