almagro

Lleyton Hewitt, Nadal rival in 2 nd round. Federer begins with a victory over Tursunov. Ferrer, Almagro and Robredo, eliminated in first round.

Rafael Nadal suffered to overcome its debut at the Olympic Games before the Italian Potito Starace, who took him beyond two hours on the runway. In the last part, a 'break' in the sixth game was enough for the Spanish (6-2, 3-6 and 6-2), which closed the match outburst service back to his rival. It is the only joy of the day in the men's table. David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Nicolas Almagro have been eliminated.

The Mallorcan's rival in the second round will be Australian Lleyton Hewitt, who broke the Swedish Jonas Bjorkman by 7-5 and 7-6 (2) in just under two hours party.

There was a comfortable appearance for the world number one. The humidity, very high despite a dramatic drop in temperature in Beijing today, is something that does not finish like. Neither time (10.30) was good. However stormed into the match with a desire to solve it through quickly, and thus resolved the first sleeve. But suddenly, Nadal faded.

A partial 3-0 at the start of the second set allowed the Italian equalize the match. Starace was also growing in the heat of the public who wanted to see more tennis, did not want a fast game. Not served as a lever the arrival of the Prince of Asturias tier. Nadal not find ways to curb the countless left it came across the network. Almost all lost.

Except one. For front in the last part (1-0) and 30-15 down, Potito tried the nth. It is not known how, Nadal pulled out from under the ground, nearly hitting the network, and that point it stopped thrown on the floor celebrating. It was not until the sixth game for the 'break' final, but was meridian that the party had changed since that point. />
The one that had not been so lucky Carla Suarez. His party, interrupted on Sunday, left out of the Games after losing (7-5 and 7-6 (2)) compared to china Peng Shuai.

The Mallorcan celebrates its 22 th birthday with a victory without palliatives (6-1, 6-1 and 6-1). Only Bjorn had snapped fewer games in Paris in the first five matches

"Struggles 11 days for getting into the quarter-finals, reaching Rafah and pulls you throw that ball six meters." This is the diagnosis of Nicolas Almagro, latest victim of the king of clay, in less than two hours. Rafa Nadal will play the penultimate match of Roland Garros after another exhibition (6-1, 6-1 and 6-1) and now awaits Novak Djokovic, who has given almost twice as many games in the five previous duels.

Same as before Fernando Verdasco or Jarkko Nieminen, the triple champion in Paris, where he sum 26 consecutive wins, barely had to resort to the best of his repertoire to get an easy victory. Almagro, who played for the first time the quarterfinals of a large, was never an option.

"He spent by the central track a player named Nadal much higher than me. I do not expect this result, "admitted the powerless murciano, aged 22, a friend of Rafa, who predicts that" may defend his title here many times you want. "

Everything seems in this direction, because the world's number two drag a minimum wear in the previous battles, especially compared with its two main threats. In his career immaculate just 25 games and has given no set. For his part, Roger Federer delivered 46 games and a hose and Novak before Montañés Djokovic 59 games and a partial face Gremelmayr in the first round.

To record snatched Another Borg
The tiny concessions Nadal also pose a record at Roland Garros, another in the legend of Manacorense. So far in the first five games, only Bjorn Borg had snapped fewer games (26 in 1978 and 1981). That record, with just their importance, now belongs to Nadal.

Faced Almagro was only required in the second sleeve, which overcame five breaking balls. The Murcia, perhaps by the weight of the central track, never found the freshness of his tennis, joined only get three direct (20 on average accumulated so far) and averaged a dismal 37% of first services.

The next step is assumed that more complicated for tricampeón. He hoped Novak Djokovic, candidate for second place in the ATP and executioner of Latvian Ernests Gulbis (7-5, 7-6 and 7-5), one of the sensations of the tournament. There was a easy afternoon for 'Nolan' without undue continuity in his tennis.

