Tuh-DAH! IT'S NADAL AND MURRAY IN THE FINAL IN ROTTERDAM FEBRUARY 15, 2009

ABN AMRO Rotterdam Tennis ATP World Tour Tournament Schedule for Sunday, February 15, 2009 - The Final
Times listed are Rotterdam time

14:00 Rafael Nadal vs. Gael Monfils
(that is 8:00 a.m. USA EST)
www.tennistv.com/page

Note: I have seen the start time at 14:30 (8:30 a.m.) somewhere, but the time listed at the ATP site is the 8:00 a.m. USA EST

Below are some free live streams that I have found - it seems that is what you come here for - Good Luck!

http://www.atdhe.net/live-tv-3290.html

http://londonerr.ning.com/

http://www.channelsurfing.net/watch-wabuk-3.html

http://www.justin.tv/vipsports3

Not Free Live Streaming:
www.tennistv.com/page/Live
You see the same thing at the first link above, maybe just not as clearly.

Rafa won the Semi Final match against Gael Monfils
6-4, 6-4
Rotterdam
February 14, 2009

Photo credits of first four pictures: Getty Images
Photographer is unknown, but probably Hamish Blair

ROTTERDAM COULDN'T BE HAPPIER TO HAVE RAFA IN THE FINAL

From www.rafaelnadal.com

14th of Februry

Rafa Nadal had no need to fight for his life last night as he breezed through his semi-final encounter against Frenchman Gael Monfils is straight sets, 6-4, 6-4 after and tour and a half of play at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.

It is Rafa’s first time in the finals of the event, as well as the first time in a week that he didn’t play more than two sets on a surface that is possibly his least favourite in terms of the potential damage it can do to his body, (specially his knee). However, that was no excuse for the champion, he was out there blasting his shots with all his power and showing an incredible fitness level. Without doubt, a ‘key factor’ that contributed with Gael running out of gas at the end.

Once again, it goes to show just how difficult it is to keep up with the world number 1’s ability to recover and mental strength.

Next up for the Australian Open champ is another amazing tennis player, world No.4, Andy Murray. The Scotsman knows really well how to play and beat Rafa, which is why it is going to be a very difficult match. Nevertheless, we know he will go out there to win and hopefully take home the title.

THE MATCH

Monfils, the player who beat Rafa this year in the Qatar Open quarter-finals last month, made a poor start by dropping his first service game.He broke back but then surrendered his serve again in the fifth game.

Rafa, who went to three sets in his previous three matches this week, only needed a single break in the second set to close out Monfils.

Vamos Rafa!!

Above photo credits: unknown, but probably Hamish Blair of Getty Images

Two above screen caps credit: Boo Boo aka Mary of the fan site

The Original Forum from Rafa's Website - Before NIKE took it over and created a new Forum

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dream Final in Ahoy: Nadal vs. Murray

Source: www.abnamrowtt.nl

The dream final is a reality. On Sunday Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray will play for the title. This is the first time since 1984 that the number one and two of the seeding secured a place for the last day of the tournament. At that time Ivan Lendl played Jimmy Connors in Ahoy. It was never decided though, as the final had to be stopped due to a bomb alarm.

After Murray beat Ancic in the afternoon, Nadal jumped over the last hurdle Saturday evening to reach the final. He didn’t need three sets as the matches before, but his two set win (6-4, 6-4) over Gaël Monfils wasn’t that easy either. The match was full of long baseline rallies most of the times in Nadal’s favour as he was taking the initiative.

Monfils didn’t start the match in his best shape. He was still suffering from a soar throat and had some stomach problems; he even had to throw up a couple of times. Run-down from a long rally in the second-set he laid down on the court and symbolically surrendered. The next long rally led to the decisive break. Nonetheless the athletic Monfils scored some great points. With some devastating forehands he surprised his opponent, who wasn’t impressed or in danger at any time.

Nadal was extremely happy with his place in the final. He would love to see his name in Ahoy amongst the gallery of champions.

“It won’t be easy. But if I don’t succeed tomorrow, maybe next year then.” That sounded like music to the ears of everyone in Rotterdam. The ticket sale for next year’s edition starts at Monday February 16.

The Draw www.abnamrowtt.nl

Photo credit is unknown, but probably Hamish Blair of Getty Images

Photo credit: screen cap by Bee of the first fan site link just below

Two Fan Sites for Rafael Nadal:

The Original Forum from Rafa's Website - Before NIKE took it over and created a new Forum

vamosbrigade.com

Above photo credits: unknown, but probably Hamish Blair of Getty Images

Photo credit: Henk Koster

See you at the match
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Call President Obama at 202-456-1111
or 1-800-GENOCIDE
and pressure him to immediately take steps
to ensure the protection of civilians in Darfur!

