With his seventh title at Monte Carlo under his belt, Rafa has little time for rest as he prepares for the Godó ATP 500 tournament in Barcelona.
Roger Federer is taking a break, and will reappear for the Mutua Masters 1000 event in Madrid early May.
Nadal has won the Barcelona title five times before, but reluctantly missed it last year. This year he is back to add to a very intensive schedule of three more tournaments in the lead up to the French Open.
Rafa admitted to being more tired than usual during yesterday’s final against David Ferrer – you could tell as he made uncharacteristic errors:
“During the match I was more tired than usual today. But in general it was positive. That’s important because these kinds of matches, like yesterday, like today, improve your condition physically and mentally.”
“It’s negative because you spent a lot of time on court, you have to run a lot on court, it’s always tough for the body. But if you talk about [what it does] mentally and physically, that can help a lot for the rest of the clay season.”
“Indian Wells to Wimbledon is the most [important] part of the season for me. These four or five months are decisive in my season.”
“That’s the calendar. That’s where I have to play my best, where I have to defend a lot of points.”
“Every year I did a fantastic clay court season. I have to try to do it another time. With these four or five tournaments, if I am playing very well, I’m going to have the biggest chances to have enough points to try to be in the top position at the end of the year ranking. That’s the top of my system in general. So I have to try… I am healthy now, so why not?”
Nadal will play the winner of Daniel Gimeno-Traver and Potito Starace in his opening match in Barcelona.
After an incomprehensible 11 month drought, Rafa is well and truly back with a vengeance!
And what a way to win – poor Verdasco looked like a struggling amateur on court compared to mighty Rafa in his very best clay court form, hammering home the victory in a ridiculous 6-0, 6-1.
Rafa’s now resting in Mallorca, preparing for Rome after having taking the decision to sit out Godo in Barcelona.
Well, I have to say I am damned pleased that he will take a break – it shows he is learning from last year’s bad experience and will be better prepared for the great events in Rome, Madrid and of course Paris in the coming weeks.
It shows all the signs of being an immense season for him. Should we even dare to dream of four from four?
Free Live TV over internet – links at end of this post.
Link to Official Website
Having come through strongly by obliterating Thiemo De Bakker 6-1, 6-0 in the second round is looking in good form to achieve a sixth successive Monte-Carlo title. Michael Berrer stands in his way.
The last and only time the two met previously – in Indian Wells last year – Nadal gave away just 3 games. It is hard to see Berrer doing any better on clay, though his upset over Juan de Monaco yesterday would suggest he is in good form.
Here are the best links for free TV coverage over internet – we’ll check and update these when the match starts.
If none of these are working, try the listings at SPVod, Myp2p, RojaDirecta, Atdhe, Fromsport , Channelsurfing. Also refer to this post for more information on watching TV over the internet, or feel free to leave a comment to report good or bad links (no registration required).
Monte-Carlos Masters 2010 – Live TV Streams (Free) – Rafael Nadal vs Michael Berrer
April 15th, after 12 midday, local time, 10am GMT (starts after completion of Berdych vs Verdasco match)
Option 1 – Monte-Carlo Masters Tennis Live TV – Recommended, in English and excellent quality sound and video. You need to run this link with Internet Explorer, allow Nanjing software to install when prompted.
Nadal beat Djokovic today in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to take out the Monte Carlo Masters Series Tournament.
I feel like I’d better save some superlatives for the years ahead, but surely it is already time to start singing the praises from the rooftops.
On his favourite surface he is simply nigh-on unbeatable.
In my opinion Rafa has now moved ahead of even the great Bjorn Borg and I think it is time to pronounce him “Rey (King) of Clay”, and “Dirt GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time).
Let’s look at just some of his remarkable achievements:
RAFAEL NADAL AT TWENTY-TWO
- Today’s win marked his 14th Masters Series title, equalling at 22 what Federer achieved at 26
- He advanced to an all time 23-1 record in finals on clay
- Undefeated in 45 best-of-five-set matches on clay, yes that’s right. He has NEVER lost a five set match on clay!
