3-0!!!

Rafa won the group after 2 awesome victories against Andy Murray (6-4, 6-1) and David Ferrer (6-7, 6-3, 6-4).

In semifinals, Rafa will play against Novak Djokovic.



VAMOS RAFA!!!

Perfect start!

Perfect start for Rafa at ATP World Tour Finals in London. Straight victory against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland: 6-3, 6-2 after one hour and 22 minutes.

After the match, Rafa said: "I think I played a solid match. I had one bad game, the first one of the match. But then immediately I was playing well. I played the way that I wanted to play. I played aggressive. I played with not many mistakes."

Group standigs after the first round:

VAMOS RAFA!!!

ATP World Tour Finals Draw

Group A - Stan Smith

Novak Djokovic
Roger Federer
Tomas Berdych
Kei Nishikori


Group B - Ilie Nastase

Andy Murray
Stanislas Wawrinka
Rafael Nadal
David Ferrer




VAMOS RAFA !!!

Rafa roars!

Rafael Nadal guaranteed himself the last remaining spot in the BNP Paribas Masters quarter-finals on Thursday, saving a match point against Kevin Anderson to prevail 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-2.

In the final match on Court Central, the No. 7 seed upped his FedEx ATP Head2Head record to 3-0 against the South African. The Spaniard will next face Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka, against whom he is 13-2.

It was the 12th-ranked Anderson who drew first blood at the AccorHotels Arena, breaking for a 2-1 first-set lead. The 29-year-old would go on to serve out the set at 5-4, his eighth ace of the match punctuating the hold at the 38-minute mark.

But as he so often does, Nadal would show some steely resolve in extending the match. He saved a match point trailing 5-6 in the second-set tiebreak to force the decider, and was a perfect seven-for-seven in net points in the middle stanza alone.

Nadal kept his foot on the pedal in the third set, consolidating an early break to move ahead 2-0. He would save six break points in the 12-minute-long fourth game, and subsequently go up a double break at 5-2.

Equally as impressive off the ground as he was on his serve, Anderson would total 20 aces in the loss.

Nadal improved to 58-18 on the year. His 764 career wins are good enough for ninth place on the Open Era list, one ahead of Pete Sampras. He is still seeking his first ATP Masters 1000 title of 2015.

ATP

VAMOS RAFA!!!

Ready for the clash!!!

Another amazing tournament for Rafa in Basel. After strong victories against Dimitrov, Cilic and Gasquet, Rafa is ready to face Roger Federer at Swiss Indoors Basel final.

Any other words are useless!


VAMOS RAFA!!!

Perfect!

Rafael Nadal remained perfect against Grigor Dimitrov on Wednesday, outplaying the Bulgarian for the seventh straight time at the Swiss Open Basel 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

The highly anticipated second-round match-up between the former Basel quarter-finalists saw the 24-year-old Dimitrov get out of the blocks in a hurry, breaking his No. 3-seeded opponent to open the match. But Nadal would equalise with a break in the eighth game, reeling off nine of 12 points to level the set at 4-all when a Dimitrov transition volley failed to clear the net. Nadal would subsequently consolidate; then score yet another service break to clinch the first set. Dimitrov, still seeking his first title of the year and his first final since Stockholm in 2014, would amass 16 unforced errors in the stanza alone.

Having surrendered his foothold in the first set, Dimitrov came out with a renewed sense of urgency in the second, two breaks and a like number of holds giving him an early 4-0 edge before Nadal would get on the board.

It was deja vu as the No. 7-ranked Nadal was again broken to open up the decisive third set. But as he did earlier in the match, the 29-year-old would work his way back to knot the set at two games apiece. A tentative service game from Dimitrov at 3-4 would give Nadal his fifth and final break of the evening, and the Spaniard wouldn’t waste the opportunity, stepping up to serve out the match in two hours and 12 minutes.

"It was a positive match," said Nadal. "I won against a tough player, coming back from a break down in the third. That's important for my confidence."

Nadal, who improved to 54-17 on the year, has shown some steely resolve in back-to-back matches, having rallied from 1-6, 3-5 down on Monday to defeat Lukas Rosol 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4).

