carlos moyá

FACE IN SEMIFINALS OF A RUSSIAN TOURNAMENT OF EXHIBITION IN ABU DHABI

The Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, number one world ranking, opened the campaign with an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi bringing together most of the best players in the men's circuit but his first appointment of substance will be next week in Qatar.

The Mallorcan will start this competition measured in the semifinals Russian Nikolay Davydenko while on the other side sought a post in the final the Swiss Roger Federer, who also goes directly to semifinals, and Britain's Andy Murray.

Federer-Murray, the other semifinal
Davydenko intersects with Nadal after overcoming the American Andy Roddick 6-4 with a double while Murray, one of the great expectations of the season, did the same with James Blake to 6-2. The Russian, a finalist last Masters in Shanghai in November, was very aggressive entry before a hesitant Roddick.

Before beginning the official tournament on Sunday in Brisbane, Federer and Nadal could contest the first final of the season, before moving to Qatar, while in Chennai will long Davydenko and Carlos Moya from Monday.

For the first time in 2008, none of the three first classified in the world ranking will compete in the final of any of the nine Masters Series in the circuit in the absence of the event in Paris-Bercy.

Novak Djokovic fell into eighths, Federer and Nadal in the semifinals. Andy Murray, fourth in the world, and Gilles Simon, tenth starting Monday, averted another year the desire of any tournament, a final between the top two rackets in the world. The Madrid tournament will be dismissed from (59-15).

Behind them, David Ferrer and Murray did not spend 65 and 61, respectively. What plans have Nadal and Federer for the final stretch of the season? How to manage your energy low? "In principle I'm going to play in Basel and then we'll see what happens," Federer said after the defeat. "The first goal, to retain the number one until the end of the year, as I have met. The next is to do well in Paris," said Nadal.

Plans for the near future. A his version 'indoor' without having enjoyed the crossing expected.

Despite the huge gap reflected in the ATP list among the top three and the rest, the differences are reduced in the final leg of the course due to a grueling schedule in which the best paying the price of its success to compete more encounters than the rest. Nadal, undisputed king of the year, accumulated 89 games (80-9) in their legs; Federer reaches 71 (58-13), three less than Djokovic this stage, none dares to predict what will happen next month. In any event, Nadal could afford the racket sheathed until the next Open from Australia, in January 2009. Federer could not be dislodged until then. Enough with the Swiss have to look back to control the movements of Djokovic, who in Paris and Shanghai has options to threaten his second position.

Murray said his defeat in the face of the mathematically a Spanish presence in the highest ranking at the conclusion of a season. Juan Carlos Ferrero, number one for eight weeks in 2003, ceded his crown to Roddick in the final tournament, the Masters Cup, then based in Houston. Carlos Moya, two weeks at the helm of the ATP in 1999 after reaching the finals in Indian Wells, also failed to defend his position. Could not even finish among the top 10.

For 22 years, Nadal is the first left-handed in front of classification final since John McEnroe in 1984 and third in the history of the ATP ranking (since 1973). Jimmy Connors, a leader between 1981 and 1984, was the first.

With 344 points advantage over Federer in the Race of Champions, Nadal to him on 44, as the Swiss, even winning three tournaments in which you can still take part-Basel (50), Paris (100) and Shanghai (150) - Add a maximum of 300 points. The Mallorcan, despite the defeat, will overcome the barrier of 7,000 points on the List Ticket.

Therefore, there is no room for disappointment. "Of course not. I've come to Tournament semifinals at the first 'indoor' appreciation. "It was a shame to lose a game like this after a big fight, but I gave it my best. I'm going home happy with myself." Nadal, in contrast to the previous junction Feliciano Lopez, said no infiltration to alleviate their discomfort in his shoulder. "Today I have come across a little better. Also, I can not make a always played with a positive mindset. " treatment every day to hide the injury, "he explained.

