THE WOES OF LOVING TENNIS ~ RAFAEL NADAL V. NICOLAS DEVILDER 6-4, 6-0, 6-1

I WANT TO SEE RAFAEL NADAL PLAY AT ROLAND GARROS

BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE

PITY THAT THE TENNIS CHANNEL LIVE STREAMING
DOESN'T WORK FOR ME TO SEE RAFAEL NADAL AT RG '08

THIS IS ALL THAT I HAVE....PICTURES...

Spanish player Rafael Nadal hits a forehand shot to French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Thomas Coex (Photo credit should read THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal serves to French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Thomas Coex (Photo credit should read THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal reacts after a shot to French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Thomas Coex (Photo credit should read THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal hits a backhand shot to French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Thomas Coex (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal returns a shot to French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Thomas Coex (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal reacts after a shot to French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Thomas Coex (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal hits a backhand shot to French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Pierre Verdy (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal returns a shot to French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Pierre Verdy (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

Spain's Rafael Nadal returns the ball to France's Nicolas Devilder during their second round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on Thursday May 29, 2008.
(AP Photo/Michel Spingler)

Defending champion Spain's Rafael Nadal prepares to serve the ball to France's Nicolas Devilder during their second round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on Thursday May 29, 2008.

(AP Photo/Michel Spingler)

Spanish player Rafael Nadal serves to French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Pierre Verdy (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal hits a backhand shot to French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Pierre Verdy (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal serves to French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Pierre Verdy (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal waves after beating French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. Nadal won 6-4, 6-0, 6-1. AFP PHOTO / Pierre Verdy (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal reacts after beating French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. Nadal won 6-4, 6-0, 6-1. AFP PHOTO / Pierre Verdy (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)AFP/Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal and French player Nicolas Devilder walk after the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. Nadal won 6-4, 6-0, 6-1. AFP PHOTO / Pierre Verdy (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

PARIS - MAY 29: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during the Men's Singles second round match against Nicolas Devilder of France on day five of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2008 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal wipes his face during a match with French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Pierre Verdy (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images


Spanish player Rafael Nadal hits a forehand shot to French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Pierre Verdy (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

Spanish player Rafael Nadal puts his jersey between games with French player Nicolas Devilder during the second round of the French Tennis Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on May 29, 2008. AFP PHOTO / Pierre Verdy (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

Defending champion Spain's Rafael Nadal holds his hand out as it begins to rain as he plays France's Nicolas Devilder during their second round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on Thursday May 29, 2008.
(AP Photo/Michel Spingler)

Spain's Rafael Nadal serves the ball to France's Nicolas Devilder during their second round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on Thursday May 29, 2008.

(AP Photo/Michel Spingler)

Picture Collection of Rafa click here

Rafael Nadal and Nicolas Deviler in Round 2 at Roland Garros ~ the French Open ~ had a rain delay in set two and then finished with the score for the winning Rafa at 6-4, 6-0, 6-1.
photo of France's Nicolas Devilder reacting during match with Nadal
and another
Nicolas Devilder returns the ball

I only know because of www.rolandgarros.com and the Forum chat box at www.rafaelnadal.com with the live scoring. The Justin TV (see below) did a lot of stalling even though at times Rafa's match was on it.
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Watch live video from abdel333's channel on Justin.tv
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There is live streaming at www.tennischannel.com from 5:00 a.m. until noon USA EST
except on Chatrier Court. I can't get it to work ~ which is so very disappointing to me personally ~ but maybe you can. And IF you can, help me out because I have tried everything to make it work. Everything.

At noon until 6:30 p.m. it is on ESPN 2. If you are lucky enough to have The Tennis Channel TV you can watch it on your TV. I'm not that lucky as Cox Cable doesn't provide The Tennis Channel.

RAIN DELAYS BUNCH UP THE ROLAND GARROS SCHEDULE FOR RAFAEL NADAL

Rafael Nadal wins over Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci
Round 1
Roland Garros '08
7-5, 6-3, 6-1
The match was scheduled for Monday, played 9 minutes on Tuesday, May 27 and finished May 28 in high winds. His opponent Thursday, May 29 will have not played for two days.

