Nadal eases past Melzer
Eurosport - Thu, 14 May 10:59:00 2009
Claycourt maestro Rafael Nadal swept to a 6-3 6-1 victory over Juergen Melzer in the second round of the Madrid Open.
Nadal, chasing a sixth title of the season and a fourth on his best surface, was joined in the last 16 by Novak Djokovic, who beat Oscar Hernandez 6-3 6-3.
The 27th-ranked Melzer failed to carve out any break points against world number one Nadal, losing his own serve four times, and the Spaniard wrapped up the win on his first match point when the dispirited Austrian netted a limp forehand.
Nadal has only lost four times on clay in 152 matches since the beginning of 2005 and won three straight events on the surface at Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome before coming to the Spanish capital.
He begins his quest for a fifth straight French Open crown at the end of this month and will play unseeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber on Thursday for a place in the quarter-finals.
"It was a positive first match," Nadal, who had a bye into the second round, said. "I think I played at a pretty decent level and starting in that way is always a good sign."
Djokovic won a second title of the year in his native Belgrade at the weekend after losing in the final of the Masters events in Rome, Monte Carlo and Miami.
The Serbian third seed took a nasty tumble at the start of the second set, slipping on the clay in the new Magic Box stadium and falling awkwardly. He recovered to break in the fifth and ninth games and sealed victory on his fourth match point when Hernandez went long with a sliced backhand.
"Maybe result-wise it looked easy but it was not easy, that's for sure," Djokovic said.
"Madrid is different from other tournaments in other cities because it's at altitude and the balls are flying quite a lot and you don't get a lot of control," he added.
"So I was trying to produce a lot of spin and get into the rhythm and I've done a pretty good job today."
Andreas Seppi is the Serb's opponent for a place in the last eight after the Italian beat American Sam Querrey 6-3 4-6 6-4.
Djokovic said he was lucky to escape unhurt after he slipped over against Hernandez.
"I was aware that the surface was quite wet after they watered the court at the end of the first set. I was lucky that I fell in the right way so it was not a major injury."
Number six seed Andy Roddick lost the first set to German qualifier Tommy Haas but edged the second set tie-break and grabbed his only break of the match in the third before clinching a 1-6 7-6 6-4 victory with his ninth ace.
The American will play Russian Nikolay Davydenko in the third round.
Roger Federer and Andy Murray will also be seeking last-eight places on Thursday.
Federer plays American 14th seed James Blake and Briton Murray takes on 16th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo.
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Comment 8 - 27 of 27
all you who say they dont like spaniards i have one question 4 u lot: ARE YOU RACIST???? rafael is a excellent player and makes tennis fun to watch so stop criticising him over his nationality because it is not what counts in sport
I believed sports commentators when they said Nadal couldn't keep up his very physical game for too long. Being a Federer fan it sounded just good enough to be true. ;) But I think we've all been proven wrong. He's already had four great years, is on his way to having a 5th one (5 titles and one final), and he has proved beyond a doubt that he's not a clay-only guy by winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and getting to the US Open semi-final. It's time to accept that a) he's very deserving of being number one and b) he's not going anywhere any time soon.
RC - After reaping the benefits of this intial contact, I feel sure that Gilles (and other players) will be seeking my help in the future. To this end, I may set up a small enterprise, provisionally called, Inner Dimension In Outstanding Tennis (IDIOT). For Gilles's specific case, should he reach the semis, I'm thinking of something along the lines of "come on Gilles, you can do it", set to suitably uplifting music (Chariots of Fire?). There'd be an option to have all this in French for a small supplementary fee.
I believed sports commentators when they said Nadal couldn't keep up his very physical game for too long. Being a Federer fan it sounded just good enough to be true. ;) But I think we've all been proven wrong. He's already had four great years, is on his way to having a 5th one (5 titles and one final), and he has proved beyond a doubt that he's not a clay-only guy by winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and getting to the US Open semi-final. It's time to accept that a) he's very deserving of being number one and b) he's not going anywhere any time soon.
I agree with Fadlee - Federer has never been impressive (by his or Nadal's standards) on clay whereas Nadal has probably reached an unprecedented level on clay by any standards. However, it is really pleasing to hear two things:
1. Nadal is as hungry and determined as ever for more success.
2. Most commentators think Nadal can't maintain his standard for too long because of the "physical" nature of his game. This, I think, gives him greater urgency to win many titles now. Personally, I think he will remain in the top 10 for the next 10 years.
janekralj
What is your problem if he ( Rafa ) being respected as a maestro . I think he deseves it too . In case you not aware that title is not only meant for your Roger Federer..
stay healthy rafa to go to the final visit rafa at you tube
Claycourt maestro Rafael Nadal swept to... ???wtf how dare them call maestro some1 but Roger
rhymes450, Maybe you can help Gilles with some further pyschological confidence boosting advice if he reachers the semi's...
yeah in-depth indeed rhymes LOL. wish i could see live mathces too.
Went along to have a look today. Juan Monaco seems in great form. He looks far better than 46 in the world on this surface. Should be a good match with Verdasco.
Had an in-depth conversation with Gilles Simon after his win over Fognini:
Rhymes: Gilles, could you sign this for me? Hope you win the tournament.
Gilles: I hope too.
And that was kind of it. I'm sure Gilles really wanted to hang around and chew the fat, but I'm just so incredibly busy these days.
Murray v Robredo and Delpo v Wawrinka are the other round of 16 matches that catch my fancy. Cheers
I would like lots of Spaniards up my draws!
why so anxoius blindgooslar,? youre guy is doing okay against the spaniards except for one.
ANOTHER ACE PERFORMANCE BY THE KING OF CLAY,VAMOS RAFA.
Sorry! That was my daughter!
Nadal is great, but Federer is religion!
If Nadal was pretty I would MARRY him. HAhahaHA!! ;).
I don't like all the Spaniards and other clay court specialist being in Rafa's and Novak's part of the draw.
None exept Robredo is at Andy's and Rodger's part. Not fair...
Oh well...
Thank you Rafa. God bless you!
Really ?lol.........Just heard that he is ho-oking up with a nice gi-rl on the inter-esting cl-ub called: :-) Tall Minle Co M , really ? Sounds it is a famoaus on-line service.
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