ARTICLES:
- Nadal Sets Up Hamburg Open Final Against Fognini (via AP/New York Times)
Top-seeded Rafael Nadal dismissed Andreas Seppi 6-1, 6-2 to set up a Hamburg Open final against Fabio Fognini.
Nadal is looking to extend his streak of having won at least one European clay court title every year since 2004. The former No. 1 has dropped to 10th in the rankings and is playing his first tournament since losing in the second round of Wimbledon. He won in Hamburg in 2008, the last time he played in the clay-court event.
- Nadal Seeks Revenge In Hamburg Final (via ATP World Tour)
“From the beginning I played great, since the first game that I hit a few winners,” Nadal added. “I was very comfortable on court today, feeling the ball well, with topspin to his backhand and then changing to his forehand down the line – a very important shot for me. In general it was a very positive match.
“Every victory is important. And this year with the up and downs that I’ve had, obviously every improvement is important. I played at a very high level. I’m very happy for that, playing with not many mistakes, very well with my backhand, very well with my forehand, hitting winners, changing speeds, changing directions. I think I played a great match.”
- Nadal Slams Seppi To Reach Hamburg Final (via Tennis Now)
Dishing out punishment all day, Nadal felt the pain of a strain apparently near his right rib cage after hitting a forehand. He abruptly stopped play, called for the trainer and was treated for the apparent strain, later taking medicine for a possible stomach ailment as well.
There were plenty of positives for Nadal in this match. The 2008 champion moved well, ripped his forehand with ambition and accuracy, closed at net and for the most part played with confidence against an outclassed opponent he’s beaten six times in seven matches. On the hottest day of the tournament, Nadal’s twisting topspin largely neutered Seppi’s best weapon, the two-handed backhand, and displaced the lanky Italian into defensive positions.
PHOTOS: Rafael Nadal reaches Hamburg final
VIDEOS:
Rafa is the best male tennis player ever and I don’t think that there would be another one like him anytime soon, if ever. There are those who may have won more matches than he has and even more grand slams but he never gets the favors from the ITF umpires that some others enjoy so even if he wins his matches in straight sets while the others plays the same amount of sets or more his matches are longer because of the players in the draws that he gets, then when he plays in the finals and have to move on to the other matches with the same type of draws it depletes his energy, He knows how to renew it, though not as quickly at when he was younger. In the end we will respect him much more than those with more match wins than he has.
All the very best in the final, sweet Rafa! ❤️😊 VAMOS! 😘🎾🏆
may your good health
,stay with youxx
RAFA PLAYED HIS BEST TENNIS LAST NIGHT AGAINST SEPPI.BUT INTHE SECOND SET WE ALL HAD A REAL SCARE WITH RAFA GOING TO THE UMPIRE IN PAIN SO HE HAD TREATMENT THE GOOD NEWS WAS IT WAS NEAR THE END OF THE SECOND SET…….REALLY GOOD SOLID PLAY RAFA,KEEP UP THIS SOLID GAME PLAN…..VAMOS
Good luck in the Hamburg final, Looking forward to seeing you at the U S Open.
Hopefully you are fit and ok. Wish you all the best for the final. Vamos Rafa! <3 <3 <3
In yesterday’s match against Seppi, Rafa did a much better job of leaning into his forehands instead of lunging at them, and swinging with more drive and less topspin. I’ve been harping on these technical adjustments all year long. Thank God he finally got the message, even if someone else gave it to him. Or perhaps he just figured it out on his own. Finally. Better late than never. VAMOS!!!
Pues yo creo que le ha enviado bolas envenenadas a su drive, para atacar luego con la pista más abierta a su revés…liftando a lo bestia para maniatarlo y no dejarle pegar con su magnífico drive….Y…no comprendo tu “apoyarse en sus golpes de derecha en lugar de lanzarse contra ellos” puedes traducir a términos tenísticos…? porque lo de “lanzarse” y “apoyarse” ….¿?. Ah…no deberías ofrecerte para aconsejar al equipo de Rafa…no sé, digo yo….jejeje
Vamos Rafa sigue jugando como lo estas haciendo, ese es el Nadal que siempre hemos viste, confifent, seguro de su juego. suerte manana en la final
Best wishes for the final at Hamburg. You are the best.