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Slideshow with pictures of day 2 of Nadal and Bellucci's Round 1 match at Roland Garros '08
Getty, Daylife, Elmundo, El Pais, Guardian, DPPI, Yahoo, ESPN, Eurosport

For the best up-to-date article collection, photos, videos and help regarding Rafael Nadal:
www.rafaelnadal.com
It is free and all the Rafa fans there are warm and welcoming. Also there are Rafa fans posting blogs there with daily stories and their own pictures of Rafa and other tennis players. Also Rafa's daily blog post is translated there into English.

Three languages are used there: Spanish, English and French. Come and join us!

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LENGLEN 11:00 Start

1 Women's Singles - 2nd Round Marina Erakovic (NZL) v. Jelena Jankovic (SRB)[3] 2 Women's Singles - 2nd Rnd. Gisela Dulko (ARG) v. Alize Cornet (FRA)[19] To Finish 0-6 6-4 3-3 followed by 3 Men's Singles - 2nd Rnd. Nicolas Devilder (FRA) v. Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2] 4 Men's Singles - 2nd Rnd. Gael Monfils (FRA) v. Luis Horna (PER) 5 Women's Singles - 2nd Rnd. Maria Sharapova (RUS)[1] v. Bethanie Mattek (USA)

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Roland Garros Schedule

Spanish TV interviews Rafa

VAMOS RAFA

Hasta la Victoria Rafa

USA PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SPEAK UNIFIED ON DARFUR MAY 28, 2008

Outrage at genocide. A commitment to peace and security for the people of Darfur.

It's not a blue-state, red-state thing. It's a human rights thing.

Not since World War II have all major presidential candidates come together on an international issue.

Until now.

Today, Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama released a joint statement condemning the violence against the people of Darfur and promising to address the issue with "unstinting resolve." A three-quarter page ad in the New York Times today will announce this important development.

Can you help us spread the word about this historic statement?

Resources available to help spread the word, including:

• A template press release you can distribute to your media contacts
• A video of the candidates' statements on Darfur
• A PDF of the ad running today in the New York Times

The joint statement demanding an end to the violence in Darfur and pledging to pursue this goal with unstinting resolve once elected:

WE STAND UNITED ON SUDAN

As we campaign for President of the United States over the next several months, we expect there to be significant focus on the many differences between us. After all, elections are about choices in a free society. We have had a spirited contest so far and fully expect a robust debate about issues foreign and domestic right up to Election Day.

As we engage in this process, we are fully aware that friend and foe around the globe are watching and sometimes reacting based on their own analysis of the latest developments in the campaign.

It is with this awareness that we are taking the uncommon step of issuing a joint statement about an issue.

After more than five years of genocide, the Sudanese government and its proxies continue to commit atrocities against civilians in Darfur. This is unacceptable to the American people and to the world community.

We deplore all violence against the people of Darfur. There can be no doubt that the Sudanese government is chiefly responsible for the violence and is able to end it. We condemn the Sudanese government's consistent efforts to undermine peace and security, including its repeated attacks against its own people and the multiple barriers it has put up to the swift and effective deployment of the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force. We further condemn the Sudanese government's refusal to adhere to the terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the conflict in southern Sudan.

Today, we wish to make clear to the Sudanese government that on this moral issue of tremendous importance, there is no divide between us. We stand united and demand that the genocide and violence in Darfur be brought to an end and that the CPA be fully implemented. Even as we campaign for the presidency, we will use our standing as Senators to press for the steps needed to ensure that the United States honors, in practice and in deed, its commitment to the cause of peace and protection of Darfur's innocent citizenry. We will continue to keep a close watch on events in Sudan and speak out for its marginalized peoples. It would be a huge mistake for the Khartoum regime to think that it will benefit by running out the clock on the Bush Administration. If peace and security for the people of Sudan are not in place when one of us is inaugurated as President on January 20, 2009, we pledge that the next Administration will pursue these goals with unstinting resolve.

Signed by
Hillary Rodham Clinton
John McCain
Barack Obama

Watch the presidential candidates' video about Darfur and thank them for their statement of unity.
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Link to the video savedarfur.org/page/content/voteredu

Click here to thank the presidential candidates, for putting aside politics to stand up for what's right in Darfur.

