RAFA HAPPY TO BE IN SEMI-FINAL AT US OPEN - DEL POTRO TOUGH OPPONENT

UPDATE - U.S. OPEN SEMI-FINAL

6 foot, 6 inch, number 6 ranked tennis player in the world, Del Potro, was able to show his wonderful talent today, September 13, 2009 and defeated Rafa

6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

Rafa is a fighter and continued with his never-quit attitude. Del Potro has been showing his talents all year and today, brought his A game. In my opinion, Rafa played in much pain today and simply came to give it the best he could. But his serve toss was much lower due to the attention to the abdominal muscle and in my opinion Rafa tried to play through the pain, but Del Potro was too much to handle today. Del Potro's serve is a killer. And his great shot selection is going to give the other finalist a run for their life. Good luck to Del Potro in the final. He will be up there with Roger (1), Rafa (2 ~ Rafa regains his number 2 position on Tuesday, September 15), Murray (3) and Djokovic (4) ~ very soon in the rankings. Argentine Del Potro is currently ranked behind (5) Andy Roddick at number 6. Rankings

I like Juan Martin Del Potro - he is modest and has nothing to dislike as far as his attitude and the way he presents himself.

For Rafa - my favorite tennis player - recuperation for the abdominal muscle area would be the first thought in his mind for sure. All the best to Rafa.

Human Nature's Bad Side.....
What has happened to civility? by ESPN.com's Jeff Mac Gregor

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Rafael Nadal defeated Fernando Gonzalez in the Quarter-final that started Thursday, and finished today, Saturday. There were two rain delays Thursday night, then finally at midnight the game had to be called because of rain. Then all day Friday, Rafa and Fernando waited and waited. Theirs was the last match to be canceled late Friday night due to rain again. Today, they played the match starting at noon.

When they started the score was 7-6, 6-6 and Rafa led in the tie break 3-2.

Rafa won the second set tie break at 7-2.
The Quarter-final score was 7-6, 7-6, 6-0

17 pictures of Rafa at Zimbio

Rafa moves through to the Semi-final to be played Sunday...

Rafa's on-cout interview after Quarter-final win

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Semi-final of Rafa
Arthur Ashe Stadium
12:00 p.m Noon EST USA
ESPN2 network televising the match

BONUS:
Click my post title to go to the U.S. Open website
to watch Rafa's match online for free

Rafael Nadal(ESP)[3] vs. the sleeveless Juan Martin Del Potro(ARG)[6]

Semi-final
Not before 4:30 p.m. Roger Federer(SUI)[1] vs. Novak Djokovic(SRB)[4]
CBS Network (unless the networks again change the schedule. It has been difficult to keep up with their changes of scheduling.)


Women's Final
Caroline Wozniacki(DEN)[9] vs. Kim Clijsters(BEL)
9:00 p.m.
on ESPN2 network

Click my post title to go to the U.S. Open website
to watch Rafa's match online for free

Men's Final Monday at 4:00 p.m.


All photos of Rafa during or after Quarter-final, September 12, 2009
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Photo credit: Getty Images

Photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Photo credit: Getty Images

Photo credit: Getty Images

Rafa after Quarter-final, September 12, 2009
Photo credit: AP


Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Nostalgia of Rafa's sleeveless

RAFAEL NADAL SLIDES INTO THE FINAL IN ROME

Rome, Italy
Final May 3, 2009, Sunday
Rafael Nadal versus Novak Djokovic
USA EST 10:00 a.m.

