historia

Good atmosphere in the draw held on Thursday at the Teatro Lope de Vega

It is a very individual sport like tennis, compete for your country as a team becomes an event. Maybe that´s what´s so special about Davis Cup more than 100 years of history. In this latest edition, and with the clay of the Olympic Stadium of La Cartuja as a stage play, Spain and Argentina seek to register their name in the list of winners of the Davis.

Since Rafael Nadal on clay jump Sant Jordi in Barcelona in December 2000 as standard-bearer carrying the Spanish flag in the first final of the `Armada´ local territory (previously lost to Australia in 1965 and 1967), the Spaniard knew that his life would be linked to this tennis tournament. It debuted in 2004 at Brno in the Czech Republic, with the Spanish hero to get to the fifth item Radek Stepanek facing our passage to the quarterfinals. That same year, the Olympic Stadium of La Cartuja as a witness, Rafa became the youngest player to win the Davis Cup with just 18 years and 187 days. His feeling with competition have led him to sign a background of 20 wins and 5 losses (18-1 in singles), being largely absent from the end of Mar del Plata in 2008 against Argentina and starred the following year in Barcelona at the Czech Republic. Nadal is the great leader of the team led by Albert Costa. "It is true that my record in the last seven years on earth is very good and hopefully I can go on, but the Davis Cup competition is a special, different, less time to prepare and everything is more dangerous. There is a desire to win the importance of the tournament and finish the season with positive feelings. But it will not be easy, "says the Spaniard.

Nadal´s first opponent in Seville will be his friend Juan Monaco, with whom he shared apartment holidays and PlayStation games in each tournament. Although the Argentine captain, Modesto `Tito´ Vazquez, has attempted to play the dismissal until the last minute like a game of chess is involved, the entry of `peak´ for the first day was a secret. The objective is to punish as possible to the No. 1 Spanish and David Nalbandian saved for the last two days. "The earth is a very hard surface and prefer not to put a player three straight days," said coach albiceleste. Nadal and Monaco have met on three occasions to date, with a background of 2-1 in favor of the Spaniard, who had to withdraw at their last meeting in Cincinnati 2007. "I feel good, with confidence, energy and adapted to clay," warns Monaco.

The importance of sentence or to hope

Albicelestes options go through scratching a spot on the first day of competition and the headlights are on Juan Martin del Potro, who return to their Argentine number 1 three years after the `Marplatazo´ to Spain. "It´s part of the past. We grew a lot as a result of that end, I improved a lot as a player and now have a second chance. We are calm and try to fight very hard," says the Tower of Tandil, which has signed an exceptional season in which has moved from the position 485 of the ranking to rise to the eleventh step. Even end the year in `Top-Ten´ world just win a game in the final.

His first opportunity to have it to David Ferrer. The Javea, that as soon takes gallons of leader in the absence Nadal puts on overalls and yields in the shade, is the third player with the most wins on clay this season (behind only Nicolas Almagro and Rafa himself) . "I get physically tired, but the final is going to give up. It is last year´s effort," said Ferru. David and Del Potro have been measured on four occasions to date, sharing two wins each player. Interestingly, Sevilla will mark the first precedent between the two on clay.

Nadal-Monaco, to open mouth

Predictably, the draw was held Thursday at the Teatro Lope de Vega in Seville and has been the model Eva Gonzalez as master of ceremonies, finished to resolve the uncertainties regarding the Argentine box. While Costa has confirmed that, unless unforeseen last minute Nadal and Ferrer used for individual duels and Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco for doubles, Vazquez confirmed that Eduardo Schwank enters the group to the detriment of Juan Ignacio Chela, while Monaco bet on the first day to reserve a Nalbandian who claims to be "with the dream of his life." The first game (Friday, 14.00 hours, TVE) is the Nadal-Monaco match followed by Ferrer-Del Potro.

"Spain is the strongest team in history on clay," said Del Potro. It is wrong. Since losing in Lleida to the Brazilian `Guga´ Kuerten in the first round of 1999, Spain accumulates 22 consecutive knockout win on this surface, 20 of them acting as local. In this case will again be the Olympic Stadium of La Cartuja, which is prepared to accommodate 27,700 spectators, a record in the history of the sport. Argentina gets hungry for the first time raise the Davis, Spain forward to adding his fifth `punch´ of silver. Wait a weekend of passion ... and tennis.

Djokovic is the first player in history to win five consecutive times to Nadal • The Serbian is the most capped player has won the Spanish (12) in his career

Novak Djokovic won his first Wimbledon and third Grand Slam of his career to break in the final to Rafael Nadal in four sets. The Serb, new world number 1, accumulated 26 titles to his credit, only eight this season.

