Looking ahead to Monte Carlo
It's only been a couple weeks, but it seems as though it has been ages since we've seen Rafa play.
Obviously, he was disappointed to lose in the second round in Miami, but he's excited to be playing again on clay. It's his best surface, as well as his favorite, and although he knows it will be difficult to repeat last year's clay results, he is hoping for another good season. And so are we.
His first stop is the first clay Masters in Monte Carlo. He is the defending champion, and will be looking once again, to establish himself as the player to beat on clay. Vamos, Rafa!
MadAliceCudlip, Spanish Eyes and La Zingara will be attending the event, and will be doing double duty: taking time to enjoy the event as well as reporting back to us at the mothership as much as possible. We look forward to their news and photos. And they will be sure to wish Rafa the best from us all!!!
And I should have live Tennis Channel coverage, so if the demand is there, I'll do some blogging during his match(es).
In the meantime, Rafa has received a few more kudos. He won the ATP Most Improved Player Award for 2005, and he has been nominated for the World Laureus Newcomer of the Year Award. That award will be presented in Barcelona on May 22, at a ceremony to be attended by many sports stars. He appears to be the leading contender for that prestigious award, and you can bet he'll be there to receive it if he wins.
He also was present to unveil his wax likeness at the Madrid Waxworks Museum earlier this week. He seemed a little intimidated by how intimidating he can be, but the overall consensus is that the figure does not do the original justice. Click here for photos.
Susan
Obviously, he was disappointed to lose in the second round in Miami, but he's excited to be playing again on clay. It's his best surface, as well as his favorite, and although he knows it will be difficult to repeat last year's clay results, he is hoping for another good season. And so are we.
His first stop is the first clay Masters in Monte Carlo. He is the defending champion, and will be looking once again, to establish himself as the player to beat on clay. Vamos, Rafa!
MadAliceCudlip, Spanish Eyes and La Zingara will be attending the event, and will be doing double duty: taking time to enjoy the event as well as reporting back to us at the mothership as much as possible. We look forward to their news and photos. And they will be sure to wish Rafa the best from us all!!!
And I should have live Tennis Channel coverage, so if the demand is there, I'll do some blogging during his match(es).
In the meantime, Rafa has received a few more kudos. He won the ATP Most Improved Player Award for 2005, and he has been nominated for the World Laureus Newcomer of the Year Award. That award will be presented in Barcelona on May 22, at a ceremony to be attended by many sports stars. He appears to be the leading contender for that prestigious award, and you can bet he'll be there to receive it if he wins.
He also was present to unveil his wax likeness at the Madrid Waxworks Museum earlier this week. He seemed a little intimidated by how intimidating he can be, but the overall consensus is that the figure does not do the original justice. Click here for photos.
Susan
posted by Susan at 5:12 PM
15 Comments:
So they have finally updated Rafael's photo at the ATP site for his stats etc.
Today Thurs in the USA on Tennis Channel:
Re: 2005 Monte Carlo Final between Rafael Nadal and Guillermo Coria: A replay of same for those in the USA receiving the Tennis Channel will be made today Thursday April 13, 2006 at 8 PM (Eastern), (5 PM Pacific) for those wanting to see or tape same. 4 hours of TV time is indicated.
Note: TV Guides and or the Tennis Channel website (currently being updated) may not indicate this.
I'm looking forward to see him play on clay cord because I know that he can do well on clay.
Interesting blog :)
Can't wait for their reports. Lucky them who'll be in MC.
Vamos !
Draws starting to appear on the Monte Carlo site.
Qualifying draws are up but still not main draws.
