Posts Tagged ‘clay’

Who Do You Think Was The Better Clay Court Player, Gustavo Kuerten or Roger Federer?

Although Federer has obviously faced some stiff competition with Rafael Nadal, Kuerten palyed some pretty good opponents as well. What do you guys think?
Fast facts:
Kuerten won 2 of the 3 times they played.

Last time they played was at the French Open in 2004 where Kuerten won: 6-4 6-4 6-4

I’m not untouchable on clay – Nadal

I’m not untouchable on clay – Nadal
Rafael Nadal, bidding for an unprecedented seventh straight title at the Monte Carlos Masters, says he’s not untouchable on clay.

Read more on Sydney Morning Herald

Roger Federer Clay Court Masterclass vs Robredo FO ’07 QF

Roger Federer vs Tommy Robredo

The King of Clay — Rafael Nadal vs Djokovic

Nadal’s No. 2 ranking was at stake against Djokovic but the Spaniard prevailed in an often spectacular match that had both players clenching fists and thumping chests after amazing winners and turned into a superb battle of skills and wills.In that match Nadal was at his very BEST !!!

If I am a pro Tennis player, how can I beat Rafael Nadal on clay court?

I guess people in this section discuss and watch a lot of Tennis. They are pretty smart when it comes to Tennis. Let’s see if people can figure out a strategy to beat Nadal on clay. Imagine you are a pro Tennis player and you are due to play Rafa on clay court. What sort of strategy will you employ to manage this near impossible task of beating Nadal on his favorite court?

Roland Garros- Nadal Advanced to Quarterfinals and Obtained his 200th Victory in Clay

This Monday, the Spaniard Rafael Nadal beat the Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci with a score of 6-2, 7-5, 6-4, and added his 200th victory on clay. This qualified him to the quarterfinals of Roland Garros, where he will again face his Spaniard compatriot Nicolas Almagro who beat seventh seeded Fernando Verdasco  6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 earlier that day.

Nadal annihilated its fourth opponent this year in Paris, where he has yet to lose a set. This accomplishment has been optained by the likes of the Swiss Roger Federer and the Czech Tomas Berdych.

During this game, the Brazilian lacked the intensity and confidence to take a victory against the Spaniard.  Bellucci won three more games than Nadal but these were insufficient to stop the King of Clay, who despite giving up his serve four times, was still far away from the promising player of Tiete.

In the first set, Nadal served from the start and managed to take advantage with a breaking serve, but the advantage was short-lived because Bellucci tied in the fourth game. That was the wake-up call that Nadal needed to raise his game and not give any more chances to the Brazilian. He went on to win the next four games to close the first set with a comfortable 6-2.

In the second set, Bellocci played better and complicated the game for the Spaniard.  However,  Nadal achieved the first lead in the fifth game (3-2). Bellucci responded immediately to put the score 3-3. However, a double fault allowed Nadal to get ahead again in the score (5-4), but he was unable to close out the game with his service (5-5) and needed a new break serve to end the resistance of the South American player. At the end, Nadal won the second set 7-5.

The lack of rhythm was a constant in Nadal’s game as he repeated the script of the second set in the third set.  He started with a breaking serve, but the Brazilian tirelessly recovered. However, the Spaniard gradually raised his game and was able to take the lead on the fifth game (3-2). After breaking Bellucci’s serve once again, the Spaniard won the set and the match with a 6-4 score.

Throughout the game there were 20 break points and 12 service breaks, four of them against Nadal. These are as many as the Spanish player had granted since the start of the tournament. Moreover, the Spaniard committed 27 unforced errors, while Bellucci suffered 40.

At the end of the match, Nadal stated that as in Roland Garros 2008, Bellucci was a difficult rival for him in this fourth round. Despite not playing at his very best, the world No.2 was happy for the victory and for moving in the quarterfinals against Almagro.

“That was probably my hardest match of the 2010 tournament. I was closer to losing a set then than I was today. It was difficult. Bellucci is a very good player on clay, but I won in three sets. It was my best match of the tournament,” expressed Rafa Nadal.

With this victory, the world No.2 will face Nicolas Almagro in the quarterfinals. This is the 40th  occasion that Nadal gets to the quarterfinals of a tournament.

What clay court tennis tournament is the best to watch if I want to see Rafael Nadal?

except Roland Garros and what’s the best seat to get if you’re on a semi-tight budget?

If they call rafael nadal the greatest clay courter of all time?

Then how do we call bjorn borg then?