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One Shining Play by Rafa in Semi-final match in Rome
May 2, 2009
Uploaded by elcebolleta
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Uploaded by tennis24TV
Rome's Semi-finals May 2, Saturday, 2009
Rafael Nadal defeated Chilean Fernando Gonzalez
6-3, 6-3

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Slideshow of Semi-final Rome
Rafa vs Fernando Gonzalez May 2, 2009
Photo credits: Daylife, Yahoo, Terra and probably Getty Images

The other Semi-final May 2, 2009 - Rome:
Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer
4-6, 6-3, 6-3

Watch live online (for a fee)
www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/1/en/home/default.asp
Once there, find Live Stream link over to the far right

Direct link to live online streaming:
http://www.tennistv.com/page/LiveIndex/0,,11444,00.html?WT.mc_id=atpw2

Free online live streaming:
http://atdhe.net/6321/watch-atp-masters-rome

and
http://channelsurfing.net/watch-internazionali-bnl-d-italia-2.html
or try
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/megadeportes8
or
http://www.livescorehunter.com/ATP-Rome.php
or
http://zulu.mk then click

Finals on The Tennis Channel
Sunday, May 3, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Live
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Repeat
11:30 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. Repeat

Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Rome

Great source for information:
http://vamosbrigade.com/
a Fan run site

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=84197
The original forum from Rafa's website before NIKE took it over
now run by Rafa fans

FINALS on CLAY
ALREADY WON by RAFA THIS YEAR

Barcelona 2009

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Final ceremony in Barcelona April 26, 2009 - Uploaded by rafaddict
Rafa Nadal d David Ferrer6-2, 7-5
www.viddler.com/explore/rafaddict/videos/5

Monte Carlo 2009

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Interview with Rafa after winning the final in Barcelona
Uploaded by ATP


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Highlights of Monte Carlo Final Match
Rafa Nadal beat Novak Djokovic
6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to reach 5th consecutive title in Monte Carlo - April 19, 2009
Uploaded by tennis24TV

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Nadal beat Murray 6-2, 7-6(4) in Semi Final at Monte Carlo Masters 2009

Uploaded by tennis24TV

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Activist-actress Mia Farrow began an extended hunger strike in solidarity with the people of Darfur on April 27, 2009. She intends to continue this water-only fast for 21 days. Darfur Fast for Life was created so that you and many more around the world can participate in saying no to the status quo on Darfur. Mia will be blogging here and at MiaFarrow.org. Others will join by participating in water-only and/or “refugee rations” fasts to bring attention to the immediate humanitarian crisis in Darfur created by the expulsion of aid organizations by the government of Sudan. Darfur Fast for Life demands from our leaders around the world to be ambitious and work on creating lasting peace in Sudan and guaranteeing the respect for the human rights of all.

Join the solidarity for Dafur at this site

http://fastdarfur.org/

Write to President Obama
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Tell him we need his leadership for the short and long run
on the issue of genocide and the
6 year old genocide on the unarmed Darfuri civilians, families.

President Obama can be called:
202-456-1111
or
1-800-GENOCIDE

Find USA elected politicians contact information at this link:
www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

Check this out
www.darfurscores.org
Your elected officials get graded on Darfur

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JOIN OTHERS TO PUT AN END TO GENOCIDE
www.enoughproject.org
www.savedarfur.org
www.standnow.org

Urge UN and Sudanese Ambassadors to use their influence to press the government of Sudan to fully restore humanitarian aid in and around Darfur.

STANDING UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT

Two subject post:

Darfur; and the Hunger Strike led by Mia Farrow

Rome Men's Tennis Tournament - Semi Final Saturday, May 2, 2009

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I called 1-800-GENOCIDE today to leave a message for President Obama about Darfur. The phone number can be used for reaching your Senator, Representative or the President. And if you are unsure what to say, there is help on the line before you are connected. 1800genocide.com

At this link
http://www.sudanreeves.org/index.html
find....
Eric Reeves is Professor of English Language and Literature at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. He has spent the past ten years working full-time as a Sudan researcher and analyst, publishing extensively both in the US and internationally. He has testified several times before the Congress, has lectured widely in academic settings, and has served as a consultant to a number of human rights and humanitarian organizations operating in Sudan. Working independently, he has written on all aspects of Sudan's recent history. His book about Darfur ("A Long Day's Dying: Critical Moments in the Darfur Genocide") was published in May 2007. (Read critical praise for A Long Day's Dying.) He is also at work on a longer-range project surveying the international response to ongoing war and human destruction in Sudan over the past 25 years ("Sudan — Suffering a Long Way Off").

