ARTICLES:
- Rio Stunner! Fognini Hands Nadal First SF Loss On Clay In 12 Years (via ATP World Tour)
Nadal was on fire in the first set, but Fognini turned the tide with a more aggressive approach in the early stages of the second and continued pressing the top seed in the third. He would convert on his third match point to seal the victory after two hours and 17 minutes.
- Rafa: “I’m On The Right Path” (via ATP World Tour)
“It was a good first set,” said Nadal. “In general I was missing continuity. I think I had good and bad moments, also physically, which I don’t really understand why. … “I have to accept the situation and work to get ready for what’s next. I’m working well, I have the right attitude, I have to improve things and I think that I’m on the right path and closer to the level of game that I’m looking for.”
- Rafa Nadal stunned by Fognini in ATP Rio semi-final (via Eurosport)
“I didn’t feel so well in my fitness starting in the second set; I’m getting tired before usual. I had no problem with my groin. I was just cramping in many places, which is strange because I’ve barely gotten cramps throughout my career…”
The Rio Open was Nadal’s third tournament back since a wrist injury and appendicitis interrupted and prematurely ended his 2014 season. It was also his first since losing to Tomas Berdych in the Australian Open quarterfinals in January. The loss was just the 25th loss of his career on clay and snapped his 52-match win streak for clay semifinals.
- Nadal se queda seco (via El Pais)
Nadal sumó 12 errores no forzados solo en la segunda manga. Se enfrentó al árbitro, que le hizo jugar un punto con segundo saque por lo que consideró como reiteradas pérdidas de tiempo entre punto y punto (“Voy a pedir que no me arbitres nunca más. Eres el que más presión me mete con diferencia del circuito. No puedo más. No puedo más”, le dijo al juez de silla, el brasileño Carlos Bernardes).
Nadal last lost a clay semifinal on July 21, 2003, when he was a 17-year-old ranked No. 58 and playing world No. 4 Carlos Moya.
PHOTOS: Rafael Nadal loses to Fabio Fognini in Rio
VIDEOS:
- Rio de Janeiro 2015 Saturday Highlights (via ATP World Tour)
- Rio de Janeiro 2015 Saturday Hot Shot Fognini (via ATP World Tour)
- Short excerpt from Rafa’s presser (via Rio Open Instagram)
Dizer da alegria de estar no Rio Open e ver Rafa Nadal; competente, o mais carismático do circuito, humano, como não amar o Rafa. O tennis mundial não seria o mesmo sem ele.
Continuar apoiando seu trabalho pois precisamos vê-lo em quadra, lutando ponto a ponto,
ganhando ou perdendo. O ranking se recupera com tua determinação.
Deus te conduza em triunfo RAFA!!!
Nadal is blessed w his beautiful game and he has triumphed over his blessed Tennis career accordingly. It is only an exceptional honor for any umpire to be covering his matches, and their role on the court is secondary to his blessed performance. Fans and tennis official are well aware of the quality, or lack of well sound calls on any given match. Over the years, thankfully, Nadal had to deal w many wonderful, supportive umpires, and the few less qualified ones….and occasional poor umpire calls are not because of anything Nadal does, but a complete reflection of the umpire inadequacies, and poor judgment. The good news is following tennis matches can be a lesson in tolerance and maturity having to accept all kinds of unfair, subjective calls, I love that Nadal has learned well how to put that aside and move on w his blessed gifts. We all know for certainty Nadal is well liked and highly respected and all best wishes for him moving forward!!! Looking forward to watching his Argentina Open Single and Double matches!!!!!! : )
Please come back soon to your best! Vamos Rafa.
Rafa you played amazing just the second set had lots of errors and Fabio really was playing well,you were looking very tired and I do believe that Carlos Bernaadez is a jerk of a umpire he doesn’t like you. always throw you off your game calling time violations in that hot weather.I don’t like him at all, you were not yourself after that. but you really put up a great fight in the third set and Fabio barely won on that point, I’m sure if you had won that set you would have won in a tie break. I’m happy to see you on court and best of luck! Take care of the cramps, you need a lot of water and potassium, I’m not an athlete and I get them often and I’ll be in pain for days after those cramps. Horrible.
Vamos Rafa for making RIO Semi Final…..nice, close match and Congratulations moving forward!!! It is excellent to see you back on court playing your game, and see your competitive strength, hitting aggressive shots and displaying your classy net coverage. Nice to hear your positive opinion at post Semi press… and KODOS…considering how amazing you played….given such LATE Quarter finals match the night before …still, you showed up to compete. It was beyond tough conditions, the crowd was so tired too, the whole match was sort of exceptional given the late time it began. But for us fans it is a pleasure to see back on court! VAMOS!!!!
El resultado anoche es una lastima, pero esperamos que vuelvas a triunfar como el maestro que eres!!! Te seguimos con orgullo y amor! VAMOS RAFA!!!!
RAFAwill come back stronger
rafa tu eres delos mas grandes jugadores y luchadores en las canchas no hay mal que por bien no venga estas en una edad optima y se puede perder una vez para ganar muchas mas confia en ti porque muchos confiamos y te admiramos por como eres un warrior
salut rafa pas de problème c’est la reprise sur terre en compétition , reste cool ça va venir .
ne te prend pas la tête . Je n’ai aucun doute sur ton retour au plus au niveau de ton jeu .