semifinal

Defeat by a double 6-2 and gets into Barcelona Open semifinals. The Spaniard continues at high level.

Rafa Nadal got into Barcelona Open semifinals after a comfortable win over Tipsarevic (6-2, 6-2), which ended without resources, like all Spanish rival on clay. The Serbian only found a way to hurt Nadal in a couple of games early in the second set. The rest was dominated by the Spaniard, relentless on clay. Solid as usual, took advantage of the many mistakes of his opponent with the right to win one more game. For now, continues to display that began in Monte Carlo. In the semifinals will face Verdasco, who passed through injury Nishikori.

The game started with a double break of Nadal in their first two games the rest. In the blink of an eye, the set went 4-0 and was nearly sentenced. Spanish has started the clay season like a shot, open every right angles and each setback has weight and venom. Difficult not to make mistakes under the blows of the Spanish, often profound. Nadal game requires the opponent to be in an extraordinary level. Tipsarevic, a good player in mind something fragile, was a new victim.

The Serb wanted to recover at the end of the first set and the start of the second. He won all four games of the match in that span. The first set was lost, but at least managed to recover and try to stand up in the second. He took more and found, above all, his backhand crosscourt, which was his best shot in the game. With the right not find the way. Or going out, or the Nadal countered. The Spanish, meanwhile, offered many more variants. Nadal was the last match, a player who becomes a rival for the wall and when attacks do much harm.

Tipsarevic stayed in the game until the fifth game of the third set. Matched the initial 2-0 Nadal in that part, but the break of Spanish was the 3-2 final. That lowered his arms and played Serbian pleasure Nadal duel ended peacefully, without conceding a game. No way to stop the Spaniard, who is thin, very solid and secure, and aggressive.

Spain has one foot in the semifinals of the Davis Cup after winning the first two games to Austria in the quarterfinal tie which is held in Oropesa del Mar (Castellón). However, athletic success is not linked to the public. The stands in Marina d´Or are half full or half empty, depending how you look.

Spanish fans do not like tennis and is a faithful follower of Rafa Nadal? One question that remains in the air in the light of the appearance of the stands in the quarter-final tie that pits Spain with Austria in Oropesa del Mar. Media ticket for the first two games, something unthinkable if Nadal were in the track. But there are reasons for this collapse of the public.

Without the # 1 Spanish, 2 ATP, organizers should consider lowering prices for parties of Spain in the Davis Cup. Tennis fans in the skin of bull there are many, but not many are willing to pay the prices of fertilizers as these range from 207.70 euros (first class in the background), 94.50 (third category side) for the five matches the price that could be found online at official websites. Not to mention what it would cost accommodation in the seaside resort for three or four days.

The poster was not bad, far from it. David Ferrer is the number 5 in the world and Nico Almagro, the twelfth of the ATP. And rivals, the Murcia was the Jurgen Melzer, 21. Another Austrian, Andreas Haider-Maurer, is the 139. Three players in the top 25 pairs. One of them, Ferrer, land of Valencia. A perfect hook, if that `The Spanish Armada´ is not itself.

In the end, it has not worked, at least in this first day, riding the track at Marina d´Or holiday village advertised as though it belongs to Oropesa del Mar. The weather, rainy and cold, has not accompanied this Easter, but still less the absence of Nadal, who needs rest in a year with Olympics. Eye, which was the same in the aterior tie against Kazakhstan in Oviedo. Without Nadal will have to lower prices.

Match results: Almagro beat Melzer in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. For his part, Ferrer was even stronger after beating Maurer 6-1, 6-3, 6-1, and playing at half speed for the physical problems of his rival, far below and above played depleted by injury ankle.

Be reserved for clay

Foreshadowing what was to come ... it turned out. And two hours before scheduled start against Andy Murray semifinal at Crandon Park, Key Biscayne, Rafael Nadal made ​​official his retirement from the Miami Masters. "I am not able to play on my knee," said Rafa on his Facebook page.

Then, in a press conference on the same premises at Crandon Park, Nadal said: "I´ve done a lot of treatment and I expected to spend the morning but was not ready to compete. I´m sorry for all the fans and the tournament, but I can not go out there and lie to everyone. My knee is not to play good tennis. "In Rafa abandonment costs net 240 points in the ATP ranking: 600 defended as a finalist in 2011, and in 2012 only added the 360 ​​semifinalist. But Federer, number three, away from Rafa, number two: the Swiss, who signed 360 points as a semifinalist in 2011, lost a total of 315: his knockout defeat to Roddick holds only 45 points gross. "It´s bad news, but not every day can be perfect. I will work hard to get back quickly and give the maximum in Monte Carlo," Rafa advanced. He reiterated that his problems began "before Indian Wells."

Doctors insist on treatment with mesotherapy injections of plasma and sore tendons in the knees of Rafa, who declined further crushed to Murray and eventually to Djokovic. Touch to return to earth.

The weather has been forced to delay the semifinals of the 1000 Indian Wells Masters, the first of the season, they have to play Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer, scheduled for 21:00.

The rain has forced to delay the semifinals of the 1000 Indian Wells Masters, the first of the season, they have to play the Spanish Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer and was originally scheduled for 21:00.

Nadal and Federer will have to wait in the locker room for the rain to stop in order to challenge his party. The tournament organizers had planned U.S. that the meeting will be played right after the first semifinal, in which the U.S. has imposed Jonh Isner Novak Djokovic (7-6, 3-6, 7-6), but the rain made its appearance as the meeting ended.

In addition, the Spanish also had to play this Saturday the doubles final with Marc Lopez also Spanish to the Americans Jonh Isner and Sam Querrey. For now, the final is scheduled to be played this Saturday but will depend on the rain that has to be postponed until Sunday.