Courtesy: TheSportReview
For an event with such a short history, the Madrid Masters and its Magic Box venue have won more than their share of headlines.
The capital of Spain won tennis Masters status in 2002 and was paired with Paris as part of the European indoor swing in October.
It was the first Masters in Europe to become a “mini Major” when the ATP joined with the WTA to make Madrid a combined event.
Then, with the extension of the tennis calendar to the Far East, the Madrid Masters was moved to May and to clay in 2009, launching the stunning purpose-built Magic Box on the tennis world.
However, the maiden year for the architecturally innovative Caja Magica was not universally admired. The courts in particular came in for criticism for being closer to concrete than clay, uneven and ill prepared.
There were too few practice courts and there were unpopular experiments with bright blue clay designed to match the blue-themed venue.
Many of these problems had been ironed out by 2010 and order was restored as home hero Rafael Nadal won the title for the first time since 2005.
For the event’s 10th anniversary, however, there has been yet another change. The Mutua Madrid Open is being played a week earlier, having swapped places in the calendar with the Rome Masters.
The switch should improve the transition between the major events in the conclusion of the clay season, with the Rome courts and altitude closer to those at Roland Garros, the crowning glory of the spring swing.
But the tennis at Madrid since it moved to the Magic Box has not lacked drama either.
Its inaugural final saw Roger Federer beat Nadal on clay for only the second time in their 23-match rivalry. In the semis, it saw Nadal face beat Novak Djokovic in their third clay Masters showdown in the space of a month: this one lasted over four hours.
Last year, the home crowd celebrated Nadal’s revenge over Federer in the final and, this year, the scene is set for another crucial stage in the rivalry between those same three players.
Nadal is on a 34 match-winning streak on clay and aiming for his 20th Masters title. Djokovic is unbeaten this year, is enjoying a 28 match-winning streak and beat Nadal in their previous two meetings: in two Masters finals.
And Federer has something to prove. He’s behind Nadal and Djokovic in the rankings and has lost to one or other of them in four consecutive tournaments this year.
So, with every top-16 player fit and healthy and filling the top seedings, which of the triumvirate that has dominated the Magic Box will survive Madrid’s draw?
Quarter one: Rafael Nadal
The top seed faces Marcos Baghdatis or a qualifier in his first match, which will not give him sleepless nights. His next match is a less attractive prospect. The strong segment contains Marin Cilic and Mikhail Youzhny but the big danger is unseeded Juan Martin Del Potro fresh from a useful opening clay run in Estoril where he was a straight-sets winner over top seed Robin Soderling.
Clay is not his best surface, and he was beaten by Nadal in the semis in Indian Wells, but he’s improving fast.
Beyond Del Potro lies Jurgen Melzer or Richard Gasquet, both of whom should get the better of Andy Roddick in his first clay event of the year. Melzer’s clay run includes his first Masters semi-final in Monte Carlo, taking the scalp of Federer, and he could well be Nadal’s quarter-final opponent.
Match to watch out for: Gasquet v Melzer, second round
Semi-finalist: Nadal
Quarter two: Roger Federer
What an opening challenge for the No3 seed. Milos Raonic is the new face of 2011, rising from 153 at the start of the year to a current ranking of 27.
The mature 20-year-old has a game suited to hard courts but has still made a good start on the clay, especially in reaching, at the time of writing, the semis in Estoril with a win over the tough Gilles Simon.
In Feliciano López, though, he faces a man also in good form—he has reached the finals in Belgrade—before the chance to play Federer.
After his loss to Melzer in Monte Carlo, Federer has some regrouping to do, and his opener is not the easiest way to do it. But Madrid has been a good venue for the Swiss so he should progress, and should next beat Fernando Verdasco.