After you have sent your message, please click here to ask your friends, family, and co-workers to join you in send a message to the candidates.

We have consensus; what we need is action. In less than eight months, one of these candidates will assume one of the most powerful positions in the world. Whoever it is, we must stand together to make sure the next president fulfils our responsibility to the people of Darfur.

A Democracy Depends on the Power of the People
That is You and Me
When We Relinquish Our Power
We Are No Longer a Practicing Democracy

Know, Act and Follow-up

www.savedarfur.org

1-800-GENOCIDE

My thank you email to the three candidates:

I want to thank you for your joint statement demanding an end to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. The genocide in Darfur is a tragedy that transcends politics, and it is fitting that the three leading Presidential candidates stand up for this moral and human right to live out a natural life.

Genocide Stops With Us. As a part of a democracy I am doing my part to end the Darfur genocide.

It is not enough to lament such tragedies. We have a moral responsibility to stop them while there are still people left to protect.

Your joint statement is an essential step in fulfilling this responsibility, and I thank you for taking it.

Beyond your words, I trust you will take actions and help bring peace to Darfur.

TENNIS OR MORE RAIN DELAY? NADAL AT ROLAND GARROS MAY 28, '08

Nadal and Bellucci May 28, 08 for 2 games before rain delay


Picture from Lali and Chachou

Picture from Lali and Chachou

Rain cuts short French Open play on May 27, Tuesday

5/27/2008

PARIS (AP) -A photo of Maria Sharapova graced the cover of the French Open's official daily program Tuesday, which might be considered false advertising.

That's because the No. 1-ranked woman didn't play a single point, forced by the wet weather to wait instead until at least Day 4 of the tournament to begin her quest to complete a career Grand Slam.

Rafael Nadal played all of two games of his opening match before collecting his things and trundling off center court, the start of his bid for a fourth consecutive title at the clay-court major halted by one of a series of showers.

Only 13 of 72 scheduled matches were completed, and past major champions Amelie Mauresmo and Svetlana Kuznetsova were quite pleased to duck into the second round between drizzles.

Yes, Wimbledon has come to Roland Garros, with rain affecting action on all three days so far and allowing for less than 3 hours of play Tuesday. While the All England Club is constructing a dome over Centre Court ahead of the 2009 championship, the French tennis federation has said it might build a retractable roof by 2012.

``We definitely would like to have that,'' said the 22nd-seeded Mauresmo, a Frenchwoman who overcame nine double-faults and 35 total unforced errors to beat Olga Savchuk 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.

While it's too early in the tournament for too much concern about fitting everything in, players such as Sharapova or Nadal - whose match originally was on Monday's slate before being postponed the first time, and eventually will resume at 1-1 in the first set - already face the prospect of playing on consecutive days if they proceed through the draw.

Then again, Nadal played for seven days in a row last year at Wimbledon, where he reached the final before losing to No. 1 Roger Federer. So don't expect too much sympathy for the second-seeded Spaniard.

``For Nadal, doesn't matter,'' said No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko, who eliminated 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. ``He can play today, tomorrow, after tomorrow. ... It's no problem for him.''

For the full article: www.tennischannel.com

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Pictures in slideshow from
Daylife, Bee, Hatice, Lali and Chachou, Mathilde, Roland Garros website,
Reuters, Elmundo, Yahoo, Getty Images, ESPN

Below from Rafa's Front Page at www.rafaelnadal.com

ONLY 9 MINUTES OF JOY FOR RAFA

Rafa Nadal only managed to play nine minutes of his first round match at the French Open on Tuesday as rain continued to pour in Paris.

The defending champion is level at 1-1 in the first set with Thomaz Bellucci as the match between the pair rolls into a third day at Roland Garros.

Due to persistent showers at the start of the day and midway through the afternoon it was not possible to get many matches finished leaving Rafa and Bellucci, who were second on court, with nothing to do but watch the rain fall.