ATP

VAMOS RAFA!!!

Rafa - The gladiator!

His back against the wall, World No. 7 Rafael Nadal rallied for a dramatic 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) victory over upset-minded Lukas Rosol on Monday at the Swiss Indoors Basel.

How close was Nadal to defeat? His unseeded Czech opponent was just two points from victory in the second set.

"It was a very tough match emotionally," said Nadal, who registered 23 winners to 27 unforced errors. "At the same time, it's a great victory. It's important for me to have these kinds of comebacks. I've been in these situations more times than I would like this year, so I'm happy to win a match like this."

Buoyed by a pair of breaks, Rosol rolled through the first set in a mere 23 minutes, smacking eight winners and dropping just one point on his serve (16 of 17).

The No. 69-ranked baseliner continued to play clean tennis into the second set, opening the stanza with a break and before long was serving for the match at 5-4, 30-0. But Nadal still had some life left. On only his second break-point opportunity of the match, he sent a backhand pass down the line to even the set at 5-all. Rosol was serving to stay in the set down 5-6 when a double fault — only his second of the day — leveled the match at one set apiece.

The 30-year-old Rosol fell behind 3-0 in the third set as Nadal surged ahead. However, he would bring the set back on serve at 4-4 and the match-up would come down to a telltale tie-break. It was here that Nadal showed his experience in pressure-filled situations. He would storm back from a 0-3 deficit to nullify the upset bid in two hours and 16 minutes.

"It was tough for me to get into the match," Nadal asserted. "It was a little bit of everything. A little bit of luck, a little bit of belief, to keep fighting for this match. That's what I did."

Although he came into the match 1-2 lifetime against Nadal, Rosol had defeated the 27-time ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titlist on a big stage before. It was at Wimbledon in 2012, after all, that Rosol stunned the Spaniard in the second round 6-7(9), 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. But Nadal proved too tough this time around.

ATP.

VAMOS RAFA !!!

Strong! Strong! Strong!

At Shnaghai Rolex Masters, Rafa managed to defeat 3 important players: Ivo Karlovic, Milos Raonic and now Stanislas Wawrinka! Rafa managed to won the quarterfinal match in straight sets: 6-2, 6-1 in only one hour and 3 minutes and won his 300 match at a ATP World Tour Masters Series 1000!!!

After the match, Rafa said: "Being in the semi-finals is a great result for me. I hadn't played the semi-finals on hard court all year and now I am playing two weeks in a row in the final rounds. That's a big improvement for me. In terms of confidence, in terms of level of tennis, I am playing better. Very happy for that because I am working so hard." 

After this major victory, Rafa will play in semifinals against Jo-Wilfired Tsonga of France. About his next opponent, Rafa said: "It is a court that he likes to play on. The court is quick. He feels comfortable on these surfaces because he has a huge serve, very, very good forehand. He likes to hit the serve and then hit the forehand and go to the net. He's a very competitive player. When he's in the semi-finals it's because he's playing well. So it will be a very tough match. I hope to play well, keep doing like every day, playing a little bit better every day. I hope tomorrow to continue with that improvement."
On head to head, Rafa leads Tsonga: 8-3. Their last match was in 2013 in Monte-Carlo, where Rafa won in straight sets: 6-3, 7-6.

VAMOS RAFA!!!

Rafa looks good and ready for the clash!

After a strong victory against Ivo Karlovic: 7-5, 6-7, 7-6, Rafa won another impotant match Shanghai Rolex Masters against Milos Raonic of Canada: 6-3, 7-6.

“Today, I felt that I was not playing with as much nerves when I am on court. I was able to enjoy the match."

“Winning a match 7‑6 in the third yesterday and winning a match again today in the tiebreak of a second set, two tiebreaks without losing a point with my serve, it’s impossible if you don't have control of your emotions.  That's something that, a couple of months ago, would have been impossible for me."

 “My serve obviously worked much better than yesterday, but when I play well on my service game, it’s not just because I serve well, but especially because I play well from the baseline.” 

