Rafael Nadal stepped up his preparations for Wimbledon by beating Tommy Haas 6-4, 1-6, 10-7 on Friday afternoon at the Aspall Tennis Classic exhibition event at the Hurlingham Club.
The sets were split between the two players and Rafa won the super tiebreak decider.
Today’s match was another good opportunity for our champ to polish his grass court game and get acclimated to the surface and weather.
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal walks on court for his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts after his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts after his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Spain’s Rafael Nadal serves during his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas during the Aspall Tennis Classic at the Hurlingham Club, London, Friday June 30, 2017. (Chris Radburn/PA via AP)
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts during his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts during his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns against Germany’s Tommy Haas during the Aspall Tennis Classic at the Hurlingham Club, London, Friday June 30, 2017. (Chris Radburn/PA via AP)
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal wipes his face during his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal during his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal during his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal during his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his match against Germany’s Tommy Haas Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Tennis – Aspall Tennis Classic – London, Britain – June 30, 2017 Germany’s Tommy Haas with his daughters and Spain’s Rafael Nadal after their match Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Tommy Haas holds his children alongside Rafael Nadal following their exhibition match during day four of the Aspall Tennis Classic at the Hurlingham Club, London. (Photo by Chris Radburn/PA Images via Getty Images)
The best wished for Rafa to persevere and do well in the first week of sw19 and then go for broke and get to the finals the 2nd week. His form is not in question, but transferring that demolition form from clay to grass is what Rafa is striving towards in perfecting. Go for it Rafa! Vamos!!!!!
ALL THIS BANTER ……….LETS ALL SEE WHAT HAPPENS I AM SURE RAFA WILL BE FINE AND WHAT ALLTHIS ABOUT NOVAK,???HE HAS LOST HIS GLOW!! SOMETHING RAFA HAS NEVER DONE , I WOULD LOVE RAFA TO WIN WIMBLEGON BUT WOULD ALSO HOPE HE KEEPS SAFE FROM PAIN.
It must be a slow article day.
Yes, Rafa will be great.
First it was the knees, then it was he hasn’t been on grass for years, then it was low confidence going into Wimbledon. I wonder what’s coming next. I guess I’m not a doom and gloom fan.
RAFA ROCKS 150%
Djokovic has just taken the title at Eastbourne, mind you he didn’t have much competition, wait till you come across Rafa next week Novak, and the results will be very different
Rafa will play Millman next week, not Nole. According to RNF, the earliest Rafa and Nole could meet is in the final, IF Nole makes it that far.
RAFA ROCKS 150%
Rafa is feeling the grass.
RAFA ROCKS
Novak has added retired tennis player, Mario Ancic to his team.
This does not really bode well, a 1-6 loss to Haas…after an ear washing by Berdych. A lot can change in a week though. Let’s hope that week will be survived.
HAHA I think on grass a set can run away from you very quickly. I’m not expecting the best from Rafa in Wimbledon, but I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
Is the mindset in exhibition matches to go all out and blitz the opponent, or to have some fun and try out some things and not lose too badly? I wouldn’t read too much into the scoreline Jason. Rafa’s competitive nature will reveal itself next week. We hope!
Roger lost in straights sets to Tommy in their match from Stuttgart, so Rafa is able to take out Tommy in their match. That tells me that Rafa is getting to the sweet point of grass in due time.
Vamos Rafa!
Yea…he’s feeling the grass…
RAFA ROCKS
Rafa you did well in your game against Tommy and may the same continue in your matches next week.
I liked the photos particularly of you with Tommy’s children, and as someone else also said, you always shine around children.
ALl the best for next week,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
Congrats Rafa even though it was just an exhibition match. Good job.
All the very best. Vamos Rafa!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I was happy to see Rafa win his exhibition match against Haas but it was very close, at the third set tie breaker. Tommy is to be admired – he is 39 years old and still gives a good performance.
There is a lot of speculation re. Rafa’s chances at Wimbledon this year ranging from expectations for a third victory to doom and gloom that he won’t get past the first couple of rounds..
This also applies to the range of expectations of Rafa’s fans on this site.
I really am trying to just keep a middle of the line approach as it is impossible to know how things will prevail. There are so many factors to take into consideration, one of which is the weather. Playing under the roof is not Rafa’s ideal scenario and the forecast of continued rain will mess up schedules no end.
Nevertheless, I am hoping and praying for a successful tournament for Rafa , as are all of his fans although our expectations vary. But I am sure that we are with our hero all the way , win or lose. He has already achieved so much this year.
Stay healthy, Rafa. That is the main thing.!!
Bravo! Rafa ton deuxième tournoi d’exhibition a été positif donc tu seras prêt pour Wimbledon. Que la chance soit avec toi! Tu le mérites.
All the best for Wimbledon. Vamos Rafa <3
Looks like they had fun and a good workout. Two genuine, great guys. Lovely to see Rafa pictured with Tommy and his girls. Let the Wimbledon battle commence on Monday. Wishing you the very best of luck, Rafa!
Two great tennis ambassadors!👍😍
Charming photographs and Rafa always so happy around children. Lovely to see Tommy Haas and his children and Rafa together.
All good wishes to Rafa for Wimbledon.