He is scheduled to continue on Wednesday after Maria Sharapova's match. Play starts at 11am (Paris local time)

French Open: Rafael Nadal has mental edge to win at Roland Garros, says Bjorn Borg

By Mark Hodgkinson in Paris

Last Updated: 1:58am BST 28/05/2008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Bjorn Borg, the Swede with red dirt on his socks and blue ice in his veins, was the Viking God of Clay in the Seventies and early Eighties. He won six French Open titles, including a record four in a row. "Everybody says that when Borg went on court, no one thought he was going to lose," the Spaniard Rafael Nadal noted.

In pics: Rain delays play in Paris

Jim White: Sharapova, yes, but Playboy should beware the full Monty

In Sport: Playboy centres on Ashley Harkleroad

The Ice Borg has not been seen at Roland Garros in years, but next week he is scheduled to return to Paris, intrigued to discover whether Nadal can emulate him and become only the second man in history to win the Coupe des Mousquetaires four years in succession. Many in tennis still believe Borg is the greatest clay-court player of modern times, perhaps of all time, but now a debate has begun over whether he has been biffed aside by the Nadal biceps. Borg is travelling to the French capital to see for himself at close quarters what this Nadal is all about on the terre battue.

	Clay court kings: Bjorn Borg's record French Open sequence may be equalled by Rafael Nadal

On a soggy, irritating day at Roland Garros, where a pair of galoshes would have been more useful than clay-court training shoes, it was after 7.30pm last night when Nadal, in a neon green muscle-vest, began his opening-round match against Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci. They completed only two games before being chased off by the rain.

But on Sunday week, Borg wants to settle into his seat on the Philippe Chatrier Court and watch Nadal play Roger Federer for the cup. "If Nadal wins the title again, and equals my record, then I will be the first to congratulate him. Records are there to be equalled and broken, so I would be happy for Rafa to do it," Borg told The Daily Telegraph.

"I haven't been to Roland Garros for many years, and can't even remember when I was last there, but I thought that it was time for me to come back to the place where I have such happy memories. Roland Garros has a special place in my heart. I'm looking forward to being at Roland Garros as a spectator, and I would very much like to see Roger and Rafa play in the final," said Borg, who won back-to-back titles in 1974 and 1975, and then his unbroken four, from 1978 to 1981.

This has become a recent trend, Borg travelling to grand slams with the prospect of a record run being equalled. At Wimbledon last summer, he sat in the Royal Box on Centre Court and watched as Federer matched his mark of five golden trophies in a row. Borg, though, believes that Federer will do well to dump Nadal on to the baseline dust.

"I know that Roger wants to win the French Open so badly," Borg said. "But he probably has two or three good chances left to win. I think that Roger has a chance to win the French title this year, and I would be very happy if he wins, too, but he would have to play the match of his life if he is going to beat Rafa over five sets in the final.

"I believe Rafa is getting stronger and stronger on clay, as he is becoming more experienced, and he is moving so well on the court, and playing such great groundstrokes. He is playing with a lot of confidence. I don't think I've ever seen Rafa play a bad match on a clay court. He is so consistent. Beating him over five sets on clay is so tough."

Borg applauded Nadal's mental edge. "Rafa knows that he doesn't play bad matches on clay. Paris is the toughest grand slam tournament to win, mentally and physically, and Rafa walks out on court with the feeling that he already has a mental advantage over his opponent.

"His record is a negative thought for his opponents, though, as they realise that they are going to have to play the best tennis of their life to have any chance of beating him. Rafa is definitely the strong favourite to win again, you have to say that. But Roger and Novak Djokovic still have a chance against him. If Rafa doesn't win this year, he is going to go on to win many more French Open titles, as he is only young and has a lot of time left."

And what were Borg's thoughts on who is the greatest clay-court player in history? "I know that if Rafa wins, people are going to want to compare him to me and talk about who was the greatest player on clay. But I think that's difficult to say, as it's difficult to compare two players from different eras. I am very happy with what I achieved at Roland Garros, and I think Rafa is a great champion, an unbelievable clay-court player."

