RAFAEL NADAL PLAYS ANDY MURRAY IN US OPEN 08 SEMI-FINAL WEATHER PERMITTING

Rafael Nadal in the Quarter Final match
Rafa won over Mardy Fish
3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2
The match began after 11:30 p.m.
Photo credit: El mundo

Photo credit: US Open website

TENNIS ANYONE?

Inclement Weather Advisory: Saturday Start Time at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time

Friday, September 5, 2008

As of Friday, Sept. 5, at 5:30 p.m. ET

The current weather forecast for the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center calls for rain to begin late tonight, which will subside in the early morning until late afternoon. Rain is then expected throughout Saturday night. Due to this forecast, the USTA is advising the following:

SATURDAY -- REVISED START TIME OF 11:00 AM ET FOR MENS SINGLES SEMIFINALS

Historically, match play for the first Mens Semifinal begins at 12:00 Noon in Arthur Ashe Stadium. However, due to impending inclement weather on Saturday, Sept. 6, the Mens Singles Semifinals will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m., weather permitting.

SCENARIO I:

IF SATURDAY DAY AND NIGHT SESSIONS ARE BOTH RAINED OUT

In the event that the USTA is forced to cancel the Mens Singles Semifinals (Session #24) and the Womens Singles Final (Session #25) due to inclement weather on Saturday, Sept. 6, each session would be rescheduled for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., respectively. As a result, the Mens Singles Final (Session #26) would be rescheduled for Monday at 5:00 p.m. Tickets for each of these sessions would be valid for the same session at its rescheduled date and time.

Specifically,

• Mens Singles Semifinals tickets will be valid for the Mens Singles Semifinals at its rescheduled date and time of Sunday at 1:00pm;
• Womens Singles Final tickets will be valid for the Womens Singles Final at its rescheduled date and time of Sunday at 9:00pm;
• Mens Singles Final tickets will be valid for the Mens Singles Final at its rescheduled date and time of Monday at 5:00pm.

The following schedule will apply if both Saturday sessions are rained out:

Match (Session #)	New Date	New Time	TV Broadcaster
Mens Singles Semifinals (Session #24)	Sunday, Sept. 7th	1:00pm ET	ESPN2
		4:00pm ET	CBS Sports*
Womens Singles Final (Session #25)	Sunday, Sept. 7th	9:00pm ET	CBS Sports
Mens Singles Final (Session #26)	Monday, Sept. 8th	5:00pm ET	CBS Sports

* CBS live coverage to begin at conclusion of 1:00pm NFL coverage.

SCENARIO II:

IF SATURDAY DAY SESSION COMPLETED AND SATURDAY NIGHT SESSION RAINED OUT

In the event that the USTA is forced to cancel the Saturday Night Womens Singles Final (Session #25) due to inclement weather, both the Womens and Mens Singles Finals would be played on Sunday as two separate sessions -- one at 4:00 p.m. and one at 9:00 p.m. Tickets for the Womens Singles Final would be valid for its rescheduled time; and tickets for the Mens Singles Final would be valid for its rescheduled time. The decision regarding which Final will be played at 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. will be decided upon based on the time of completion of the Saturday Mens Semifinals. If the Mens Semifinals are not completed on Saturday, Scenario I will take effect.

Match (Session #)	New Date	New Time	TV Broadcaster
Singles Final (Mens or Womens Final TBD)	Sunday, Sept. 7th	4:00pm ET	CBS Sports*
Singles Final (Mens or Womens Final TBD)	Sunday, Sept. 7th	9:00pm ET	CBS Sports

__________________

www.usopen.org for more information

Rafael Nadal's post of September 5, 2008

Hi everyone,

Once again I start apologising for not sending the blog yesterday.

I am sure this time no one can criticise me for not doing it. I got back to the hotel at around 3.15am !!!! Can you believe it?!?!?!

You might know that I started my match at 11.38pm or so. The whole day went slow and since our match was the last one of the night, we started that late. And it could have been even worse since the previous match finished in 2 sets. It was the Williams sisters and Serena managed to win. But it was close, they were going to a 3rd set !!! I could have started already today. Like Lleyton in Australia earlier this year.

But for me the day was great. I woke up with the news I was really hoping for. The jury gave me the Prince of Asturias award and that is just unbelievable. I know I use this word quite often, but really, to receive that award is the maximum.

It is given considering not only what you do on court but also off court and I really feel proud of it. Carlos Costa, my manager, woke me up with the news, or should I say, I called him when I woke up and he told me.

Anyway it is a great award that really makes me happy and that I thought I would never be able to have it. It goes, as I say, beyond the results of the competition.

For that occasion my team convinced me to do a special press conference before I played. This is something I never do since I think it is important for me to just think about a match the day of play.

All these press gigs take time and you have to do them well so I prefer to do those after I play or on a free day. But yesterday was special. I had to do it and I did it with pleasure. It was at noon, at the hotel I am staying and after that I just got some room service and waited for the time to go to the courts.

By the way I have not spoken much about what I have been eating. I had a very good fried rice with Scallops and mushrooms. They do it really good at this hotel so I have been having it every time I have lunch here.

So you might also ask me what do I do at 3 in the morning? Well we got back at that time and had something to eat. I got some grilled salmon and rice. After that massage and stretching with Rafa Maymo my physiotherapist. In the end I went to sleep around 4.30am and the last thing I wanted to do was the blog.

Today it was an easy day and a day extra for resting. I had some practice at 2pm and it was really, really hot out there. Maybe the hottest day since I have been here, but nothing compared to Beijing so it is OK. Then I had something to eat on-site and I had arranged to play some golf with my uncle Toni. Bad day putting...

Tomorrow more and a good one for you since it is the day before the semis against your favourite Andy Murray.

Thanks to all.

Rafa

Fans' Questions answered by Rafa

What films have you watched during your time in New York? Daphnee Cruz
RN: I have seen a new TV series called "Heroes".

You keep saying you like Spanish music – can you be more specific? Manu Chao, Shakira, Kinky, Mana? Or do you like Gypsy Kings, native music from Spain? Mary Yeomanson
RN: Believe it or not I am listening to Julio Iglesias, Mana, Alejandr Sanz and many others

Would you auction some of your personal items to raise money for your foundation? Julie from UK
RN: Yes, I give always stuff for that or to give away to people that ask my team so that they can auction it and make money for their charities

Do you customise your racquet? Alexis Grohmann
RN: It is specially made for me.

Is it tougher to play against taller players and if so, how? Frances
RN: On hard and fast surfaces yes due to their big serve.

If could add one shot to your game from any of the current players, men or women, which one would you choose? Peter, New York
RN: There are many shots from Roger I would love to have... but this is not possible so I focus in improving my game and my shots.

Would you ever try skydiving or bungee jumping? Lauri
RN: None of those - too scary

Your uncle Toni always seems so soft-spoken, calm and easy-going. Is he like this as a coach with you or is he usually tough on you? Janice
RN: He is tough and has been tough but at the same time he is important for me.

Do you feel any different being number one in the world? Sandy
RN: Not really.

Do you plan to play any more doubles in future Slams/Masters? Judy
RN: Not at Slams since it takes too much energy

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Photo credits: Screen Caps by Mary of The Forum at www.rafaelnadal.com
Photo credits of a few photos are unknown