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Activist-actress Mia Farrow began an extended hunger strike in solidarity with the people of Darfur on April 27, 2009. She intends to continue this water-only fast for 21 days. Darfur Fast for Life was created so that you and many more around the world can participate in saying no to the status quo on Darfur. Mia will be blogging here and at MiaFarrow.org. Others will join by participating in water-only and/or “refugee rations” fasts to bring attention to the immediate humanitarian crisis in Darfur created by the expulsion of aid organizations by the government of Sudan. Darfur Fast for Life demands from our leaders around the world to be ambitious and work on creating lasting peace in Sudan and guaranteeing the respect for the human rights of all.

Join the solidarity for Dafur at this site

http://fastdarfur.org/

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

Read about Mia Farrow's hunger strike:

• “My children” - Mia Farrow
• Day 5, Mia Farrow - Death of a child
• Gabriel writes about his day of fasting and remembering a child he met in a refugee camp: Raouda
• Read comments from the community that is fasting in solidarity with Mia and the people of Darfur
• Follow Darfur Fast for Life on Twitter: @DarfurFast

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

Write to President Obama
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Tell him we need his leadership for the short and long run
on the issue of genocide and the
6 year old genocide on the unarmed Darfuri civilians, families.

President Obama can be called:
202-456-1111
or
1-800-GENOCIDE

Find USA elected politicians contact information at this link:
www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

Check this out
www.darfurscores.org
Your elected officials get graded on Darfur

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

JOIN OTHERS TO PUT AN END TO GENOCIDE
www.enoughproject.org
www.savedarfur.org
www.standnow.org

Urge UN and Sudanese Ambassadors to use their influence to press the government of Sudan to fully restore humanitarian aid in and around Darfur.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Semi-Finals in Rome, Italy May 2, 2009, Saturday

Court STADIO PIETRANGELI

Roger Federer vs. Novak Djokovic 1:30 p.m. Rome time (6 hours ahead of USA/EST

Rafael Nadal vs. Fernando Gonzalez not before 4:00 p.m. Rome time (10:00 a.m. USA EST)

Quarter Final
Rafael Nadal defeated his fellow countryman Fernando Verdasco May 1, 2009
6-3, 6-3
May 2, 2009 Rafa will play Fernando Gonzalez

Watch live online (for a fee) www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/1/en/home/default.asp
Once there the link is over to the far right

Direct link to live online streaming:
http://www.tennistv.com/page/LiveIndex/0,,11444,00.html?WT.mc_id=atpw2

Free online live streaming:
http://atdhe.net/6321/watch-atp-masters-rome

and
http://channelsurfing.net/watch-internazionali-bnl-d-italia-2.html
or try
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/megadeportes8
or
http://www.livescorehunter.com/ATP-Rome.php
or
http://zulu.mk then click

Semi-Finals on TV for those who have The Tennis Channel
Saturday, May 2 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.Live
7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. Repeat

Finals on The Tennis Channel
Sunday, May 3, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Live
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Repeat
11:30 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. Repeat

Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Rome

Great source for information:
http://vamosbrigade.com/
a Fan run site

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=84197
The original forum from Rafa's website before NIKE took it over
now run by Rafa fans
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Photos from the Quarter Final
Rafa Nadal d Fernando Verdasco, May 1, 2009, 6-3, 6-3
Photo credits: Daylife, Getty Images, CBS, EFE El Mundo, Italia website, Jamd, Officina del tennis, Reuters and Terra

Djokovic, Federer, Nadal reach Rome semifinals

Source: http://www.tennis.com/news/news.aspx?id=172168

ROME (AP)—Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic posted straight-set wins Friday to set up a semifinal meeting in the Rome Masters, and three-time champion Rafael Nadal advanced in the other half of the draw.

