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Sunday, May 16, 2010

"THE PASSIONATE MACHISMO OF SOUTHERN EUROPE TRIUMPHS OVER THE CLINICAL ARTISTRY OF THE NORTH" - RAFA WINS IN MADRID

Robbie Koenig, The Tennis Channel commentator, said the quote in the post title.

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after his straight sets victory against Roger Federer of Switzerland in the mens final match during the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 16, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates match point over Roger Federer of Switzerland in their final match during the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 16, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images Europe

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates by throwing his wrist sweat band to the crowd after his straight sets victory against Roger Federer of Switzerland in the mens final match during the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 16, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe

Rafael Nadal of Spain lays on court celebrating match point over Roger Federer of Switzerland in their final match during the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 16, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images Europe

Rafael Nadal of Spain holds aloft his winners trophy after his straight sets victory against Roger Federer of Switzerland in the mens final match during the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 16, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe

Rafael Nadal of Spain bites his winners trophy after his straight sets victory against Roger Federer of Switzerland in the mens final match during the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 16, 2010 in Madrid, Spain.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe
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More pictures

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Nadal vs Federer Madrid Open Final 2010 Highlights
Uploaded by
Tennis24Channel



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Second set's tie break and the joy of watching Rafa celebrate his match win
Uploaded by meriko100


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First Set
Uploaded by
nadalwin
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Championship ceremony in Madrid, Spain
Rafa defeated Roger Federer
6-4, 7-5

Uploaded by meriko100

There is one game that Roger served and Rafa won that was exceptional - I hope someone uploads it, if at all possible. I think it was the fifth game in the second set.

Fantastic to be able to watch this match! So happy to watch Rafa be happy. Especially in front of "his public" ~ loved watching his reaction, laughing at himself.

Love him!

Click the post title to go to The Tennis Channel at youtube channel.


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MUTUA MADRILENA MADRID OPEN

Nadal Achieves Historic Triumph With Victory Over Federer

Source:
Madrid-Sunday-Nadal-Wins-18th-Masters-1000-Trophy.aspx

Madrid, Spain
Rafael Nadal© Getty ImagesRafael Nadal shows his delight at winning his 18th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy.

At the age of 23 years and 11 months, Rafael Nadal won a record-breaking 18th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title as he defeated rival Roger Federer 6-4, 7-6(5), in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 final Sunday at the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open.

Watched by Queen Sofia of Spain, Nadal also became the first player to win all three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay court tournaments in the same year, having triumphed at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (d. Verdasco) and the Internazionali BNL d’Italia (d. Ferrer) last month.

As champion, the second-seeded Nadal received 1000 South African Airways 2010 ATP Ranking points and was already assured of returning to the No. 2 ranking by reaching the final in Madrid. The Top 8 players at the end of the season will qualify for the prestigious Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, to be held at The O2 in London from 21-28 November.

Victory for Nadal avenged the defeat he suffered to Federer in the Madrid final last year, the first year the event was played on clay at the Caja Magica in the Spanish capital. The Spaniard improved to a 28-2 mark in tour-level clay-court finals, with his two defeats both coming to Federer; he also lost to the Swiss in the 2007 Hamburg title match.

With 28 tour-level clay-court titles, Nadal moved into a tie for fifth place with Ivan Lendl and Ilie Nastase in the Open Era clay-court title leaders list. Guillermo Vilas holds the record with 45 titles.

In their first clash for a year, Nadal and Federer, who had both come through three-set tussles in the semi-finals, struggled to find their form in the opening exchanges of their 21st meeting. Breaks were exchanged in the third and fourth games before Nadal broke decisively in the seventh game as Federer paid the price for a game littered with unforced errors. The second-seeded Nadal then saved four break points as he served out the set, finishing with a hooked forehand passing shot past the stranded Federer.

With a one-set advantage, Nadal looked to have taken a firm grip on the match as he broke Federer in the opening game of the second set, wearing the Swiss down with his relentless attack that forced errors from the World No. 1’s racquet.

Nadal was unable to shut out Federer out. The determined Swiss immediately levelled and when Nadal again broke to lead 3-2, Federer once again pegged him back with a delightful mix of rifling backhands and forehand drop shots.

In the subsequent tie-break, Federer twice squandered a mini-break lead and found himself two match points down as his backhand broke down under relentless pressure from Nadal. The Swiss was able to save the first with a courageous deep forehand into the corner, but could not deny Nadal on the second as he miss-fired to hand the Mallorcan victory after two hours and 10 minutes.

Nadal lifted the trophy in Madrid for the second time, having previously triumphed in a fifth-set tie-break against Ivan Ljubicic on indoor hard court in 2005. Federer is also a two-time winner in Madrid, lifting the trophy in 2006 (d. Gonzalez) and 2009.

The 28-year-old Federer was looking to draw level with Nadal and Andre Agassi by winning a 17th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title. He was also bidding to capture his first title since clinching his 16th Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open (d. Murray) at the start of the year.

The right-hander slipped to a 19-6 record on the season and to a 62-25 mark in tour-level finals. He will hope to rejoin the winners’ circle by defending his title at Roland Garros, which begins in one week’s time in Paris.

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UK tribute to Rafa's 18th Masters win
Uploaded by cymro16668

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