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Don't Stop Me Now
From: ninzninz1988

www.justin.tv

video.tennischannel.com/schedule

ESPN2 starts at Noon in USA EST

2008 French Open TV Schedule
Times for French Open ~ Roland Garros at www.tennis-x.com

by Tennis-X Staff

2008 French Open on ESPN2 (times EST)

Date Time (ET) Event
Sun., May 25 Noon – 5 p.m. Early Round Action Same-day
Tue., May 27 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
Wed., May 28 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
Thur., May 29 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
Fri., May 30 3 – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
Mon, June 2 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Round of 16 Live
Tue., June 3 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Quarterfinals Live
Wed., June 4 Noon – 5:30 p.m. Men’s Quarterfinals Live
Thurs., June 5 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Women’s Semifinals Live

2008 French Open on ESPN360.com

Date Time (ET) Event
Sun., May 25 5 a.m. – 5 p.m. Early Round Action Live
Tue., May 27 5 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
Wed., May 28 5 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
Thur., May 29 5 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live
Fri., May 30 5 a.m. – 3 p.m. Early Round Action Live

Mon, June 2 6 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Round of 16 Live
Tue., June 3 6 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Quarterfinals Live
Wed., June 4 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. Men’s Quarterfinals Live
Thurs., June 5 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. Women’s Semifinals Live

Radio at the Roland Garros site, www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multimedia/radio

Highlights of Day 3 www.rolandgarros.com

I don't know anything about this one but someone suggested it for seeing Roland Garros:
www.isatonthetv.com/

May Wednesday, May 28, '08 TV:

Tennis Channel (online and TV) 5 a.m.-12 p.m.

ESPN2 Noon-6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY'S SCHEDULE - May 28, 08

Full Schedule: www.rolandgarros.com

CHATRIER COURT - STARTS AT 11:00 A.M. PARIS TIME
which is 6 hours ahead of USA EST

1 Women's Singles - 1st Rnd. Maria Sharapova (RUS)[1] v. Evgeniya Rodina (RUS)

followed by 2 Men's Singles - 1st Rnd. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) v. Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2]	To Finish 1-1

3 Men's Singles - 1st Rnd. Gael Monfils (FRA) v. Arnaud Clement (FRA)

4 Women's Singles - 2nd Rnd. Serena Williams (USA)[5] v. Mathilde Johansson (FRA)

USA MEDIA NO RESPECT FOR PROFESSIONAL TENNIS

May 27, 08, Tuesday's Paris Forecast:
Cloudy in the morning, with a chance of rain in the afternoon.
High of 70 degrees (21 C).

Tuesday's USA TV:

Tennis Channel, 5 a.m.-12 p.m.;

ESPN2, 12-6:30 p.m.

Source: www.thetennischannel.com/news/NewsDetails

Rafael Nadal, the tricampeón - triple champion - of Roland Garros will write every day all their experiences during the French tournament. Their feelings, how has the last day, how he sees the rivals and everything that happens in the second 'Grand Slam' of the season. Rafa Nadal will be with the readers of elmundo.es in his attempt to get the fourth consecutive title in Paris. www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/blogs/2008/nadalrolandgarros/

Translate with www.google.com/language tools

CHATRIER Court

11:00a.m. Paris time,
which is 6 hours ahead of
USA EST

Start 1 Women's Singles - 1st Rnd.
Amelie Mauresmo (FRA)[22]
v. Olga Savchuk (UKR)

followed by
2 Men's Singles - 1st Round
Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)
v. Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2]

May 26, Monday ~ of the 16 matches that The Tennis Channel live streamed, Rafa's match was not one of those. It was rained out until Tuesday, May 27.

And ESPN2 had NO Tennis on air on May 26, Monday.

3 Men's Singles - 1st Rnd.
Gael Monfils (FRA)
v. Arnaud Clement (FRA)

4 Women's Singles - 1st Rnd.
Maria Sharapova (RUS)[1]
v. Evgeniya Rodina (RUS)

From The Sunday Times

May 25, 2008
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article3998802.ece

Rafael Nadals feat of clay

As the French Open approaches, the Spaniard has a chance to prove he is the best clay-court player ever to grace tennis

Pat Cash

To bestow the title of greatest ever on anybody in a particular field is a process fraught with the danger of laying yourself wide open to criticism. Yet in saying that Rafael Nadal is already the best clay-court player tennis has seen, I am considerably more confident than I ever was when approaching the net to volley on the crumbly French Open surface, knowing my precarious footing could leave me flat on my face.