After these 2 important victories, Rafa reached to quarterfinals, where he will play against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland. On head to head, Rafa leads Wawrinka: 12-2. 

VAMOS RAFA!!!

Final Showdown

Rafa defeated Fabio Fognini of Italy in semifinals at China Open in straight sets: 7-5, 6-3 after one hour and 45 minutes of play.

After the semifinal, Rafa said: "He's a great player, a great and talented player. It was a tough first set, as I expected. Tough match in general. But I think I played well. I played much closer to the baseline than the previous days. That's very important for me, very important for my game. The position for me on the court today was more aggressive, and that's why I was able to beat him today after a couple of defeats."

"I'm happy to be in the final obviously. It's a good result for me, very positive one. And tomorrow is a match to enjoy."

"This result gives me a lot of important points for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals too. I don't say that I am qualified, but with that result I am much closer to being qualified for the World Tour Finals."

"At the same time, the goal for me is try to find a good level at this end of the season. Playing matches is the best practice possible, trying to do things in the matches, to have better feelings, practice the things that I need to do next year. I think today was an important victory. I really played the way that I wanted to play." 

In China Open final, Rafa will play against Novak Djokovic of Serbia. On head to head, Rafa still leads Djokovic: 23-21, but the Serbian won the last 2 matches.

VAMOS RAFA !!!

Strong!

Great comeback for Rafa in quarterfinals at China Open. He managed to defeat Jack Sock of United States after he lost the first set: 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in almost 2 hours.

After this important victory, Rafa said: “Obviously I finished the match playing better than what I started. This year I lost a lot of matches when I had an advantage. So to have the chance to win a match when I start losing  is important for me.”
“I think the first set I was not playing very bad, but I was playing three metres behind the baseline. So he was playing with a lot of time, plenty of time to do whatever he wanted with the ball. I think I analysed that well at the right time. I was a little bit closer to the baseline later without losing the court, so he didn't have all that time to hit his forehand every single time. That was the key, in my opinion, the position on court. I changed that.”

In semifinals, Rafa will play against Fabio Fognini of Italy.About this meeting and his opponent, Rafa said: "He's a great player. When you play against a great player, especially if you don't play to your best, your chances are lower. If I am able to play my best tomorrow, I am going to have my chances. If not, it is going to be tough. It's simple. Sport is simple. The winner is the player who plays better. Fognini played better in the three matches that he beat me.

"I was not unhappy at all after the US Open loss. I didn't play a very bad match. I played okay. He played great. He beat me. Congratulate him and keep going for me."

On head to head, Rafa leads Fognini: 5-3. But the Italian won the last match, this year at US Open in 5 sets.

VAMOS RAFA!!!

2 victories at China Open

After he defeated Di Wu of China (6-4, 6-4), Rafa made another step forward at China Open: 7-6, 6-4 against Vasek Pospisil of Canada.

After the match, Rafa said: “I’m happy for the victory. It’s a victory against a good opponent like Vasek, which is good news for me. Today, I did few things much better than yesterday. That's a good thing for me; it’s very important for my game.”
“Beijing is a very important tournament, a very important event, and I am going to fight for every ball to try to have the best result possible."

Rafa`s next oppoent is Jack Sock of the United States. Rafa leads  Sock: 1-0. Their only match was this year at Roland Garros, when Rafa won in 4 sets: 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.

About Jack Sock, Rafa said: “He's a very good young player with a fantastic serve and a very strong forehand. He is going to be a big opponent for the quarter-finals. I will need to play better than today.”

VAMOS RAFA!!!

Goodbye, US Open!

After a convincing victory in 2nd Round against Schwartzman, Rafa was defeated in 3rd Round at US Open by Fabio Fognini in 5 sets: 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 4-6.

So, it`s "Goodbye, New York" after Rafa won 2 sets in this match and the qualification for the ATP World Tour Finals is in danger.




VAMOS RAFA !!!

US Opend debut.

Even if he lost a set, Rafa started well his US Open 2015 campaign with a victory against Borna Coric of Croatia: 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 after 2 hours and 46 minutes of play.