An example of your phone call text can be found below.
It is encouraged that you make it personally your message. *

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And call the USA Secretary of State

The USA State Department public comment line works 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Please, call as soon as possible.

Call the State Department's public comment line 24/7 at 202-647-6575

The White House (9 AM - 5 PM EST weekdays) at 202-456-1111

or 1-800-GENOCIDE with a similar message as the one below.

If you have called already, please call again:

* I'm calling to ask President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and Ambassador Rice to protect innocent civilians in Darfur in the wake of Bashir's arrest warrant. Please issue immediate warnings to Bashir and the government of Sudan specifying consequences of attacks on civilians. Please also prepare an emergency response plan to address further violence and appoint a full-time senior level envoy. Lastly, please stand firm in support of the ICC indictment and veto any delay in the prosecution of Bashir.

Call your Senators and Representative Today!

Find your elected politicians contact information at this link:

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You can also call or write to the President:

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Comments to President Obama: 202-456-1111

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RAFAEL NADAL MEETS GAEL MONFILS IN ROTTERDAM'S SEMI FINALS FEB 14, 2009

ABN AMRO Rotterdam Tennis ATP World Tour Tournament Schedule for Saturday, February 14, 2009
Times listed are Rotterdam time
at http://www.tennistv.com/page/TournamentsIndex/0,,11444,00.html
Not Before 14:00 Mario Ancic vs. Andy Murray
Not Before 19:30 Rafael Nadal vs. Gael Monfils
(that is 1:30 p.m. USA EST)

Below are some free live streams that I have found - it seems that is what you come here for - Good Luck!

http://www.atdhe.net/live-tv-3290.html

http://londonerr.ning.com/

http://www.channelsurfing.net/watch-wabuk-3.html

http://www.justin.tv/vipsports3

Highlights of the Quarter Final - Rafael Nadal vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at this link www.tennistv.com
Nadal Survives Tsonga Barrage

Top seed Rafael Nadal withstood a valiant fightback from Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Rotterdam.

All pictures above are Rafa from the Quarter Final February 13, 2009 with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Photo credits are unsure, but I am guessing they are taken by one of the Getty photographers. So far, it has been Hamish Blair of Getty Images.

Photo credit: DPPI Willem Vernes
...............................................

...............................................
Slideshow of the quarter final match
Rafa vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga February 13, 2009
The slideshow was made at Photobucket
Photo credits:
I'll go out on a limb and guess Getty Images,
since I don't really know.
So far that is what I have found to be the case,
where I have seen credits being posted.
The paws on a picture are placed there by Ines-Ganda from Rafa's forum.

Battling Nadal edges Tsonga in Rotterdam
February 13, 2009

(CNN) -- World number one Rafael Nadal again showed his amazing battling qualities as he held off Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in three tough sets to reach the semifinals of the Rotterdam men's Open.

The top-seeded Spaniard had been taken to three sets in both of his previous matches this week, and Friday proved no different as he beat seventh seed Tsonga 6-4 6-7 6-4.

The Australian Open champion had chances in the second set to wrap up a quick victory, but could not convert as Tsonga won six successive points in the tie-break to take the match to a third set.

Meanwhile, second seed Andy Murray is also through to the last four after his French opponent Marc Gicquel was forced to pull out of their quarterfinal clash with a hamstring injury.

Don't Miss

• Nadal pushed hard by teenager

Despite the injury, Gicquel still managed to take the second set off the Briton before eventually retiring with the scoreline at 7-6 4-6 3-0.

Murray will next meet Croatia's Mario Ancic, who put out 2007 champion Mikhail Youzhny 6-4 6-2. Ancic, ranked 28th, has lifted two of his three career titles in the Netherlands and was a Rotterdam semifinalist four years ago against former world No.1 Roger Federer.


Rafa Beats Tsonga for Semifinal Showdown Tomorrow (February 14, 2009)
from www.rafaelnadal.com

13th of February, 2009

What a match!!! For the third time in a row Rafa Nadal was pushed to the limit by another great player, this time around it was French sensation, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga before prevailing in three long sets, 6-4 y 6-7 (5) y 6-4 at the World Indoor Tournament in Rotterdam.