The bottom of this quarter has some challenging names, not least Nicolas Almagro who is enjoying his first month in the top 10 after an excellent clay run of three finals and two titles. Beyond him lie Soderling or Alexandr Dolgopolov, and it’s just possible that Almagro could be Federer’s quarter-final opponent:
Match to watch out for: Raonic v López, first round
Semi-finalist: Federer
Quarter three: Andy Murray
After a shocker of a hard-court run, losing his opening matches in Rotterdam, Indian Wells and Miami, Andy Murray made a strong return in his opening clay event in Monte Carlo, losing to eventual champion Nadal.
He won the Madrid title in 2008 when it was an indoor event, and he won’t fancy facing the gritty Simon, who has made a speedy return to form after injury in 2010, in his first match.
The alternative is Ivan Ljubicic, who made a good showing in Monte Carlo before facing Nadal with a sore shoulder. If the Croat is fully fit, he is a dangerous man.
Murray’s next likely opponent is Viktor Troicki, though Florian Mayer has just had a great run to the final in Munich.
In the top of Murray’s quarter lie either Tomas Berdych—not hugely convincing in Monte Carlo—or Nikolay Davydenko—rediscovering some good form in Munich where he has reached the final.
Ranked 40, he is always a dangerous ‘sleeper’ and, as long as a niggling ankle holds up, he may give this quarter a shake-up. But then the unpredictable Gael Monfils may do the same.
Match to watch out for: Ljubicic v Simon, first round
Semi-finalist: Murray
Quarter four: Novak Djokovic
The Serb has been nothing short of scintillating this year, and his unabated run—now at 29 matches after advancing to the Belgrade final with a walkover from an injured Janko Tipsarevic—should face few threats before the quarterfinal.
His opening opponent may be Ernests Gulbis, though on present form, the Latvian is beatable by Kevin Anderson, who very nearly took out Verdasco in the quarters in Estoril this week.
The next match is an interesting one, pitting Stan Wawrinka against Juan Carlos Ferrero, who has just made his return from surgery with a quarter-final finish in Barcelona. It’s a big ask to get past the powerful Swiss, but Wawrinka has not had huge success on clay so far this year.
Either way, Djokovic should progress to what is an intriguing top section in his quarter. The No6 seed, David Ferrer, is on a wonderful run this season, reaching the finals of both Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He should face another comeback star, Mardy Fish, who celebrated his first entry into the top 10 last week.
On this surface, Ferrer ought to sail through and he will also give Djokovic his sternest test since Nadal in Miami. It has the makings of the quarter-final match of the draw, as long as the leg strapping Ferrer carried in Barcelona is gone.
Match to watch out for: Ferrer v Fish, third round.
Semi-finalist: Djokovic
Final: Djokovic v Nadal
Winner: Nadal
Listen to Rolling in the Deep by Adele + Jay-Z + Biggie (Voodoo Farm remix)
V
Voodoo Farm remixes Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" with all original music and Brooklyn's finest emcees gracing the track. Video created/edited by Liam Dirlam. All footage recorded in Arizona/Las Vegas in November 2010 by Liam Dirlam and Taryn Holman.
VOODOO FARM is an electronic music project created in 2009 by DJ/producer/filmmaker Liam Dirlam. The NYC group is based on collaborative efforts from Dirlam's friends across the United States.
The bulk of the production on Voodoo Farm's next album (May 2011) will feature Liam Dirlam and Robert E. Corrigan Jr. (Muscle Car Chronicles) along with guest appearances from several talented artists.
favourite trends
Someone asked me recently what my favourite trend was this season. I should have said:
LOVE = STUDS + COLOUR BLOCKING
LOVE = STUDS + COLOUR BLOCKING
Rafael Nadal Birthday Tribute - **Take Part Today**
Rafael #Nadal - Worldwide Birthday Campaign
On June 3rd, 2011, world-famous tennis player Rafael Nadal will turn 25.
We are trying to make the biggest Rafael Nadal's birthday video ever! So we need fans from all the world, no matter if you aren't from Spain, everyone can participate in our project!
