TENNIS IN SPAIN - DAVIS CUP UPDATE

Rafa Serves it Up
Photo credit: Jasper Juinen of Getty Images

Two-handed grip
Photo credit: Jasper Juinen of Getty Images

Rafael Nadal of Spain follows a high ball played by Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia during day one of the Davis Cup World Group first round tie between Spain and Serbia at the Parque Tematico Terra Mitica on March 7, 2009 in Benidorm, Spain. Nadal won the match against Tipsarevic in three sets 6-1, 6-0 and 6-2, giving Spain a 2-0 lead over Serbia.
Photo credit: Jasper Juinen of Getty Images

Rafa after his win over Tipsarevic
March 7, 2009
Photo credit: unknown, but probably Jasper Juinen/Getty Images
Apologies to the photographer(s) if incorrect

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Davis Cup Result in Benidorm
Rafa defeated Tipsarevic 6-1, 6-0, 6-2 March 7, 2009

Rafa will play the first reverse rubber on Sunday, March 8, 2009
10:00 a.m. local time
5:00 a.m. EDT (clocks change in the U.S.)
4:00 a.m. EST

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Rubber 4
Rafael NADAL (ESP)
Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB)
Rubber 5
David FERRER (ESP)
Janko TIPSAREVIC (SRB)

Source: http://www.daviscup.com/results/tieresult.asp?tie=100012241

Live Streaming
Davis Cup Live Stream for Saturday March 7, 2009
www.channelsurfing.net
Look in the list for Davis Cup Spain

Or you can go to
http://www.myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=&part=sports&discipline=tennis
Click on the TV icon to the right of 'Spain' and then hit 'play'.

Spain leads Serbia 2-1 in their first round Davis Cup tie

How the Davis Cup works:
http://www.daviscup.com/about/index.asp

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Rafa vs. Tipsarevic
The last two games and interview with Toni Nadal and Rafael Nadal in Spanish.
Uploaded by merikob

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzN_5ZkCTGw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnAGbYOoUm0
Both of the Spanish Team in the Davis Cup March 7, 2009 - TV news report

Devastating display from Nadal

Source: http://www.daviscup.com/news/matchreport.asp?articleid=15791

It’s the toughest ask in tennis at present – playing Rafael Nadal on clay. And it’s as hard on Spanish clay as it is on the Roland Garros ‘terre battue’ on which he has never lost a match.

The latest victim of Nadal’s historic dominance was Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic, who won just three games as Spain moved to within one rubber of a home quarterfinal in July against either Germany or Austria. And that quarterfinal might be guaranteed on Saturday night, as the speed of Nadal’s victory, and David Ferrer’s earlier straight sets win over Novak Djokovic, mean the doubles began at 4.05pm local time, just three hours later than its originally scheduled time.

Nadal ran Tipsarevic ragged

Nadal was brutal. Tipsarevic, who says he plays his best tennis against the top players, won his opening service game to make the score 1-1, but then lost 11 games on the run as Nadal ran his opponent ragged. It was like a surgeon calmly but inexorably removing the heart of his patient, so that by the end Tipsarevic was happy to win two games in the third set.

“On clay, Rafa is at another level compared to the rest,” Tipsarevic said after his 61 60 62 defeat in just 95 minutes. “On hard court I wouldn’t say the same, he can still lose to the top players, but on clay, he is a level above all the other top players and I'm not the only one who says that. But I’m not happy with my performance – of course it's no embarrassment to lose to Nadal on clay, but I think I could have played a lot better than that.”

Nadal himself said it was the situation - clay, warm spring sunshine and a home crowd - that was hard to beat. “Better than this – impossible! The atmosphere was great, the court was full, and it’s an amazing feeling when we play at home with this kind of atmosphere.”

The atmosphere was church-like

The atmosphere was almost church-like from the middle of the second set, once it was clear that Nadal was in a class of his own. A few interesting rallies stirred the soporific faithful, but they were just sitting enjoying the sun and the sight of a craftsman at the height of his powers.

Ferrer’s earlier 63 63 76(3) victory was a triumph for the Spaniard’s steadiness, but he must have through it was Christmas, such were the gifts he got from Djokovic. Djokovic later said he didn’t want to give any excuses, but he felt “on foreigner territory” in his first match on clay since losing creditably to Nadal in the semifinals of the French Open in the first week of June.

Djokovic later opted out of the doubles, which Serbia has to win to avoid the rare – possibly unique – fate of losing the tie on the day it started, though fading daylight is likely to rule out a definitive outcome on Saturday. His place was taken by Victor Troicki, which means all eight nominated players have participated on the opening day of this remarkable tie.

It also means the chances of completing the tie on Sunday are greatly enhanced, given that there is unlikely to be the need for a long rest period between the conclusions of the doubles (assuming the doubles doesn’t finish on Saturday) and the first reverse singles. The first of Sunday's singles is due to be the most eagerly-awaited clash of the weekend between Nadal and Djokovic. The start of play on Sunday has been brought forward by one hour to 10 o’clock local time.

