RAFAEL NADAL PLAYS IN MONTE-CARLO

Rafael Nadal

I would like to thank the wonderful Rafa fans at www.rafaelnadal.com
especially Valerie Brighouse for the great information, finds including the above picture of Rafa

Nadal slams ATP over crazy calendar

Sun 20 Apr, 05:14 PM

MONTE CARLO (Reuters) - World number two and claycourt master Rafael Nadal hit out at the ATP over a "crazy calendar" on Sunday.

The Spaniard said men's tennis's ruling body was not taking the players' interests into account by scheduling three Masters Series events within four weeks.

"I said it a lot of times, the calendar is completely crazy. I think this is not fair for the European players and for the clay players, too. Three Masters in four weeks, it is too much," Nadal told reporters at the Monte Carlo Masters Series.

The prestigious Monte Carlo tournament started on Sunday and by May 18, the players will also have played the Rome and Hamburg Masters Series.

"I think the board, everything has to change. A lot of things have to change at the ATP because right now the players no longer have confidence in the ATP," he said.

"The ATP are always doing what they want. They have to inform the players on what is going on."

"I think we have to try to change everything because right now we have no influence on the ATP."

The three times French Open champion believes the governing body is more sensitive to U.S. interests.

"They say this is an Olympic year, that is very nice, but the truth is that they put Indian Wells and Miami one week back because they have the college (basketball)," he said.

"Well, I understand in the United States that is very important. For us, we have the world tour calendar. We can't do the calendar thinking about the college (sports) of the United States. That's my feeling."

The Miami Masters Series was brought forward one week to March 27 with the NCAA basketball finals starting in San Antonio, Texas, on April 8.

Nadal, who won in Monte Carlo, Rome and Barcelona and reached the Hamburg final en route to his third successive French Open title last season, goes into the claycourt season with 2,650 ranking points to defend.

Despite the hectic schedule, the Mallorcan said he would try and play all these tournaments.

"You never know, I am going to try my best to play the four," he said.

Nadal, who was awarded a bye in the first round at Monte Carlo, will meet either a qualifier or wild card Mario Ancic in the second round.

Sources:UK Eurosport Yahoo
Eurosport Yahoo Masters Series Monte-Carlo Nadal


ORDER OF PLAY, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008

The Tennis Clock is in my Sidebar and changes with each current tournament
Monte-Carlo is 6 hours ahead of USA EST.

COURT CENTRAL start 10:00 am
[13] J Ferrero (ESP) vs M Llodra (FRA)
F Lopez (ESP) vs [14] A Murray (GBR)
J Tipsarevic (SRB) vs [9] P Mathieu (FRA)
[WC] G Kuerten (BRA) vs I Ljubicic (CRO)
[WC] G Couillard (MON) / J Lisnard (MON) vs R Nadal (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP)

COURT DES PRINCES start 10:00 am
F Santoro (FRA) vs [Q] K Vliegen (BEL)
N Mahut (FRA) vs F Volandri (ITA)
[Q] N Lapentti (ECU) vs P Starace (ITA)
G Monfils (FRA) vs F Verdasco (ESP)
P Hanley (AUS) / L Paes (IND) vs D Nalbandian (ARG) / S Prieto (ARG)

COURT 2 start 10:00 am
[Q] I Minar (CZE) vs [WC] M Ancic (CRO)
T Haas (GER) vs [Q] O Rochus (BEL)
[10] C Moya (ESP) vs S Querrey (USA)
N Djokovic (SRB) / R Stepanek (CZE) vs J Kerr (AUS) / R Wassen (NED)

COURT 9 start 12:00 noon
R Stepanek (CZE) vs R Soderling (SWE)
[16] P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs J Acasuso (ARG)

Rain ends play early at Monte Carlo Masters

MONTE CARLO, April 20 (Reuters) - Only one of four singles matches was completed at the Monte Carlo Masters Series on Sunday before rain stopped play for the day.

German Nicolas Kiefer beat Marin Cilic of Croatia 3-6 7-6 6-3 in a first round match but organisers then called it a day at 1610 GMT.

Former French Open champion Carlos Moya, scheduled to play after Kiefer, is now due to face American Sam Querrey on Monday although rain showers are again forecast in the principality.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot, editing by Ken Ferris)
SOURCE: sport.guardian.co.uk/

Photos of Rafael NADAL

Another place to find information about Rafa: www.vamosbrigade.com

and at Zimbio: Rafael Nadal articles April 14-202008

.................................................

.................................................

Rafa working on his game in Monte-Carlo
From: sarahmusic

.................................................

.................................................

More of Rafa working on his tennis in Monte-Carlo
From: sarahmusic

Results of Sunday, 20 April / Dimanche 20 Avril

Main Draw Singles First Round / Tableau Principal Simples - Premier Tour

N Kiefer d M Cilic 36 76(1) 63

Singles Qualifying - Final Round / Qualification Simples - Dernier Tour
M Gicquel (FRA) d J Del Potro (ARG) 64 64
I Minar (CZE) d J Benneteau (FRA) 64 63
O Rochus (BEL) d A Montanes (ESP) 36 76(1) 61
S Bolelli (ITA) d [WC] L Recouderc (FRA) 63 62
K Vliegen (BEL) d G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 75 64
N Lapentti (ECU) d F Cipolla (ITA) 64 63
R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) d [WC] B Balleret (MON) 64 62

Tennis in Barcelona, Spain
April 24 ~ May 4, 2008