As all of you already know, Rafa said before the start of the tournament that “Last year I played real bad at Rotterdam, it was my worst tournament during the season and that is why I want to play better here, I just want to give back to the Dutch fans and show them my game and dedication”.

After only 2 weeks of that memorable final in Melboure, Rafa is again in the finals of another very important tournament, however, this one is played on a different surface, Indoor hardcourts.

“Tsonga is a very difficult rival, and to me, winning is already a great achievement. Today’s match has been very challenging and I’ve just taken advantage of the chance that I was given at the right moment” , said Rafa after finishing the match.

The next oponent he will face for a place in the final will be the winner of the match between Julien Benneteau and Gael Monfils.

Well done Rafa and good look in the semi-finals tomorrow! The End

Storyline(s): The big one for me is the rise of Bulgarian teenager Grigor Dimitrov, who upset Tomas Berdych in the first round and took Nadal to three in the second. The kid came in to the tournament as a wild card and ranked 478 in the world, but comes out being touted as “better than Federer” by his coach, Peter Lundgren, and as a future top ten player, “for sure” by Rafael Nadal. Speaking of Rafa, he’s been (understandably) struggling by his standards this week, having been stretched to a third set in both his matches. Like their WTA counterparts in Paris, the French guys are also representing well this week, with Tsonga, Monfils, Gicquel and Benneteau all making it into the quarters. Still in it to win it*: All those French guys plus Youzhny, Ancic and top seeds Murray and Nadal.

Hot matches: Oh, there are many! Just in the quarters we have Nadal vs. Tsonga in a replay of Aussie Open 2008. Monfils could play the winner of that match in the semis (if Gael get’s past Benneteau) and Murray (if he gets past Gicquel) will play either Youznhy or Ancic. And who wouldn’t want a Nadal vs. Murray final? The above text from What's On Tennis: ABN AMRO Rotterdam, SAP Open, Brasil Open

Thrice As Nice
Rafael Nadal was pushed to three sets for the third straight match Friday in Rotterdam. But the Spaniard prevailed once again, beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4, in the quarterfinals.
Source: www.tennis.com

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France reacts during the match against Rafael Nadal from Spain in the quarter-finals at the ABN Amro tennis tournament at AHOY - Friday February 13, 09:19 PM in Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Nadal topples Tsonga to reach Rotterdam semis- Summary
www.earthtimes.org
Rotterdam, Netherlands - Top seed Rafael Nadal reached his first semi-final at the ABN-AMRO World Tennis on Friday as Jo- Wilfried Tsonga set up match point with a double fault after serving 26 aces. Nadal, who has gone the distance in all three of his matches, earned a 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 victory, taking just under three hours. "This was definitely my best match of the week," said the Spaniard, who came here after his Australian Open title with just three days off. "Tsonga was extremely tough. This was a very important win for me."Nadal grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third set but lost it a game later. Tsonga's serving error in the tenth game, which set up the Nadal match point, finally made the winning difference for the Spanish world number one.

Read the full article

Several articles about Rafa news.google.com

The Original Forum which used to be accessed through the Rafael Nadal website

See you at the match!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Call President Obama at 202-456-1111
or 1-800-GENOCIDE
and pressure him to immediately take steps
to ensure the protection of civilians in Darfur!

An example of your phone call text can be found below.
It is encouraged that you make it personally your message. *

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And call the USA Secretary of State

The USA State Department public comment line works 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Please, call as soon as possible.

Call the State Department's public comment line 24/7 at 202-647-6575

The White House (9 AM - 5 PM EST weekdays) at 202-456-1111

or 1-800-GENOCIDE with a similar message as the one below.

If you have called already, please call again:

* I'm calling to ask President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and Ambassador Rice to protect innocent civilians in Darfur in the wake of Bashir's arrest warrant. Please issue immediate warnings to Bashir and the government of Sudan specifying consequences of attacks on civilians. Please also prepare an emergency response plan to address further violence and appoint a full-time senior level envoy. Lastly, please stand firm in support of the ICC indictment and veto any delay in the prosecution of Bashir.

Call your Senators and Representative Today!