It was a duel between two old friends, recalling his days at school Niki Pilica in Munich, where both dreamed of playing a game like this. At the Latvian, aged 19, he weighed inexperience in this type of commitments. Its passage through Paris is screened in the ranking, but still needs something more to overthrow the Serbian.

Nadal overwhelming to Verdasco in three sets (6-1, 6-0 and 6-2). The Balearic Islands will face Nicolas Almagro in the quarter-finals, since the latter beat the French by Jeremy Chardy 7-6, 7-6 and 7-5. This is the first time that passes murciano round in a Grand Slam.

In a day anodyne, dotted with the typical rainy Paron, attention was focused on the match between Nadal and Verdasco. In its five clashes, the Balearic had passed over and over again to Madrid. This Sunday, there was an exception.

The real excitement is living in another track, Suzzane Legler, where Almagro and Chardy starring a duel as unexpected as exciting. Nicholas, who already is pointing ways throughout the season, eliminated the aspiring local hero in three sets (7-6, 7-6, 7-5). Entremedio, two sudden deaths and 19 serves to direct the Murcia.



Almagro, with 78 aces, is the leader in this facet of the tournament, 21 more directly serves the second place: Ivan Lujubicic. And is that Murcia has a hammer in the right arm, which can be crucial in its next game against Nadal.

While Almagro Chardy and entertain the public, Nadal and Verdasco were continuing with their disappointing game. The Balearic Islands, which had started the encounter with a break, repeated the feat eight times more along the duel. Almost was news that Verdasco, tired and with discomfort in the left thigh, succeeded in raising a game.

Rafa won the first sleeve in just 29 minutes. After he returned to the track wanting to finish quickly and leave to rest, but rain again appear to bother. They spent more than 40 minutes before the match resumed. At that time, Almagro had already won the first set before Chardy, but had difficulties in the second.

After a period of inactivity, the doctor Nadal jumped the track to talk with the Balearic Islands. It seemed unwell, but continued playing. On the other hand, expected Verdasco, cabizbajo and an increasingly intense pain in his left leg.

As usual, Rafa forgot about their problems and returned to the track with the same hunger as before. In less than half an hour, broke the service of Madrid on three occasions and took the sleeve white. It was not the best match of Nadal, that Verdasco but neither knew much more demanding. Even so, his mastery was undeniable: 6-1 and 6-0 in barely an hours play.

While Rafa Tall victory calmly, raquetazo to raquetazo, Almagro worked against Chardy and the public, hopefully before this casual Noah, before the hero who both claimed. The Murcian had won two sets in tie-break and was tied (4-4) in the third.

Both parties ended up almost at once. Nadal was relaxed in the last sleeve and gave a couple of serves, for its part, Almagro broke serve Chardy in the tenth game and pulled to get into the quarter-finals. Nicholas has gone round in a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

In addition, after the party of Murcia, already knows who will attend the Olympic Games representing Spain: Tommy Robredo, Rafa Nadal, David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro himself, which certainly is living a sweet moment. Verdasco: I have not withdrawn out of respect for the tournament and Nadal

Speaking to EFE, Fernando Verdasco claimed to have suffered physical problems before the Balearic and noted that no retired "out of respect for the tournament and Nadal."

I was about to leave the track, but I do not like to retire. I can not walk, when he went 6-1 and 4-0 and I knew I would win. I was out of respect for him and the tournament

After their removal, Verdasco not going to the Olympics, something that does not seem too dolerle: "Its a beautiful event, but with the long journey and the time difference I wanted too. Ido if I would have been classified, but also motivates me the U.S. tour I did those days. I do not like the head with the Games."

First, congratulations on this great victory in Hamburg. What has made you feel yourself the finals?
Thank you very much. A final strange, tough, difficult and long. Perhaps Federer has not played his best game and that helped me to get the victory.

