#RafaNadal VamosRafa

[tennislegendary]

Congratulations to @sabalenka_aryna on winning her first grand slam title in Melbourne 🇦🇺 And she celebrated in style with the @rafaelnadal’s trophy bite 🏆👀 #vamosrafa #rafaelnadal #rafa #rafanadal #australia #melbourne #ao #australianopen #ausopen #atp #federer #tennis #rogerfederer #spain #españa #l4l #likeforlikes #likes #likesforlike #followme #love #instagood #instagram #instadaily #insta #Nadal #sabalenka #belarus #reels #instareels https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn9-bqarukk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dpinoycosmonaut]

NADAL GEARS UP FOR FRENCH OPEN WITH VICTORY OVER DJOKOVIC IN ROME

by Bert A. Ramirez / May 17, 2021

                La Decima.  Ten championships.  Now, Rafael Nadal has completed double figures in championships won in four events in his career when he beat world No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 to win his 10th Italian Open title.

               The victory, completed after two hours and 49 minutes of riveting tennis, enabled Nadal to raise the total of ATP championships he has won to 88, moving him just six titles away from Ivan Lendl for third-most career ATP titles in the open era behind only Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer.  He has compiled more than half of these in four events – 13 in the French Open, 12 in the Barcelona Open, 11 in the Monte-Carlo Masters, and 10 here in Rome – a phenomenal feat when others struggle to win just half of that in their entire careers.

               “It’s amazing.  To have this trophy in my hands for the 10th time, it’s just something impossible to imagine,” Nadal said after his latest victory, which came against no less than the player who has made it hardest for him to win.  Rafa also won in Rome in 2005 (the year he won his first of 20 Grand Slam titles in the French Open as a 19-year-old), 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2019.  

               “I’m super-happy.  I can’t thank my team enough, and life for all these opportunities, and everybody’s support has been huge during all these years,” the always-grateful Spanish legend said.  “To have the trophy on this day, this year, it’s amazing.”

               The victory did not come without a struggle though, as it’s almost always been against Djokovic, whose edge in head-to-head battles against Nadal has been narrowed down to 29-28 in this their 57th meeting as they gear up for the year’s second Grand Slam event at Roland Garros at the end of this month.  

               As expected, this year’s clash for the Italian Open crown was a battle throughout, despite Nadal’s mostly lopsided win in his last match against his Serbian rival in the French Open finals last October.  Djokovic drew first blood by breaking Rafa to go up 2-0 in the first set, but Rafa broke right back, and the two titans exchanged holds for seven straight games before the Spaniard broke Nole in the 11th game to go up 6-5.  He then served out the set, clinching it with a sizzling inside-out forehand that was too far for Djokovic to reach.

               As in the two rivals’ last championship clash in the event in 2019, however, Djokovic would not go away, waiting for that break where Rafa would loosen his grip just a bit before pouncing to regain the advantage.  And this came with Nadal a point away from breaking Nole with the score tied at 1-1.  Once the Serbian survived that break point, he went on to break Rafa twice en route to winning the next five games to send the match into a deciding third set.

               That set had the makings of a humdinger as it started at 2-all and Djokovic then earned two break points on Nadal’s service game.  But instead of giving the game away to his arch-rival, Nadal found a way to hold in the end for a 3-2 advantage, then went on a four-point spree in the next game to break Nole at love for a decisive 4-2 edge, which he never relinquished until the end.

               The victory is almost poetic in terms of record as it gave Nadal his 36th ATP Masters 1000 title, which puts him level for the career record with Djokovic at that number, and also evened his head-to-head matchup with the 18-time Grand Slam champion in 14 Masters 1000 finals at seven victories apiece. And it looks like a virtual repeat of the 2019 finals between the two in the same event where the Spaniard beat Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1.  Rafa lost in the Rome event last year when it was played under pandemic conditions during the quarterfinals against Diego Schwartzman, who went on to fall to Djokovic in the finals.

               This year, however, Rafa reasserted his Rome dominance with the help of his lethal forehand.  In his championship win over Djokovic, he hit 26 forehand winners, accounting for the bulk of his 37 total winners in the match even as he committed 23 unforced errors.

               “Well, I think I have been playing better and better with my forehand the last couple of weeks, getting to the confidence point,” Nadal assessed. “Yes, today has been a positive day, but I think I could change more times down the line than what I did, something I can’t keep doing, and I can keep improving.”