Find your elected politicians contact information at this link:

http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
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Write President Obama
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You can also call or write to the President:

The White House
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Comments to President Obama: 202-456-1111

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CONTRIBUTES

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RAFA NADAL PLAYS JO-WILFRIED TSONGA DAY 5 IN ROTTERDAM

SEE THE MATCH FEBRUARY 13, FRIDAY, 2009
ROTTERDAM
http://www.atdhe.net/live-tv-3290.html
This is free and works on MACs and PCs
The match is going on now, which started at 1:30 p.m. USA EST
which is 7:30 p.m. in Rotterdam

http://www.abnamrowtt.nl/cctv/
http://www.tennistv.com/page/Home/0,,11444,00.html
UPDATE: You have to be a paying customer today to see it live from the links just above. There is a link above the screen at this link - I chose the English flag - Livestream International - to hear English commentary. I am a paying customer with an annual pass since last year. This year the live stream is much improved. It is accessible from both MAC and PC - which is an improvement over last year. The picture is great, but usually you can find a free live stream somewhere.

Caption for picture above: Rafael Nadal of Spain acknowledges the crowd after victory in his match against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during day four of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament at the Ahoy Centre Rotterdam on February 12, 2009 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)

Rafa won over Grigor Dimitrov
7-5, 3-6, 6-2
February 12, 2009
All photo credits: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

................................

The Original Forum at Rafa's Website - Before Nike took over and created a new one

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Genocide Ends

When Enough of Us

Stand Up Against It

JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org

www.miafarrow.org


Write President Obama
www.whitehouse.gov
You can also call or write to the President:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Comments to President Obama: 202-456-1111

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IF NOT,

THEN,

OUR SILENCE

CONTRIBUTES

TO

ANOTHER

GENOCIDE.

www.savedarfur.org/content

RAFAEL NADAL PLAYS HIS FIRST ROTTERDAM SINGLES MATCH WEDNESDAY, FEB 11, 2009

UPDATE: Go to http://www.abnamrowtt.nl/cctv/
and click in the lower right corner MEDIA FILES and you can see the live streaming of Rafa's match February 11, 2009 match at 1:30 p.m. USA EST
Yay!


Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand during his doubles match with partner Ignacio Coll-Riudavets of Spain against Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra of France
during day one of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament
at the Ahoy Centre Rotterdam on February 9, 2009in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
All doubles match photo credits: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

The number one tennis player in the world, Rafael Nadal,
takes his brand new Aston Martin for a drive.

Above two photo credits: Photo Agency

Champion wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer of Netherlands shakes hands Rafael Nadal of Spain after having a hit during day two of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament at the Ahoy Centre Rotterdam on February 10, 2009 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Photo credit: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

The singles draw in Rotterdam www.abnamrowtt.nl

Rotterdam Tennis Tournament February 9 - 15, 2009

Remember the times listed are The Netherlands times - it is the same time as Spain, which you will find in my sidebar.

ABN AMRO WORLD TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Wednesday, 11 February 2009(order of play)
Center Court
Matches Start At: 11:00 AM

Philipp KOHLSCHREIBER (GER)
vs
Gilles SIMON (FRA)

followed by
David FERRER (ESP)
vs
Mikhail YOUZHNY (RUS)

followed by
Jesse HUTA GALUNG (NED)
vs
Jo-Wilfried TSONGA (FRA)


Not Before 7:30 PM

Rafael NADAL (ESP)
vs
Simone BOLELLI (ITA)

followed by
Nikolay DAVYDENKO (RUS)
vs
Julien BENNETEAU (FRA)


Live Scoring

I haven't tried the folllowing instructions, but found them on The Original Forum from Rafa's website - Try the Rotterdan website - www.abnamrowtt.nl and the centre court tv feed. Click on the media file for the corresponding day just below the screen. This may only work in Europe, I am thinking.

The following links have worked in the past. We can hope they will give us access in Rotterdam - I just don't know yet....

This works on my MAC and probably on a PC as well:
http://atdhe.net/index.html
http://atdhe.net/watch-tv.html

www.channelsurfing.net

Click here for Television Schedule

Applause for Nadal inspite of Defeat in Doubles Match

Rafael Nadal’s return to Ahoy Rotterdam earned him a standing ovation. In his quest for the title in the 36th ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, he warmed up in the doubles. Although he and his partner, Ignacio Coll-Riudavets, lost 3-6, 4-6 against the French partnership of Arnaud Clément and Michael Llodra, the public was wildly enthusiastic about the appearance of the new Australian Open champion. Nadal demonstrated why he is the world number one by hitting some fabulous returns. The Spaniard plays his first singles match on Wednesday evening against the Italian, Simone Bolelli.

Nadal_helping_hand_in_doubles_falls_short_for_Mallorcan_mate

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Genocide Ends

When Enough of Us

Stand Up Against It

JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org

www.miafarrow.org


Write President Obama
www.whitehouse.gov
You can also call or write to the President:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Comments to President Obama: 202-456-1111

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~