Spain in the driving seat Serbia threw itself a lifeline at the end of an eight-hour 20-minute day in Benidorm, a day which saw Spain take control early on, but the visitors leave with tentative smiles on their faces.

Nenad Zimonjic and Victor Troicki beat Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo 76(5) 64 76 (7) as light faded on the first day of play in this fascinating tie. Had the Spaniards won the set – and they had a set point at 6-5 in the second of the two tiebreaks – play would have been abandoned for the day. As it is, the tie is now back on schedule after missing Friday’s play because of storm damage to the 14,000-seater temporary stadium at the Terra Mitica theme park on Thursday night.

Damage may be done

But the damage to Serbia may already be too great to rectify. With Rafael Nadal virtually unbeatable on clay, the visitors’ only realistic chance of progressing to July’s quarterfinals was to win the three rubbers in which Nadal was not involved. The doubles victory was successfully accomplished thanks to a very good display by a pair playing only their second Davis Cup by BNP Paribas rubber together, but Novak Djokovic’s earlier defeat to David Ferrer means Nadal will have to lose at least one match if Serbia is to win.

Djokovic at least has his country’s fate in his own hands. He is due to play Nadal in the first reverse singles at the revised start time of 10am local time on Sunday morning. But he will have to play vastly better than the way he played against Ferrer. True, the Spaniard was his usual solid self, but Djokovic gave far too much away, including several double faults, and only really got into the match after going a break down early in the third set.

Djokovic said after Ferrer’s 63 63 76(3) victory that he didn’t want to make any excuses, but he felt “on foreigner territory” in his first match on clay since losing creditably to Nadal in the semifinals of the French Open in the first week of June.

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Photo credits: unknown
Apologies to the photographer(s)

Nadal in scintillating form

Source: http://www.daviscup.com/news/matchreport.asp?articleid=15794

By contrast, Nadal was imperious in his 61 60 62 victory over the hapless Janko Tipsarevic. This is a man at the top of his form, on his favourite surface, under clear blue skies and with his home crowd cheering him on. Nadal himself said it was a situation that was hard to beat. “Better than this – impossible! The atmosphere was great, the court was full, and it’s an amazing feeling when we play at home with this kind of atmosphere.”

The bad news for Serbia is that Tipsarevic’s assessment of Nadal is shared by many other players. “On clay, Rafa is at another level compared to the rest,” Tipsarevic said after his 95-minute defeat. “On hard court I wouldn’t say the same, he can still lose to the top players, but on clay, he is a level above all the other top players.”

Watching the Doubles
Photo credits: unknown
Apologies to the photographer(s)

The doubles had just one break of serve, the Spaniards being broken midway through the second as Djokovic opted out and Troicki played very well. There was little between the pairs, the Serbs just played the big points better. As well as keeping the tie live into Sunday, the win also gives Serbia future options in doubles that will prevent the need for Djokovic to play on all three days.

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Rafa Nadal
March 6, 2009 Practice
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From Rafa's Website
www.rafaelnadal.com

HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY - DOUBLE VICTORY FOR SPAIN!

7th of March

Rafa Nadal has just finished his job for the day, successfully giving Spain a comfortable 2-0 lead at the Davis Cup tournament in Benidorm by beating (quite easily) Jarko Tipsarevic in three sets, 6-1, 6-0, 6-2 in front of his home crowd at the ‘Terra Mítica’ park.

The current World number 1 only needed and hour and 36 minutes to put his county in front and in an extremely comfortable position (however, they know it’s still too early to celebrate) and will now concentrate on supporting his team-mates for their next doubles match scheduled for tomorrow.

“Rafa makes things looks too easy, but he just happens to be too good sometimes”, said a very proud Albert Costa, the Spanish Davis Cup Capitan.

“It’s such a beautiful atmosphere, especially packed for a first day I think, so I want to thank everybody for that”, said Rafa straight after finishing his singles match.

FERRER PLAYS KEY ROLE

It is also thanks to David Ferrer that Spain has taken a commanding lead after overcoming the no.1 Serbian player and No.3 tennis player in the World, Novak Djokovic.

On his way to victory, David saved 2 sets points in the 3rd and final set and played amazingly well under pressure in the decisive tiebreak. He congratulated Novak for his efforts before going over to see the rest of his team and celebrate the win.

RAFA’S PLANS: Rafa is scheduled to fly to Indian Wells with Iberia Airlines on Tuesday and to this moment his plans have not changed, he would arrive in California that same day in the evening, however if the Davis Cup is delayed any more, he may have to change his plans.

Congratulations España!

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Rafa fan site:
http://vamosbrigade.com/

Original Forum from Rafael Nadal's website (before Nike made a new Forum):
http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=84197

Link to pictures of Rafa
http://www.zimbio.com

If links don't work, I'll be back to fix them later.

I must post an update on Darfur, right now.