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!!!