Sure, people are going to point out that Bjorn Borg has won twice as many French Open titles. Many will also say Nadal has the potential to equal or even beat this record, but thats for the future and I cannot disagree.

Others will also want to tell me that hes not yet ascended to the world No 1 spot, but we are not talking about a year-round ranking, taking in performances indoors and out on hard courts, grass and carpet, as well as clay. We are simply examining ability on the terre battue, that slippery red stuff that has proved so difficult for a host of other players who are revered as all-time greats and will again drive hugely gifted players to distraction during the next fortnight.

I admire Roger Federer hugely for his game and his accomplishments, and if he could win just one French Open title he would not only legitimise those claims that he is the best tennis player of all time but also earn a place in my clay-court top 10. Until that victory, he falls just short.

I can make a valid judgment only on those players I have come up against, practised with or watched perform. Im sure that classic French trio of Jean Borotra, René Lacoste and Henri Cochet were pretty impressive around the courts of Paris 80 years ago, but few can deny that the game has moved on apace since their days.

Tennis has evolved greatly even in the past three decades since the days of Borg and Guillermo Vilas, two magnificent performers I always believed would remain sacrosanct as clay-court gods. Yet sitting watching spellbound at Hamburg last weekend as Nadal overcame first Novak Djokovic and then Federer to claim the one revered clay-court title that hitherto had eluded him, I decided the muscular young man from Majorca eclipses anything I had previously seen on the dirt.

The advancement of technology has a lot to do with my thinking and if Borg, Vilas or even Cochet had been able to play with the rackets and strings available to todays players, their magnificent achievements on clay might have merited even greater superlatives. But this is one of the true gifts of Nadal; he is strong enough to play with a racket that could easily have been health-threatening to other players.

I first confronted Nadal when he was a young upstart sent out on court with me to play an exhibition. He took me by surprise and I realised his talent was something special. It wasnt until last weekend that I fully realised how awe-inspiring he can be. Just watching his style of play made me realise I had been doing it wrong on clay for the past 25 years.

I am a firm believer that anybody who prevails on clay in this day and age has been brought up on the stuff, and thats the case with Nadal. His play is innate, and whereas some players, myself included, believe they have to adapt for the surface, no such thoughts go through his mind. Its natural, even down to the on-court sliding which is such an integral part of the clay-courters game. I had always believed you had to slide into the shot on clay, but watching him closely on a few points made me realise I was wrong. He slides out of them, after the point of contact. In doing so, he is able to explode into the next shot.

Technically, he plays the game differently. Face-on forehands, employing an open stance with the chest effectively parallel to the baseline, have been the way of the world for many players in recent years, but Nadal has also mastered the face-on backhand and this is the shot that makes him so unbeatable on clay. You have to take into account that, unlike the majority of other players, he can slide leading with either foot.

Most of us mere mortals favour one foot or the other, but not him. In addition, he is basically right-handed but plays as a leftie, which means he can exert such control in the double-fisted backhand with his supporting hand.

The upshot is that driving Nadal five or six feet wide of the court on to his backhand side - a position where the likes of Federer or Djokovic would normally think their opponents are at their most vulnerable - only serves to put him into his position of maximum threat. Even patrolling 10 yards behind the baseline, he can summon sufficient power to blast a pass down the line, lethal to any player advancing to the net in the thought he is about to finish off the point, or whip a top-spun angled shot across the court if the other guy is standing too far back.

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Uploaded by CROMATADOR

Nadal moves so well on the clay because he is built for it. Hes got that big strong bottom that gives him such superb explosive power, and his legs are so strong. There were worries about his knees at the US Open last year but clay is a more forgiving surface on the joints than the hard cement, and there dont appear to have been any real problems this year. A blister proved his undoing in Rome, but its better to happen then than over the next fortnight.

Opponents will take some hope from the fact there are still some areas of the Nadal game that can be improved. His serve remains not quite the forceful weapon it might be and his second delivery is occasionally ripe for plundering. Too often he falls into the habit of dropping the ball short, leaving him vulnerable to backspun dropshots. Caution, however, is necessary when his record at Roland Garros reads played 21, won 21.

