roma

Beijing, Monte Carlo, Rome ... Change scenarios, the result is repeated. This time the Roman clay saw as the best tennis player in the world added another chapter to his legend by defeating the second time in two weeks a volunteer Novak Djokovic (7-6 (2) and 6-2). With Roland Garros in three weeks hearing the hegemony of the world number one seems incontestable. Especially in light of what happened at the stadium Pietrangelli of the Roman capital, where he broke Nadal in straight sets in which emerges as his main rival in the season on clay.

Started the match strongly Nadal, aware that he was against a rival group. The start of the Spanish overflowed to Novak Djokovic to deliver a break in the first game of the match. Despite having to play against from the beginning, Djokovic took the first class and one sleeve igualadísima saved a ball from Nadal and ended in September, forcing sudden death. In the tie break, the moral unwavering Nadal came to light and ended up bowing to the Manacor Serbian.



But Djokovic did not want to give up and showed his best in the second set, forcing Nadal to force the machine to avoid losing ground. Nole the game started to remind her second set before Federer in the semifinals, starting the comeback that led the final. Without However, this time the resistance of Nadal was indestructible until two errors not forced Belgrade player game in the sixth led to a break, the beginning of the end for Djokovic.

After this break, the number three in the world under the arms so the following games and final liability fell comfortably Spanish side, who ended the match with an outstanding passing shot, the house brand. In this way, Nadal won his fifth tournament of the season, third in the 1000 Masters and 15 years of his career. Only Andre Agassi has raised more trophies such that the Spanish, already a very impressive streak of 30 consecutive wins on clay.

The next important date is in Madrid, only fifteen days before the start of Roland Garros. To win in Paris this year, Rafa Nadal to surpass Bjorn Borg to get his fifth consecutive victory in the French Open, something unprecedented to date. Judging to the superiority shown by Djokovic, the erratic Federer and Andy Murray in trouble on clay, no one seems able to stem the irresistible advance of the Spanish champion to the Olympic tennis.

Roma 2009 Photogallery

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Rafa Nadal was classified to the quarterfinals of the Masters Series in Paris after getting rid of the French Gael Monfils in a match less clear what the scoreboard says, 6-3 and 6-2. French is the second defeat in two rounds after beating Florent Serra in a Round. The rival's number one will be the next Russian Davydenko who beat Czech Berdych in two sets (6-1 and 6-1).

The statistical break points was decisive for the fate of the party. Nadal took all three occasions before the break, while his rival who had missed the 9. Statistics number one.

The two precedents between Nadal and Monfils (Monte Carlo and Rome) were very friendly Nadal, who had not ceded, nor a set. But this was Paris (factor public) and fast track. Monfils, the world No 16 and semifinalist in Roland Garros, began the match with a poor percentage with the first service, its main weapon. So, too soon Break Nadal in the draw (4-2).

When the Spanish served with 5-3 to close the sleeve, Monfils lifted his head and, using a pair of forced errors not of Spanish, increased to 0-40 marker. With the patience of someone who knows upper back Rafa all three break points, and in September fell as ripe fruit. 6-3.

Pushed by his audience, Monfils disputed an emotional game, alternating gray. In one of the valleys of his game, Nadal took the opportunity to rob the French service of his second set. Then came the battle. Monfils was again placed at the service of 0-40 above Nadal. That fourth game of the second sleeve was the battle that finally decided the fate of the party.

When the game was complicated, Rafa pulled repertoire, going crazy with their services to Monfils lifted and the Spanish lifted the body up to 5 balls break, too hard a blow to the morale of French tennis player unstable.

The audience was silenced and Paris Monfils dropped his arms, lost in useless battles parallel with the judge and the hawk's eye. Nadal became the steamroller to close the shock by the fast track. At this stage of the year no one should be generous with the effort, every minute on the track tomorrow weighed on the legs. The Spanish came back to break the service of the French, and I hope the eighth game to go to certify their rooms with their service.