Despite improved physical, three hours and 22 minutes of play eventually pass bill. "Both time for a match indoors is durísimo", he acknowledged. "I had many options, but could not be. I have to learn what I did wrong. I have to go a little further on the track and I lost points that you can not lose if you take a victory. Erred tactical and technical, but not me I can blame anything. I

Rafa Nadal will be the recognition of ATP by its access to global leadership. A big deal and your audience

When a player rises to top of world rankings, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) is celebrated. Was the fact that Rafa Nadal arrived at this post on August 18 last, and since then has only contested competitions run by the International Federation (the U.S. Open and the Davis Cup).

The ATP preferred to wait And it will have made almost two months to one of its tournaments as he deserves to pay homage to the tennis manacorí. And what better scenario that the Masters Series Madrid, where in October 2003 and held the number one Juan Carlos Ferrero-facing its biggest supporters.

On Sunday, Oct. 12, at 1330 hours and broadcast live by TVE, receive, in the center court of the Telefonica Madrid Arena, in the hands of the executive president of ATP, the South African Etienne De />
For his part, the organization of Madrid, at the mouth of its director, Manolo Santana, stressed that "we are delighted. A Rafa wants him in all countries, but especially here. "

The recognition will amenizado by a stunt show performed by actors from 'Dreams 2', a unique audiovisual show that reinvents the musical integrating it with extreme sports like wakeboarding, parkour, Krumpas indoor or trial and that will coincide with the start of the Villiers, who credited the trophy as world number one. "The conquest of Rafa's number one is the reward for a fantastic race in a year in the complex that has been ratified as a major player on all surfaces. It was a small feat to end the reign of Federer. Now the best player in the world and all amateur tennis players continue to expect that both measured in one of the strongest rivalries in world sport, "said De Villiers.

And added that Madrid is one more day of the tournament, with the dispute of four meetings of the table in that first final Sunday. "We want to take a holiday more to offer a better program and that more people can enjoy their favorite stars," said Santana after receiving approval from ATP to make the change.

And it is that everybody wants to see Nadal. The manacorí not before debutaría Tuesday, October 14 at eight o'clock in the afternoon (at night sitting) in the individual competition but could do so before the double, which on this occasion disputará with his friend Carlos Moya. Good sign of interest shown this year is that the tickets are sold out for semifinals and final as well as for meetings at night from Tuesday to Friday. The pace of sales has been of record.

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The jury of the Prince of Asturias Award County this morning the most important prize in the sports world

Rafa Nadal was aware that he was competing "with great athletes. And it is a prize to the trajectory so this quiet because I hope, if not this year, will be the next ". These were the words of Manacor before knowing that the Prince of Asturias Sport can move on to swell their trophy cabinets.

It is a recognition not only to this extraordinary 2008 but also has to be seen as a reward for the record, the tenacity, when, as well said his close friend Carlos Moyà, "not to lay down their arms ever" ... When any other would have stopped running, he would have forgotten the number one and would have been contented with beating another kind of records.

But it is Nadal, the Spanish athlete more relevant today. And is that Rafa reflects everything that is rewarded with the Prince of Asturias. In the first instead, their deeds sports: four consecutive Roland Garros, with the double Wimbledon this year (for the first time since 1980) after two late missed, the best streak in history on any surface (81 consecutive wins on clay), the better number two in history (160 consecutive weeks in that post) and, finally, world number one ... Without forgetting that also looks with pride and Olympic gold that was in 2004, 18, the youngest champion in Davis Cup the full story.

A second requirement is his most human side. Rafa remains the same the first day, according to media with a smile and responding to the maximum possible number of requests from fans. There is nothing strange to see him twenty minutes signing autographs at the conclusion of their training sessions. His behavior has not been altered by his ascension to the top. On the contrary.

And the third alternative: its contribution sport. The contribution of the tennis Nadal no doubt because it has become one of the most popular athletes in the world and their presence on the circuit has meant one of the greatest rivalries in history and has brought, as identifies two legends like Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, the most that has ever seen in the final of Wimbledon.

Rafa is at a higher level. Any recognition, as highlighted his own comrades circuit, is more than deserved.