Nadal to Be King of Clay Once More

The men’s tennis circuit now heads for the clay courts of Europe with the next Masters event taking place in Monte Carlo. The players who have been battling out on the hard courts since last August will certainly relish the change but how many of them believe that they have better chances to win on clay as opposed to hard courts.

The 2008/9 hard court season was once again dominated by the world’s top four players. Federer won the US Open, Rafael Nadal the Australian, Djokovic won the Masters Cup, while Britain’s Andy Murray won three Masters and was runner up in the US Open.

Rafael Nadal of course has retained his world number one position and he is odds on to consolidate that position when he starts on his favourite surface, clay.

The Spaniard is a God on clay and probably unbeatable. His two Masters wins and his fourth French Open title bears testimony to that. However now that he has broken through on grass, when winning Wimbledon for the first time last year and on the hard courts when he took the Australian Open in February, Nadal has become even more revered than his greatest rival, Federer.

As it stands right now, Nadal has won six Grand Slams and is the favourite to win his seventh when the French open gets under way in Paris at the end of May. He has won there for the last four years and in fact has never lost a single match at Roland Gaross. His demolition job of Federer in the 2008 final, 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 probably did more to damage the ego of Federer than enhance his own, but it also told the other top players that they have little chance against him. After all, Federer is the second best clay court player in the world and the emphatic manner in which Nadal dispatched of him merely highlights the gap the the others must bridge.

Murray has consolidated his position as one of the top four players in the world. In terms of recent head to heads against the other top three players, he is the top man. Two wins and one defeat against Nadal, three wins against Federer and three wins against Djokovic but unfortunately Murray may have to wait to Wimbledon before his first realistic chance at a Grand Slam becomes likely. He might surprise a few on the clay but it is difficult to see him making any impression on Nadal.

Nadal is still only 22 years of age, he is an exceptional talent on the tennis courts and is well on course to become one of the all time greats, if he isn’t already. He is still maturing in both terms of his play and attitude, attributes that will only help his cause to consolidate his position as the World number one for many years to come. The one trophy that eludes him is the US Open, which he is sure to have high on his list of priorities for 2009.

Kirilenko won singles and doubles at Estoril Open on clay, did you miss it?

it wasnt on my television

The Tennis Masters’ Plans for the 2008 Clay Season

As we enter the European clay-court portion of the ATP Masters season many big names in the sport have already began their training to get set for the coming challenges the red courts will bring. Amongst them there is Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic; who is strongly pursuing the number one spot. Djokovic whose last appearances where at Indian Wells where he obtained the title and at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami where he was ousted in the first round; has officially announced he will participate in the three majors clay events in Monaco, Hamburg and Rome.

During the 2007 season and so far into the 2008 ATP season the Serb has become the strongest opponent to take on both masters; Nadal and Federer and claim either ranking positions. Nevertheless, Djokovic admits he learns something new every day and he can only hope to keep developing his skills as he has done for the past years.

Great Britain’s number one player Andy Murray who had a relatively good come back after his absence due to a wrist injury; has recently slipped out from the top 20; fact which has become a major concern for the Scott. Murray has contacted Spaniard clay court expert French Open runner-up Alex Corretja to become part of his team of experts. Corretja whose background speak for himself achieved 17 titles before retiring in 2004. The Spaniard stated he has seem Murray’s potential to play in different surfaces and will gladly be part of his group. Murray’s campaign will kick off in Valencia, Spain next April 14th.

Then there is the Swiss superstar Roger Federer who arrives title less to the end of the first quarter of the year. Federer’s 2008 ATP season began with many bumps on the road as he had to withdraw from his usual practice event in Australia due to an illness. He then moved in to the first Grand Slam of the year in Australia; but at this point we all saw something was just not right. Nevertheless, Federer played all matches and arrived to the finals where he lost to Novak Djokovic. His second stop at the Dubai Open was overshadowed by a quick first round exit and finally his other two appearances at the Masters Series events in California and Miami where he made to the semi finals and quarterfinals respectively.

Federer admitted he has been looking for answers to his drought but his trainers and doctors insist he is still recovering from his illness and he is not yet at a 100 percent. The Swiss master’s career has been almost superhuman as he claimed in only four years most of his 12 Grand Slam titles.

Nevertheless; Federer will participate for the first time at the 2008 Estoril Open in Portugal in order to gain more practice and better his game on this type of surface. Furthermore; he will continue his tune up in Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg on his way to Paris to participate at the not yet conquered French Open; where he has reached the final the last two years losing to Rafael Nadal.

