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VAMOS RAFA !!!

Rafa`s 2013 trophies

Acapulco 

Sao Paolo 

Indian Wells

Barcelona

Madrid

Rome

Roland Garros

Rogers Cup

Cincinnati

US Open

So, 10 trophies for Rafa this year. Congratulations !!!

VAMOS RAFA !!!

It happens

Rafa lost the ATP World Tour Finals against Novak Djokovic in straight sets: 3-6, 4-6 after one hour and 36 minutes of play.

This was the last tournament for Rafa in 2013. This year was incredible for him and we all looking forward to see him in 2014. Best of luck Rafa and stay healthy ! You are the best !



VAMOS RAFA !!! 

Now or never

Rafa will play the final in London after he defeated Roger Federer in straight sets: 7-5, 6-3 after one hour and 19 minutes.

After the match, Rafa said: "I think Roger played really aggressive, that's my feeling. At the beginning, his serve worked very well. My feeling is in the first set, he played very well. So in my opinion until 4-4, he was playing better than me.

"I saved a few break points, very important ones, and then I played a good game when I had the break… The key of the match was probably at 5-5, after he had the break back in the first set, when I was serving for the set. I got the break another time to be 6-5 in my favour. That was very important."

"I hope to be ready for that for the last remaining match. I know it's going to be a difficult one. But I will try my best. I need to play my best match to have a chance tomorrow."

Rafa will play the final against Novak Djokovic of Serbia. On head to head, Rafa leads Djokovic: 22-16. Their last match was this year in Beijing final, where Rafa lost in straight sets: 3-6, 4-6.



VAMOS RAFA !!!

Rafa wins the Showdown

Rafa defeated Roger Federer: 7-5, 6-3.

More later...




VAMOS RAFA !!!

The King of Kings

Rafa with his ATP World Tour No.1 trophy  in London

Photo: zimbio.com



VAMOS RAFA !!!

Final Standings in Group A

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No problem in Group A

3 matches - 3 wins for Rafa in Group A after he defeated Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic in 3 sets: 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 after one hour and 50 minutes.

After the match, Rafa said: "I attained my goal. I am in the semi-finals without losing a match. So that's most important thing for me."

Because he won the Group A, Rafa will play in semifinals against 2nd place from Group B. So, Rafa will play either Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina or Roger Federer of Switzerland.

"Any opponent will be very difficult. We are playing against the best players in the world. So if is del Potro, if is Federer, both players know very well how to beat me, on this surface especially. The only way to win the match of semi-finals is by playing my best match, playing fantastic tennis. I have one day off. One day tomorrow to keep playing well, keep trying to improve a little bit more."




VAMOS RAFA !!!

Double victory !

Rafa won his second Round A match against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in straight sets: 7-6, 7-6 after 2 hours and 12 minutes of play and he is in semifinals and he will be No.1 in the ATP Rankings for the rest of the year. Congratulations, Rafa !

After the match Rafa said: "Today, it was more important secure the No. 1 at the end of the season. It is one of the best things that I have done in my career – coming back to the No. 1 after three seasons. That's very difficult in our sport  and the good thing is that after two matches now, I can really be focused only on the tournament because the year end is over."

"I am in semi-finals. I am very far away from winning this title. Winning two matches already is a very positive thing for me. But, seriously, even if I am in semi-finals, on this surface, I am not the favourite. I know that. But I am going to try. We'll see if that happens."

"At the end of the first set there were two amazing points. One lob that I don't know how I put it there. I saw it on the TV after the match, and I felt that I was very far away from the ball. He was unlucky on the next point. He made a bad movement at the net."

Ranked No. 4 in the Emirates ATP Rankings last season, Rafa is the first player to rank outside the Top 3 before finishing No. 1 the following year since Andy Roddick in 2003 (was No. 10 in 2002).

Group A Standings

Last match in this group stage for Rafa will be against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic. On head to head, Rafa leads Berdych: 16-3. Their last match was this year in Beijing and Berdych retired from the semifinals when the score was 4-2 for Rafa in first set.



VAMOS RAFA !!!

First victory in Group A

One hour and 14 minutes needed Rafa to win the first match in Group A against David Ferrer of Spain. Rafa won the match in straight sets: 6-3, 6-2.

Match statistics:

The next match will be against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland. If Rafa will win this match he is in semifinals at ATP World Tour Finals. On head to head, Rafa leads Wawrinka: 11-0. Their last match was this year in Shnaghai, where Rafa won in straight sets: 7-6, 6-1.


Group A Standings:

VAMOS RAFA !!!

Practice session in London

Photo: zimbio.com



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Goodbye Paris !

Rafa lost the semifinal against David Ferrer at BNP Paribas Masters in 2 sets: 3-6, 5-7.

The next tournament for Rafa is the ATP World Tour Finals. The draw for this tournament has been released and Rafa is in Group A with David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych and Stanislas Wawrinka.

The tournament begins on November 4th. Rafa`s first match in London will be against David Ferrer on November 5th.