- Five Montecarlo titles in a row, four Godo and four Roland Garros – the 3×5 is looking more likely by the minute…
- Since April 2005 he has lost just 2 matches on clay, against 120 matches won. ONE HUNDRED and TWENTY to TWO… think about those numbers!
- Current 27 match winning streak on clay
- Only player ever to hold Grand Slams on all three surfaces simultaneously (Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Australian Open)
Rafa is now heading to Godo where after just two days break (he says his serve is not good enough and he must fix it…oh, he’ll get even better?) he’ll be back on courts going for that fifth straight title again. His first match will be on Wednesday.
Rafa stole Andy’s deep fried Mars bar – no final for him today, and we’ll see this great tournament come to an end with a classic Nadal versus Djokovic encounter instead.
Nadal really seemed to hit his straps yesterday, and apart from a fine come back attempt from Murray in the second set, he was at the top of his game and looking truly the unbeatable, 26-wins-in-a-row at Montecarlo player we were expecting.
Play starts at 14:00 local time (CEST). Click on link below for live TV stream over internet.
Live TV – Montecarlo final – Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic (Updated – sorry, old link went dead)
Refer to this post on how to watch live tennis over the internet should you need more information or assistance.
Nowadays, surely this is the third best thing… not Nadal vs Federer, but Nadal vs Murray, and not a final but a semifinal. It is going to be quite a match. Murray has the form and run of results, and Rafa, well, will today be the day when his 25 match unbeaten record at Montecarlo is finally broken?
Afternoon play starts at or soon after 13:30 local time today. Nadal will come on after the other semifinal between Djokovic and Wawrinka, so perhaps around 15:30 CEST would be my best bet.
Click on links below for live TV Streams over internet.
Rafael Nadal vs Andy Murray (UPDATE – Game over, Nadal won 6-2, 7-6 and will meet Djokovic in Sunday’s final)
As always, refer to this post on how to watch live tennis over the internet should you need more information or assistance. Good luck!
There was little time for play yesterday between the rain showers, but still enough time for the shock of the tournament – the ousting of Federer by his Swiss compatriot, Stanislas Wawrinka. Oh, oh, oh. At least Roger should now be able to enjoy a honeymoon off the courts.
Today Nadal could face a very tough schedule, opponents and weather allowing. He’ll be first on the main court this morning, to see if can overcome the veteran Ecuadorean, Nicolas Lapentti, against who he is currently one (service game) to zero down. (Update: Nadal won 6-3, 6-0 in just 1:32. Good!)
If he manages to pull through, he’ll then face the winner of Bolelli or Ljubicic later in the afternoon to try and win through to the semifinal tomorrow (Update- Ljubicic won in a little under 2 hours, so he will play Rafa).
Click on links below for live TV Streams over internet. First game starts at 10:30 am local (CEST) time.
Rafael Nadal vs Nicolas Lapentti (Update: Game over, Nadal won 6-3, 6-0)
Nadal second game (Started soon after 17:00 local time)
Rafael Nadal vs Ivan Ljubicic (Update: Game over, Nadal won 6-3, 6-3)
As always, refer to this post on how to watch live tennis over the internet should you need more information or assistance. Good luck!
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer open their Monte Carlo campaign today against Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela and Italian Andreas Seppi respectively.
Play starts at 10:30am Central European Standard Time, then Federer and Nadal’s matches immediately follow the conclusion of the match between Verdasco and Kohlschreiber.
Click on links below for live TV Streams over internet.
Andreas Seppi vs Roger Federer (Update: Game now over, Federer won 6-4, 6-4)
Rafael Nadal vs Juan Ignacio Chela (Update: Game now over, Nadal won 6-2, 6-3)
As always, refer to this post on how to watch live tennis over the internet should you need more information or assistance. Good luck!
Melbourne Time
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