Nadal cruised past eighth-seeded Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3, improving to 8-0 against his fellow Spaniard. He will play 12th-seeded Fernando Gonzalez, who struggled past Argentine qualifier Juan Monaco 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Federer overcame net-charging German qualifier Mischa Zverev, advancing 7-6 (3), 6-2. Djokovic stayed on course to defend his title in this clay-court warmup for the French Open with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over fifth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro.

The fast clay at the Foro Italico suits both Federer and Djokovic.

“I think both of us like it, so it’s going to be interesting,” Djokovic said. “I feel quite confident playing here. Each match I play, I feel more comfortable moving on the court and just playing my style of the game.”

Federer has won seven of his 10 previous matches against Djokovic, but the Serb took the last meeting in Florida last month.

“I hope I can play better than in Miami,” Federer said.

Nadal had not met Verdasco since his epic five-set win in the Australian Open semifinals.

Verdasco played with a bandage around his leg below his left knee and he called for the trainer after losing his serve to fall behind 5-3 in the second set. He attempted a serve-and-volley on break point but his weak volley attempt went wide.

“I (was) a little bit lucky, he had important mistakes in some important points,” Nadal said.

The world’s No. 1 player extended his clay-court winning streak to 28 matches—stretching back to an opening-round loss to Juan Carlos Ferrero here last year. Having won clay-court titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona the past two weeks, Nadal is attempting to become the first player in the Open era to win this tournament four times.

Nadal won titles at the Foro Italico from 2005-07. Thomas Muster also won three Rome titles, in 1990, ’95 and ’96.

The 76th-ranked Zverev didn’t allow Federer to see a break point until the 10th game of the first set, saving two set points to get to 5-5.

But Federer found his range in the tiebreaker, passing Zverev several times, and the 13-time Grand Slam winner ran away with the match in the second set.

“I had to come up with some passing shots, and I think it’s always kind of good that you’re on the back foot and you have to come up with some good shots at the right time,” Federer said.

A two-time runner-up in Rome, Federer is seeking his first title of the year.

Playing in sunny conditions with no wind, the third-seeded Djokovic dictated play with well-angled winners from the baseline. Del Potro struggled with his forehand.

“I tried to change the pace a lot,” Djokovic said. “Because I know that Del Potro likes more or less same pace, and he’s moving really well for his height.”

Djokovic is the only player to take a set from Nadal on clay this year, during a loss to the Spaniard in the Monte Carlo Masters final two weeks ago

RAFAEL NADAL IN NEW YORK - YOUR CAMERA READY?

Rafael Nadal ~ I've Got You Under My Skin
Round 2 at the Olympics
Photo credit: unknown

Rafael Nadal Round 1 at the Olympics
Photo credit: Getty

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Another look at the Nigel Parry Photos of Rafa
Uploaded by ninzninz2

Golden boy Rafael Nadal heads straight to US for Open date
I hope he can get over the jet lag
and the endless schedule fatigue that he has been keeping....

The singles draw
of the US Open
will be available on Thursday, August 21, 2008

US Open Schedule

US Open Scores

US Open Tickets

Tennis: Nadal earns top seed for US Open
NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal, of Spain, will be the top seed in a grand slam for the first time in his career at this year's US Open.

The newly-crowned world No. 1 will be followed by No. 2 Roger Federer of Switzerland, No. 3 Novak Djokovic of Serbia, No. 4 David Ferrer of Spain and No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia said the tournament which released its seedings on Tuesday.

After spending 160 consecutive weeks ranked second, Nadal officially became the new world No. 1 on Monday - ending Federer's record reign of 237 straight weeks.

