The fifth seed and three-time champion Rafael Nadal set up the prospect of an Australian Open final replay with Roger Federer at Indian Wells after cruising past Fernando Verdasco 6-3 7-5 on Tuesday.
A succession of trademark crisp, powerful forehands from the 30-year-old immediately put Verdasco on the back foot, and when Rafa applied pressure he gained the crucial break.
Another near-perfect service game from Rafa wrapped up the set in 31 minutes, but the second was far from comfortable as Verdasco rallied.
Errors began to creep into Rafa’s game, too many shots dropping into the net which gave Verdasco confidence – even though he continued to complain about glare off the stands at one end.
However, that drained away late on as a costly double fault gave Rafa the chance to serve for the match, an opportunity he duly took to record a 16th win over Verdasco in 19 meetings.
A clash with Federer awaits Rafa in round four, but only if the Swiss can overcome big-serving American Steve Johnson later on Tuesday.
Source: Yahoo
OLA & VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) It is a beautiful day & we are very happy for you dear Rafa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Enjoy everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Congratulations on your feisty victory over F Ver. !!!!!!!!! : ) ci…..ci…..ci…..ci…..& a massive CI……….: ) : ) : ) The match was short but very exciting with lots of fun closing in a 2 sets victory!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Your strong beautiful Tennis, and staying with simple, effective returns and solid serve game was magnificent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) KUDOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) It was just great fun to enjoy your SOLID presence on the court and see your persistent drive the entire time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Very happy for you dear Rafa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 : ) 🙂 : ) ci…..ci…..ci…..Senior!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Have a beautiful day & enjoy lots & lots of fun playing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) It will be a great match for you and we will be there to enjoy every point with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
It was impressive how close you & Tomic were to take a win from the great, well experienced Doubles team !!!!!!! : ) They played together for years!!!!!!!!!!! : ) You guys were powerful and skillful and gracefully put in a brilliant Doubles right there and the match could have gone either way. SO VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) ) : ) : ) Tomic is a great Doubles partner and his quick, natural instincts and powerful court coverage are conducive to DOUBLES ! : ) I like him a lot and like his game!!!! He has great sharp serve but he is NEVER EVER BORING to watch. Your down the line shots dear Rafa and cross court were beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Have fa great day & enjoy with THE TEAM everything!!!!!!!!! : ) Lots of love & happiness & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Margo, thanks for enquiring about my arm. ( March 15. 9-23 a.m. ) Progress is very slow and the specialist has told me it will never be the same as it was.
My main upset is that he told me it could be another two months at least before I can drive again. It’s already almost four months since the fracture.
Anyway enough about me. Let’s concentrate on Rafa. He needs this win to keep his confidence up since he has always had such a good head to head record against Roger.
Had he not been forced to play the final at the AO the very next day after the semi-final it could have been another story there but I won’t continue on with that any further. What’s done is done and to-morrow is another day. Still, even here it is Rafa who has been playing all his matches except his first doubles match in the hottest part of the day.
Sometimes it seems that Rafa always gets the rough deal. Am I being delusional because of my arm? I don’t like being negative and the proverbial pain in the neck.
My spelling seems to have disintegrated along with my optomism. (eg. chanel for channel in my previous post. )
Haha, I was literally falling asleep while typing last night. Mucho errors.
Re “Chanel,” I am certain Coco won’t mind.
Delusional? Perish the thought. I just thought it was cruel to have Rafa play his AO final the next day. Where is the fair play, I have to ask.
Really sorry about the possibility of two more months without driving. Soon all of that will be a distant memory.
Rafa had to be tired from his AO semi-final and he has to realize that. He’s will face Roger knowing that he is a fresh Rafa and ready to win this match. I feel he will go with much confidence. He will be thinking of the present match, not the AO.
RAFA ROCKS
I agree with Beverley 150%… Maybe it’s the way the draw came, but Officials should have changed things around and made it more fair… Prince Roger gets to play in the lovely desert evening with the cooling courts…While Rafa’s playing in the Blistering hot desert sun…With courts reaching 120°…Roll out the red carpet…Mr. Federer is here! ;(
Rafa from all the accounts above you are playing sooooooo well.
All the best for your next match against Fed.
i was at the Australian Open when you both played so I do believe it is your turn this time to win,
Love and prayers,
AlaineSydneyXXAustraliaXX
Why Rafa is playing every match under the heat and Federer at night? I’m sure if they would play each other then it will be at night…..
Great first set and a solid second set. Good luck for the next round. You can do it. Vamos Rafa <3
”…..but only if the Swiss can overcome big-serving American Steve Johnson later on Tuesday”
@RafaelNadalFans – There is no question of ”if” here! .Assuredly, Roger will send Steve Johnson packing in SS to set up a 4th round encounter with our dear Rafa.
