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ARTICLES:

• Nadal Wins ESPY For Best Male Tennis Player (via ATP World Tour)

The 28-year-old Mallorcan, nominated in the category for a tenth straight year, won the award for the first time since 2011 and second time overall. Nadal was also nominated for Best International Athlete, alongside Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, women’s golfer Inbee Park and Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel. Ronaldo claimed the award.

• Super Monday with Paul Anka and two Grand-Slam winners! (via swissindoorbasel.ch)

Before music and tennis unite in harmonious mixed doubles, the first highlight of the tournament has already been scheduled for Super Monday on 20 October 2014. Under the auspices of sponsors Manor, Blick and L’illustré, Canada’s iconic singer Paul Anka and his orchestra will open the Swiss Indoors (5.30 p.m.), followed by the opening match between French Open winner Rafael Nadal and Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka. Watching the world number 2 and number 4 on the same night as an overture is not something that tennis fans experience every day.

• FedEx ATP Performance Zone: Hard Court Heavyweights (via ATP World Tour)

Bollettieri is quick to point out that World No. 2 Rafael Nadal has significantly turned the tables on hard courts. “He’s improved his serve, he’s flattened out his forehands and he stands closer to the baseline,” said the New York native. “Even though he hits the heavy spin, he moves in closer and he can flatten it out. He also comes to the net and he’s a good basic volleyer. What makes him so good against one-handed players on hard courts is his cross-court forehand as a lefty. It penetrates and runs.” In general, Bollettieri identified four core elements of a good hard court player: swing pattern, grips, racquet head speed and early backswing, and a strong lower body foundation. “Fitness, swing, tempo and grips will determine how strong a player is on any surface.”

• Una ‘Armada’ de 10 (via Marca)

Rafael Nadal (Doha, Río de Janeiro, Madrid, Roland Garros), David Ferrer (Buenos Aires), Guillermo-García-López (Casablanca), Fernando Verdasco (Houston), Feliciano López (Eastbourne) y Roberto Bautista (‘s Hertogenbosch, Stuttgart) son los protagonistas de los diez títulos que acumula el tenis masculino español en lo que llevamos de 2014, siete meses de competición donde los nuestros han sido sinónimo de éxito. España lleva siete años consecutivos liderando la estadística de más títulos ganados en un mismo ejercicio. En 2013 la ‘Armada’ alcanzó las 17 coronas, mientras que en 2012 fueron 14, en 2011 fueron 13, en 2010 se llegó a las 20, en 2009 fueron 13, en 2008 fueron 16 y en 2007 fueron 13.

• Remembering Federer v Nadal 2008 – The Umpire’s View (via Wimbledon)

“Nadal was trying to win Wimbledon for the first time, so when he went two sets to love up, I realised that it was going to be a good match. And then when Nadal had his match point in fourth set, and Federer won the point with a backhand winner, I realised this was pretty big. The crowd went ballistic. And that’s when I thought to myself, ‘bloody hell, what luck that I had this match’.”

• Así será el ´templo´ de Rafel Nadal (via diariodemallorca.es)

El complejo tendrá una capacidad de acogida para la tecnificación de 140 alumnos internos (70 unidades) y 72 deportistas (36 unidades). En cuanto a las pistas exteriores de tenis habrá una pista principal y cuatro secundarias de tierra batida, dos de hierba y diez duras (dos de ellas cubiertas). Otros deportes: un campo de fútbol 7 y una pista polideportiva.

• 2014 Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day lineup announced (via US Open)

VIDEOS:

• Rafael Nadal back on the practice courts in Mallorca
• Interview – Nadal afronta con “ánimo” la gira americana