A 12-time Grand Slam champion, Federer was the top seed at the last 18 majors.
Read the full article

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One of my favorite tournaments this year of Rafa's
At Queens - The Artois Tournament - on grass
After Rafa won The French Open and just before he won
at Wimbledon
Uploaded by TschagerVB

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember Darfur
www.darfurolympics.org
1-800-GENOCIDE
GENOCIDE STOPS WITH US

RAFAEL NADAL HAS APPEAL - THE THREE LETTER KIND

YOU CAN SEE IT WHEN HE WALKS
WHEN HE TALKS
IN INTERVIEWS
WHEN HE PLAYS HIS SPORT OF TENNIS
IN PHOTO SHOOTS
IN COMMERCIALS

and he is having a superb year Tennis-wise!

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This was from the 2008 Wimbledon.
This vignette was narrated by Bill Macatee. It shows gorgeous shots of both Centre Court, and Rafa himself. The narration concludes with a note that by the end of the fortnight it was hard to decide which (Rafa or Centre Court) was beauty and which was beast.

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What do you need...
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer appear together in an ad for the Tennis Channel.
Title: Passion
Both videos uploaded by claudiacelestialgirl


ENCORE...
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Rafa speaking English in an interview after winning Wimbledon 2008
Uploaded by jeffreyferrari

Interview with Rafa in Spanish after winning Wimbledon 2008
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ESPN studio interview with Rafa after Round 2 match against Gulbis
Uploaded by almnifa

Wimbledon 2008 - Nadal chats with the media Friday after semi-final victory over Rainer Schuettler at the All England Club. Watch matches at Wimbledon 2008 for a fee.
This doesn't work on MACs.

Wimbledon 2008 - Final Highlights
Rafael Nadal prevails in an epic five-set battle against five-time defending Wimbledon champion Roger Federer to clinch his first title at the grass court Slam. This video is free.

Many free videos to choose from at www.atptennis.com
The free videos work on both PCs and MACs. But the live streaming at this site - for a fee - only works on PCs. Makes no sense, but that's the way it is.

For fun, you might go to Youtube.com and type in Rafael Nadal commercials and enjoy Rafa's acting abilities.

Next Stop
www.usopen.org
The schedule of play for the first day
of the US Open Qualifying Tournament
will be available on Tuesday, August 21, 2008

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember Darfur
www.darfurolympics.org
1-800-GENOCIDE
GENOCIDE STOPS WITH US

THANK YOU NIGEL PARRY FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS OF RAFAEL NADAL

Number 1 professional tennis player in the world
It's official as of today

You would think he was a model, right?
No, he's just naturally sexy.

and he is just delightful to see

and see

Rafa is even better on court
when you get to watch his sexuality
come through playing his sport.

If you copy these photos, give credit to the photographer.
It is only right.

Credits to Nigel Parry
New York Fall Fashion magazine
nymag.com/fashion

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Photos in slideshow format
Enjoy

Here is the article to go with the photos:

The Beefcake in the Backcourt

Another way in which ripped, raffish Rafael Nadal and his cardigan-wearing Swiss rival aren’t anything alike.

Source: nymag.com/fashion/08/fall

Photos: Nigel Parry

• Article by Ben Williams
• Published Aug 17, 2008

Take your time. It’s okay. That photo of Rafael Nadal on the back cover of this magazine is undeniably … what’s a polite way to put it? Arresting. The mussed locks curled just so above the shoulders. The biceps curved like a particularly ripe aubergine. The shadows playing across the deeply grooved abs. All demand extended scrutiny.

When you’re done, ask yourself this: Would Roger Federer ever pose for a photo like that?

Federer and Nadal, in many ways, are perfect foils. All-court finesse versus baseline power, fluid grace versus relentless will, Swiss precision versus Majorcan passion. And that opposition extends to their sense of style. Even if you’ve never watched a minute of their epic matches, a single glance at, say, the photo of them posing at net before the Wimbledon 2008 final would tell you all you needed to know. Federer wears a herringbone-patterned cashmere cardigan, emblazoned with a royal RF logo, and loose white shorts; Nadal is in a sporty sleeveless Nike-emblazoned top and shorts so long they’re practically Capris.

