RAFAEL NADAL IS AN AMBASSADOR FOR SPAIN AND TENNIS

Rafael Nadal is a diplomat for Spain and for tennis. And especially for his loving fans. He, again is writing a blog for his fans during his tournament practice, interviews and playing the matches. Here is another post from Rafa.

THURSDAY, APRIL 3

Hello everybody,

It is strange to write two blogs posts in one day. But I came back early to the hotel since we had an early dinner. Well, early for a Spaniard like me, since we left the hotel at 8.45 pm for dinner. That might be very late for some of you reading this. But for me it is quite early since I normally go for dinner at 9.30 pm the earliest. We went to the Argentine restaurant close to the hotel. We have been going there almost everyday before a match. It is really nice and the food and atmosphere is great. We were five people. My close team (except for my uncle Toni who, by the way doesn't normally come with us for dinner) here in Miami with me. That is Carlos, Benito, Rafel and Francis.

My father, uncle and all their friends went to see the match between Roddick and Federer. Talking about that, I followed the match on the internet before going for dinner. It is quite a surprise, although Andy is playing very good lately. He played really good in Dubai and it seems he is playing here at that same level.

I hope the media don't start "killing" Roger for this. He doesn't deserve it and he is really a great guy. I am sure he will win soon again.

As I say I went for an early dinner since tomorrow I leave to the site a bit earlier. I am warming up at 10.30 and as you know I go to the site like an hour before so I can get ready. We just finished playing some soccer on the Playstation and finished a massage after that. I am ready to go to bed and be ready for tomorrow. It is an important match since I would love to be back on a final here in Miami.

Thanks all for your support and win or lose I will be here tomorrow to write and talk about what happened.

More reader questions answered: You always appear so self-contained on court. When you were younger did you ever lose your temper and behave badly during a match? -- Belinda No, my uncle always taught me not to do so. It seems like you prefer to start the match by receiving serve. Is that true? -- Cedrine Yes, I always do that. How much time do you put into developing varying strategies for different opponents? -- Andrea I always talk to my coach (my uncle or Francis) before the matches. Either the night before or the same day. The current balance of ranking points on the tour is 60% hardcourts, 30% clay and 10% grass. How do you feel about this? Would you like to see more events on clay, or on grass? -- Rosangel Not only that. I also think that clay and grass are better for the body and therefore we would have less injuries, all of us. So I think it is easier for hard court players to have better ranking. But that's the way it is. In the end we all play. Probably the thing less fair is that clay is all played in a very short period of time. Do you ever read the forum on [your official site] rafaelnadal.com? -- Evu I did sometimes when I was blogging. But I don't usually look at the forums. Too many threads! :-) Are there any questions you get in interviews that you're fed up of answering? -- Anna Sometimes but that's the way it is. What does Rafa Maymo write in his notebook when you're training? -- Maria Good question. He writes EVERYTHING we do. I mean everything! I'll be in Bremen to support Spain in the Davis Cup tie - good luck Are you comfortable that playing Davis Cup won't affect your preparation before your busy clay schedule? -- Rosangel Davis Cup is important for me. I like to play for my country. Did you get a chance to go to the Melbourne aquarium like you wanted to? -- Tamika I didn't. I had planned to go a couple of times but in the end I could not make it. For the past three years, you've seemed tired and subdued during the second half of the year. Will you make any changes to your schedule this year? -- Zola I don't think I was tired at all. I actually played pretty good at the end of last year with good results. THe only thing is that I did not in a title but for the rest I am happy.

See you,

Rafa

A Huge Thanks to Tennis.com

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Two pictures of Rafa above in the Quarter Finals
against Blake in Miami 08
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Slideshow of photos of Nadal beating Blake
in quarter finals of Sony Ericsson Open
in Miami (Key Biscayne), Florida 2008

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Rafael Nadal interviewed in Spanish
after victory versus Berdych
in Semi Finals Miami 08
Uploaded by vamosrafapuntocom

Rafael Nadal's website has a great Fan Page for his loving fans

Sony Ericsson Open 2008 website

CBS is apparently going to air the Men's Final on Sunday, April 6, 08 at 12:30 p.m.

