For Rafael Nadal, Basel nearly ended at the beginning. Our champ came from a set down to beat No. 92 Lukas Rosol 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4). At first he struggled to adjust to quite fast indoor conditions, but as the match was going on he found his rytham and sealed victory after two hours and 16 minutes.
After the match, Rafa said: “For me it was very difficult to adjust. I tried to survive in that second set and wait for an opportunity.” (via AP)
Rafael Nadal of Spain arrives for his match against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol during the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves a ball against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol during their match at the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves a ball against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol during their match at the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his match against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol at the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve la bola al checo Lukas Rosol durante el partido de primera ronda del torneo de Basilea disputado en Suiza, hoy 26 de octubre de 2015. EFE/Georgios Kefalas
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his match against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol at the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his match against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol at the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves a ball against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol during their match at the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a ball against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol during their match at the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his match against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol at the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve la bola al checo Lukas Rosol durante el partido de primera ronda del torneo de Basilea disputado en Suiza, hoy 26 de octubre de 2015. EFE/Georgios Kefalas
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a ball against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol during their match at the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his match against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol at the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
El tenista español Rafael Nadal, durante el partido de primera ronda del torneo de Basilea disputado ante el checo Lukas Rosol en Suiza, hoy 26 de octubre de 2015. EFE/Georgios Kefalas
El tenista español Rafael Nadal, durante el partido de primera ronda del torneo de Basilea disputado ante el checo Lukas Rosol en Suiza, hoy 26 de octubre de 2015. EFE/Georgios Kefalas
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning his match against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol at the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning his match against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol at the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Spanish player Rafael Nadal gestures after he won against Czech player Lukas Rosol during the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament on October 26, 2015 in Basel, northern Switzerland. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning his match against Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol at the Swiss Indoors ATP men’s tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
I’m VERY HAPPY that you won, Rafa!!! Please keep it up and win the tournament!!! VAMOS!!!
Your game is amazin, Vamos Rafa
The first set and a half rafa was asleep.. not sure if it was jetlag… yes rasol was red lining.. but rafa was hitting it so short.. even by 2015 rafa standards.. but what’s noticeable with rafa now to say 2015 RG is.. his fight is back.. which is awsome. . He even shouted out in frustration. . Which was good to see.. even started standing close and attacking though started that too late. Once he attacked rasol started missing.
The court at Basel looks miserable with no bounce at all.. and rasol as usual was a total Dick.. Nice comeback but I wish Rafa was more positive from the start.. a better player would not choke and Rafa would have lost today. Anyway good luck for the next game..
RAFA YOU WERE MAGNIFICENT.. I CANNOT STAND ROSOL. BUT AS ALWAYS YOU ARE GENTLEMAN AND A WONDEFUL SPORTSMAN. XX
Congrats, dear Rafa 😃💕 VAMOS and good luck at your next matches 🎾💪😊
I say DETERMINATION MENTAL STRENTGH. VAMOS. Love always
Poor match by rafa standard
However first match of indoors (different conditions) and a always motivated opponent when playing u who was thinking of teenis racquet as machine gun and triggering ball as of bullets not much can be done
But love the way u maintain ur anger till the end which i thought was somewhat invisible from 2 to 3 years ….u need to be more angry withurself rafa
Positive thing is u kept fighting till last point and ur never give up attitude once gone exciting to see
I was happy since in ur great form u tend to win matches even when u play poorer
It was that kind of match
But rafa there is absolutely no mercy when u hit the ball in service box area
Rafa please continue to hit ball beyond the service box area
Bst luck for Next match
Vamos rafa vamos
Always very sad when I am unable to see your tournaments in Australia, but woke up early today n switched on my iPad n hooray you had won. This has brightened my day Rafael. Good luck for your next match. God bless you. Vamos Rafa. Your Aussie Abuela.
Rafa, the best. Always fighting. Never gives up. Rafa, pleas stop making my heart go into faster heartbeats. I am too old for that. You are the Champ. Millions of your fans have absolute faith in you. We will never give up on you. First serves over the net please. Return serves need just a bit more improvement. Footwork just fabulous. From behind, and win, amazing. Vamos Rafa, always. A fan since the very beginning. Dawn Hanley