World number two Rafa Nadal who is also without a title has managed to shorten the point distance to just 670 points. But he will soon be facing as well the pressure of the red surface that has given him his three Grand Slams titles. Besides holding his titles in Barcelona, Rome and Paris the raging bull will still need to win in Hamburg to surpass the Swiss Fed and this is not an easy task.

Do u think Fed will lift his 1st throphy at Estoril Open which will start next week – this is clay?????

Note that Nadal will not play on this event and Djoko i think will not also play (Djoko is the defending champ at Estoril Open), Though never seen the draw but for sure – there are lots of clay especialist players that will give Fed a run for his money.

French Open Preview: Nadal Will Slay The Clay Again

The second Grand Slam tournament of the 2006 tennis season has arrived, as the French Open begins Sunday in Paris.

The French Open is the crown jewel of the clay court season, and the top players in the world have gathered to test their skills and patience on the slow, red clay of Stade Roland Garros.

Here is a look at the title contenders, sleepers and long shots in the men’s and women’s draws.

Overall records are as of 5/20/06
** Betting odds as of 5/26/06

Men’s Draw

Contenders

Rafael Nadal – Spain

Tournament seed: #2
2006 overall record: 28-3
2006 clay court record: 17-0
French Open career record: 7-0
Best French Open finish: Winner – 2005
WagerWeb.com odds to win the title: 5/6

The 2005 French Open champion, Nadal is the undisputed king of clay, having won 53 straight matches on the surface, tying the Open-era record of Guillermo Vilas in 1977. The young Spaniard easily won the clay court events in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Hamburg, losing only six sets in the process. Nadal’s dominance on clay includes three straight victories against world #1 Roger Federer. This year’s French Open is Nadal’s to lose, and given his current hot streak on clay the smart money will be on him.

Roger Federer – Switzerland

Tournament seed: #1
2006 overall record: 38-3
2006 clay court record: 10-2
French Open career record: 14-7
Best French Open finish: Semifinals – 2005
WagerWeb.com odds to win the title: 19/10

Federer is the consensus #1 player in the world and has been dominant this year in winning four titles and compiling a 38-3 record. His only losses have been to Nadal in the finals in Dubai (hard court), Monte Carlo (clay) and Rome (clay). Federer is becoming more and more comfortable playing on clay and has started to narrow the gap between himself and Nadal. In their previous encounter, in Rome, Federer held a 4-1 lead in the fifth set before losing in a tiebreaker. If anybody in the tournament has a serious chance at dethroning defending champion Nadal, it’s Federer.

David Nalbandian – Argentina

Tournament seed: #3
2006 overall record: 24-6
2006 clay court record: 11-3
French Open career record: 11-4
Best French Open finish: Semifinals - 2005
WagerWeb.com odds to win the title: 25/1

Nalbandian is an established clay court player and sports an 11-3 record on clay this year. He won the tournament in Estoril in May without losing a set, beating Nikolai Davydenko in the finals. Nalbandian reached the semifinals in Rome, losing a third set tiebreaker to Roger Federer. Nalbandian made a run to the French Open semifinals in 2004 and has the game to make a serious run this year.

Sleepers

Tommy Robredo – Spain

Tournament seed: #7
2006 overall record: 20-13
2006 clay court record: 13-3
French Open career record: 16-5
Best French Open finish: Quarterfinals – 2003, 2005
Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 75/1

Robredo started the year with a disappointing 7-8 record in the early hard court tournaments, including four first round losses and two second round losses. However, he has turned his game around on clay, winning the event in Hamburg, reaching the quarterfinals in Monte Carlo and losing in the finals in Barcelona to Nadal. If Robredo is able to continue his recent play, he could go deep into the draw in Paris.

Fernando Gonzalez – Chile

Tournament seed: #9
2006 overall record: 17-9
2006 clay court record: 13-4
French Open career record: 9-5
Best French Open finish: Quarterfinals, 2003
Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 70/1

Gonzalez, a clay court specialist, has had good results in the early-season clay court tournaments, including reaching the semifinals in Vina del Mar and Monte Carlo. However, his recent form has dropped a bit, as he lost in the quarterfinals in Rome to Nadal and in the round of 16 in Hamburg. Gonzalez has proven he can win on clay, and he would be a dangerous opponent for anyone in the draw.