The women's final is Saturday, April 5, 08, which also apparently will be aired on CBS at 11:30 a.m.

RAFAEL NADAL ALL FIRED UP ON HARD COURTS IN MIAMI 08

Three photos of Rafael Nadal after winning match with Berdych

Rafael Nadal (2) will play Nikolay Davydenko (4) for the Sony Ericsson Open April 6, Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
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Nadal versus Berdych April 4, 2008 ~ 2nd set
Uploaded by tympsa from Estonia
The Evans Report:

Rafa Rolls Into Final By Richard Evans

Friday, April 04, 2008

Rafael Nadal had never beaten Thomas Berdych on hard courts in three previous attempts. He has now. After a tough first set struggle, the world No. 2 roared into the final of the Sony Ericsson Championships here in Miami with a 7-6(6), 6-2 victory over the powerful Czech on another hot, breezy day.

The win, which demonstrated how well Nadal is adapting his game to hard courts, put him into the final here for the second time. In 2005 he lost to Roger Federer in five sets but that much anticipated clash will not be repeated following Andy Roddicks sensational victory over the Swiss in a dramatic encounter under the lights on Thursday night.

With Federer faltering in alarming fashion at 3-4 in the third set just the moment he usually becomes mentally and physically impenetrable Roddick was able to come up with just the number of whiplash serves he needed to record only his second victory over Federer in 17 attempts. Andy certainly deserved it.

Nadal showed no such signs of weakness against Berdych who remains just a notch below Roddick as a hardcourt performer. Berdych had beaten Nadal in three ATP Masters events in 2005-06 in Cincinnati, Toronto and indoors on hard in Madrid but he quickly realized he was playing a more aggressive performer today.

"Hes trying to attack more now," said Berdych. "If stays behind the baseline on this surface someone like James Blake or myself can beat him. But he has changed. It is very difficult to beat him when he plays like this. And my level went down at the end. It has been a long month in the States."

Now Berdych faces the prospect of going home to Prague and packing his clay court shoes for a Davis Cup tie against Russia in Moscow where Shamil Tarpischevs team have not lost a tie at home since the Pete Sampras-inspired victory for the United States in 1995.

Nadal needed to take a second stab at winning the first set tiebreaker. A couple of errors off raking Czech drives saw him squander three sets points from 6-3 up but, after correctly challenging a baseline call, he moved ahead again and took it 8-6. The Spaniard never released his grip on the match again and eventually reeled off the last twelve points to leave his opponent well beaten.

"I think I played very good tennis," Nadal said afterwards. "The wind was very tough and it was tough at the end of the first set when I had a lot of chances before I win it. But always I was very concentrated."

As far as being a better hardcourt player than he was in 2005, Nadal was skeptical about making direct comparisons. "In 2005 I won Montreal and Madrid so I was not bad, no? But for sure I am a more experienced and better player now."

R. NADAL/T. Berdych

7-6, 6-2

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Rafa serving for match and interview in Espanol

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Here is an interview with:

RAFAEL NADAL

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Pretty incredible second set. You won the last 12 points and no unforced errors. Were you feeling pretty on top of him?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I think very good tournament. I think I am playing very well this tournament, so today was great match, too. Because it's very tough player like Berdych. Happy for the win.

First set was tough, especially in the end, because I have a lot of chances and never finish, the set.

But I think in the beginning of the first set it was very important. To be very concentrate with my serve. Because against wind was very tough. And I have some breakpoints against, but I can be very concentrate all the time.

Q. Did you feel like after you doublefaulted to lose the set on the 7th set point that he kind of went away, that you defeated him mentally at that point?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't think so. I think I had a lot of chances before. First set point with my serve, 53, 1540 and 54, 63 in the tiebreak. A lot of chances.

I did not win any, one, but in that moment I was feeling playing better than Tomas in the moment, because I feel I all the time (in Spanish). I was ahead all the time in the score.

