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).

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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.

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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!!!