Gaston Gaudio – Argentina

Tournament seed: #10
2006 overall record: 15-10
2006 clay court record: 13-7
French Open career record: 18-7
Best French Open finish: Winner – 2005
Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 65/1

Gaudio, the 2004 French Open champion, is a threat to win any clay court event he enters. However, his recent form on clay has not been up to par with his usual high standards. He lost in the first round in Rome, the second round in Hamburg and the round of 16 in Vina del Mar and Costa do Sauipe (Brazil). Gaudio did reach the quarterfinals in Valencia, and lost to Nadal in the semifinals in Monte Carlo. His play has been too sporadic to bet on a prolonged march through the draw.

Long shots

James Blake – USA

Tournament seed: #8
2006 overall record: 24-11
2006 clay court record: 2-3
French Open career record: 3-3
Best French Open finish: Second round, 2002, 2003, 2005

Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: (Field) 50/1
Blake has reached #8 in the world rankings and has won hard court tournaments in Sydney and Las Vegas this year. He also reached the finals in Indian Wells, where he lost to Federer. Blake has played in only three clay court tournaments this year, and his best result was reaching the third round in Hamburg. With a favorable draw and some luck, Blake could reach the second week in Paris.

Juan Carlos Ferrero – Spain

Tournament seed: #24
2006 overall record: 13-11
2006 clay court record: 10-7
French Open career record: 26-5
Best French Open finish: Winner – 2003
Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 115/1

Ferrero, the 2003 French Open champion, has struggled mightily in the 2006 clay court season, posting a mediocre 10-7 record. He has multiple clay court titles to his credit, and as a past French Open champion, Ferrero should never be ruled out of the mix.

David Ferrer – Spain

Tournament seed: #15
2006 overall record: 18-13
2006 clay court record: 7-5
French Open career record: 6-3
Best French Open finish: Quarterfinals – 2005
Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 70/1

Ferrer is a young, up-and-coming Spaniard who has shown he is a force to be reckoned with on clay. He reached the quarterfinals in Hamburg, losing to Robredo, and lost in the quarterfinals of Monte Carlo to Federer. Like the other members of the Spanish armada, Ferrer is most comfortable on the slow clay courts, and he could be a spoiler in the main draw.

Women’s Draw

Contenders

Amelie Mauresmo – France

Tournament seed: #1
2006 overall record: 27-6
2006 clay court record: 4-2
French Open career record: 19-11
Best French Open finish: Quarterfinals – 2003, 2004
Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 6.25/1

Mauresmo started 2006 with a bang by capturing the Australian Open, and she followed up with tournament wins in Paris (carpet) and Antwerp (carpet). She chose to play in only one clay court tournament leading up to the French Open, losing in the semifinals in Berlin to Justine Henin-Hardenne. For Mauresmo, the French Open is the most important tournament of the year, and the pressure of winner her country’s Grand Slam tournament has adversely impacted her play in years past. Can Mauresmo overcome the weight of the French nation resting squarely on her shoulders? With such a deep field to overcome, and with the overwhelming expectations of her fellow countrymen, I would not bet on Mauresmo winning the tournament.

Justine Henin-Hardenne – Belgium

Tournament seed: #5
2006 overall record: 27-5
2006 clay court record: 6-1
French Open career record: 21-4
Best French Open finish: Winner – 2003, 2005

Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 2.35/1
Henin-Hardenne is the defending French Open champion and comes into the 2006 tournament with an impressive 27-5 record. She has won two tournaments this year (Sydney and Dubai) and lost in the finals of the Australian Open to Mauresmo. In her only clay court tournament of the year, Henin-Hardenne lost in the semifinals to Nadia Petrova. Henin-Hardenne is a legitimate threat to repeat as champion at Roland Garros.

Kim Clijsters – Belgium

Tournament seed: #2
2006 overall record: 15-5
2006 clay court record: 6-2
French Open career record: 17-5
Best French Open finish: Finalist – 2001, 2003
Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 2.15/1

Clijsters has had mixed results during this year’s clay court season, winning the tournament in Warsaw but losing in the round of 16 in Rome. When Clijsters is healthy, she can beat anyone. However, her health and durability have again come into question. During the Australian Open, when she was forced to retire from her semifinal match against Mauresmo with a torn ankle ligament. Clijsters also overcame a career-threatening wrist injury, which caused her to miss a majority of the 2004 season. The French Open, more than any other Grand Slam event, is a test of endurance, and Clijsters’ propensity for breaking down could be an issue.