               Both Nadal and Djokovic, to be sure, did not arrange their 14th Masters title showdown without going through their own battles.  Djokovic, for example, had to spend almost five hours on the court the previous day just to complete a 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 quarterfinal win over Stefanos Tsitsipas and then hold off hometown boy Lorenzo Sonego in the semis 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.  Nadal, meanwhile, had to survive the challenge of youngsters like Denis Shapovalov, who he had to overcome in a third-round bloodbath where he had to surmount a 3-6, 0-3 deficit in the first two sets and two match points in the third before prevailing 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).

               “Well, I was lucky at some moments this week, especially against Shapo,” Rafa recalled when it was all over.  “I think I played a good tournament here in Rome this week.  I think I’ve been playing better and better, finding my rhythm on clay, and I think I had a very positive week, and I’m very happy.”

               All this, of course, still came down to his famed matchup against Djokovic, whom he has now beaten in five of their last eight meetings, including that decisive straight-sets victory in the finals of last year’s French Open.  Djokovic had beaten Nadal seven straight times between 2015 and 2016 during the latter’s worst seasons when he failed to win a single Slam, while Rafa had also beaten Nole six straight times between 2008 and 2009, and that makes up all the difference in their head-to-head career matchup.

               With his latest Italian Open victory, Rafa now has a 4-2 edge against Djokovic in their head-to-head clashes in the finals of this event, and has an overall 6-3 edge over the Serbian in Rome.  He also has 12 finals appearances in this tournament while Djokovic has 11, the most in the latter’s career in any event.  The duo, in fact, has won 15 of the last 17 Rome championships, with only Andy Murray in 2016 and Alexander Zverev in 2017 breaking that duopoly in the Italian capital.

               "I really wanted this title,” Nadal said after beating Nole.  “This had been one of the most important titles in my career.  I'd won 10 in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Roland Garros and really wanted it here too."

               It’s no doubt a momentum-building victory going into the French Open, where Rafa is gunning for a record-extending 14th title and a record 21st Grand Slam victory that will put him one clear of Roger Federer for the all-time record in this category.  Will he continue his dominance in a tournament that he loves and on a surface where he thrives most of all?

               We shall see about a month from now.

 Photo captions:

1) Rafael Nadal poses with the 2021 Rome Masters trophy with his trademark bite at the hardware.  (Photo from rafaelnadalfans.com)

 2) Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic shake hands after their tough finals battle.  (Photo from rafaelnadalfans.com)

[fedaltennistv]

Family is everything. I wanted to hug my uncles, mother, sister & especially my father. And I said to my father, “Daddy, thanks for everything,” and we just cried.

I guess that’s why he didn’t want to release me because he didn’t want people to see he was crying. It was a special moment.

Rafael Nadal after he won Roland Garros 2006.

[melonkicks]

NIKE AIR FORCE 1 "RAFA" 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆✖️ @rolandgarros . . . #rafanadal #rafaelnadal #rolandgarros #legend #champion #vamosrafa #nike #nikeairforce1 #nikesportswear #tierrabatida #tenis #tennis #clay (en Alcobendas, Spain) https://www.instagram.com/p/B06ypJpHmIw/?igshid=1vcbr3ncgq7ie

[izzeddine]

Today it was a heart breaking match. But I believe you have something amazing to show at Roland Garros ❤️ you always. 🇪🇸

Rafa 💕🇪🇸

[fedaltennistv]

How Rafael Nadal won his 22nd Grandslam title 🤍🏆2️⃣2️⃣

[fedaltennistv]

2021 has been full of ups and down and it was painful.

Personally, it's been a year I'd like to forget but what's done is done, we look forward and hope for the best and keep doing what we do and love the most.

Let's hope 2022 will bring joy to all of us.

Happy New Year to all from Fedal Tennis

[fedaltennistv]

I cantttt 😍😭😭

[fedaltennistv]

Rafael Nadal "KING OF CLAY👑🙌🏽" @rafaelnadal @rafanadalacademy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪ • • • Follow @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis • • • • • • • ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪ @rafaelnadal @rogerfederer @fedal__tennis #sports #sport #motivation #tennis #tennisplayer #tenis #tennistime #tennisclub #Instatennis #babolat #rafaelnadal #rafanadal #vamosrafa #vamos #tennisshoes #rogerfederer #allezroger #fedal #tennisracket #fedaltennis #tennisgirl #tenis🎾 #wimbledon #rafafanfamily #federer #rolandgarros #kingofclay #teamnadal #teamfederer #ibi21 (at Foro Italico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO3fpgOAbsV/?igshid=9nxrxuxlli66