It will be a tough one, but Rafa should progress in 3 sets to meet Novak Djokovic in the Quarters.
But as always, we’d see…………………..hmnn
You were wrong, thank goodness, on Nadal’s match vs Verdasco. We need him as energized as possible.
On DelPo, you were correct. Ughhh!
RAFA ROCKS
I thought the description above on the match was very accurate. Rafa played a great first set, but his level dropped a bit in the second. Luckily, Fernando was not serving lights out. It was very hot on the court and it was good that Rafa played only two sets. Tomorrow should be incredible, but will probably be another night match for Roger. Rafa had only the one night match with his first doubles match.
I agree. I felt that Rafa would win but you never know for sure. After looking up exactly when he lost those three games to Fernando I said Rafa’s got this one. 2012, 2015, and 2016 were very difficult years for Rafa. This Rafa is the Rafa of new.
Now, only for a Rafa-DelPo match. I got my Rafa-Roger, now I wanna Rafa-DelPo.
RAFA ROCKS
Why would Roger get all the nights?
RAFA ROCKS
Roger gets all the nights because the tennis officials always seem to arrange things to benefit him. Look what happened at the Australian Open. Fed got an extra day’s rest before the final while Rafa played the day following his semi-final. I hate to say it but I am fed up with how they all fawn over him at the AO.
Before all the Federer fans jump down my throat, don’t get me wrong. I admire Federer and the way that he is still winning matches at his age, but somehow he always seems to get that little bit of extra consideration from the officials to make things right for him.
Sorry if I have offended anyone but it’s something I have noticed for some time and it is beginning to disillusion me regarding what goes on behind the scenes. I am not blaming Roger for this, just officialdom.
BeverIey, read up on that and it appears that’s the way the tournament is run. There are calls for future tournaments to have the semifinalists play on the same day so that the finalists have an equal rest period. I think it’s awful that Rafa had to play so soon after a grueling semi-final.
RAFA ROCKS
CORRECTION: I read up on not Read up on
Hi, Margo. In reply to your post below, yes I know that’s how the AO is run and has been for quite a few years. It has something to do with our Chanel 7 (, which gives very good coverage of the tournament ) wishing to keep the ratings up by having the semi finals on different days.
However this disadvantages the finalist on one side of the draw in comparison to the finalist on the other side. That is totally unfair .
It also means favouritism could creep in when arranging which side of the draw plays first because whichever side goes first gets the extra day at the end.
Note I said, this COULD cause favouritism , I am making no accusations but I have been observing over the years who often gets to play first .
Of course it does not advantage anyone in the long run except who becomes the finalist but it paves the way.
Protests have been made over quite a few years concerning this. I just hope things can be arranged to the satisfaction of both the TV chanel and the players, also to the fans who want to see their particular favourite player given an equal chance.
Speaking of equal chances, I do not think Rafa playing all these matches in boiling hot conditions was fair. He could have spoken to Larry Ellinson about it as he is a huge Rafa fan, but Rafa is a gentleman and would not wish to raise these issues while he is enjpyong the hospitality of staying in one of his guest houses In the meantime let’s all keep our fingers crossed for Rafa’s match against Roger.
It is his turn to win.
Hiya Beverley, I guess you missed my correction. No worries.
My Ellison comment, borne out of frustration, was made with tongue-in-cheek. I should have finished it with tongue-in-cheek in parentheses. Thanks for the catch. Were Rafa ever to read that, he would be horrified.
I had no idea that “ratings” are behind that. RATINGS!!!! How disgusting. Fans and viewers should coalesce to show channe 7 who pays the bills. Now I am so incensed. Thanks much for your clarification.
What is the method of choosing which side goes first?
Yes, I got the “could.” Was that meant for the reading impaired? (tongue-in cheek)
As always, YOU’RE a joy to read.
RAFA ROCKS
Margo, my last comments were in reply to your post March 15, 2-08 a.m.
Hope I have not caused any confusion.
Have just returned from a very taxing physiotherapy session on my arm.
Not the best of days..!!
To all the staunch Roger fans I can only repeat what I said before- I am not blaming Roger, only officialdom.
Coincidental you mention YOUR arm. Was thinking to inquire how it’s going but was sidelined by things Rafa and chores, and pets, and stuff. So how’s it going. Good progress?
RAFA ROCKS
I had forgotten that Roger’s match today is not the night match. It is really late afternoon instead.
Late afternoon is a heck of a lot better 12:00pm-3:00pm. The SCOUNDRELS!
RAFA ROCKS
Also it’s Daylight savings here in California as well… So by the sun when it’s 2 o’clock it’s actually 1 o’clock…
Rafa played really well today 🙂 he will most likely play Roger next and I hope he can avenge the AO final