NADAL PLAYS HIS HEART OUT

Rafa at the press conference following his loss in the semi final with Giles Simon

Photo credit: Ines ~ Ganda from The Forum at wwwrafaelnadal.com

Rafa Nadal in Madrid
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill

Rafa has won 80 matches this season.
Mr. Nadal is only the third tennis player to do this since 2000.
The other players are Pete Sampras and Lletyton Hewitt.

Rafa above in Semi Final Madrid Masters Match

He lost, unfortunately
Photo credits: Getty

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Rafael Nadal and Giles Simon October 18, 2008 Madrid Masters Semi-Final
Uploaded by sharapovabiggestfan


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Rafa loses to Giles Simon in Semi Final of Madrid Masters October 18, 2008
Press in Spanish
Uploaded by ninzninz2

Simon upsets Nadal in Madrid Masters semifinal

MADRID, Spain (AP) — Rafael Nadal was knocked out of the Madrid Masters on Saturday, as Gilles Simon of France rallied to win 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6) and advance to the final against Andy Murray.

Simon saved 17 break point chances — including seven in the final set — to reach his fourth final of the year after a match lasting nearly 3 1/2 hours.

The fourth-ranked Murray had earlier beaten Roger Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a rematch of last month's U.S. Open final. That meant Nadal will become the first Spanish player in the Open era to end the year as No. 1.

The slideshows of Rafa in Round 3, Quarter Final and Semi Final of Madrid Masters:
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Round 3 Rafael Nadal defeated Richard Gasquet
Photo credits: Clive Brunskill, Jasper Juninen and unknown

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Quarter Final Madrid Masters Oct 17, 08 Rafael Nadal d Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-4
Photo credits: Clive Brunskill and unknown

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Madrid Masters Semi Final Oct 18, 08 Giles Simon d Rafa
6-3, 5-7, 6(6)-7

Photo credits: Clive Brunskill, Jasper Juninen and unknown

Mutua Madriliena Masters Madrid Singles Results:


Oct 16, Thursday
Third Round
Gilles Simon (Fra) d Roby Ginepri (USA) 6-7 (6), 6-4 y 7-6 (6)
Juan Martín del Potro (Arg/N.9) d David Nalbandian (Arg/N.7) 6-4 6-2
Andy Murray (UK/N.4) d Marin Cilic (Cro) 7-5, 7-6(2)
Gael Monfils (Fra) d Andy Roddick (USA/N.8) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Feliciano López (Spa) d Stanislas Wawrinka (Sui/N.10) 6-4, 6-4
Rafael Nadal (Spa/N.1) d Richard Gasquet (Fra/N.15) 6-4, 6-2
Roger Federer (Sui/N.2) d Jo-Wilfried Tsonga(Fra/N.16) 6-4 6-1
Ivo Karlovic (Cro/n.14) d Novak Djokovic (Srb/N.3) 7-6 (4) 7-6 (5)

Oct 17, Friday
Quarterfinal
Andy Murray (UK/N.4) d Gael Monfils (Fra) 6-2, 6-2
Roger Federer (Sui/N.2) d Juan Martín del Potro (Arg/N.9) 6-3, 6-3
Rafael Nadal (Spa/N.1) d Feliciano López (Spa) 6-4, 6-4
Gilles Simon (Fra) d Ivo Karlovic (Cro/N.14) 7-6 (1), 4-6, 7-6 (2)

Oct 18, Saturday
Semifinal
Andy Murray (UK/N.4) d Roger Federer (Sui/N.2) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
Giles Simon (Fra) d Rafael Nadal (Spn/N.1) 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6)

Federer, Then Nadal Lose in Madrid Masters Semis Article

Oct 19, 2008 ~ Sunday
Final Andy Murray (UK/N.4) vs. Gilles Simon (Fra)
Doubles Match 1:30 PM
Singles Match 4:00 PM
Madrid Time
6 hours ahead of USA EST

October 24, Friday, 2008 Rafael Nadal will be on TV in Europe
receiving the Príncipe de Asturias award of sport.