andy murray

Rafael Nadal fell to Andy Murray in the semifinals of the Rogers Cup, the 1000 Toronto Masters. Nadal, far from their best, squandered many chances before falling 6-3, 6-4, but defending the 180 points, 2009 and even adds another 180 more.

The best Nadal, Nadal or a just noticeable level, which was not exalted, had won the semifinal in this Murray. The Scot fired Toronto Rafa ... with 46% of first serves. Probably ever Nadal lost a match, and less by the score (6-3, 6-4) against an opponent clearly below 50% on first serves. What happened then?

First, Nadal landed at Toronto's Pearson Airport at some distance from the fulness: not played a match since the Wimbledon final on 4 July, and after suffering harsh treatment in Vitoria plasma injections in the knees. These injections leave quite crushed joint: hard, painful, uncomfortable.

Second, when Nadal Canadian landed at the airport, set foot on the surface that bothers him most: the fast track and hard, the synthetic DecoTurf boat fast and very low, which favors flat punches and handles ... and tests the joints. The figures shed some light. In 2010, Nadal has played 24 matches on hard court ATP: with 19 wins and five defeats. Not bad, but incomparable with the rest: out of synthetic surfaces, Rafa is unbeatable: 31-1 between grass and clay. Fell uncharacteristically, to Feliciano López in the grass of Queens, the eve of Wimbledon.

Third, Nadal, subjected to stress hard Wawrinka, Anderson and, above all, Kohlschreiber, offered to Murray feeling of mental fatigue. And, moreover, all the rest of its season with eyes mounted on a single prize: the U.S. Open in New York, the only Grand Slam missing Rafa.

All together, Murray was faced with an erratic Nadal. A ball marked the Match: with 3-3 in the first set, Rafa forgave Murray (even asked Hawkeye) a clear double fault priceless worth a break it was 4-3 and serve for Nadal, who, embittered by the missed opportunity , was charged with negativity and lost six of seven games. The partial Murray led 6-1 to 3-1 in the second set. Rafa still recovered to 4-3 and 15-40, but did not have much more mental energy. He hesitated and gave air to Murray, which ended 3-0 in the last three games. Nadal defending the 180 points, 2009, added another 180 and fly to another Masters, Cincinnati. From there, New York: Eye on the Open, on the prize.

The other finalist out of Federer and Djokovic Nole

Toronto Masters semi-finals brought together in the first four players on the list of entries of ATP. After the duel Nadal-Murray (number one against number four), Roger Federer (number three) and Novak Djokovic (number two) in the early morning battled for second place finalist. In the quarterfinals, Federer responded and beat Berdych (sold in thigh and knee) 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7 / 5). In the third set, Berdych was 5-3 and service. Chardy steamrolled Djokovic: 6-2, 6-3.

Missed opportunity to another record in the Masters

The defeat of Rafael Nadal to Murray slams the opportunity to impose an all-time record: four Masters titles in 1000. Nobody has. Rafa, who swept the three Masters titles in 2010 on clay, did not fall defeated in this kind of tournament since the semifinals in Miami, against Andy Roddick. Returning to hard court, the worst type of surface is given, Nadal has once again suffered. But still can match the total world record in one year Masters, which he shares with Federer since 2005: four.

Cincinnati: Rafa is on the side of Federer

The next stop for Rafa Nadal should be the 1000 Cincinnati Masters, which begins tomorrow and has already drawn his picture. The number one start against winner of the match between Feliciano Lopez and a player from the previous. A Almagro in the round I could find to Berdych in the quarterfinals and Roger Federer in the semifinals. Verdasco will play the winner of the Simon-Fish.

With a set equal, despite a break to recover and earn a spot in the third, Gael Monfils his hands on his knees and took a deep breath, deep breath. Then, after an onslaught of Nadal again put at risk that their service, called the aid directly to the public.

Not resist the pull of the man who, after stumbling Murray, next Monday will be world number two if Djokovic win the tournament. Rafael Nadal will play for the third time the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open after beating Monfils, seeded thirteenth, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-1, 6-3. He will face Fernando Gonzalez, who has won the last five meetings, most recently in the semi-finals in Rome last spring.

The Spaniard played his most complete game so far this tournament and yielded good news about his physical condition. The problems in the abdominal region that came to plague him in recent days did not seem to bother too much. He served well, moved fluently and regained the winning warrior spirit that captivates both New York audiences, excited to enjoy his idol at the Arthur Ashe and the evening session. The faithful are less satisfied with a modest ration of battle. Completed the third set, and before that had little resistance Monfils, began leaving the stands. It was already half past eleven on the night of a workday and the party did not seem to give much more.

Nadal, who lost to Monfils in Doha earlier this year and defeated him weeks later in Rotterdam, destroyed all her physical and strategic reserves. If anything Gaulish was seemed able to cope with the athletic strength of his rival, to present fight to the finish. Not so. Gradually, it was deflating, unable to endure his ball speed, contemplating how to rescue each of your mail and quickly took the initiative. I had seen coming from a 5-2 in the first set. Monfils served with 5-3 to win the set and found the best game up to that trance Mallorcan, who shows up to give one and paddled alone in the tiebreaker.

There were few more concessions. Just an oversight on his serve which extended the precarious life of Monfils. Fat to die. Nadal had put two gears and made more to meet slurry into French, whose only recourse was extreme and all risks, look for the shortest possible points, with consequent indentation bugs, to a total of 63. The meeting, in its outcome as in its development, only positives: the Spaniard goes into the quarter, rescues the number two and will meet an opponent quite affordable.

Gonzalez, his opponent in the quarterfinals
On the horizon is no longer semi-final Andy Murray, the man who defeated him last year at the same stage. The Scotsman succumbed in three sets to an admirable Cilic, Del Potro will play against in another quarterfinal confrontation. Thus will their hypothetical enemy in the penultimate round. "I'm very, very happy. Thank you all," he said, recovering his best smile.

Meanwhile, Fernando Gonzalez beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (3-6, 6-3, 7-6 and 6-4) and qualified for the quarterfinals States Open States, where they will face Nadal.

The Chilean overcame a spectacular game that delighted New York audiences. Tsonga, seeded seventh, took too many risks. Did most winners, hit a total of 51, but also made more errors, 41, a total of 10 more than his opponent. Another fact that made the difference was that only took one of his 14-ball break.