Unfortunately Rafael Nadal suffered a 5-7, 4-6 loss against defending champion Andy Murray in the semi-final of the Mutua Madrid Open today.
It is just the second time that the Brit has beaten our champ on clay, the last occasion being the final of the same competition last year.
After the match, Rafa said:
I had another positive week. I made it to the semi-finals. I think I’m very consistent every week.
Today mentally I think I was okay. I fought a lot until the end. I tried to look for solutions, and I think I did that; it wasn’t enough.
See you in Rome, Rafa! VAMOS!
Rafa Nadal durante su partido ante el británico Andy Murray de semifinales del torneo de tenis de Madrid, que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/J.J. Guillen
Rafa Nadal durante su partido ante el británico Andy Murray de semifinales del torneo de tenis de Madrid, que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/J.J. Guillen
Rafa Nadal durante su partido ante el británico Andy Murray de semifinales del torneo de tenis de Madrid, que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/J.J. Guillen
El tenista español Rafa Nadal devuelve la bola ante el británico Andy Murray, durante el partido de semifinales del torneo de tenis de Madrid que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/JuanJo Martin
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 07: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Andy Murray of Great Britain in the semi finals during day eight of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 07, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Tennis – Madrid Open – Andy Murray of Britain v Rafael Nadal of Spain – Madrid, Spain – 7/5/16 Nadal returns the ball. REUTERS/Andrea Comas
Rafael Nadal, from Spain, serves to Andy Murray, from Britain, during the semifinal Madrid Open tennis tournament match in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 7, 2016. Murray won 7-5, 6-4 and will play the final on Sunday 8. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 07: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point against Andy Murray of Great Britain in the semi finals during day eight of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 07, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 07: Rafael Nadal of Spain shows his dejection against Andy Murray of Great Britain in their semi final match during day eight of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 07, 2016 in Madrid,Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 07: Rafael Nadal of Spain in reacts against Andy Murray of Great Britain in the semi finals during day eight of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 07, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 07: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Andy Murray of Great Britain in the semi finals during day eight of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 07, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Rafa Nadal durante su partido ante el británico Andy Murray de semifinales del torneo de tenis de Madrid, que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/J.J. Guillen
El tenista español Rafa Nadal (d) durante el partido de semifinales contra el británico Andy Murray del torneo de tenis de Madrid que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/Juanjo Martín
Rafael Nadal, right, from Spain, argues with umpire Carlos Bernardes, from Brazil, about a ball played during the semifinal match against Andy Murray, from Britain, at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 7, 2016. Murray won 7-5, 6-4 and will play the final on Sunday 8. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
afael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point against Andy Murray of Great Britain in their semi final match during day eight of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 07, 2016 in Madrid,Spain. (May 6, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 07: Rafael Nadal of Spain shows his dejection against Andy Murray of Great Britain in their semi final match during day eight of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 07, 2016 in Madrid,Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 07: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts against Andy Murray of Great Britain in their semi final match during day eight of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 07, 2016 in Madrid,Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
El tenista español Rafa Nadal durante el partido de semifinales contra el británico Andy Murray del torneo de tenis de Madrid que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/Chema Moya
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 07: Andy Murray of Great Britain shakes hands at the net after his straight sets victory against Rafael Nadal of Spain in their semi final match during day eight of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 07, 2016 in Madrid,Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
El tenista español Rafa Nadal (i) felicita a Andy Murray al término del partido de semifinales que el británico ha ganado por 7-5, 6-4 del torneo de tenis de Madrid que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/Chema Moya
El tenista español Rafa Nadal se retira de la pista tras perder por 7-5, 6-4 contra el británico Andy Murray en el partido de semifinales del torneo de tenis de Madrid que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/Chema Moya
El tenista español Rafa Nadal se retira de la pista tras perder por 7-5, 6-4 contra el británico Andy Murray en el partido de semifinales del torneo de tenis de Madrid que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/Chema Moya
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 07: Rafael Nadal of Spain waves to the crowd after his loss to Andy Murray of Great Britain in the semi finals during day eight of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 07, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
El tenista español Rafa Nadal se retira de la pista tras perder por 7-5, 6-4 contra el británico Andy Murray en el partido de semifinales del torneo de tenis de Madrid que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/Chema Moya
I don’t think Rafa did find solutions I’m afraid, even though I’m a long term fan.
How many breaks did he have and couldn’t finish, around 11? He could have won with more aces (which he needs to practice to make easy points) and drop vollies . I know he bodged a few, but he should have kept trying. Vamos por Roma!🎾
The last year final played its part for murray the confidence
We have seen rafa ruling over andy most of the times and rafa should have this in mind yes andy played great but rafa was not upto the mark as he was in previous tournament as rafa as expected trying new things
But rafa u just cannot allow andy to have an upper hand on u and especially on clay
Vamos rafa
Stay healthy stay calm
Congrats to Andy Murray, today. Rafa lost to a terrific opponent. There’s no shame
in that. If Rafa suffered a loss against Sousa then there may have been cause for concern but not against a #2 ranked, highly skilled player as Andy is.
Rafa still performed terrifically all week long. I look forward to his next tournament
in Rome. Best wishes!
So close, and yet….
Either player could have won this, but Andy did. He has learnt so much from Rafa, particularly in attitude. Never mind, Rome, here we come!
Could someone explain why Madrid’s surface is faster and Rome has the closest condition to Roland Garros?
It’s allright Rafa 😘 You looked so disapointed on court 😔 Remember win or loose your fans are with you. Nomatter what you’ll always be the King of Clay to me – You’re amazing 😃🎾💪
All the very best of luck in Rome 🍀😘
❤️you. VAMOS RAFA 😍
the attitude is the key …..please don’t have the attitude of 2nd set when rain came when playing against sousa
vamos rafa
alright rafa you have won lot of matches consistently playing well so this can happen u can’t produce same days….it can seen from loosing routine shots like overheads for a player like u not once but twice or thrice in a match
it was about who played well on important points and i think andy got lot of aces going on important points and also played well on this points so credit to him but from last two matches the so good thing is missing some sort …………the position u missed the forehands just because of not a good position to hit it so i just hope u get it right and the other most important thing is your backhand it is not producing enough good angles and please get that running backhand down the line corrected
what was not good from tactical point of view that u haven’t gone for andy second serve especially in 1 st set …….knowing that is the trouble area for andy and he did had poor 1 st serves in
what was positive for tournament was u were looking to fine tune serve looking for areas and positions for good serves from 1 st match and also tried dropshot …so what if it not come off ……it will eventually come just try same things in rome ………
also u were mentally tough when needed turn things up
its just that from few tournaments when u loose 1 st point i see u quickly get series of trouble on ur serve and gets down to 0-40 and then to turn things from there it is quite difficult because of added scoreboard pressure though u have recently in montecarlo was able to turn things from that point but un big matches against big opponent it will cause trouble so just prepare for easy go points so that u can quickly get alert form 0-15 down
and lastly i know u will look into this and practice hard because as u say “u need to fight a little bit more ..u need to practice a little bit more to try to win against a opponent that always put u in a trouble and that’s the real sport trying ur best in every moment and fight until last ball….that’s the final goal”
vamos rafa
i just hope u play novak in rome …….and then u can go strongly prepared to RG 16
Looks like we have a new joker in the pack , you don’t have to be a prophet to know that is the likely outcome
Disappointed for you Today and sad, but hopefully you will not loose your confidence, i am sure you will work hard to reduce those errors of today. Good luck for Rome, my home town and for RG, tennis without you is just not the same! Vamos Rafa!!