You can participate in this campaign by submitting a Rafa-themed photo of yourself in your favorite Rafa attire, in front of your Rafa posters, holding your Rafa magazines, etc. The images will be combined into a beautiful video that will be sent to Rafa and we will post it here too. Also, the video will be posted on June 3rd on our youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/vamospormasrafa
Hope that many of you take part in this... we want to show Rafa how much we appreciate him!
*** To participate you can post a photo here on twitter or send it to vamospormasrafa@gmail.com BEFORE SUNDAY, MAY 22nd, 2011. Don't forget to write your name and country!!!! ***
On June 3rd, 2011, world-famous tennis player Rafael Nadal will turn 25.
We are trying to make the biggest Rafael Nadal's birthday video ever! So we need fans from all the world, no matter if you aren't from Spain, everyone can participate in our project!
You can participate in this campaign by submitting a Rafa-themed photo of yourself in your favorite Rafa attire, in front of your Rafa posters, holding your Rafa magazines, etc. The images will be combined into a beautiful video that will be sent to Rafa and we will post it here too. Also, the video will be posted on June 3rd on our youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/vamospormasrafa
Hope that many of you take part in this... we want to show Rafa how much we appreciate him!
*** To participate you can post a photo here on twitter or send it to vamospormasrafa@gmail.com BEFORE SUNDAY, MAY 22nd, 2011. Don't forget to write your name and country!!!! ***
Nadal - Djokovic Is Not My Concern
Just a couple of days ahead of the Madrid Masters Series tournament, No. 1 Rafael Nadal said that’s he not thinking about potentially meeting No. 2 Novak Djokovic, whom he has yet to play on clay this year, but who beat him in the finals of Indian Wells and Miami. "Djokovic is not my concern, I could only meet him in the final," Nadal said. "My concern is always the first opponent that I’ll face, playing well and not having injuries."
Nadal, who won back to back titles in Monte Carlo and Rome, said that he’s very satisfied with his year and is unconcerned about losing the top spot to the Serbian. "The important thing is to do my best every week and my goal is not to be No. 1, but to be competitive in every tournament,” he said. "It fills me with much more [satisfaction] to win a tournament than to be number No. 1. Djokovic has a good chance of being No. 1 in two or three months. I can lose still lose the ranking winning almost everything and that's not normal. He’s defending very little and I have a lot [to defend] until Wimbledon. To me the important thing are [all] the points in a year."
Courtesy: Tennis.com
Courtesy: TennisX
Nadal, who won back to back titles in Monte Carlo and Rome, said that he’s very satisfied with his year and is unconcerned about losing the top spot to the Serbian. "The important thing is to do my best every week and my goal is not to be No. 1, but to be competitive in every tournament,” he said. "It fills me with much more [satisfaction] to win a tournament than to be number No. 1. Djokovic has a good chance of being No. 1 in two or three months. I can lose still lose the ranking winning almost everything and that's not normal. He’s defending very little and I have a lot [to defend] until Wimbledon. To me the important thing are [all] the points in a year."
Courtesy: Tennis.com
Courtesy: TennisX
Final photos added to YouTube
I have finally got around to uploading my photos of Rafa from the final of Monte Carlo to YouTube. All videos/photos are available on my YouTube channel below.
Enjoy :-)
http://www.youtube.com/user/clmbsb
Enjoy :-)
http://www.youtube.com/user/clmbsb
Soderling - I Can Beat Rafa Again
Two-time French Open finalist Robin Soderling insisted he has the confidence to defeat Rafael Nadal once again on the Spanish superstar's favourite claycourt surface.
"He's a great player, especially on clay," the world number five Swede said Monday as he prepared for a second-round start in his debut at the Estoril claycourt tournament.
"But you have to go to the court thinking that you have a chance. Otherwise, what's the point? Nadal is the best on clay ever but he can be beaten. You just have to play your best tennis and have some luck."
Soderling famously beat Nadal in the fourth round of the French Open in 2009, paving the way for a final appearance against Roger Federer which the Swiss won.