Q. How much better are you as a hardcourt player now than three years ago when you were in the final here?

RAFAEL NADAL: Always we must have the comparison. I think it's impossible compare it. 2005 I won in Montreal, I won in Madrid, I played the final here. The numbers are saying I'm not much better than 2005, so...

I think I have more years, more experience. I'm better player than 2005. I don't have any doubt about this. But it's impossible to compare it. It's totally change feelings.

Q. We had a sensational match last night here. Did you watch it? Federer versus Roddick. If you did, what are your thoughts?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't watch any point. I didn't watch any point, so I can't say.

Q. Are you surprised that it's Andy and not Roger?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, when you have one score, head to head like 140, last 14 times, for sure it's surprise, but when you play against Roddick all the match depends on points.

So if you are not playing at your 100% and if he's serving well, he's playing well, he play some points important points well from the baseline, you have very difficult match.

Q. I think I read something on your blog that people shouldn't be too hard on Roger. Based on last night's match, don't say that something is wrong with Roger, that he played well. Can you talk a little bit about that?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think the people are speaking too much about Roger's moment. I think Roger is not in that moment, but, you know, it's very tough be all the time at 100%.

He has for last four or five years unbelievable records. Right now he's not doing bad. He's doing semifinals in Australia and semifinals Indian Wells. Here, quarterfinals.

For sure we are not for us, not normal watch Roger lose in these tournaments, but he's a human person. Anything can happen, because the levels always are very close. Roger has a special ability and always win the important matches and win in the difficult moments.

For that reason, I think it's not fair right now we speak bad about Roger.

Q. You had a tough tournament in Indian Wells and took a pretty tough loss there. I was just wondering how long did it take you to overcome that emotionally or being down about that? In general, how did you deal with a loss? Because you've come back and are playing really, really well.

RAFAEL NADAL: No one hour. I think Indian Wells I play a very good tournament. I arrive there without my best confidence. I lost in Rotterdam against Seppi and Dubai against Roddick without playing. Improving a little bit my level against Roddick in the quarterfinals of Dubai, but far away than the level that I'm playing right now.

So I know won against Tsonga and Blake was a very good win for me for my confidence, and I arrive to semifinals a little bit tired without believing 100% in my chances in that match.

But after my match against Djokovic, I always have a positive thoughts. I play very good tournament, played terrible match today, I thought, in the moment. But why not? I can play very good tournament in Miami because I am playing better. My feeling was I'm coming better every day.

So I arrive here and I practice every day very well. I say the press conference before tournament I was playing very well, and right now I am in the finals. So anything can happen in this final.

Anyway, for me, going to be very important tournament, this one, because play a final in Masters Series event, beating against big players and playing, I know I am playing at one of my best levels.

Q. In the first game of the match, you hit two very powerful backhands, but for the rest of the match we didn't really see that anymore. Can you explain, because you can hit that shot, why you don't do it more often?

Q. In the first game of the match, you hit two very powerful backhands, but for the rest of the match we didn't really see that anymore. Can you explain, because you can hit that shot, why you don't do it more often?

RAFAEL NADAL: I really don't know. I didn't think about this. I think I have more backhands, no? But, you know, sometimes it depends of the points. It's difficult say why I'm not touching the ball. It's about your feeling in that moment, no? I don't know.

Q. Because a lot of times you played the backhand more safe, but you can hit it very powerful, and people talk about how you should play aggressive on hard courts. It's much talked about. That's why, because you can hit the shot, and we'd like to see it more often maybe.

RAFAEL NADAL: I going to do more times in the final. (Laughter.) If you like, I going to do it.

Q. I know you still have a match to go here, but could you look ahead to next week in the Davis Cup against Germany and your thoughts on that?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, it's going to be tough for me. I going to arrive there on Tuesday night, so Wednesday and Thursday, two days only preparation.

So going to be tough. Going to be the decision of the captain put me on Friday or not. I going to try my best for arrive there with my best conditions, but we'll have a very difficult confrontation against Germany, no? Outside, for us it's always difficult for play outside.