VAMOS RAFA !!!

Paris Semifinal

Only 5 games lost Rafa in the quarterfinal against Richard Gasquet of France. He defeat Gasquet in straight sets: 6-4, 6-1 after one hour and 7 minutes.

After the quarterfinal, Rafa said: "It's great to have all the best players playing well and having good results this year," said Rafa about the final eight in Paris, including Gasquet. "Having the eight players in the quarter-finals also playing in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals is great news."

In semifinals, Rafa will play against David Ferrer of Spain. On head to head, Rafa leads Ferrer: 20-4. Their last mtach was this year in Roland Garros final, where Rafa won in 3 sets: 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.


Match statistics:

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BNP Paribas Quarters

Rafa won the 3rd Round match in Paris against Jerzy Janowicz of Poland in straight sets: 7-5, 6-4 after one hour and 43 minutes of play.

In quarterfinals, Rafa will play against Richard Gasquet of France. Rafa never lost a match against Gasquet. The overall score between them is 11-0. Their last match was this year at US Open, where Rafa won in 3 sets: 6-4, 7-6, 6-2.

Match statistics:

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3rd Round in Paris

One hour and 42 minutes needed Rafa to win the 2nd Round match against Marcel Granollers of Spain in 2 sets: 7-5, 7-5 at BNP Paribas Masters.

After the match, Rafa said: "I am happy about the victory today. It was my first match indoors against not an easy opponent. So it is a good victory, a positive one for me. The victories on days when you are not playing well have much more value than the victories on days that you played well.

He did a lot of things well. He played short points. He went to the net a lot of times. I have to improve a lot for tomorrow. I hope to be ready to do it. Tomorrow will be a tough match. I had a very tough one against him in Montreal this year. I'm going to try to play aggressively, play with more intensity than what I did today."

In 3rd Round, Rafa will play against Jerzy Janowicz of Poland. On head to head, Rafa leads Janowicz: 1-0. Their only match was this year in Montreal, where Rafa won in straight sets: 7-6, 6-4.

VAMOS RAFA !!!

Practice session in Paris

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Game over in Shanghai

Rafa lost the Shanghai Rolex Masters against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in straight sets: 2-6, 4-6.

After this loss Rafa said: "He played amazing. I just congratulate him. Very few times I play against a player with a level like today...I really go home with the feeling that I didn't play bad. That's the thing. It is fair to say that. I am humble enough to say that I played well and I lost 6-2, 6-4."


Doesn`t matter. Great year for Rafa. Let`s concentrate on ATP Barclays World Tour Finals. The tournament starts on November 4th.



VAMOS RAFA !!!

Last 4

One hour and 47 minutes needed Rafa to defeat Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets: 7-6, 6-1.

About the match, Rafa said: "It was very tough. I think I played a great set. But the court is fast. His serve was huge. He came to the court with that determination to hit every ball by taking the ball earlier, hit the ball very quick and go for the big shots in every moment. So it was very difficult to stop him.

"The positive thing [was that] when he was playing well, I was playing well too. I was able to resist. If I was not playing well, I was going to lose that set. After that, I was able to maintain the level."

 In Shanghai semifinal Rafa will play against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. On head to head, Rafa leads del Potro: 8-3. Their last match was this year in Indian Wells final where Rafa won in 3 sets: 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

VAMOS RAFA !!!

Shanghai Quarters

Nadal won the 3rd Roudn match at Shanghai Rolex Masters. He defeated Carlos Berlocq of Argentina in straight sets: 6-1, 7-6 after one hour and 49 minutes of play.

After the match, Rafa said: "I was happy the way I played at the end, who wore five shirts due to humid conditions during the match. “I think I played a fantastic first set. In the second set, I felt a little bit more tired. He had a big opportunity in the tie-break with the 5-2. So I was lucky I played three great points in that moment. Unfortunately for him, he hit a double fault. At the end it was close, emotional. I’m very happy to be through."

"Berlocq is a great example of player who never gives up, a player who has always improved throughout his career,” said Nadal. He is a good guy, [a] good fighter."

After this victory, Rafa is in quarterfinals where he will play against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland. On head to head, Rafa leads Wawrinka: 10-0. Their last match was this year in Roland Garros quarterfinal. Rafa won in 3 sets: 6-2, 6-3, 6-1.

VAMOS RAFA !!!

First victory in Shanghai

Rafa is in 3rd Round at Shanghai Rolex Masters after he defeated Alexandr Dolgopolov in straight sets: 6-3, 6-2 after only one hour of play.

After the match, Rafa said: "The court is fast, faster than the previous years.I think I played a good match. To win against Dolgopolov the way I did is because I did a lot of things well. The serve worked great. Something that didn't happen last week. That's a very important thing."


In 3rd Round, Rafa will play against Carlos Berlocq of Argentina. On head to head, Rafa leads Berlocq: 2-0. Their last match was this year in Barceona, where Rafa won in straight sets: 6-4, 6-2.




VAMOS RAFA !!!