After the match, Rafa said: “I think I played great. The first two sets I played a very high level of tennis. Seriously, then I get a little bit tired. But then in the fourth I recovered little bit. I played again more aggressive.”
“It is a small thing, but this small loss of energy in the third set is more loss of speed during a match against a player who is a fighter. He's a great player. He is tough, he takes a set.” 
“I practised at a very high level of tennis during the previous weeks. That gives me calm. That gives me confidence. I know if I'm able to keep having those feelings.  I will have the success again.”

In 2nd Round, Rafa will play against David Schwartzman of Argentina. On head to head, Rafa leads Schwartzman: 1-0. Their only match was in 2013 in Acapulco, when Rafa won in straight sets: 6-2, 6-2.



VAMOS RAFA!!!

Rafa in Rogers Cup QF !

After an important victory against Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine, Rafa passed another test in Toronto. This time against Mikhail Youzhny of Russia. Rafa won in straight sets: 6-3, 6-3 after one hour and 41 minutes of play.

After the 3rd Round match, Rafa said: “When he's playing like this, of course his ranking is much higher. He's having a tough year, but he play great here. When a player like him is playing well, is very dangerous. Winning four matches already in this tournament. If he can play like this, for sure he will finish the season in a higher position in the ranking. No doubt of that. Was a positive victory for me. I think I played great because he was playing at a good level of tennis.”
He was serving considerably faster than during his recent title run in Hamburg – a shoulder complaint he said had now gone.

“It’s not a problem anymore. I don't have pain anymore in the shoulder. But during the Hamburg tournament I couldn't serve very well. I was just trying to put serves in, very slow speed. But happy the way I served today. I think I was serving very well tonight.”

After In Rogers Cup quarterfinal, Rafa will play against Kei Nishikori of Japan. On head to head, Rafa leads Nishikori: 7-0. Their last match was last year in Madrid where Rafa won: 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 Ret.

VAMOS RAFA!!! 

King in Hamburg!

Rafa won his 47th clay court title. He defeated Fabio Fognini of Italy in straight sets: 7-5, 7-5 after 2 hours and 34 minutes of play.. Well done, Rafa!

After the final, Rafa said: “I lost the last two times against him, so I knew it was going to be a tough one. I think I had a great attitude the whole match, very positive, fighting for every ball. I had some tough moments on court, lost opportunities, but every time I came back and I kept fighting with the right mentality. I’m very happy for the victory. It is an important victory for me.”
“Now the hard-court season is starting, it’s a different story. But at the same time, I’ll keep going with the same mentality and this title helps to be a little bit more calm and add some points to my [Emirates ATP] Ranking to try to finish the year in the Top 8 again.”

For Rafa the hard court season will start soon. He will participate at Rogers Cup in Montreal. The tournament starts on August 10th.


VA MOS RAFA !!!

Marching for the title!

Another straight set victory for Rafa in Hamburg. He defeated Andreas Seppi of Italy: 6-1, 6-2 after one hour and 20 minutes of play.

After the semifinal, Rafa said: "I will try to keep playing well and enjoy today's victory. These are important points for me - 300 points for my goal of qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals is important. Matches like today help to bring you your confidence and your motivation for what you are doing."
"From the beginning I played great, since the first game that I hit a few winners. I was very comfortable on court today, feeling the ball well, with topspin to his backhand and then changing to his forehand down the line - a very important shot for me. In general it was a very positive match.
"Every victory is important. And this year with the up and downs that I’ve had, obviously every improvement is important. I played at a very high level. I'm very happy for that, playing with not many mistakes, very well with my backhand, very well with my forehand, hitting winners, changing speeds, changing directions. I think I played a great match."

In Sunday`s final, Rafa will play agianst Fabio Fognini of Italy. On head to head, Rafa leads Fognini: 4-2. Their last match was this year in Barcelona, when Fognini won in straight sets: 6-4, 7-6. 

VAMOS RAFA !!!

Last 4 in Hamburg

After a convincing victory against Jiri Vesely, Rafa passed Pablo Cuevas in Hamburg QF in straight sets: 6-3, 6-2 after one hour and 12 minutes of play.