We have a complete team. We can play singles and doubles for all four, because I think we have very good level. So we hope have chances for being in the semifinals and play finally at home after long time.

Q. Talk about your match and Andy in Dubai, and what do you have to do if you play him in the finals to beat him? Obviously return of serve is the key.

RAFAEL NADAL: I think continuing playing like this. So if I play the final like I played the matches before, I going to have chances for a win. I don't have chances for lose, too. But I think if I playing like this, I going to have my chances.

Q. But against Andy, is the key returning his serve? That it?

RAFAEL NADAL: It's always the key, returning his serve. You can't prepare the match believing in return his serve, because if he's serving 144 miles, your strategy is not this. My strategy is try to play aggressive all the time and be safe with my serve and well, with my serve and continuing like this.

So after, wait my chance on the return. If you are all the time in the final normally you have chance.

Q. Every player wants to wins tournaments, Grand Slams. Where does achieving the No. 1 ranking fit for you? How much of focus is there on that? What would it mean to you if that were to come?

RAFAEL NADAL: For me, the most important thing is feeling well, feeling playing well, and feeling at the best level. If I am at the best level I have chances for being No. 1, for be No. 2, for be No.3, for No. 4, or No. 5.

But my goal is try to be in the top positions. So I have three years in a row No. 2. This is unbelievable position, because with my points, we have a lot of No. 1s before.

So I think it's I can't say too much about this, no? Just try to continuing playing at the same level like last years, and if I have any chance for be No. 1, I will try to do.

But for me it's not obsession to be No. 1, no? Just I always try my best. I am not finding the No. 1. You are No. 1 or you are not No. 1. That's my feelings.

Q. A lot of the European players tell us that this part of the calendar is very hard for them. They get tired being in the United States for a month or over five weeks. You seem to play well in these tournaments. Are you comfortable here in the United States for that long of time? And if so, why is that?

RAFAEL NADAL: I'm very comfortable in United States, but not for this time. It's not fair have one month, two tournaments, and after go back to Europe and we have to play three Masters Series on clay.

We only have three Masters Series on clay during all the season, and we have three Masters Series in four weeks. So for us it's terrible, that.

And three Masters Series in the middle of the biggest tournament on clay in the world: Barcelona. So if you see the calendar, that is unbelievable.

Everybody can say about the Olympics. Is not for the Olympics. This year we have that. It's because these two tournaments are one week later, because you have university or something like this, college basketball. I respect 100% the college basketball. I think it's very important.

I know here it's very important, the college basketball, because I saw always the American players and the mens in the locker room watching always this.

But, well, we can't have the calendar thinking about the college basketball, no? So we are 100% disappointed about this decision of the ATP.

Finally the European players are, well, I don't know, very angry about these decisions, no? For me it's terrible. You know, I'm a clay player, but I can play very well on all surface. But play four weeks it's impossible if you are playing well, no?

Q. Andy Murray has just announced that had Alex Corretja is going to be his coach through the clay season. Your thoughts on that whether you're surprised, because Alex is a TV guy now, and what you think he can help Andy with.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I really don't know because I didn't have I don't know how he's working Alex against one player, no? For sure he has enough experience on clay. He can pass on his feelings how to play on clay to Andy.

But anyway Andy, I think, is very talented player. He can play very well in all surfaces, no? Why not on clay? I think he going to do very good.

Q. Perhaps the one phase of your game that has improved the most is your serve, both first and second serve. Could you assess for us how much improvement you've made over the last two years in your serving?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't like to speak too much about my improves, because every week we are speaking about my improvement. I don't know, I always try to improve everything. My serve, for sure, is more is more difficult improve my forehand than my serve, because I have my serve here and my forehand here.

When you start playing tennis, you well, I don't know how you're playing, but you have more chances to improve than me, so it's easier. So if my serve is worse I have more chances for improve.

But I always try to improve everything. My serve is important part of my game to improve, and I was very focus all the time with my serve and with my volleys with my slice, because I am slicing much better than two years before now, too. I use my slice on hard surfaces important shot, and two years before I didn't use.