Since that breakthrough, Soderling has become a regular member of the world's top five and reached the French Open final again last year where he lost to Nadal.
Soderling will be playing this week after missing the Monte Carlo event to let Achilles tendon and knee injuries clear.
His claycourt season debut last week in Barcelona ended in failure when he lost in the second round to eventual semi-finalist Ivan Dodig of Croatia.
But the Swede does not feel he's in a race against time with the Madrid and Rome Masters looming before the May 22 start of the French Open.
"I wanted to play in Monte Carlo but I wasn't ready. The clay season is long and now I'm injury-free. I feel ready to play well. This will be a tough tournament with a lot of guys who can win.
"But I'm feeling good with my game and I've had two and a half weeks of practice on the clay. I have to be counted among the favourites," said the Swede.
The 26-year-old backed world number three Federer to do well on clay this season.
"He is always among the guys who can win events," he said.
But he also warned of the danger posed by number two Novak Djokovic, who is on a 24-0 winning record this season and is stepping onto clay for the first time this season at home in Belgrade this week.
"It's very even at the top of the game. Djokovic has beaten Rafa twice this year (hardcourt) but clay is totally different. Nadal is good on everything, but on clay he's even better."
Courtesy: Ninemsn.com.au
Davis Cup - USA v Spain. Practice session to be open to the public?
Spain might open training session to fans without ticket
John Maher
Posted:04/25/2011 8:23 PM
Local tennis fans who didn't score tickets to the Davis Cup quarterfinal between the United States and Spain might still have a chance to see the world's top-ranked player, Rafael Nadal, in action.
"We are open to having an open training session for people if they want to watch us," Pedro Hernandez , the Spanish team manager, said Monday. "The team is very easygoing, and they like to promote tennis when they're together."
Hernandez, who arrived in town Saturday and returns to Spain today, is the first in a series of tennis officials who will visit Austin this week. Two United States Tennis Association officials are slated to be in town today, and Thursday brings the official site visit of the Erwin Center. The Spanish tennis federation's director general, Marcos Romagosa, and a representative of the International Tennis Federation will be on hand for that tour.
Last week, the international federation denied Spain's protest of the acrylic court to be used inside the Erwin Center on July 8-10, when the Davis Cup tie will be played. That court, from Baltimore-based Premier Concepts, will not installed until the weekend before play.
On Monday, when Hernandez took a quick look, the Erwin Center was empty and stripped down to its concrete floor.
"It would be impossible to make a point with Roddick serving," Hernandez joked about the bare floor.
Hernandez spent most of his time in Austin checking out hotels. The Four Seasons, the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin and the downtown Hilton were among those on his short list. He'll have a meeting with Davis Cup captain Albert Costa next week to pick a hotel. Hernandez said the Spanish contingent, which includes players, a captain, doctor, racquet stringer and individual coaches, could be between 17 to 25 people.
The Spanish federation's ticket allotment, however, is much larger .
"The rules of the Davis Cup is that you have the right to 10 percent of the tickets. We have 10 percent of each category," Hernandez said.
The Erwin Center will hold about 15,000 for the first Davis Cup match in Austin's history.
"I don't think 1,000 persons are coming from Spain, but there is a lot of interest (in the United States) in Spain, not only in Texas but in Miami," Hernandez said. "We've received many, many calls at the Spanish tennis federation asking for tickets."
He added the team is eager to do something in conjunction with the Spanish community here, whether that be a reception or a clinic.
"They will decide what is best to do and then the team will do it, for sure," Hernandez said.
Rafael Nadal - Who Can Stop Him On Clay?
Courtesy: The Times (subscription required)
It cannot be coincidence that the three players to dominate men’s clay-court tennis in the past 35 years have been left-handers built like and enjoying the constitution of bull mastiffs.
The careers of Guillermo Vilas and Thomas Muster — who has not given up yet at the age of 43 — were marked by an inexhaustible will and bludgeoning efficiency. The 21st-century model is threatening to outstrip them both.