After the match, Rafa said: "I played I think 90 per cent of the match doing the right things, doing the right shots every time and waiting for my moment. I think I created some problems for him when he was trying to hit a winner. I think I changed well the direction."

In semifinals, Rafa will play against Andreas Seppi of Italy. About his next opponent, Rafa said: "He’s a great player. He’s a very consistent player that has very, very solid shots from the baseline and changing very well the direction. I will try to let him play not comfortable and let’s see if I’m able to do that."
On head to head, Rafa leads Seppi: 5-1. Their last match was last year in Monte-Carlo, where Rafa won in straight sets: 6-1, 6-3.


VAMOS RAFA!!!

Great comeback in Hamburg

Top seed Rafael Nadal came from a set deficit to beat Fernando Verdasco 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 at the bet-at-home Open on Tuesday.

“It’s a very important victory. For my mentality, it is important to finish the match better than how I started. To be able to make that change during the match was a very positive thing to me. I’m just happy [with] the way I came back.”

In his first appearance in Hamburg since hoisting the trophy in 2008, the Mallorcan improved his FedEx ATP Head2Head record over Verdasco to 14-2.

Nadal broke immediately for a 1-0 lead, but Verdasco held his nerve to break back. The World No. 41 applied pressure yet again in the sixth game, breaking the top seed for a 4-2 lead. Verdasco went on to clinch the opening set after 37 minutes, having hit 10 winners.

It took Nadal 12 minutes to hold serve in the opening game of the second set. The World No. 10 then struck first to break his compatriot, and then held to race to a 3-0 lead. Another break for Nadal put him two games away from levelling the match. Verdasco’s first ace of the match game him a hold for 1-5, but Nadal would serve out the set at love.

Nadal earned a critical break in the decider for a 2-1 lead and saved all four break points he faced in the set to eventually clinch the victory and set a second-round clash with Jiri Vesely.

ATP.

VAMOS RAFA!!!

Goodbye, Wimbledon!

Again an early exit for Rafa at Wimbledon, this time in 2nd Round, after he lost against Dustin Brown of Germany in 4 sets:  5-7, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6.

After the match, Rafa said: “Obviously today is a bad moment for me. I need to accept these things can happen… it's not the end. It’s a sad moment for me, but life continues. My career, too. I have to keep going and working more than ever to try to change that dynamic.”
“I am a good loser. When I am not that good, I always accept it. I never considered myself that good to not accept when somebody's better than you. The last couple of years, I was not ready to compete well here. So I met some players that were better than me.”
“This year I was ready to compete well, and I was playing well before this tournament. I had the right preparation; all the things I thought were going to be fine to play a good Wimbledon.”

Acording to the ATP calendar, Rafa`s next tournament will be Rogers Cup in Montreal...



VAMOS RAFA!!!

Victory at debut!

Rafa started his Wimbledon 2015 campaign with a straight set victory against Tomaz Bellucci of Brazil: 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

After the match, Rafa said: “I think I played okay; played well, played solid. I am a little bit more confident now than I was few months ago. It’s just day by day for me. Obviously victories help.”

In Wimbledon 2nd Round, Rafa will play against Dustin Brown of Gernamy. About his next opponent, Rafa said: “It is difficult to think about how the match going to be; he's not a usual player. Anything can happen. He beat me last year in Halle. It is little bit different, the surface and everything. He's a tough player. He won today against good opponent. Probably he will come with good confidence. I’m going to try to be ready for it.”
Rafa is leaded by Brown on head to head: 0-1. Rafa lost the only match against the german player last year in Halle: 4-6, 1-6.

VAMOS RAFA !!!

King in Stuttgart!!!

Rafa won his first grass court title since 2010 in Stuttgart. He managed to defeat Viktor Troicki of Serbia in straight sets: 7-6, 6-3. Congratulations, Rafa!!!

After the final, Rafa said: "It's a very special title. Since 2011 I didn't play a final on grass, so win a title here is very good news for my game and for my mentality too. Congrats to Viktor for a great tournament. He's playing great and will have some positives for the week.
"At this point of the season, every victory is important and every title means a lot to me. I'm happy for that. Thank you very much for all the support here in Stuttgart."