12:30 P.M. SUNDAY, APRIL 6
RAFAEL NADAL
WILL PLAY
NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO
IN THE SONY ERICSSON OPEN
FINAL

YOU ARE ON FIRE RAFA !!

WAY TO SALSA UP MIAMI!!
KEEP THE HEAT TURNED UP

RAFA HAS GOT GREAT HEART

At Zimbio photos of Rafael Nadal against Tomas Berdych April 3, 2008 at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami Day12 ~ See for credits to some of photos posted here

NADAL FIRED UP ~ INTO MIAMI 08 SEMI FINALS ~ WINS OVER BLAKE

April 4, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. the semi-final match with

Tomas Berdych (CZE) [10] vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP) [2]

Rafael Nadal against James Blake April 2, 2008

This post updated April 3, 08 at 7:30 with video of the match below.

Nadal Defeats Blake to Reach Miami Semifinals

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal made his way into the semifinals for the second straight ATP Masters Series tournament at the expense of No. 9 James Blake, defeating the American 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

After losing his first three career matches against Blake, Nadal prevailed in three sets two weeks ago in the Pacific Life Open quarterfinals. The Spaniard then lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.

With his victory over Blake, the 21-year-old Nadal picked up his circuit-best 20th match win of the season and reached the semifinals for the fourth time this year. He has a 1-3 record in semifinals, his win coming in his season opener at Chennai, where he saved four match points to defeat compatriot Carlos Moya in three hours and 54 minutes.

The Spaniard will attempt to secure his place in his second Miami final when he meets the winner between Wednesday night's quarterfinal between World No. 10 Tomas Berdych and Russian No. 31 seed Igor Andreev.

Nadal reached the Miami final in 2005, when he lost to World No. 1 Roger Federer in five sets. Two-time champion Federer meets 2004 titlist Andy Roddick in quarterfinal action on Thursday. It is the first time since 2000 the No. 1 and 2 seeds have advanced to the quarterfinals in Miami. Source: ATP Tennis

An interview with : RAFAEL NADAL after JAMES BLAKEmatch

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. A few weeks ago before Indian Wells, people were saying, and looking at his record, thinking he's maybe a little bit in your head. What turned around? And are you in his head a little bit now maybe?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't think, so. I think we play very tough matches, both, Indian Wells and here. Very good matches I think. Well, he start playing so aggressive. I don't have many chances in the beginning. I can't touch the ball. I can't get the rhythm in the beginning, nothing. But I was all the time very focused, no? Serving well? The first set, I don't know, but I was playing well, winning my serves easy.

Q. So later in the 43, 30Love, you play against James and he has three winners, returns, something like this. So you don't know why, but you are 63 down.

RAFAEL NADAL: So later I won a very important point. One 1530 with one long volley after long point with the backhand. This change a little bit the match, no? And later I have the break in the 43. That's turn of the match.

Q. You've found a way to get on James' backhand side and make that work for you. How have you done that?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think I play better this two times than the last times against him, no? I change a little bit tactically. I play more aggressive than before.

I think just before I was running a lot, two meters behind the line. I think right now I playing a little bit more aggressive. I can lose, but I think it's the only way for try to win.

Q. Does it help to hit the service returns high to James on the backhand side?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I need change the serve because I don't have 230 kilometer serve. Well, so I have to change. I serve with more topspin sometimes. Sometimes a little bit more flat. But I have to change. If not, it's impossible because he returns so fast.

Q. Has Djokovic's early loss here taken a bit of pressure off you in terms of ranking? Obviously after this tournament you've got a lot of points to defend. Do you feel a little less pressure now?

RAFAEL NADAL: Djokovic is very good player. He can be No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 right now. Doesn't matter, no?

But I just try my best in every tournament. If he pass me and he's the No. 2 or No. 1, we have to accept that and congratulate him. But the only thing is try to put the I just try my best. And, well, with this tournament, a little bit with more calm.

But anyway, I have to defend a lot of points. He's going to have his good chances on clay for pass me. But I just my goal is try to continuing playing like here and play like this, I going to have my chances for being in the top positions.