With victory in the Banco Sabadell Open in Barcelona yesterday, Rafael Nadal celebrated a 31st title from 33 clay-court finals, his 34th win in succession on the surface since the terrible letdown against Robin Söderling, of Sweden, at the last-16 stage in the 2009 French Open and his 501st victory on the ATP World Tour. He is the second youngest to reach the five-century mark after Björn Borg, who retired from tennis at the age of 26. Nadal will turn 25 on June 3.
After a few days practising on his home island of Majorca, Nadal will fly to Madrid, where he is the defending champion, on to Rome, ditto, and then to Paris for more of the same to attempt to win a sixth French Open.
Imagine the pressures to sustain a standard that is something so singular, on this surface of all, against a limitless supply of superb professionals. And, don’t forget, he entered the clay season having recently reached the finals of the hard-court Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Key Biscayne.
What sets Nadal apart is there for all to see, yet demanding to quantify. When he is playing in a tournament, it is worth no more or less to him than any other (he does not do warm-ups); when he plays any point, it is as if it is a championship point; when he practises, he hates to miss. He does not waste a single second granted to him.
His ability to effect the subtle changes in footwork, to work on the minor elements that win the majors, is what sets him apart. His mantra, repeated many times, is that until he sees no prospect of improving his game, he will carry on. Do not expect that “illusion” to happen any time soon.
Last week, after a seventh consecutive Monte Carlo title, I asked Nadal about his statement that it was impossible to imagine repeating what he had done the previous years. “That’s what I feel,” he said. “When I am practising before the start of the clay season, I always think I’m going to be ready to play well and to win another time.
“But it is true that you never know when this will start and when it will end. You have to be ready to accept both these things. It is easier to accept if you think it is going to be impossible.
“When you go on court, every day you can win or you can lose. What I am saying is nothing strange. A 6-3, 6-4 win can mean the difference of three or four points and you have to be ready to win these three, four points — or you lose. I don’t know how much longer I will win these three, four points.”
For the first three months of the year, Novak Djokovic was winning those points. Now we will see if he can do it on clay, where his campaign begins this week in his native Serbia.
Of his 404 matches on red grit, Ivan Lendl won 329 and now, as he scours the world for someone he may be interested in coaching, he looks at Nadal and sees much of himself. In a time-and-motion study, it would be interesting to see who took longer to prepare: Lendl, with his insistence on rubbing sawdust into his racket handle, or Nadal, in wiping both arms with his towel and scraping the clay baseline. But it is this mental make-up, this preparation, this extraordinary attention to detail, where the two are so similar.
“I admire how he goes out and says, ‘OK, to win the US Open I need to improve my serve’ and he and his uncle [Toni] work on the serve,” Lendl said. “It is now a great weapon and that’s how you get better, that’s how you separate yourself from the rest.
“Two years ago [Roger] Federer was clearly better than anyone else, but it’s flip-flopped. It doesn’t mean Roger can’t win majors, but is anyone going to say Rafa will not win a major this year if he’s healthy? I believe several more. He and his uncle do a lot of right things.”
The chemistry between uncle and nephew cannot be replicated. Toni could not coach anyone else and Rafa would not be coached by anyone else. There are many times in victory that Rafa is not satisfied and he will run through the programme with you: forehand, backhand, serve, slice. He is a walking, talking programme, able to disseminate performances very quickly and resolve to put it right.
Because, for the first three years, he won the French Open and dominated on the dirt without a decent first serve, Nadal developed a wonderful ability to play the third stroke of a rally off his toes and remain in the rally when that edge was qualified by his ability to use short, angled forehands to either wing. His backhand slice, in defence or attack, has gained bite; his cross-court double-hander has come into its own.
Remember seeing Vilas and Muster in their pomp and strength, fitness and endurance spring to mind. Both were 5ft 11in, Nadal is 6ft 1in. Vilas, the Argentinian, once won seven consecutive titles — four on clay, three on hard courts — and won grand-slam tournaments on clay and grass; in 1995 the Austrian won 11 titles on clay, including at Roland Garros (his only grand-slam title, interestingly). Muster was reputed to have once run a marathon by accident when he took a wrong turn while jogging, and one could believe it.