Male tennis fashion has mostly been conservative, built on frequent returns to the preppy classicism of Lacoste and Perry. Federer, who has an interest in high fashion—Anna Wintour famously attends his matches, features him in shoots, and throws parties for him—has flirted with that tradition like no player before. (At previous years’ Wimbledons, he has arrived at Centre Court in a white blazer.) So it’s perhaps appropriate that the year in which Nadal finally conquered him—the Spanish player assumed the No. 1 ranking last week—was also the year in which Federer’s look tipped over into full-blown prissy self-parody.

Nadal has made a point of saying “I don’t have anything to do with the design” of his clothes. Yet he’s managed to create what might be the most original look in men’s tennis history: sleeveless tees, shin-length pants, and bandannas tied with a cheeky flourish. Most tennis style revolutions have happened in the women’s game, from Gussy Moran’s lace-trimmed panties to Serena Williams’s skintight catsuit (see the time line here). Precedents for peacocking are pretty much limited to Björn Borg—known for his body-hugging outfits, headbands, and, for the time, prominent logo display—and Andre Agassi, who turned denim shorts, blond highlights, and garish color choices into a marketing tour de force.

And now here’s Nadal. His has been called a “pirate” look, but the interesting thing about Nadal’s style is that it’s so feminine—a thinner, less physical player could not pull off those clothes. Maybe that’s why he’s been greeted with the kind of moral outrage—“Abominable!” “Infernal!”—usually reserved for the latest female player to show too much skin. Debate over the pants in particular, and Nadal’s habit of reaching back to loosen them between points, has trespassed on the familiar terrain of comfort versus sex appeal. Are they too tight? Is it one of his many elaborate on-court rituals (Nadal’s own explanation)? Or are his butt muscles just too big?

Men’s tennis has always been a modest, gentlemanly affair, its sex appeal limited to handsome faces and wolf-whistles during between-game shirt changes. Not so with Nadal. Not only is he more muscular than any player before him, he’s also more willing to be ogled. Which brings us back to those photos.

Thanks New York Fall Fashion magazine.

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My Number One ~ Rafael Nadal
Uploaded by eighteen year old xandanadal from Romania

Go to atptennis.com to see their congratulatory video

of Rafael Nadal becoming Number 1

It is totally worth a link jump

Just look over to the right on the page

And be sure to enlarge the size of the video

New Ranking

1st Nadal , R. 6700

2nd Federer , R. 5930

3rd Djokovic , N. 5105

4th Ferrer , D. 2865

5th Davydenko , N. 2700

6th Murray , A. 2415

7th Nalbandian , D. 1975

8th Roddick , A. 1845

9th Blake , J. 1825

10th Wawrinka , S. 1695

Full ATP Ran

Next Stop
www.usopen.org
The schedule of play for the first day
of the US Open Qualifying Tournament
will be available on Tuesday, August 21, 2008

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember Darfur
www.darfurolympics.org
1-800-GENOCIDE
GENOCIDE STOPS WITH US

VAMOS RAFA!! HOPING AND CHEERING FOR YOU!

Passing on the Good News about Rafa's start at the Shanghai Masters Cup November 11, 2007 - they are 13 hours ahead of us here in Rhode Island, USA. This article was shared at www.rafaelnadal.com
I would credit the source, except I don't know what the original source is. Sorry.