[fedaltennistv]

" You never give up on something you love "

[fedaltennistv]

Nadal Federer and Match for Africa

[fedaltennistv]

Rafael Nadal is currently practicing at Rock Creek Tennis Centre for the Citi Open💙. Today's practice partner is Grigor Dimitrov while last night he practised with his fan and American player @sebastiankorda Rafa will face the winner of Nishioka/Sock match in R2. . . . . . Follow @fedal__tennis for more Rafa and Roger content ^^ . . . . . . . 📸: Getty Images . . . . . . . . . • ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪ . @rafaelnadal @rogerfederer @fedal__tennis #sports #sport #mapfrepreguntarafa #tennis #clinicampfredeltenis #tenis #tennistime #tennisclub #Instatennis #babolat #rafaelnadal #rafanadal #vamosrafa #vamos #tennisshoes #rogerfederer #allezroger #fedal #tennisracket #fedaltennis #nuestramejorvictoria #tenis🎾 #wimbledon #rafafanfamily #federer #rolandgarros #kingofclay #nadalteam (at Citi Open) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSCfpb8g2HM/?utm_medium=tumblr

[fedaltennistv]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FEDAL TENNIS 🇨🇭🇪🇸 (@fedal__tennis)

Young Rafa was something else🤯💪 Aaaaand he almost hit the lines judge with his celebration 🤣🤣 . . . . . Follow @fedal__tennis for more Rafa and Roger content ^^ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪ . @rafaelnadal @rogerfederer @fedal__tennis #sports #sport #mapfrepreguntarafa #tennis #clinicampfredeltenis #tenis #tennistime #tennisclub #Instatennis #babolat #rafaelnadal #rafanadal #vamosrafa #vamos #tennisshoes #rogerfederer #allezroger #fedal #tennisracket #fedaltennis #nuestramejorvictoria #tenis🎾 #wimbledon #rafafanfamily #federer #rolandgarros #kingofclay #nadalteam (at US Open Tennis Championships) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSB1ixtAqZV/?utm_medium=tumblr

[fedaltennistv]

After 405 days🤩🤩🤩 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪ • • • Follow @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis • • • • • • • ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪ @rafaelnadal @rogerfederer @fedal__tennis #sports #sport #motivation #tennis #tennisplayer #tenis #tennistime #tennisclub #Instatennis #babolat #rafaelnadal #rafanadal #vamosrafa #vamos #tennisshoes #rogerfederer #allezroger #fedal #tennisracket #fedaltennis #tennisgirl #tenis🎾 #wimbledon #rafafanfamily #federer #rolandgarros #australianopen2021 #teamnadal #teamfederer #Atpcup https://www.instagram.com/p/CMP1mJCgvrR/?igshid=dlahw2tkziu8

[fedaltennistv]

Battle of Surfaces - The Most Strangest Exhibition Match 🧡💚 On this day in 2007, Rafa and Roger faced each other in Palma De Mallorca stadium. Heads up to our YouTube Channel to watch the highlights of the match Vamos/Allez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪ • • • Follow @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis • • • • • • • ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪ @rafaelnadal @rogerfederer @fedal__tennis #sports #sport #motivation #tennis #tennisplayer #tenis #tennistime #tennisclub #Instatennis #babolat #rafaelnadal #rafanadal #vamosrafa #vamos #tennisshoes #rogerfederer #allezroger #fedal #tennisracket #fedaltennis #tennisgirl #tenis🎾 #wimbledon #rafafanfamily #federer #rolandgarros #australianopen2021 #teamnadal #teamfederer #battleofsurfaces (at Palma De Mallorca, Spain) https://www.instagram.com/p/COXrwocA8Dk/?igshid=15o6he919tgxs

[fedaltennistv]

First set 6-3 Roger Vamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 📸: getty images ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪ • • • Follow @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis @fedal__tennis • • • • • • • ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪ @rafaelnadal @rogerfederer @fedal__tennis #sports #sport #motivation #tennis #tennisplayer #tenis #tennistime #tennisclub #Instatennis #babolat #rafaelnadal #rafanadal #vamosrafa #vamos #xiscaperello #rogerfederer #allezroger #fedal #tennisracket #fedaltennis #tennisgirl #tenis🎾 #wimbledon #rafafanfamily #federer #rolandgarros #australianopen2021 #teamnadal #teamfederer #mirka https://www.instagram.com/p/CMSQJsKg9h7/?igshid=jp1sdskycxtx