For Nadal, the road is straight and true. Much like the campeón himself.
The five most likely
Andy Murray
Half the battle against Nadal is to believe you can beat him and Murray does. Why shouldn’t he? He is a craftsman on the court who can vary his game and has the patience and increasing levels of fitness required to stay with the master. The ability to get free points on serve is vital, but if can get into enough rallies, he has the game to cause problems.
Novak Djokovic
Needs mentally to get over nine successive clay-court losses to Nadal, but emboldened by two victories in finals on hard courts in the US, he took a two-week break and returns in his home event in Belgrade on clay. Put heart and soul into beautiful semi-final in Madrid two years ago, losing 11-9 in third-set tie-break. If he could get that one . . .
Roger Federer
Twelve of their 23 meetings have been on clay, of which Federer has won two, the finals of Hamburg in 2007 and Madrid in 2009, so he can beat Nadal on the big occasion. He knows what it takes. He needs to find a level of shot-making consistency that has been beyond him of late, but if he gets on a roll, is still a threat.
David Ferrer
Won on clay the first time they met, in Stuttgart seven years ago, and, at 29, is probably fitter now than he has ever been. Reaching two finals in successive weeks shows that this tenacious competitor believes in himself against almost everyone else in the game.
Robin Söderling
His fourth-round victory over Nadal at Roland Garros in 2009 remains the most remarkable of results, whether Nadal was suffering with sore knees or not. Has made two finals in France, clubs an enormous groundstroke, especially off the forehand side, but has not had a particularly strong start to the year and needs to find his form quickly.
It cannot be coincidence that the three players to dominate men’s clay-court tennis in the past 35 years have been left-handers built like and enjoying the constitution of bull mastiffs.
The careers of Guillermo Vilas and Thomas Muster — who has not given up yet at the age of 43 — were marked by an inexhaustible will and bludgeoning efficiency. The 21st-century model is threatening to outstrip them both.
With victory in the Banco Sabadell Open in Barcelona yesterday, Rafael Nadal celebrated a 31st title from 33 clay-court finals, his 34th win in succession on the surface since the terrible letdown against Robin Söderling, of Sweden, at the last-16 stage in the 2009 French Open and his 501st victory on the ATP World Tour. He is the second youngest to reach the five-century mark after Björn Borg, who retired from tennis at the age of 26. Nadal will turn 25 on June 3.
After a few days practising on his home island of Majorca, Nadal will fly to Madrid, where he is the defending champion, on to Rome, ditto, and then to Paris for more of the same to attempt to win a sixth French Open.
Imagine the pressures to sustain a standard that is something so singular, on this surface of all, against a limitless supply of superb professionals. And, don’t forget, he entered the clay season having recently reached the finals of the hard-court Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Key Biscayne.
What sets Nadal apart is there for all to see, yet demanding to quantify. When he is playing in a tournament, it is worth no more or less to him than any other (he does not do warm-ups); when he plays any point, it is as if it is a championship point; when he practises, he hates to miss. He does not waste a single second granted to him.
His ability to effect the subtle changes in footwork, to work on the minor elements that win the majors, is what sets him apart. His mantra, repeated many times, is that until he sees no prospect of improving his game, he will carry on. Do not expect that “illusion” to happen any time soon.
Last week, after a seventh consecutive Monte Carlo title, I asked Nadal about his statement that it was impossible to imagine repeating what he had done the previous years. “That’s what I feel,” he said. “When I am practising before the start of the clay season, I always think I’m going to be ready to play well and to win another time.
“But it is true that you never know when this will start and when it will end. You have to be ready to accept both these things. It is easier to accept if you think it is going to be impossible.