The Centre Court of the All England Tennis Club was again the scene the duel between the two best players of the moment. After the Serbian victories in the finals of Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome, had wanted to see Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic with a Grand Slam title at stake and the show did not disappoint. The number 1 starter (Djokovic) won at # 1 Outgoing (Nadal) by an aggregate score of 6-4, 6-1, 1-6 and 6-3 after two hours and veinticoho minutes of play, extending their experience to what far this season to 48 wins and one one loss (Roland Garros semifinals to Roger Federer). The new rivalry in tennis is a fact. Nadal and Djokovic have met three of the four Grand Slam in eight of the nine Masters 1000, Masters Cup, Davis Cup and Olympics. Chapter 28 of this tale was read at Wimbledon.

Both players jumped on the green ready to assert their game plan. Rafa opted for a slow game, in which his rival thought each point. Novak preferred print speeds over the pace of the game. The first games were used to test, meeting with each player their service credit. So when it was 'hot' in the set, where Rafa, 5-4, 30-0 and serve, committed two straight unforced errors that would end the sentence to yield the set. Djokovic, unpolished, was put forward in the light. Box hailed by overly expressive (Vadj Marion coach, his trainer Milan Amanovic, psychologist Cetojevic Igor, his girlfriend Jelena Ristic, his parents and siblings), Djokovic took the positive momentum to expand to five games signed in favor of a row. The second act showed a near-perfect tennis, almost without mistakes, moving his opponent at his mercy, by running the ball a lot with both his right and his backhand, making copies of an incredible confidence. Soon the Balkans to sign up the second set, disguised as a willing to attack the pirate ship Rahman encundia ever found.

Nadal was up only once in the final two sets for his entire career (Madrid 2005 to Ivan Ljubicic), but has taught us to dream impossible comebacks. The Spaniard, his pride wounded, began to hit the ball harder, from dominant to dominant, getting on the party train taking advantage of mistakes by a rival who seemed to GET WITH doubts. With gesture brow and knowing the quality of Rafa, Djokovic found himself first on the ropes after losing the third set. It could be worse for Serbia if Nadal had taken the ball break he had in the beginning of the fourth. Nole was then returned to appeal to a great service. He climbed to the network, played dead and turned parallel to `plug 'the party. In a last start of courage, Nadal was able to recover the disadvantage acquired, but their errors were again the Djoko who returned to `'the opportunity to fasten the party and hence the title. Serbia made no mistake this time, summoning an improved version of himself.

While in the cathedral rang the aplasusos to glorify the new Wimbledon champion, Djokovic began its `show 'more emotional: reflection squatting, lying on the green holding, hand on his chest, I greet her box full of praise for Nadal kisses Cup for the first time to taste in his career. What better way to celebrate its new status as number 1! It is the first Serbian Grand Slam wins out of Australia's borders (he won in Melbourne in 2008 and 2010), but surely not the last. Rafa farewell to London with the bitter feeling of having been close, very close, but today came across a great player who deserved the award reached. Two numbers are 1, the new rivalry in the sport ...

Rafael Nadal won his sixth Roland Garros after the break in the final to Roger Federer. A victory that allows the Balearic equal the record of Bjorn Borg in Paris, and to hold the reign of the ATP. The 'King of Clay' accumulates ten Grand Slam titles and 46 in an excellent track record.

Rafael Nadal won his sixth Roland Garros after the break in the final to Roger Federer. A victory that allows the Balearic match Bjorn Borg's record in Paris and retain the reign of the ATP. The 'King of Clay' accumulates ten Grand Slam titles and 46 in an excellent track record.

They say small I dreamed of winning Roland Garros someday ... and 24 years and two days in his identity card, just got his sixth of the Musketeers Cup. Just six years ago, on a day like today, Rafael Nadal won his first Roland Garros, with only 19, the bend in the end Argentina's Mariano Puerta. Only six years after the Spaniard repeated landmark on the Parisian clay break in the final to Roger Federer by an aggregate score of 7-5, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-1 after three hours and forty minutes in a crash played in a Philippe Chatrier that might eventually surrendered to the Spanish. The victory of the Balearic records and historical landmarks in addition, has the added bonus of keeping at least one week reign of ATP, reaching 100 weeks at the forefront of the world rankings.

The game started with Federer breaking all expectations, displaying a great service, a strong right and aggression more typical of other surfaces. The timid kick Nadal, who looked a shadow of himself, helped the Swiss to take advantage on the scoreboard. Therefore, they came to have ball in September (2-5 the rest). Then came the reaction of the Spaniard, who once again read to perfection the game and put the `Plan B 'in action. Began to serve deeper, earnestly seek the reverse height of his rival and bring up a drive with which he signed 'passings' house brand to fasten the first set.