Nadia Petrova – Russia

Tournament seed: #3
2006 overall record: 33-7
2006 clay court record: 15-1
French Open career record: 15-5
Best French Open finish: Finalist – Semifinals – 2003, 2005
Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 6/1

Petrova has emerged as a force on the WTA Tour, winning four tournaments and compiling a 33-7 match record. She has established herself as a dominant clay court player by posting a stellar 15-1 record on the dirt. Petrova won clay court events in Amelia Island, Charleston and Berlin, where she beat Henin-Hardenne in the finals. With her clay court titles and a win over 2005 French Open champion Henin-Hardenne, Petrova is my favorite to win the tournament.

Sleepers

Maria Sharapova – Russia

Tournament seed: #4
2006 overall record: 21-4
2006 clay court record: 0-0
French Open career record: Quarterfinals – 2004, 2005
Best French Open finish: 8-3
Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 14/1

Under normal circumstances, Sharapova would be listed as one of the tournament favorites. However, she has not played a match on clay this year, as she was forced to withdraw from the tournament in Rome with a right ankle bruise. Sharapova has all the shots to be a force at Roland Garros, and has proven she can win on the Grand Slam stage with her victory at Wimbledon in 2004. However, her lack of match play on clay and questions about her fitness diminish her chances of winning.

Martina Hingis – Switzerland

Tournament seed: #12
2006 overall record: 31-10
2006 clay court record: 10-2
French Open career record: 31-7
Best French Open finish: Finalist – 1997, 1999
Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 9.5/1

In one of the most remarkable comeback stories of the year, Hingis has returned from a three-year absence to once again become a force in women’s tennis. With her foot and ankle problems apparently behind her, Hingis has compiled a 31-10 record, including a 10-2 mark on clay. Hingis lost in the quarterfinals in Berlin to Mauresmo, but came back to win the Italian Open in dominating fashion, dropping one set in six matches. Hingis’ victory in Rome vaulted her back into contention to win the only Grand Slam title that has eluded her.

Dinara Safina – Russia

Tournament Seed: #14
2006 overall record: 24-11
2006 clay court record: 10-3
French Open career record: 1-3
Best French Open finish: 2nd round – 2004
Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 27.5/1

Safina has quickly made a name for herself on the clay court circuit, posting a 10-3 record this year. She reached the quarterfinals of the tournaments in Charleston and Berlin, and then reached the finals of the tournament in Rome, where she logged impressive victories over Clijsters, Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova before losing to Hingis in the finals. If you believe on riding a player on a hot streak, Safina might be a good bet.

Long shots

Venus Williams – USA
Tournament seed: #11
2006 overall record: 6-3
2006 clay court record: 6-2
French Open career record: 27-9
Best French Open finish: Finalist – 2002
Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 16/1

Williams has played a very limited schedule in 2006 due to a right elbow injury. She returned to the tour in Warsaw and lost in the quarterfinals to Kuznetsova, and then reached the semifinals in Rome, where she lost to Hingis. Williams has the power from both sides to dominate on clay, and if she can stay healthy could make a run deep into the tournament.

Svetlana Kuznetsova – Russia

Tournament seed: #8
2006 overall record: 29-9
2006 clay court record: 13-5
French Open career record: 6-3
Best French Open finish: Fourth round – 2004, 2005
Wagerweb.com odds to win the title: 10/1

Kuznetsova has enjoyed a solid clay court season, reaching the quarterfinals in Charleston and Berlin, the semifinals in Amelia Island and Rome, and losing in the finals in Berlin to Clijsters. She has shown the ability to beat the top-tier players in big tournaments, but also has suffered some bad defeats to lower-ranked players. If she can produce the same kind of tennis that propelled her to the 2004 US Open title, a run deep into the tournament is possible.

What weapons does Rafael NADAL have to add to his game to win on other surfaces than clay?

I believe NADAL has peaked. He cannot volley nor does he alter tactics or strategies when he plays – begs the question whether he can.

TSONGA took him apart at the AO – he was dismantled and the inadequacies of his game laid bare in such a way his confidence must be shattered.
I wish he would get more offensive and try to end the point sooner; grinding his opponent into the court with long rallies ain’t that good for your long-term health

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on Clay: A Reversal of Tennis Fortunes

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on Clay: A Reversal of Tennis Fortunes
The 2009 season did not begin well for the man from Switzerland, Roger Federer. He made headlines after the Australian Open, but not because he won—because he cried a river after his loss. As did his fans. He did everything better than Rafael Nadal except win the big points when it mattered, losing 5-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 2-6. His tears were out of frustration and anger at himself when he felt the …

Read more on Bleacher Report

Roger Federer ready for clay court season

Roger Federer ready for clay court season
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – This year, for a change, Roger Federer looks forward to the switch to clay. Only hours…

Read more on Boston Herald