“When you go on court, every day you can win or you can lose. What I am saying is nothing strange. A 6-3, 6-4 win can mean the difference of three or four points and you have to be ready to win these three, four points — or you lose. I don’t know how much longer I will win these three, four points.”
For the first three months of the year, Novak Djokovic was winning those points. Now we will see if he can do it on clay, where his campaign begins this week in his native Serbia.
Of his 404 matches on red grit, Ivan Lendl won 329 and now, as he scours the world for someone he may be interested in coaching, he looks at Nadal and sees much of himself. In a time-and-motion study, it would be interesting to see who took longer to prepare: Lendl, with his insistence on rubbing sawdust into his racket handle, or Nadal, in wiping both arms with his towel and scraping the clay baseline. But it is this mental make-up, this preparation, this extraordinary attention to detail, where the two are so similar.
“I admire how he goes out and says, ‘OK, to win the US Open I need to improve my serve’ and he and his uncle [Toni] work on the serve,” Lendl said. “It is now a great weapon and that’s how you get better, that’s how you separate yourself from the rest.
“Two years ago [Roger] Federer was clearly better than anyone else, but it’s flip-flopped. It doesn’t mean Roger can’t win majors, but is anyone going to say Rafa will not win a major this year if he’s healthy? I believe several more. He and his uncle do a lot of right things.”
The chemistry between uncle and nephew cannot be replicated. Toni could not coach anyone else and Rafa would not be coached by anyone else. There are many times in victory that Rafa is not satisfied and he will run through the programme with you: forehand, backhand, serve, slice. He is a walking, talking programme, able to disseminate performances very quickly and resolve to put it right.
Because, for the first three years, he won the French Open and dominated on the dirt without a decent first serve, Nadal developed a wonderful ability to play the third stroke of a rally off his toes and remain in the rally when that edge was qualified by his ability to use short, angled forehands to either wing. His backhand slice, in defence or attack, has gained bite; his cross-court double-hander has come into its own.
Remember seeing Vilas and Muster in their pomp and strength, fitness and endurance spring to mind. Both were 5ft 11in, Nadal is 6ft 1in. Vilas, the Argentinian, once won seven consecutive titles — four on clay, three on hard courts — and won grand-slam tournaments on clay and grass; in 1995 the Austrian won 11 titles on clay, including at Roland Garros (his only grand-slam title, interestingly). Muster was reputed to have once run a marathon by accident when he took a wrong turn while jogging, and one could believe it.
For Nadal, the road is straight and true. Much like the campeón himself.
The five most likely
Andy Murray
Half the battle against Nadal is to believe you can beat him and Murray does. Why shouldn’t he? He is a craftsman on the court who can vary his game and has the patience and increasing levels of fitness required to stay with the master. The ability to get free points on serve is vital, but if can get into enough rallies, he has the game to cause problems.
Novak Djokovic
Needs mentally to get over nine successive clay-court losses to Nadal, but emboldened by two victories in finals on hard courts in the US, he took a two-week break and returns in his home event in Belgrade on clay. Put heart and soul into beautiful semi-final in Madrid two years ago, losing 11-9 in third-set tie-break. If he could get that one . . .
Roger Federer
Twelve of their 23 meetings have been on clay, of which Federer has won two, the finals of Hamburg in 2007 and Madrid in 2009, so he can beat Nadal on the big occasion. He knows what it takes. He needs to find a level of shot-making consistency that has been beyond him of late, but if he gets on a roll, is still a threat.
David Ferrer
Won on clay the first time they met, in Stuttgart seven years ago, and, at 29, is probably fitter now than he has ever been. Reaching two finals in successive weeks shows that this tenacious competitor believes in himself against almost everyone else in the game.
Robin Söderling
His fourth-round victory over Nadal at Roland Garros in 2009 remains the most remarkable of results, whether Nadal was suffering with sore knees or not. Has made two finals in France, clubs an enormous groundstroke, especially off the forehand side, but has not had a particularly strong start to the year and needs to find his form quickly.
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN x PUMA
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