Chess game played Clash of land left to go to play Federer's head, who left the party at times and began the second act giving his serve, increase our seven games the won by Nadal in a row. The Swiss accumulated unforced errors, especially with the aforementioned upside-down as their numbers Rafa makeup service, getting more powerful and varied. Had the Spaniard put options via land, but spare a 'Swiss Express' which gradually returned to carburizing. Equalized the contest (4-4) to the delight of an audience given to the Swiss, cheered to the beat of `Roger, Roger." The Swiss managed to match the race and even up two balls of adverse September after a ten-minute break because of the frequently mentioned and discussed rain, which wanted to have your dose of prominence in the final. The set had to be decided finally in the tie-break, where Rafa's defenses were better than the Swiss attacks, taking as a result of the conquest of the second set.

In the 24 previous meetings between the two masters of the racket, Federer had only two sets up against. It was in the Miami end of 2005, much has happened since then. However, the Swiss Nipple is sin and no one Basel surprised that the fight to continue 'plugged in' to the party. He did it with exceptional service, being more aggressive than in previous bars and becoming master of the much debated Babolat balls. The pupil of Paul Annacone answered with a blank contrabreak Rafa break in the seventh game seemed to be the last straw for the party and joined a new break to clinch the set and delaying the match.

Saute the alarms in the box when Nadal saw the fourth set began with a 0-40 against. The Spaniard reacted then saved the furniture using his service as a right hand that life gave him much when he dared to take the initiative in exchanges. So he signed his best: trust, volleys, forehand and backhand which had just pointed his sight. Even the sun came out in the final minutes to illuminate the triumph of Nadal, who received from the hand of Jim Courier new Musketeers Cup. With this win, Nadal matched the six Roland Garros I got the Swede Björn Borg between 1974 and 1981. This is also his tenth Grand Slam, the second youngest player in history to reach this number of 'majors'. Although his humility does not allow to say, Rafa is one of the best players in history ...

Nadal does not have any pressure to become the successor to the Australian Rod Laver, the last player to win four Grand Slam tournaments in a row

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer opens, officially, the season this week at the tournament in Doha, where they both want to prove their motivations in a special session that promises sensations.

For Nadal, returning to Doha means remembering that this same scenario had two points in the final tournament before the Russian Nikolay Davydenko. It was a bad omen at the beginning of the year, then continued his retreat in the quarter-final of the Australia by a knee injury.

But after closing 2010 with seven titles to his credit, including three Grand Slam (Roland Garros, Wimbledon and U.S. Open), and number one in his pocket, Nadal started 2011 as best you can, winning for the second time the exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi, this time to defeat Federer in the final.

In Doha, Nadal and Federer can see new faces. And you will not like the exhibition games played in Madrid in the Magic Box, "United for Children", or is in Abu Dhabi. In the capital of Qatar in Manacor start, and quite serious, a challenge that will not talk much, but can soar further in the history of the sport: the conquest of Australia Open for the second time, and thus achieving four Grand Slam tournaments in a row.

"No I consider now the fact of achieving the fourth Grand Slam followed. It will be difficult to win in Australia. There are many applicants. Then we'll see," Nadal said after being crowned champion in Abu Dhabi.

Nadal said then that does not have any pressure to become the successor to the Australian Rod Laver, the last player to win four Grand Slam tournaments in a row, although in their case, "Rocket" made in the same year, in 1969, something no one has never again "will be a tough season with the likes of Federer, who wish him well in this year. It will be hard for everyone and I hope it's good for me." Health is the most important thing for me and for all. Without it the rest of things are impossible, "Nadal said.

Federer aims to recapture this year's world number one beat the record of American Pete Sampras as the player most weeks has been on top of the rankings. Leaving Abu Dhabi made it clear that Doha was there and tried new shots to add to your repertoire, and perform in Melbourne with higher aspirations to defend the title with greater assurance.

"It's a special Australia Open defending the title," said Federer. "Since then the focus will be on them. The tournament will be exciting."

In Doha, Nadal and Federer are the biggest favorite. The table includes French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the Russian Davydenko, the Latvian Ernest Gulbis, Serbia's Victor Troicki Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in Spanish and German Phillip Kohlschreiber.

Share Doha week with Brisbane, where the Swede Robin Soderling, Andy Roddick and Fernando Verdasco Spanish are the first figures, and in Madras where the Czech Tomas Berdych is the main attraction.

Nadal will begin tomorrow, Monday, with doubles match, which is paired with Marc Lopez and will open fratricidal duel against Pere Riba and David Marrero. Individual table start against Slovak Karol Beck, 103 of the world, while Federer will do against a player who comes from the previous phase.