Q. Do you feel as though you're game is coming together now? I know it's the end of hard court season, but do you get the sense that things are beginning to come into place for you at an important time?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think for me it's very good, both tournaments, no? Semifinals in Indian Wells and being in semifinals here, it's very good tournament for me. Best players of the world are here, playing at hard surface.

So three most important tournaments this year on hard, I was in the semifinals in all three, no? So I think I'm playing well, for sure, and my opinion is that I am playing much better here than Australia.

Right now I am feeling like I am playing at my best level, so that's important for come to the clay season with more confidence, too. But at the same time, disappointing, because right now finish the hard season and then I'm playing better than before.

I think the last week help me a little bit with the big wins against Tsonga and Blake. After, I play very bad match in semifinals against Djokovic. Anyway, I play very good matches, and I come in this week with more confidence, no?

Q. In both these matches the past few weeks, at the end James' level seemed to go down. He looked like he wasn't feeling so confident anymore. Is that something that you notice on your side of net? When was the last time you felt so discouraged against a player at that stage of the match?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, sometimes happen, no? Well, the thing is it's strange. I don't know what he says before. I don't know what he says. But I think he was playing fine today. I think he was playing very good tennis.

After the third game or fourth game of third set he comes a little bit down. I have lucky with the break point net on the inside. But I think he goes a little bit down, no?

I have the same last week against Djokovic. I played, but it's a little bit different because I start playing bad and I finish playing worse. He start playing well, and he finish a little bit worse. But it was a tight match, not similar.

Q. Maybe the most important point of the match: Breakpoint, fourth game, third set. He hits an overhead right at you. Did you feint one way first to try to get behind you? Is that how you were able to retrieve the over head?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, it was in the third game. Yeah. I don't know. I just I have bad lob, I think, not very well. Anyway, I have lucky because I touch the ball here and the ball can goes anyplace.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about the fact that you missed so many breakpoints today?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah. Sometimes happen, no?

Q. But were you getting a bit crazy about it?

RAFAEL NADAL: The true is I didn't know. I know when I sit in the changeover of the first set. So that's the first time what I know that, no?

But I think he play well. He play good serves. I tried to play aggressive when I have the chance. This is the only way to win: Play aggressive, no? But, well, he serve very good points and I have some mistakes with the forehand in the return, but anyway, he played very well, the important points.

Q. Will you watch Berdych tonight?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I don't know. It's at 9:00, no? I don't think so. I think we know each other, Berdych and Andreev, and he's not an unknown player. It's dinnertime.

Q. Should you reach the final, would you prefer to play Roger Federer and maybe get the chance to reverse the result of 2005 when you had a lead of two sets to Love and 41 and you lost the match? Would you prefer to play Federer because of that?

RAFAEL NADAL: I prefer to play the final.

Q. Yeah. But would you prefer Federer in the final if you get there?

RAFAEL NADAL: Ask me when I am in the final, when I come here after semifinals and if I am there, no?

ATP Tour ~ Rafa blasts into semis

Eurosport - Wed, 02 Apr 22:57:00 2008

World number two Rafael Nadal flexed his muscles to beat James Blake 3-6 6-3 6-1 and reach the semi-finals of the Miami Masters.

Nadal defeated his American rival for the first time in his career at the Indian Wells Masters quarter-finals two weeks ago and replicated the feat on Wednesday.

Blake made far too many mistakes during the one hour 55 minute contest, producing 31 unforced errors compared with just 13 for Nadal.

The American also offered Nadal 19 opportunities to break his serve -- with the triple French Open champion breaking four times in total.

Nadal turned the match in his favour when he broke Blake with a with a sizzling backhand passing shot to go 5-3 up in the second set.

He greeted the break with his trademark fist pump and from then on Blake's challenge faded away.

Nadal will play either world number 10 Tomas Berdych or Russia's Igor Andreev in the semis.

