Rafael Nadal had a great night in New Delhi as he won his doubles and singles sets, both with Roger Federer on the other side, to lead the Indian Aces to a 30-19 victory over the UAE Royals.
After the match, Rafa said it was a joy to play against Roger in front of an adoring crowd in India:
It was always a pleasure to play Roger in any part of the world but the crowd here was unbelievable.
Rafael Nadal, left, Ivan Dodig, centre, and Sania Mirza of the Indian Aces applaud, during International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo /Tsering Topgyal)
Rafael Nadal of the Indian Aces cheers his group, during the International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)
Rafael Nadal of the Indian Aces cheers his group, during the International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)
Indian Aces’ Rafael Nadal (C) of Spain celebrates a point of his teammate Fabrice Santoro of France against UAE Royals’ Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia during their men’s singles match in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) in New Delhi, India, December 12, 2015. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee
Rafael Nadal of the Indian Aces serves against Roger Federer and Marin Cilic of UAE Royals in the men’s doubles event of the International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo /Tsering Topgyal)
Rafael Nadal of Indian Aces returns a shot against Roger Federer of UAE Royals in the men’s singles event of the International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)
Rafael Nadal of Indian Aces returns a shot to Roger Federer of UAE Royals in the men’s singles event of the International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo /Tsering Topgyal)
Rafael Nadal of Indian Aces wipes the sweat from his face as he plays Roger Federer of UAE Royals in the men’s singles event of the International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo /Tsering Topgyal)
Rafael Nadal of Indian Aces serves as he plays Roger Federer of UAE Royals in the men’s singles event of the International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo /Tsering Topgyal)
Rafael Nadal of Indian Aces returns a shot against Roger Federer of UAE Royals in the men’s singles event of the International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)
Rafael Nadal of Indian Aces adjust his hair as he plays Roger Federer of UAE Royals in the men’s singles event of the International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo /Tsering Topgyal)
Indian Aces’ Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to UAE Royals’ Roger Federer of Switzerland during their men’s singles match in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) in New Delhi, India, December 12, 2015. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee
Indian Aces’ Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to UAE Royals’ Roger Federer of Switzerland during their men’s singles match in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) in New Delhi, India, December 12, 2015. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee
UAE Royals’ Roger Federer (L) of Switzerland and Indian Aces’ Rafael Nadal of Spain watch during their men’s singles match in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) in New Delhi, India, December 12, 2015. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee
Photo: IPTL
Roger Federer, right, of the UAE Royal and Rafael Nadal of the Indian Aces pose for a picture after the men’s singles event of the International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo /Tsering Topgyal)
UAE Royals’ Roger Federer (L) of Switzerland and Indian Aces’ Rafael Nadal of Spain pose for pictures after their men’s singles match in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) in New Delhi, India, December 12, 2015. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee
Rafael Nadal of the Indian Aces waves at supporters during the International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo /Tsering Topgyal)
Results:
- Sania Mirza/Rohan Bopanna def. Daniel Nestor/Kristina Mladenovic 6-4
- Agnieszka Radwanska def. Kristina Mladenovic 6-1
- Fabrice Santoro def. Goran Ivanisevic 6-5 (7-4)
- Rafael Nadal/Rohan Bopanna def. Roger Federer/Marin Cilic 6-4
- Rafael Nadal def. Roger Federer 6-5 (7-4)
Rafa looks absolutely fantastic in that Nike shirt. Wow!
So great to see a smile on your face
Thank you for exist for us ! We are so lucky to have you Rafa ! You give to us so many joy !
Jamás bajes los brazos, jamás baja a tu guardia, va por delante: ¡ todavía y siempre! ¡ Escucha sólo tu pequeña voz interior! Jahrod UNYK
Thank you for exist for us !
Way to go Champ <3 <3 Proud of you <3 🙂
What a way to end a VERY difficult year, Rafa – WELL DONE MY HERO & VAAAMOOOS for a beautiful 2016!!!!!!!!!! ALWAYS behind you
!!!
I did not get to see the matches. Could you guys PLEASE let us know schedules
and ajust to our times. Enough of that, Rafa you look full of joy. So happy the bad spell is behind. I have total respect for Rodger but You are always my pick to win. Congratulations!
Congrats Raga always a joy to watch you play. Great to see you in that superb form.
The Aces were fantastic and bonded so well, having fun while supporting each other. They played amazing tennis. Super to see Rafael in such good form and playing with confidence and joy. Pleased that he won. Psychologically it is so positive for him. The crowd were fantastic.
Great to see RN and RF enjoying themselves; crowd seems really enthused, too!
YES, YES, YES, YES, YES
RAFA my amazing guy, you beat ROGER today.
Happy RAFA fan forever.
Great Rafa. Vamos <3 <3 <3
Vamos mi campeon eres el mejor
Way to go Rafa!!!! <3 🙂
Vamos our great Champ!
VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU ARE SO SPECIAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Love watching you glide & slide & groove on the court!!!!!!!!! Your uplifted smiles throughout the match were so sweet & the crowd cheers were special!!!!!!!!!!! India loves you and so does China….and so does the Philippines…and on and on and on…….. all behind you & your charitable dedication. This was a fantastic match and lots of fun to watch!!!!
Congratulations on your beautiful Tennis & classy victory !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) It was A BRILLIANT MATCH & A BRILLIANT LEAD FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ci….ci….ci…..ci…..ci….& ci….! : ) You led the entire set against tired leggy r, and you are the stronger better player!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VAMOS SWEETHEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! r ‘s game declined and he ran out of energy twice after few serve games and had to be rescued twice for time outs so he could regain breath & rest ….. It is evident your endurance and game tactics on the field are superior!!!!!!!!!!! This was such an obvious classy example that your endurance, your feisty strong powerful returns and your serve are TOP TOP TOP competitive and you have the technical goods!!!!!!!!!!! SO VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Loved how you led the entire match…..and yes r admitted he was lagging behind the entire duration of the set…….yet he fell to give you credit because he, much like all of us, know well that you are the better, stronger, and more relevant player !!!!! Some players are poor losers……never mind waiting for their kind generous words towards their winning opponents………This magnifies the fact that THAT IS YOUR STRENGTH……you always congratulate your opponents win or lose, and you have such gentleman mannerism about you that is honorable and charming to no end!!!!!!!!!!! The many miscalled given to the other team were frequent, and fortunately were mostly challenge by the ACES and were corrected…….It was rather odd how the umpire kept out of all the miscalled as if he is not apart of what the rest of us see happening on the lines. If you look at the REPLAY…..you will see all the miscalls clearly. At one point, they called “out” your perfectly good return ball , and as you were about to challenge, the umpire saved his embarrassment once again and over ruled it for “IN” AS IT CLEARLY WAS. Your inspiration and drive during your fantastic matches are all out there dear Rafa, and that over takes and goes beyond all miscalls, misgiving and poor opponents post words.
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) You played such a fine, solid, and inspired set both in the Doubles and Singles and KUDOS to you & your fabulous INDIAN ACES TEAM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Lots of love & happiness to you & uncle Toni and your dear Physio and God bless you all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy a great evening …..have lots of fun……and celebrate your fantastic POINT BY POINT performance !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU DID IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) CI…….CI…….CI……..& CI…….. VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Loved the way u played rafa
The intensity, the pace , the pep in ur foot just reminded of rafa in ao 2012
After so long time
Vamos rafa and have a great rest … enjoy