The next tournament in Rafa`s schedule is the 3rd Grand Slam of the year: Wimbledon. The tournament starts on June 30.



VAMOS RAFA!!!

Rafa survives

Another tough match for Rafa on grass at Mercedes Cup. This time against Bernard Tomic. Rafa managed to defeat the Australian player in 3 sets: 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 after 2 hours and 21 minutes of play.

In semifinals, Rafa will play against Gael Monfils of France. On head to head, Rafa leads Monfils: 10-2. Their last match was in 2014 at Australian Open, when Rafa won in straight sets: 6-1, 6-2, 6-3.


VAMOS RAFA !!!

Tough start on grass

Rafa had his first test on grass of the season at Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart. He managed to defeat Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in 3 sets: 7-6, 6-7, 6-2 after 2 hours and 40 minutes of play.

After the game, Rafa said: "It was a little bit of a strange match. I’m happy to be through. It’s an important victory for me. The first match on grass is always very difficult. At the beginning I didn’t play my best, but I finished the match much better than how I started."

In quarterfinals, Rafa will play against Bernard Tomic of Australia. On head to head, Rafa leads Tomic: 2-0. Their last match was last year at Australian Open, where Rafa won a set: 6-4 and after Tomic had to retire due to an injury.


VAMOS RAFA !!!

Happy Brithday, Rafa!!!

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

VAMOS RAFA!!!

Rafa ready for the clash

Rafa defeated jack Sock of United States in 4 sets: 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 in 4ht Round at Roland Garros and he is ready for the clash.

In quarterfinals, Rafa will play against Novak Djokovic of Serbia. On head to head, Rafa leads Djokovic: 23-20. Their last match was this year in Monaco semifinal, when the serbian won in straight sets: 3-6, 3-6.



VAMOS RAFA !!!

Rafa looks strong in Paris!

Rafa started his RG title defense with two easy victories: in 1st Round against Quentin Halys of France (6-3, 6-3, 6-4) and in 2nd Round against Nicolas Almagro of Spain (6-4, 6-3, 6-1).

After the 2nd Round match, Rafa said: "I'm very happy. I think I played a good match. The score is easier than what the match was like. I think I did a few things very well."

"My footwork was better. I felt better than during the first round. I'm very happy with my performance and result."

In 3rd Round, Rafa will play agianst Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia. About hi 3rd Round opponent, Rafa said: "He's aggressive and has huge potential. He's a hitter, and his shots can be winners. He's very dangerous. My objective is to keep on doing what I did today. My match was a good match. I will try and continue with the same tracks."

VAMOS RAFA !!!

VAMOS!

Rafa won the semifinal against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic in straight sets: 7-6, 6-1 and he will play his seventh final at Mutua Madrid Open.

After the semifinal, Rafa said: "For the past couple of days I have been playing better and better every day. That's always very good news. I am in the final. I am happy for that. I am enjoying a lot the fact that I am playing in front of an unbelievable crowd. For me, that's the best crowd in the world without any doubt. So that gives me a lot of really positive energy."

"Today I played again at a very good level. I did yesterday; today I played at a very, very high level. Let's see tomorrow if I am able to continue with that positive feeling. This week has been fantastic for me. This is a very important result, and that's confidence, that's positive energy. That's calm, too. Let's try to continue tomorrow and try to continue with that good feeling next week. I worked a lot to have that feeling, and today I had that feeling that I've been trying to find for a while."

In Madrid final, Rafa will play against Andy Murray. On head to head, Rafa leads Murray: 15-5. Their last match was last year in Roland Garros semifinal, when Rafa won in 3 sets: 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.

VAMOS RAFA !!!

No problem

One hour and 49 minutes needed Rafa to defeat Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in straight sets: 6-3, 6-4.

After the quarterfinal, Rafa said: “Overall I'm satisfied; I'm happy. I have made it to the semi-finals, and I think that's a great result for me, especially after losing in Barcelona the way I did."

“My goal is to feel myself playing better every day. That's my real goal. Then obviously, the goal is always the same, to try to have the best result possible.” 

