ARTICLES:

• Nadal Breaks Down Isner For QF Spot (via ATP World Tour)

“I [defended] well from the baseline,” Nadal said after the match. “I played with not many mistakes and tried to go for points when I had a chance. I recovered tough balls, had good movement and a few very good passing shots. That is very good for my confidence, too. In general, I think I played very well.” … “When I was winning a lot in the past during clay-court season, I never thought that was the normal state,” he said. “I always thought that was really special. Today, I accept all the challenges that the tour presents me, having some good weeks and some bad weeks, but always with the motivation to find the right way again.”

• Rafael Nadal has questions looming, but he’s not worried (via USA Today)

In a city steeped in history, it’s the present that is worrying about Nadal: In 2015, he’s lost four of 21 contests on the red stuff; won just one tournament; and lost in straight sets to rivals Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray in the last two weeks, the latter marking his first clay defeat at the hands of the British player. Can the Nadal write a new chapter in how to go about rising to the top in Paris? “It’s true that I have been on and off; it’s not enough consisten(cy),” Nadal told reporters earlier in the week. “Things are what (they) are. I know that I can dig (for) better matches this year. But, it’s not that bad.”

• Nadal derrota a Isner y ya está en cuartos (via El Pais)

Con el primer set en el bolsillo, Nadal no bajó el ritmo en el segundo. Continuó sin cometer los errores de partidos anteriores y controlando a su rival que, en cambio, respondía amparado en su poderoso saque con el que no dio tanto respiro al balear.

• Mailbag: Despite his recent slump, Nadal is still a French Open contender (via SI.com)

Nadal returns to his personal sandbox in Paris and reminds himself that one player—not currently active—has beaten him here over the last decade. He wins a few matches decisively, proving to himself that he can shift to Beast Mode. He wins a few others with persistence, proving to himself he can still win on days when he lacks his best tennis. If he is limping around, conspicuously hurt, we panic. When his biggest problem is full faith and credit in his own skills, well, that’s a problem can solve itself—and quickly. All of which is to say: let’s revisit in four weeks.

PHOTOS:

• Rafael Nadal into Rome last 8
• Rafael Nadal advances to Rome 3rd Round

VIDEOS:

• Rafael Nadal’s post match interview (via Gazzetta TV)
• Rafael Nadal’s Hot Shot Rome 2015 vs. John Isner
• Throwback Thursday: Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal Rome 2006 Final (via ATP World Tour)
• Rafael Nadal v Roger Federer: Rome 2006 Flashback Part 2 (via TennisTV)