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Nadal v Blake 10th part of 11 parts Miami April 2, 2008

Quarter final Thanks to redrum008

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Nadal v. Blake 11th part of 11 parts Miami April 2, 08

Quarter final Thanks to redrum008

Rafael Nadal Photos in match with James Blake April 2, 2008 in Key Biscayne, Florida

NADAL AND BLAKE MEET AGAIN IN MIAMI APRIL 2, 08

Rafa plays in Miami quarter-finals

April 2, Wednesday (My birthday)

VAMOS RAFA!

Not before 3:00 p.m. EST
See my sidebar for the Tennis Time during the tournament

James Blake 9 (USA) versus Rafael Nadal 2 (ESP)

You can try Fox Sports, it looks like they will at least show some of the match, starting at 3:00 p.m. TVUnetworks doesn't show it for live streaming.
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Highlights
3rd Round Rafael Nadal versus Nicolas Kiefer
Rafa wins 6-2, 6-4
Sony Ericsson Open Miami '08

From:25 year old redrum008
of Barcelona, Spain

Part 1 of 11
Part 2 of 11
Part 3 of 11
For more just folllow the links to Youtube
All 11 parts from redrum008
Miami '08 - 3rd Round - Nadal Vs. Kiefer

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During the rain delay in Rafa's 3rd round in Miami 08
March 30, 08

Rafa and Francis Roig
From: luneworld

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Interview with Rafael after Kiefer Match

From: redrum008
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Rafael Nadal wins over Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 6-4

From: Cosmicoz
This match wasn't aired in USA either on the very limited coverage on Fox Sports or on live streaming for TVUnetworks. Around the world, except in the USA you can see it on BET365. And you can go to ATP Masters Series TV and pay to see live streaming. The coverage of professional tennis in the USA is unacceptable to say it mildly.

Contact Fox Sports about limited coverage

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All but one photo is from the Nadal v Mathieu, April 1, 08 Miami match. You can tell the difference by the clothing.

Photos of Rafa.

From Rafa's Blog at tennis.com:

MONDAY, MARCH 31

Hi everybody,

Here I am once more writing this blog. I hope you are enjoying it and finding out more about what I do during a tournament week. I am sure that most of you have questions and I don't know if this could be arranged so that I can answer some of them [Ed. note: send questions here]. What I try to do here is to explain to you what I normally do. I prefer it like this than going into more deep stuff. I don't know if you know what I mean.

As I said on my previous post, which I only did this morning, and for that I apologize, today it was a "free day". Before I tell you about my day, I have to say that last night I couldn't write the blog and only did it this morning since we came pretty late from dinner and one drink (I actually didn't but the rest of the people with me did). It was kind of late (midnight) and I was tired. So apologies as I say. I hope you understand.

This morning we went to the site at 11 am as I said and got the practice at noon. I had an autograph session planned with Babolat on-site but I arrived much later than agreed. This was due to some work I had to do after the practice. Sometimes, depending on how it went, we normally continue the work on a gym, and maybe have to do some icing or taping here and there. For this I also hope that the fans that were there waiting till I arrived are OK. Sorry for the delay. I was the one more interested on finishing on time and early since I had tee time at 3 pm. I was surprised of the amount of people there today. It is really great to see so much support. I really appreciate it and I hope everyone understands that at some point I have to leave. I know that a lot of people stay there waiting for an autograph. Believe me that I feel bad when someone can't get one and that I would really love to sign them all. But please understand me. I always try to stay more, but it would never end. Please forgive me those who didn't get one. To give you another example, today when I was leaving (late) the site, some people in Spanish shouted at me asking for an autograph. I was already getting in my car to leave and couldn't get back down. Sorry. I hope
you are there tomorrow and I sign it to you, OK?

Golf today was not very good. I think it was the worst match I have played in years so I hope my tennis compensates tomorrow... It happens! When I play bad tennis I play good golf so I hope that it is the other way around tomorrow. As I say I went with Francis, my uncle Miquel Angel and Benito. I know that there was a photographer so I hope we get the pictures tomorrow to post them here. I'll get Benito to work on it.