In semifinals, Rafa will play against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic. On head to head, Rafa leads Berdych: 18-4. Their last match was this year at Australian Open, when Berdych won in 3 sets: 6-2, 6-0, 7-6.

VAMOS RAFA !!!

Ready for Dimitrov?

Rafa earned his QF spot at Mutua Madrid Open after he defeated Simone Bolelli in straight sets: 6-2, 6-2.

After the match, Rafa said: "I managed to maintain a good level throughout the match. It's not been incredible, but I think it's an acceptable level. I'm happy with the level I had today. I'll try to just step up again tomorrow. It's an important victory today. I made it to the quarter-finals. At the moment, we have to be happy about everything that I achieve. I have to be happy about all the victories. They are really valuable. I'm happy, and let's try to be ready for tomorrow."

In quarterfinals, Rafa will play against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. About his opponent, Rafa said: "Everything worries me about Dimitrov. He's a very good player. The only way to beat him is to play at really high level. I think he has had more difficult matches than me this week. That's an advantage for him. Let's see what happens. I hope to be ready for it, but I know Dimitrov is a fantastic player and a player that can win against everybody. Great talent."

On head to head, Rafa leads Dimitrov: 5-0. Their last match was last year in Rome, where Rafa won in straight sets: 6-2, 6-2.


VAMOS RAFA !!!

No problem in first match in Madrid

No problem for Rafa in his first match at Mutua Madrid Open. He defeated Steve Johnson of United States in straight sets: 6-4, 6-3.

After the match, Rafa said: "I went out there to do a simple game with no complications. I tried to play easily. I know how things work out when you come from losing a couple of matches. I know that you're a little bit nervous whenever you finish a game, as I finished the other day with Fabio Fognini in Barcelona."

"I tried to start from the bottom and just go up. I think, especially the last three games, I finished pretty well. I managed to do a couple more things with my backhand."

"I know things are going to work out. I haven't lost my game. I just need to build my confidence and it'll work out. I know that either sooner or later it will come back. That's what I want to think. I'm convinced about it. It's matter of time. Let's see when it happens."

In 3rd Round, Rafa will play against Simone Bolelli of Italy. On head to head, Rafa leads Bolelli: 4-0. Their last match was last year in Basel, where Rafa won in straight sets: 6-2, 6-2.

VAMOS RAFA !!!

Semifinal showdown

Rafa defeated David Ferrer of Spain in 3 sets at Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters: 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 and he`s ready for the semifinal showdown against Novak Djokovic.

After the quarterfinal match, Rafa said: "I think I played at the highest level in a long time, for a long time; three hours almost. The way I played the third set after losing a disappointing second set, it was a great third set in terms of tennis, in terms of physical performance, in terms of mentality." 

"Every day is a different day. Every day is a chance for me to improve, to be more confident, to find the feelings I need to find to play my best game."

"I think this tournament has been the best tournament since the beginning for me in terms of concentration, in terms of nerves; general nerves. I didn't play with the nerves that I was playing with in the previous tournaments. I feel, in the important points, I have been able to play the way that I wanted to play."

On head to head, Rafa leads Djokovic: 23-19. Their last match was in Roland Garros final, last year when Rafa won in 4 sets: 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4.


VAMOS RAFA !!!

First tough test in Monte-Carlo

After an easy victory against Lucas Pouille, Rafa was tested by John Isner in 2nd Round at Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. Eventually, Rafa won in 3 sets: 7-6, 4-6, 6-3.

After the match, Rafa said: “My mentality in the third set was very positive. The game, the level of tennis, it improved a little bit in the third than in the previous two sets. That's very important for me. I’m very happy to be in quarter-finals. It’s a very important result for me.”

"It’s a challenge for me to find again the positive feelings, the confidence, the feeling that I am strong again. Matches like today, the third set today, helps to improve, helps to arrive to that place that I want to be.” 

In quarterfinals, Rafa will play agianst David Ferrer of Spain. On head to head, Rafa leads Ferrer: 22-6. Their last match was last year at Roland Garros, where Rafa won in 4 sets: 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-1. 

VAMOS RAFA !!!