It seems that you have caught so far either to Swiss ... This favourable 10-6 in head-to-head between the two so denotes.
Each party is a different story and the foregoing does not count. Matches against Federer are usually of utmost importance because they have been the end of major tournaments, so I'm happy for having a positive mark against him, but not by the mark, but because this means that I have won matches.

Hamburg has served to afianzarte in the number two of the ATP and even after Djokovic beat you refer to it as the future number one, will not be without see you soon on the throne ...
I think everything is equalized, which is Djokovic which has the best track this year, but Federer remains the most favorite. We will have to see how we go out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon ...

Many of us see you sooner rather than later in the global number one. Do you say that by not quitarte pressure, aislarte of public pressure or have our feet on the ground and if someday we welcome arrives?
I do what I can in every tournament game and I say what I think. It is not by pressure or take off be humble. I think everything is very difficult, especially with Djokovic and Federer are playing at a high level, and when it reaches delighted. I'm going to do everything possible to know if you seize this opportunity. If you arrive? We'll see at year end.

Sorting out, the victory in Germany will have been a balm of mind to face Roland Garros. I imagine that one of the major goals this season ...
Of course it gives confidence for Roland Garros! But this tournament is important enough to believe that victory in Hamburg aid for Roland Garros. I am with having achieved a victory like this Masters Series.

The 2008 is a year filled with events. One of them, the Olympic Games in Beijing. I imagine that will make you the illusion of being in the Olympic event this summer ...
Of course. Being in the Olympic Games and share the Olympic village with other athletes is a special feeling and I hope to live that experience surely will be positive. The Olympic Games, even though they are only once every four years, are always special.

Do you see options medal?
Must see how you get playing, as have the draw ... we'll see when we are there.

At selection, the Davis Cup is an event too important. It has been much excitement mounted in recent panel on the ground extradeportivo not know if you will have affected the time to focus on tournaments in your tennis ...
It is no good what has happened, but sometimes there are situations and we must deal with them. Clearly you remove a little of your free time, but for all players the most important thing is to focus on playing, which is what we are left to us. Moreover, there are situations limits that one can not choose and choose to do what is best cree, but always in groups.

Apart extradeportivo of what can we win the U.S. and plants in the finals?
Obviously, you can beat USA! They have a equipazo, it will be difficult, but they can win. It will be a knockout complicated, in height, but we are confident that when playing in Las Ventas, we encourage the public and make for a fifth player. All players are grateful to the public of Madrid, which is a public emergency.

And then in the end, who prefer to Russia or Argentina?
Either would be very difficult because play outside. If you reach the end, we would not like favorites.

What is clear is that the tennis schedule is more than tight, do you think there is a remedy to this situation?
Yes, I am not a person who has to give, but has remedy. The timetable is tight, tighter what is logical, but especially the timing of Europe, the land. Many people disagree on this, but at the moment we do not vote to change the situation.

Little by little. If we protest all in groups, like bodies up there someday make the event ...
We sent a letter signed by 18 players in the "Top-20" protesting the situation. In this case, we are also very united.

Two in the "Top Ten", five in the "Top-20", nine in the "Top-50" ... Spain boasts quality tennis ...
The Spanish tennis is in a great moment. I like number 2, Ferrer as number 5, Moyá as number 12 ... Almagro is up, Feliciano, Juan Carlos, Robredo ... There are many people who are very good.

To conclude the interview, you will submit a small test ...
A place in the world that we can recommend ... The Balearic Islands.
Who is the toughest rival with whom you've faced in the Play Station? Carlos Moya.
A song that motivates you ... "Back to you" by Bryan Adams.
What have handicap in golf? 11.
As good Madrid, who is white sheets for the club? Many, but especially Cristiano Ronaldo.
As good fond of fishing, what type typically choose? With cane.
As is Eurovision week, are you of the chiki-chiki, lalala or Europe 's living a celebration? Each has had its moment, but hopefully with the excitement that has been armed, also achieve victory here.