Nadal goes back two breaks ahead in the first part and the Swiss desquicia

He joined Kuerten and Rios as the only champion of the three Masters on earth

Even a 5-1, the service in his possession and two balls set in their favor enough racket to the best in the world to define its sleeve to Rafael Nadal. Roger Federer ended desquiciado once again before the king of clay. Not even in your garden Hamburg, which since 2002 had succeeded only Mark Philippoussis Bates, could withstand the determination and character of his nemesis. Reacted in the second part, but what the party had lost in the first after so traumatic squandered his immense advantage. Nadal joined his tenth victory before Federer, defended with authority and epic dose of their status as the world number two and already accumulated 11 Masters Series events, the same as Pete Sampras. 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-3.



Two battles for three hours each in just two days before the two players, respectively, and precede happen in the classification, reinforcing its aura of indomitable champion. Nadal landed in Hamburg with the encouragement of a growing Novak Djokovic in his neck after his untimely defeat in Rome. And although his two feet on living flesh, pounded by blisters, and moved with the president of the Spanish Federation of Tennis, Pedro Munoz, not helped prepare quoted German, the Balearic leaves the Rothenbaum club with the 26 th title of his career in his pocket after leaving the road in his two major rivals on the circuit.

Nadal back a 1-3 and 15-40 before Djokovic to sign the first match away from the semifinals. Extraordinary, but nothing compared to his reaction to Federer. The Swiss, a cyclone during the start of the meeting, took a 5-1 and a point in September to serve. On the other side, legs jamming by the effort of the previous day, Nadal offered all facilities: poor percentages with his service and, above all, a collection of short returns that allowed Federer attack pleasure from the average track. So far, until such time as that connected its first right parallel to the line gave the first option to break his rival. He did so, he returned to the chair and requested the assistance of physio to treat a muscle problem in his face Previous thigh of his right leg.

Zurdo when wielding the racket, Nadal load the weight on his left leg when hitting the ball. Thanks to this could overcome the inconvenience, forget-based right-wing winners and, above all, a setback crossed especially inspired with which exceeded over and over again attacks on the Swiss network. Nadal chained seven consecutive games, the last to start the second part with another break in favour. Inconceivable. He responded with fortitude and pride the number one escape when he saw a new final against Nadal, the eighth of the 12 who have disputed, the seventh on clay. Based on its service, neutralized immediately returned to their disadvantage and establish a 5-2 in their favour. But, as in the first set, squandering his credit.

Nadal, attended by a doctor during the finals
He had Federer, however, the ability to react again, even to save a 0-40 with five equals three breaking points which, if any confirmed Nadal had helped get him to sign the triumph. Then the points with his Swiss direct draw to force the tie-break and aim for 7-3.

But the mental battle once again opted Spanish side. What had made since the resolution of the first set. Federer's victory in the second only served to further reinforce the feeling that Hamburg has been the best during the week tennis so far this year. For quality and emotion without limit. Neither the followers of Federer, so anguished in the tier as his idol on the track, changed the gesture came when the decisive part. Nadal was already an almost perfect machine, unstoppable, much more accurate with his service with the deposit still far from the reservation.

The number two of the ATP, which increases by 50 points advantage over his Djokovic and declines at 150 to Federer, took advantage of the unique moment devolution of Federer in the third partial to win his third trophy of the course-with its 360,000-euro prize after the Monte Carlo and Barcelona. No longer is it important that hold no title on clay. In addition to his three triumphs in Paris, Nadal has triumphed in the three Masters Series of the year on the slow surface. Since 1990-when it established a timetable similar to that currently, only Gustavo Kuerten and Marcelo Rios had been able to win in Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg.

Federer, unbeaten so far in the nine contested final in Germany during his career, more than ever exposed his mental confusion increasingly being measured to Nadal in a hint of earth. A disease, apparently without cure.