Nadal must believe that as long as he maintains his supreme standard, nobody has a chance of beating him and denying him a fourth straight French Open title. Deep own, Federer and Djokovic are equally aware of the fact and can only hope to capitalise on an off-day, and Nadal just doesnt seem to have those at Roland Garros. Im convinced that in a fortnights time plenty more people will be agreeing with me that Rafael Nadal is the sports greatest clay-court player.

www.rafaelnadal.com

Live stream page at The Tennis Channel website (I can't get this to work, but maybe you can):
http://www.twennis.com

Rafa, Espero que ganes Roland Garros '08
Rafa, I hope you win Roland Garros '08

Destino
Destiny

SO VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH ROLAND GARROS TENNIS COVERAGE IN USA ~ NADAL ROUND 1 MATCH RAIN DELAYED

Picture by Hatice of Australia

ass="postbody">Entrevista a Rafa ~ Interview with Rafa
Uploaded by gandaines on May 25, 2008
a Rafa fan from the Forum at Rafa's website www.rafaelnadal.com

Translation of the interview in the video provided by Rafa fans Ines and Bee. Thank you so much!

Fe: How are you?

Rafa: Fine
Fe: already recovered from that little injury

Rafa: Yes, it seems that is ok, I trained several days at a high level and I have hardly noticed anyting, I suppose that i have a little bit of fear, always at the beginning when you note a small twinge, as I start, at the beginning cautiously when running towards the backhand, but the truth that is I'm very glad.
Alex: Do You know when you're playing?

Rafa: I'll play tomorrow, on Monday, the third match
Alex: Can you pick your schedule, do they usually ask you or....?

Rafa: No, well, it depends on the tournament, yes I can pick myself, but they asked me my opinion. In Grand Slam it's complicated. I only asked not play on Sunday to take one more day to recover from the injury, and well, they gave me that, fortunately, but the hour depends on them

Fe: Today, we have been watching you in training, about 200 people there ... I do not know how you can concentrate Rafa, impressive

Rafa: nothing special, a normal training, one more, well, being a training before a tournament like this it is always a little bit special, and you start to feel a little bit of nerves, how you will feel the ball, how not ... but honestly I have been training quite well these days and now I am already waiting for tomorrow to see how the sensations are when I jump on to the court. The preview is positive
Alex: The preview is positive. We've you seen training with Tomeu-Salvá your partner and friend, today I imagine you will have only trained once, previously you have trained morning and afternoon .. How have you distributed it?

Rafa: Well, I arrived here on Thursday,I arrived in the afternoon and I trained after two and a half hours with Tomi, twice on Friday, one session in the morning and one in the afternoon. Saturday was the day I trained more, apart from this exhibition match we have, I woke up early and did half an hour with Tomeu, with my friend, just to get a bit of touch with the serve, with volley and a little bit of of hitting from the baseline, I had an hour with Tomi and then yes I played the exhibition match, set in the central court. So practically 2.40 hours.
Fe:Rafa, the first day you saw a totally different scenario, riding in a vintage car, we are seeing you now, what an experience, wasn't it?
Alex: Where did you go ?

Rafa We had a tour of Paris from the hotel to the club, but as it is quite central the scenery was quite nice, we went through quite emblematic sites of Paris and it was fun
Alex: a bit of show with the people or not?

Rafa: Man! the show because there were three policemen in front with motorcycles keeping the traffic out of the way, and simply for that, it's a show
Fe: Well we have to say that this year Roland Garros is celebrating it's 80th anniversary, and this was to commerate this era

Rafa: Nice, you ride in a car like that and, apart from being, comfortable, I was surprised, because it is a different experience. It is always nice to do or be able to do different things.
Alex: The last reference we have is yours in Hamburg where you played the last two matches of the best we may have seen from you in months, especially on clay before your maximum rivals

Rafa: They were tough matches, difficult , the semi-finals was a big match but I came out pretty well from the difficult situation, I was very well mentally, physically also, in the Final only when I had that problem, but mentally I overcame the difficult moments and that's always good to see that you're mentally prepared to overcome these.
Alex: The fact that you had to play with Djokovic a semifinals match, which was tough and 24 hours after having to play with Federer, cost you a lot, he is practically your maximum rival. What differences you note when you play against Federer or against Djokovic?