Nadal wins opener at Masters Cup

Rafael Nadal began his Masters Cup campaign with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Richard Gasquet in Shanghai. The Spanish second seed looked to be suffering a hangover from his Paris Masters final loss to David Nalbandian as Gasquet made the better start. But he found his form in the second set to level and although Gasquet saved a match point in the decider, Nadal served out to seal the win. "I finished the match playing much better than I started," Nadal said. "In the beginning I was a little bit nervous. Matches here are always very difficult because you play against the best. "So I started the match with a few doubts but later I played more aggressively. It was important to get the break in the beginning of the second set and I finished much better than I started." Nadal is seeking his first win in the elite tournament after pulling out injured in 2005 and losing to Roger Federer in last year's semi-finals. Gasquet, making his first Masters Cup appearance, was pleased with his performance despite his defeat. "Rafael is a fighter, he fights a lot. I missed some shots, and when you miss some shots against him, the set is finished," the Frenchman said. "I had to play a perfect match to win. I had a perfect first set, and after that I fought. I played incredibly but he has such a great forehand." The Masters Cup sees the world's top eight competing in two round-robin groups, with the top two from each advancing to the semi-finals. Sunday's red group action also sees Serbia's Novak Djokovic take on David Ferrer of Spain. The gold group gets under way on Monday, with Andy Roddick taking on Nikolay Davydenko and defending champion Federer up against Fernando Gonzalez.

Richard Gasquet of France reacts during his match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Masters Cup tennis tournament in Shanghai - Sunday November 11, REUTERS/Stringe

AND Here's another article:

Nadal blows Gasquet away at tennis Masters

SHANGHAI (AFP) — World number two Rafael Nadal overcame a stuttering start before sweeping aside Richard Gasquet in the first match of the Masters Cup showpiece here on Sunday.

The muscle-bound Mallorcan lost the first set but found his rhythm in the second and third, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and five minutes.

Nadal is seeking his first win in the elite eight-man tournament after pulling out injured in 2005 and losing to Roger Federer in last year's semi-finals.

But he paid for a pedestrian opening when Gasquet, in his first Masters Cup appearance, converted the last of three break points with a pinpoint forehand to go 5-3 up in the first set before serving it out on 37 minutes.

In a rollercoaster second set, Nadal broke, was broken but then broke again in successive games before clinching it 6-3, pumping his fists in celebration.

As the Spaniard hit his stride, Gasquet fell off the pace and he capitulated in the fifth game of the third set, hitting a forehand long on the second break point to put Nadal 3-2 up and serving.

Gasquet saved one match point at 5-3 but Nadal made no mistake on serve, converting the first of two chances with a backhand volley at the net.

Nadal had won all three of their previous tour meetings, but had not faced the Frenchman in two-and-a-half years.

The 21-year-old has landed six titles this year including his third straight French Open crown, the first player to do so since Bjorn Borg who took four between 1978-81.

However he has struggled with knee tendinitis and, until last week's Paris Masters, had not reached a final since July.

Gasquet secured the last berth in the year-ending tournament by reaching the Paris semi-finals, leaping from 13th to eighth in the rankings.

Gasquet, also 21, has enjoyed his best season to date, winning a career-best 48 matches and his fifth tour title. He is the first Frenchman since Sebastien Grosjean in 2001 to appear at the Masters Cup.

Another two debutants, third-ranked Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer, will play Sunday's later match in the 4.45 million dollar event at Shanghai's Qi Zhong Stadium.

(My added note: Ferrer won 6-4, 6-4)

AND another article:

Nadal charges back to beat Gasquet at Masters Cup

By Alastair Himmer

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Spain's Rafael Nadal charged back from a set down to beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet 3-6 6-3 6-4 in the opening match of the Tennis Masters Cup on Sunday.

The French Open champion recovered from a sluggish start, winning his round-robin opener in a shade over two hours at the prestigious season-ending tournament in Shanghai.

Gasquet, who had lost all three of his previous matches against Nadal, took the first set after securing the crucial break at 4-3 with a forehand rocket down the line.

Nadal came to life in the second, the world number two breaking Gasquet to love for a 4-2 lead and leveling the match with a fierce serve to his opponent's body.

Gasquet battled gamely to stem the tide, but a pumped-up Nadal broke through at the same point in the decider and clinched victory with a sharp backhand volley.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic was playing Spain's David Ferrer in the second Gold Group match later on Sunday at the $4.45 million eight-man event.

World number one Roger Federer, drawn in the Red Group, begins his bid for a fourth Masters Cup title in five years on Monday.

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)