Rafa Roundup: Is Rafael Nadal going to make a winning start at the Australian Open today?

I'm Team Rafa Nadal Australian Open 2016
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Rafael Nadal will meet Fernando Verdasco (third match, Rod Laver) on Tuesday in a rematch of their 2009 Australian Open semifinals match that lasted for five hours and 14 minutes.

Reflecting on their 2009 clash in his pre-tournament media briefing, Nadal said of Verdasco: “A lot of people always talk me about that match, no? It was a tough one, a great experience … [But] it is not about playing against a lefty, [it] is about playing against a player that has a huge potential, is able to reach a great level of tennis. If you are not playing your best, it is very, very dangerous match.”

Rafael Nadal (5) vs. Fernando Verdasco — Nadal won their most recent match, in three sets, on clay in Hamburg last summer, and has played better overall since then. But he still isn’t blowing people away, which means that Verdasco should have his chances. We’ll see what, if anything, he can do with them.

While Verdasco’s two victories cannot be entirely discounted, they can be explained. The first one came when the Madrid Masters featured controversial blue clay in 2012. Verdasco took advantage of the circumstances to prevail 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. His next win came last spring at the Miami Masters via a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 decision. Nadal, of course, was nowhere near his real self throughout much of 2015–and he was especially poor in the early stages of the season.

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16 comments

  1. Gutted. I hope Gregg Rusedski is right as he believes Rafa can still come back I have my fingers crossed he is right . The AO won’t be the same now without Rafa but I will now be cheering for Andy Murray and hope for a better outcome.Rafa come back stronger in your next tournament and maybe now think seriously about a new fresh pair of eyes to work ALONGSIDE Uncle Toni as they say if you can’t beat them then join them and maybe that is the answer now it seems most players now are having two coaches . whatever you decide do what right for you ,will always be a fan whatever the outcome

  2. VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) You played great!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can tell this meant a lot to you and I am sorry it did not end with another outcome. It was a good match but I must say it was also very odd how V was running out of energy and then after 2 bathroom breaks he suddenly WAS DISORIENTED BUT THEN came alive again….. You can be proud dear RAFA FOR THE FIGHTER & THE GREAT COURT MOVEMENT & STRONG RETURNS YOU HAD !!!!!!!!! For sure there will be other openings….other tournaments . YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL TOP PLAYER & you had a strong game!!!!! VAMOS SWEETHEART , HAVE A NICE EVENING & please know you are a true champion & YOUR ENDURANCE IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! You played well and you can be proud of yourself big time !!!! Good evening & have a good break in between tours. This is not a huge deal….just another match and there will be many others…… YOUR GAME IS CURRENT & STRONG & THAT IS GREAT SUCCESS IN ITSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) VAMOS DEAR RAFA & LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS !!!! : ) : ) : )

  3. VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Rafa beautifully broke V 1st serve in 5th SET OPENER!!!!!!!! VAMOS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO……………….GO…………………GO…………….!!!!! : ) 🙂 : )

  4. VAMOS DEAR RAFA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE SUCH A BLESSED GREAT CHAMPION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!! Rafa just broke back & it is now 5:5 in 3rd SET!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 : ) YOU HAVE THE BEST MAGICAL ENDURANCE SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) : ) 🙂 🙂 🙂 GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! RAFA IS NOW BEAUTIFULLY LEADING 6:5 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 🙂 🙂 VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 🙂 🙂

  5. VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) Rafa just won beautifully the 3rd SET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!! GREAT LEAD 2 SETS to 1….. YOU ARE PLAYING GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT RETURNS & SPEEDY COURT MOVEMENT & NET COVERAGE……& UNBELIEVABLE REACHE!!!!!!!!!!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!! VAMOS…………….VAMOS…………..VAMOS………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : )

  6. VAMOS SWEETHEART FOR CHALLENGING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! V SAW THE BALL WAS IN…….& GOOD JOB BREAKING V 1st opening serve game in 3rd set….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VAMOS……RAFA IS LEADING 2:0 3rd SET !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just had to challenge again and was right again!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 : ) VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : )

  7. VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A TIGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RAFA JUST TOOK THE 2nd SET BEAUTIFULLY with UNBELIEVABLE ON THE RUN WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

  8. VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VAMOS SWEETHEART ….YOU JUST BROKE AVIAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT JOB …….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VAMOS……………VAMOS………………VAMOS…………….!!!! It is ok to sometime have a low key game….no big deal sweetheart…. despite the head to head I do know YOU ARE A TIGER & YOU WILL PREVAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU & GO………….GO…………………..GO…………………!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Uncle Toni & team please cheer & VAMOS & encourage from the side line!!!!!!!!!!!!

  9. India channel showing dead match between murray and zever even when murray in 3 rd set break up
    And not showing nadal match

    What a bad thing to be happening

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