Rafa: Well it is different, they are different matches, with Federer we have many matches , 16, and with Djokovic a bit less and you always expect more surprises, you do not know how everything is going to go ... I came out with Djokovic to try a match without more rhythm than usual because if you're still playing rhythm he gets forward and he wins the position and covers the court very well. He started like a motorbike in the first three games I had practically no option to almost anything and the truth is that after I started the game slowed down a bit and he started to make mistakes that helped me. It was basic 3-0, 15-40 in the first set, I saved it there and finally ended up winning the match and taking the victory. But the truth is that it cost me, those two matches, one after another is complicated, especially after a match of the semi-finals, apart from the physical tiredness, it is mental tiredness rather than physical, I think
Fe: Rafa, talking of that mentality, having won in Hamburg like that, will help you here at Roland Garros?

Rafa: That if you want, I will tell you within a few hours, tomorrow. I will tell you if that it helps me or not (laughing) , but good, this you never know, every tournament is different, every situation is different, the court, the balls, are totally different, so the conditions are not comparable. But of course I prefer that situation to reach here than having lost in the second round
Fe: changing the topic that the news about Justine Henin, what do you think about her retiring?

Rafa: Respect, and I support her decision. Tennis is a tough sport , tough, both for women as for men, in men is a bit more difficult because although you are between the best you can go out in first round. Women usually have it better, they can go through the first rounds with a bit more ease. But, likely it is much stress, no?, every week knowing you have to be focused from the very first moment and sure she has been there for many years, although she is young and certainly if you are tired and you have lost the illusion or motivation to compete. There comes a moment when the head does not give you any more, what you have to do, if you're brave, as I think she has been, is to take a risk, go and live a new life, right? I think that if what she feels, is what she has to do.
Fe: We are looking for a new Queen and a new King at this Roland Garros, will be Rafa?
Alex: Rafa do you have any idea of your opponent tomorrow?

Rafa: yes well, the truth is no ..
Alex: Do you have seen him play?

Rafa: No, I have never seen him play, but I have heard reports in the locker-room and he is a rival who is very fit, he comes from winning three challengers in a row of 125,000. 50000, 75000, so apart from being a young rival, he has risen in recent weeks, and apart from being young that it is always a factor that helps to go out to the court with more self-confidence and with the illusion of novelty, because sure having won these past few weeks, he must have come here with some confidence, he has come through the qualifying rounds, so sure that he is playing at a high level. It is always difficult when you face a match that do not know anything of the rival and even more so if you know that he is a rival who is young and he is playing well. But well I'll go out to the court, trying to impose a high pace from the start, Try to impose my rhythm with the forehand, if I can, and from there to fight and see what happens
Fe: Rafa lastly, apart from you there are 21 more Spaniards who are going to play this Roland Garros What is your opinion of your colleagues? Can there be any surprises?

Rafa: Surprises, I think that whenever a Spaniard does so well in this tournament will never be a surprise and more talking about the players and my colleagues that I have, I think that anyone is prepared to make a great tournament here. Apart from being a claycourt that favors us because all of them have already achieved great results on claycourt and sure that their options are going to have to do a good tournament, Ojalá it will be like that
Fe: Ojala, thank you very much
Alex, Rafa Well, thank you so much for being with us, good luck

Rafa: Thank you, I need it


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Rafael Nadal Training. Hatice and Bel in Paris. This slideshow includes their pictures.

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Finding Tennis to Watch is So Terrible in USA

I provide these links, in case they will help you see some Roland Garros matches in the future.
Roland Garros live streaming
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=12765&part=sports The schedule can be found at this link:
http://www.myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=&part=sports&discipline=tennis I have posted it below.

I have never tried these links, but they are provided in case they work
www.watch-sports-live.com/watch-live-tennis-matches-online www.channelsurfing.net You can listen to the match I guess at the Roland Garros site where there is a Radio cast www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multimedia/radio Also the score is given live at www.bet365.com/home and for countries except the USA you can watch live streaming at the bet365 site.

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Rafa in training at Roland Garros '08