ARTICLES:

• Federer, Nadal On Madrid Semi-Final Collision Course (via ATP World Tour)

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal could renew their rivalry in the semi-finals of the Mutua Madrid Open after Friday’s draw pitched them both in the top half of the 56-player field. … The third-seeded Nadal is looking to win the Madrid title for the third year in a row, after beating Stan Wawrinka in the 2013 final and Kei Nishikori last year.

• The Catch-Up Bowl (via tennis.com)

Even without Djokovic around, Nadal, the two-time defending champion, is seeded No. 3 and has been dropped into Federer’s half. Not that it really matters; wherever Rafa is this week, questions will swirl around him as he tries to re-crown himself the King of Clay. I’d say Djokovic’s absence should help; the Serb makes Nadal worry like no other player on dirt.

• Madrid Open men’s preview: Nadal looks to find form on clay (via SI.com)

Can Nadal find his form on clay in time for the French Open? After a confidence-boosting week at the Monte Carlo Masters—where he played a very competitive semifinal against Djokovic—Nadal laid an egg in Barcelona and lost in straight sets to Fabio Fognini. He has a very workable early-round draw in Madrid and as he tries to fend off Nishikori and Raonic to secure the No. 4 seed for Paris, every win counts.

• Rafa Nadal, Medalla de oro al Trabajo: ‘Mi clave es la dedicación’ (via El Mundo)

“Nunca imaginé recibir una medalla así, en un lugar tan importante como este para nuestro país. Estoy muy agradecido, y esperemos que este tiempo que está siendo más de altibajos, con el trabajo de cada día pueda recuperar la estabilidad y otra vez la senda de las victorias”, añadió al recordar sus últimos malos resultados.

• The stat behind Rafael Nadal’s clay-court success (via ESPN)

It should come as no surprise that Rafael Nadal is listed as No. 9 on the ATP MatchFacts list of men who have been most successful converting break points on clay. The King of Clay has cashed in on exactly 50 percent of his break-point chances in 339 matches (1,575 of 3,181). But there are always a few caveats when it comes to these statistics.

• Andy Murray compares Mayweather v Pacquiao to Federer v Nadal (via Sky Sports)

Andy Murray believes this weekend’s fight of the century between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is similar to Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal’s rivalry. … “It would be like Federer and Nadal having never played each other and just having a one-off match to see who the better one would be,” he said.

PHOTOS:

• Kia Renews Partnership with Rafael Nadal
• Rafael Nadal receives the Gold Medal of Merit in Work
• Rafael Nadal practicing in Madrid (May 1)

VIDEOS:

• Rafael Nadal practices at Madrid Open with photos (May 2)
• Mariano Rajoy entrega la medalla de Oro al Mérito en el Trabajo a Rafa Nadal (via La Moncloa)
• Rafa Nadal: “Físicamente me encuentro bien” (via Europa Press)
• Nadal: “Fecha de caducidad hay pero no la veo ahora” (via RTVE)
• Rafa Nadal: “Yo soy feliz con cosas simples” (via El Chiringuito de Jugones)
• Nadal: “Tengo que jugar mejor que en Barcelona” (via Mundo Deportivo)