Check
"http://montecarlo.masters-series.com/en/results/draws/"
The main draw for Monte Carlo:
http://www.atptennis.com/en/common/...006/410/MDS.pdf
(1) FEDERER, Roger SUI v Qualifier
KARLOVIC, Ivo CRO v MARTIN, Alberto ESP
ROCHUS, Christophe BEL v HAAS, Tommy GER
VERDASCO, Fernando ESP v (13) GROSJEAN, Sebastien FRA
(11) FERRERO, Juan Carlos ESP v TURSUNOV, Dmitry RUS
CHELA, Juan Ignacio ARG v RUSEDSKI, Greg GBR
HRBATY, Dominik SVK v Qualifier
MASSU, Nicolas CHI v (8 FERRER, David ESP
(4) LJUBICIC, Ivan CRO v ANDREEV, Igor RUS
SRICHAPHAN, Paradorn THA v SERRA, Florent FRA
(WC) SIMON, Gilles FRA v Qualifier
SANTORO, Fabrice FRA v (16) BERDYCH, Tomas CZE
(12) GONZALEZ, Fernando CHI v MOYA, Carlos ESP
HANESCU, Victor ROM v LOPEZ, Feliciano ESP
Qualifier v Qualifier
SODERLING, Robin SWE v (5) DAVYDENKO, Nikolay RUS
(7) GAUDIO, Gaston ARG v HENMAN, Tim GBR
ACASUSO, Jose ARG v VOLANDRI, Filippo ITA
Qualifier v WAWRINKA, Stanislas SUI
Qualifier v (10) STEPANEK, Radek CZE
(15) ROBREDO, Tommy ESP v HORNA, Luis PER
MONFILS, Gael FRA v ROCHUS, Olivier BEL
SANGUINETTI, Davide ITA v SEPPI, Andreas ITA
MALISSE, Xavier BEL v (3) NALBANDIAN, David ARG
(6) CORIA, Guillermo ARG v YOUZHNY, Mikhail RUS
MATHIEU, Paul-Henri FRA v SAFIN, Marat RUS
PASHANSKI, Boris SCG v (WC) LLODRA, Michael FRA
MIRNYI, Max BLR v (9) KIEFER, Nicolas GER
(14) NIEMINEN, Jarkko FIN v VLIEGEN, Kristof BEL
Qualifier v (WC) BENNETEAU, Julien FRA
(WC) LISNARD, Jean-Rene MON v MURRAY, Andy GBR
CLEMENT, Arnaud FRA v (2) NADAL, Rafael ESP
Ouf! .. le petit taureau nous va faire souffrir un peu!
Re: those believing Rafa has gotten a bad draw, it doesn't look all that bad. Both halves look pretty much equal.
If anyone has a bad draw, it's the four lowly Qualifiers who draw against Fed, Stepanek, Hrbaty, and Warinka.
If Rafa can't handle Clement on clay he probably doesn't deserve to be the king of clay. He's had no recent clay matches, however he's had plenty of time to rest and really get ready to roar. Hopefully he's all tuned up and ready to go. But if he were to lose to Clement, well then forget that and move on to Barcelona.
Clement will not have an all French crowd for this match. Look for Rafa to pulverize the "old" guy. It is payback time after all.
By the way is Clement really only 5'8" tall. Coria is 5'9".
Clement is pretty short but not as short as Ollie Rochus' 5'5 or 5'6
Don't fancy Federer's chances against Massu or David Ferrer on clay, either.
Fed is in the Doubles, but not Rafael N.? Half of the R64 singles matches are Monday.
Rafa to play Tuesday with some rain threat late afternoon.
Federer is obviously "doing a Rafa" - using the doubles to perfect his game on a surface he's not quite mastered yet.
Speaking of Clay
in the US men's clay court championships Houston just completed, James Blake lost in round-1 to a French Qualifier Anotny Dupuis.
Roddick lost to Tommy Haas in the quarterfinal who then lost to American Mardy Fish.
Mardy Fish won the 32 man tournament on clay.
Check out the final draw sheet at
"http://www.atptennis.com/en/common/TrackIt.asp?file=/posting/2006/717/MDS.pdf"
And then at the other 32 man clay tournament just completed, lV Open de Tenis Comunidad Valenciana - Valencia,
a Qualifier from Spain, Nicolas ALMAGRO, won it all.
Many of the players having just played there will be in Monte Carlo this week for the 3rd Masters of 2006, however not a single dude from the USA.
Check out the final draw sheet of that one at
"http://www.atptennis.com/en/common/TrackIt.as p?file=/posting/2006/573/MDS.pdf"
Better links below if those above did not work for the final draw results of the two clay tournaments just completed.
Be sure to copy the entire link left to right if not all displayed, or go to the ATP site itself at
www.atptennis.com
Houston
http://www.atptennis.com/en/common/TrackIt.asp?file=/posting/2006/717/MDS.pdf
Valencia
http://www.atptennis.com/en/common/TrackIt.asp?file=/posting/2006/573/MDS.pdf
Round-1 action.
Federer dropped set 2 to a qualifier but took the 3rd set to win 6 3 2 6 6 3
Nieminen lost.
Wawrinka lost.
Henman lost.
Rusedski lost.
Karlovic lost.
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