Nadal shocks Federer at Dubai Open

Rafael Nadal, playing only his second tournament in four months, beat top-ranked Roger Federer 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 Saturday in the final of the Dubai Open.

Federer had won this event the past three years. The Swiss star had captured his two other tournaments in 2006 - the Australian Open and Doha Open.

Nadal, seeded and ranked second, ended Federer's 56-match hardcourt winning streak. The Spaniard won in less than two hours.

"I think it is unbelievable to win against the best player in the world - perhaps the best in history of the game," said Nadal, who broke down in tears on court. "It was also special because I was out of the game for more than three months. I cried because I was happy."

The 19-year-old Nadal, the 2005 French Open champion, recently recovered from a foot injury that kept him out of most tournaments the last four months. He made his return in Marseille two weeks ago, where he reached the semifinals.

Completely outplayed in the first set, Nadal changed his tactics in the second set.

"He was playing too well in the first set, very aggressive. I could do nothing," Nadal said. "In the second, I told myself just to hold my serve, and try and be aggressive on his serve and hopefully get a break.

"I also applied more topspin on my forehand. Once I won the second game after being 0-30 down, my confidence also went up."

Federer said he was happy with his game despite his loss.

"I think Nadal deserved to win because he played so consistent. I started off really well, but sprayed a little toward the end," Federer said. "But I am very happy with my game right now. And hopefully, I will pay him back soon."

Federer was sublime in the opening set, winning 6-2 in 28 minutes. Federer served well and went to the net successfully on several occasions.

Then Nadal advanced to the net in the second set, and his passing shots actually got by Federer.

Nadal made the all-important break in the ninth game, passing an advancing Federer, who gave the Spaniard three break points with two volleys in the net.

In the third set, Nadal broke Federer in the first game, capitalizing with a backhand crosscourt shot on a deep volley.

Federer evened it in the fourth with a forehand down the line on the run. Nadal converted a break point in the ninth game, when Federer hit his forehand volley wide. Nadal then served for the match.
http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/5378056

Wow. If it had been anyone else who beat him this would be a fluke (IMO), but everyone has been looking toward Nadal as being perhaps the one person who could consistently give Federer a run for his money. Nice to see some competition back in men's tennis. Hopefully this isn't the only time Nadal give Federer a challenge. And on hard court, damn.

Wow. If it had been anyone else who beat him this would be a fluke (IMO), but everyone has been looking toward Nadal as being perhaps the one person who could consistently give Federer a run for his money. Nice to see some competition back in men's tennis. Hopefully this isn't the only time Nadal give Federer a challenge. And on hard court, damn.

Isn't this the third time that Nadal won against Federer?

But I agree with what you are saying though. Federer's game is head and shoulders above everyone else that having a player that can compete with him is a refreshing change.

I don't think he's ever beat him in a final but I think you are right that this isn't the first time Nadal has beat Federer in a match.

Nadal beats Federer......again.

Nadal owns Feddy.

Owning Federer has its perks.
http://www.rafaelnadal.com/

hail to The Spaniard

http://www.gladiatorstories.com/images/maximus3.jpg

Nadal owns Feddy.

Owning Federer has its perks.
http://www.rafaelnadal.com/

hail to The Spaniard

http://www.gladiatorstories.com/images/maximus3.jpgI wouldn't call wearing Nike capri pants a perk, but if you're talking
about him having a Nike deal period, I have to agree with that.

Nadal beats Federer, wins 53rd straight match on clay

Rafael Nadal again played the biggest points better than Roger Federer.

Nadal saved a pair of match points late in the fifth set and won the final four of the tiebreaker in a 6-7 (0-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5) triumph over Federer in 5 hours, 5 minutes to win the ATP Master Series Rome.

It was the 19-year-old Spaniard's 53rd consecutive clay-court victory, matching the record set by Guillermo Vilas in 1977. The reigning French Open champion has won his last 13 finals.

Nadal can break the record with a win against Tommy Haas in the first round of the Hamburg Masters this week.

"It's very difficult to win every tournament, 53 matches is a lot of matches," Nadal said. "It's something I don't think I'll ever do again."

The second seed also improved to 5-1 lifetime against Federer, the top-ranked player in the world, including 3-0 in finals this year.

After the players traded breaks in the fourth and fifth games of the first set, Federer had a pair of set points against Nadal's serve in the 12th game before the Spaniard managed to hold. But Federer played a perfect tiebreak, recording five winners en route to claiming all seven points.

Federer saved a set point in the 10th game of the second set and held a 4-2 lead in the tiebreak. But he lost five of the next six points, allowing Nadal to even the match when he hit a backhand into the net.

Nadal broke the Swiss star in the fifth game of the third set and maintained the advantage to go up a set. But instead of wilting, Federer stormed back, saving a pair of break points in the opening game of the fourth set and breaking Nadal in the fourth and eighth games to send the match to a decisive set.

Federer broke the southpaw in the fourth game of the fifth set and saved a pair of break points the following game -- the latter with an ace -- for a 4-1 advantage. But Nadal held at love, then broke Federer after the Swiss star was a point away from a 5-2 cushion.

Serving at 5-6, Nadal fell behind, 15-40, but Federer hit a forehand long on his first championship point and another well wide on his second. Two points later, Nadal forced a decisive tiebreak with a crosscourt forehand winner.

Federer held a 5-3 edge in the tiebreak before again playing loose points, making a pair of forehand errors, then sending a backhand long to give Nadal a match point. After a long rally, Federer hit another forehand long to hand the championship to the Spaniard.
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=2444770

Federer only has 3 losses this year and all of them have come against Nadal. [smilie=shocked2.gi:

The lefty is a little too much for Federer. I still think Federer is the better tennis player, he just doesn't match up with Nadal's style of play(powerful lefty).

Nadal now has the most consecutive wins on clay in the modern era. Impressive.

Its not just the lefty though. Its more his defensive style. He can hit accurate shots from akward positions. And honestly after seeing him play a whole match, i think he can better than Federer in 1-2 years if he improves his volley game.

That dude Gael Monfils is fucking scary. Anyone watched him? Kid is insane. Not the smartest player in the French Open, but he has all the physical gifts.

He's easily the fastest player in tennis.

I watched the replay of the Blake/Monfils match and I have to say that Blake really fucked up. He had SEVENTY-FOUR unforced errors, which is pretty crazy. The game went five sets desapite his mental mistakes. He was hitting the net on drop-shot attempts. If he would have played as good as he can he would have beaten the Frenchy in straight sets.

Federer vs Nadal this Sunday. We'll see if Federer can break Nadal's streak.

Doubt it.

Federer vs Nadal this Sunday. We'll see if Federer can break Nadal's streak.

Doubt it.

Yep.

Federer lost again. He is 0-4 against Nadal this year.

http://i.eurosport.com/2006/04/22/272137-1006429-458-238.jpg