Tennis Frontier

Tag: rafael nadal

  • Nadal and Almagro to contest Barcelona final

    Nadal and Almagro to contest Barcelona final

    Rafael Nadal moved into the final of the Barcelona Open after a comfortable straight sets win including a second set bagel over the promising Canadian Milos Raonic.

    “I think it was my best match of the whole week,” stated Nadal after wrapping up the clash 6-4 6-0.

    Almagro defeated Phillip Kohlschreiber in only 51 minutes to book his slot in the final, but has never beaten Nadal in nine attempts.

    The Mallorcan is bidding to win the Barcelona title for the eighth time in nine years after his streak at Monte Carlo was ended by Novak Djokovic. He will be a very heavy favourite to secure the silverware.

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  • Novak Djokovic – The Crown Prince of Monte Carlo

    Novak Djokovic – The Crown Prince of Monte Carlo

    Watched by the royalty of Monaco, Novak Djokovic ended Rafael Nadal’s amazing 8 year winning streak at Monte Carlo with a dominant display.

    Nadal suffered his first loss since a 2003 defeat at the hands of Gaston Gaudio. 10 years and 46 matches later, he fell to World #1 Djokovic in straight sets 6-2 7-6 in just under two hours.

    “It’s such a great pleasure to win here, it’s very special,” said Djokovic, a native of Serbia but primarily based in the principality.

    Djokovic, 25, wasted no time in setting out his intentions – racing out to take the first set 6-2 in 46 minutes.

    The second set was a more competitive affair, with Nadal breaking the Djokovic serve and giving himself a chance to level up the match at 5-4. However, Djokovic broke straight back, forcing a tie-break, which he won at a canter – 7-1.

    Nadal moves onto Barcelona next, with the next opportunity of a clash between the two titans coming at Madrid.

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  • SF Results, Monte Carlo. Djokovic progresses… Nadal looms.

    SF Results, Monte Carlo. Djokovic progresses… Nadal looms.

    Novak Djokovic booked his place in the Monte Carlo Masters final comfortabley overcoming an overmatched Fabio Fognini in straight sets 6-2 6-1 .
    Fognini was subject to medical treatment as the Serb raced through a first set dominating every aspect of the match.

    This was followed by a straightforward second set where the Serbian Slayer proved far too hot to handle and Fognini capitualated, drawing a close to the match in less than an hour.

    Standing in Djokovic’s way of a first Monte Carlo title, is eight time champion Rafael Nadal.  Nadal took his 46th consecutive win at Monte Carlo defeating the mercurial frenchman Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in straight sets.

    Tsonga had opportunities but could not capitalise and made too many unforced errors at crucial moments in the match. Nadal took a first set littered with errors from the frenchman.  The second set appeared to be a foregone conclusion as the Mallorcan stretched out to a 5-1 lead.

    Not one to go quietly, Tsonga broke Nadal twice as he fought back valiantly to take the set to a tiebreak.  Errors crept back in Tsonga’s game at critical moments and Nadal took over the tiebreak at 3-3 to clinch the match and another final slot.

    It is ten years since Nadal lost a match at Monte Carlo (Gaston Gaudio, way back in 2003) but Djokovic will provide by far his sternest test since coming back from a seven month layoff.