Tomorrow it is Francis Roig's birthday so we will have something prepared for him. I think we are going to a Spanish restaurant here in Miami to celebrate. I hope we can celebrate also that I am into the next round.

See you all,

Rafa

SUNDAY, MARCH 30

Hi everybody,

Today it was a match day, and first of all I want to say that I played really good and that I am very happy with my performance out there. The funny thing is the rain in Miami. Lot of people asked me about that but after Wimbledon I can't complain if things like this happen. This was nothing, only a couple of times in and out. At Wimbledon it was the whole day, for more than a couple of days!

So we came back a few minutes to the locker room and I simply had a little chat with Francis Roig, my coach here during this March swing. I was playing great and I was feeling really good about the match so we didn't talk much. Only a few tips here and there on a few shots that I made some mistakes. But as I say, I was feeling great and really enjoying my time out there.

The day was long at the tournament. In the end we (or I should say I) spend a lot of time on-site. I left the hotel at 11 and got back at 9.15 pm. That's 10 hours on site. I like to get there early rather than late and hang around and wait for my match rather than the other way around. Beside, yesterday my soccer team was playing and I managed to watch it in the locker room before I went on court. A few of us gathered to watch the match and the atmosphere was pretty funny.

As I said yesterday, my father came to Miami (you know that he normally doesn't travel much to tournaments) with some friends. I say this because then at night we are a few of us going out for dinner. I think we were 10 tonight and we went to a Spanish restaurant here very close to the hotel. New restaurant called Dolores Lolita or something like that. Good food. We just came back from the restaurant.

Tomorrow I have a "free day" since I don't play. Still got some work to do since I am practicing at 12 noon and then I have some autograph sessions at 1.15 pm at the Babolat stand. I hope I can see a few of you there. After that I think I am going to play some golf with my uncle Miguel Angel, my coach Francis and my PR manager Benito Perez-Barbadillo. Well, he will try to play and the three of us will play :-)

See you all.

Rafa

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Rafa's website, link to Fan Page www.rafaelnadal.com

RAFAEL NADAL OVER NICOLAS KIEFER 6-2, 6-4

All of the above photos are of the Saturday doubles match
between Rafael Nadal, Tommy Robredo and the Bryan Brothers
Bryan Brothers won 7-6 (5), 6-3

All of the photos above are of the match between Rafael Nadal and Benjamin Becker.
Rafa won this round two match.
Rafael Nadal won 7-5, 6-2

Rafa

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The photos in the slideshow are of the match between Rafael Nadal and Nicolas Kiefer Sunday, March 30, 08.

After some rain delays, Rafael Nadal won in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

Sony Ericsson Open Results

Rafael Nadal
Go to the Fan Page for up-to-date information on Rafa

Photos of Rafael Nadal at the Sony Ericsson Open 2008

Rafael Nadal is blogging for us at
tennis.com during his participation at the 2008 Sony Ericsson Open

RAFAEL NADAL MOVES ONTO NICOLAS KIEFER IN 3RD ROUND IN MIAMI

ENJOY!

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Slideshow of Rafa in Florida March 2008, including the match versus German Benjamin Becker. Rafa won 5-7, 6-2.

First Round of Doubles March 29, 2008, not to be played before 3:00 p.m.

Bob Bryan (USA) Mike Bryan (USA) [1] vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP) Tommy Robredo (ESP)

Rafa's next singles match will be with Nicolas Kiefer.

Schedule for March 29, 2008

Draws
Choose a section of the Draw when you get there. See the bracket at the top of the page.

VAMOS RAFA !

Just for fun!
Rafael Nadal won his countryman Carlos Moya, 6-3 and 6-4 and and become the champion of the Malaga Master International championship (Málaga Master Internacional de Tenis ) for the second consecutive year. The tournament was an occasion to to see the top Spanish tennis players: Rafa Nadal, Carlos Moyá, Feliciano López, David Ferrer, Pablo Martin Adalia and Nicolas Massú from Chile . The championship took place in the Martin Carpena Sports Centre between 1st to 3rd December 2007.

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Casillas and Nadal

From: Enivena