VAMOS RAFA!! HOPING AND CHEERING FOR YOU!

Passing on the Good News about Rafa's start at the Shanghai Masters Cup November 11, 2007 - they are 13 hours ahead of us here in Rhode Island, USA. This article was shared at www.rafaelnadal.com
I would credit the source, except I don't know what the original source is. Sorry.

Nadal wins opener at Masters Cup

Rafael Nadal began his Masters Cup campaign with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Richard Gasquet in Shanghai. The Spanish second seed looked to be suffering a hangover from his Paris Masters final loss to David Nalbandian as Gasquet made the better start. But he found his form in the second set to level and although Gasquet saved a match point in the decider, Nadal served out to seal the win. "I finished the match playing much better than I started," Nadal said. "In the beginning I was a little bit nervous. Matches here are always very difficult because you play against the best. "So I started the match with a few doubts but later I played more aggressively. It was important to get the break in the beginning of the second set and I finished much better than I started." Nadal is seeking his first win in the elite tournament after pulling out injured in 2005 and losing to Roger Federer in last year's semi-finals. Gasquet, making his first Masters Cup appearance, was pleased with his performance despite his defeat. "Rafael is a fighter, he fights a lot. I missed some shots, and when you miss some shots against him, the set is finished," the Frenchman said. "I had to play a perfect match to win. I had a perfect first set, and after that I fought. I played incredibly but he has such a great forehand." The Masters Cup sees the world's top eight competing in two round-robin groups, with the top two from each advancing to the semi-finals. Sunday's red group action also sees Serbia's Novak Djokovic take on David Ferrer of Spain. The gold group gets under way on Monday, with Andy Roddick taking on Nikolay Davydenko and defending champion Federer up against Fernando Gonzalez.

Richard Gasquet of France reacts during his match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Masters Cup tennis tournament in Shanghai - Sunday November 11, REUTERS/Stringe

AND Here's another article:

Nadal blows Gasquet away at tennis Masters

SHANGHAI (AFP) — World number two Rafael Nadal overcame a stuttering start before sweeping aside Richard Gasquet in the first match of the Masters Cup showpiece here on Sunday.

The muscle-bound Mallorcan lost the first set but found his rhythm in the second and third, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and five minutes.

Nadal is seeking his first win in the elite eight-man tournament after pulling out injured in 2005 and losing to Roger Federer in last year's semi-finals.

But he paid for a pedestrian opening when Gasquet, in his first Masters Cup appearance, converted the last of three break points with a pinpoint forehand to go 5-3 up in the first set before serving it out on 37 minutes.

In a rollercoaster second set, Nadal broke, was broken but then broke again in successive games before clinching it 6-3, pumping his fists in celebration.

As the Spaniard hit his stride, Gasquet fell off the pace and he capitulated in the fifth game of the third set, hitting a forehand long on the second break point to put Nadal 3-2 up and serving.

Gasquet saved one match point at 5-3 but Nadal made no mistake on serve, converting the first of two chances with a backhand volley at the net.

Nadal had won all three of their previous tour meetings, but had not faced the Frenchman in two-and-a-half years.

The 21-year-old has landed six titles this year including his third straight French Open crown, the first player to do so since Bjorn Borg who took four between 1978-81.

However he has struggled with knee tendinitis and, until last week's Paris Masters, had not reached a final since July.

Gasquet secured the last berth in the year-ending tournament by reaching the Paris semi-finals, leaping from 13th to eighth in the rankings.

Gasquet, also 21, has enjoyed his best season to date, winning a career-best 48 matches and his fifth tour title. He is the first Frenchman since Sebastien Grosjean in 2001 to appear at the Masters Cup.

Another two debutants, third-ranked Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer, will play Sunday's later match in the 4.45 million dollar event at Shanghai's Qi Zhong Stadium.

(My added note: Ferrer won 6-4, 6-4)

AND another article:

Nadal charges back to beat Gasquet at Masters Cup

By Alastair Himmer

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Spain's Rafael Nadal charged back from a set down to beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet 3-6 6-3 6-4 in the opening match of the Tennis Masters Cup on Sunday.

The French Open champion recovered from a sluggish start, winning his round-robin opener in a shade over two hours at the prestigious season-ending tournament in Shanghai.

Gasquet, who had lost all three of his previous matches against Nadal, took the first set after securing the crucial break at 4-3 with a forehand rocket down the line.

Nadal came to life in the second, the world number two breaking Gasquet to love for a 4-2 lead and leveling the match with a fierce serve to his opponent's body.

Gasquet battled gamely to stem the tide, but a pumped-up Nadal broke through at the same point in the decider and clinched victory with a sharp backhand volley.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic was playing Spain's David Ferrer in the second Gold Group match later on Sunday at the $4.45 million eight-man event.

World number one Roger Federer, drawn in the Red Group, begins his bid for a fourth Masters Cup title in five years on Monday.

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)