It will take more than a win over an 18-year-old Frenchman who has never won a match at the ATP level in order for Rafael Nadal to restore complete confidence in his game. Still, he could not have asked for a much better start to his 2015 French Open campaign.
Nadal rolled over wild card Quentin Halys 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 during first-round action on Tuesday afternoon. The nine-time champion committed a mere 13 unforced errors, doubled that count with 26 winners, and got the job done after one hour and 50 minutes.
The only time he dropped serve came when he was already enjoying a double-break advantage at 4-1 in the first set. Halys made a push to get within 3-4, but Nadal held for 5-3 then broke again in the ninth game to put away the opening frame.
Nadal-Halys highlights:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4ZkvGZUztc]
“After the first three games, when I started a little bit slow, [I started] moving the ball better,” Nadal explained. “I am happy with the way that I played. It is the first match and I played well enough. I think my forehand worked well for a lot of moments.”
Nadal press conference:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m47KfBJI2-U]
Next up for the world No. 7 is fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, who fought past Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(6).
[polldaddy poll=8893647]
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
If Rafa doesn’t have an off day, he should be able to get through this without any major scare.
I have nothing but respect for Tignor as a tennis pundit but on the article below, sorry, I have to call him an idiot for pandering to internet fans’ whims, most of it driven by anxious Nolefans:
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2015/05/orange-and-blue-debut/55040/#.VWWiv02JjIU
“And no player, including Rafa, should be able to choose who umpires him, simply because that umpire is enforcing a rule too strictly for his liking. ”
BS.
1. Does Rafa have the right to request a certain referee does not adjudicate his matches – Yes.
2. Does Rafa have a right to demand a certain referee does not adjudicate – No.
This is what Rafa said in his presser,
“Yes, it was my request,” he said. “I consider him [Bernardes] a great umpire and a good person, but I think when you have some troubles with the same umpire, sometimes it’s easy to stay for a while away, no?”
So, Rafa made a REQUEST, not a DEMAND, that Bernades not adjudicate his matches, perfectly within his rights.
It was the ATP that made the call, after a request by Rafa, that Bernades not adjudicate Rafa’s matches, not Rafa.
The ATP confirmed on Tuesday that the Rafa/Bernades situation was far from unique, as supervisors at each event take into account requests from both players and umpires when they draw up the officials’ schedules.
3. Carlos Bernades was totally unprofessional at that Rio match, one only has to watch the YT clip below to see how. The Rio match in question was played at 3am because of a delayed schedule. It was played in steaming heat and high humidity. The changing rooms were a long way off and at the end of a set, Rafa went to the tunnel to change his shorts as they were literally dripping in sweat. He was in such a rush to return that he put the new ones on back to front. Most players would have returned to the tunnel straight away and changed them but Rafa played on until the next change of ends. Playing was difficult as they were tight fitting and he could hardly move. When Rafa asked to go to the tunnel to change them Bernardes said he’d give him a time violation if he did. So Rafa just wrapped a towel around and changed the shorts on the court in front of spectators and viewers. How the commentators laughed! But the shocking thing was that
Bernades (the Chair Umpire!) was rolling around in his chair laughing too. In the
circumstances Bernardes was lucky not to be disciplined. He should be thankful he still has a job.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RbIkEGzC6o
4. Forcing a player to change his short on court is, indeed, disrespectful, and Bernardes should have had the decency to allow Rafa to change quickly in the locker room. Imagine what would had happened if Bernardes had forced a female player to change her outfit on court, in front of thousands of people and live TV. The uproar, to say the least, would have been deafening, and rightly so.
5. That Bernardes was seen openly laughing at the spectacle only added to Rafa’s humiliation. He MEANT to humiliate Rafa and that made it personal: totally unprofessional and unacceptable.
So Tignor needs a re-think, I think, and not rush in with his opinions/judgements spurred on by “popular” sentiments.
It sets a dangerous precedent. If Fedal can do it what about lower ranked players? Are they allowed also?
@filter, read my post again please. This is not the first time this has happened. Rafa is not the first player to make such a request. The ATP confirmed this. The precedent was made BEFORE, not by this Rafa/Bernades incident. The only reason this is making headlines is because Rafa is involved and desperate Nolefans, like you, are drumming it up out of all proportion in the vain hope this puts pressure on Rafa and give your guy more hope in his quest for a 1st RG trophy.
Can’t understand why y’all are so jittery tbh, Novak is the out and out favourite to win this this year so, chill and enjoy the tournament!
Nadal’s “request” is effectively a demand. There’s not a tournament that would dare refuse him et voila.
ATP decision but regardless, nor should they. Nor should they refuse Federer a choice schedule, time of day and cushy draw.
Just giving the people what they want.
#IgnoranceIsBliss
i.e. they’ve been doing it for years.
Nothing new.
Not Rafa’s fault that the ATP kow-tows to him. It’s the ATP which made the decision, not Rafa.
Easy thought experiment:
Imagine it is the same hot and humid with a match played at 3am. Which is a ridiculous time, but anyway. Imagine it is Roger Federer himself in Rafa’s position. And he made the same mistake changing into his shorts that time. And played an uncomfortable stretch of tennis with shorts backwards. After which the umpire refused to give him a few extra moments to turn his shorts again NOT in public.
How would you, filter, anonymous, and anyone else then respond?
How would Roger Federer?
How would most pundits and fans worldwide?
^same hot and humid night
If you are honest you will start to see how much of your reaction to the story has to do with the irrelevant factor, namely which player it happened to be that was forced to change shorts in public.
If you prefer not to be honest about this, that is your choice. But don’t then make any pretenses at objectivity and fairness based on objectivity.
^^Add to your list @chloro, “And the Umpire LAUGHS at his handiwork, making Roger change his shorts in public”
I don’ t think you’re wrong. I just don’t think it warrants removing the umpire altogether. It was a one-off situation that is highly unlikely to occur again. I don’t see Federer trying to remove Jake Garner because he did not agree with a discretionary exercise of power in 2009. I would say that tennis rules should be amended to allow for a change of apparel privately. I just posted that Jankovic had to change like that on court once. And I don’t support it but it’s a tricky spot to be in when you’re the umpire and the rules don’t make room for it.
True that! He would be pillored firstly for making RF Himself change his shorts in public, and secondly for laughing at him.
Of course Roger would voice no complaint, and would invite this particular to be his umpire soon after :-).
So would Novak in his shoes.
Etc.
….and of course Novak is following in the footsteps of One-Whose-Name-Shall-Not-Be-Mentioned, walking on water and putting the boot into Rafa at the slightest excuse:
“Novak Djokovic was later asked about the situation in his own press conference and he offered a critical response. “There are some chair umpires in some matches that I remember that I wasn’t very happy with how they did their job,” the world No 1 said. “But I never thought of requesting a chair umpire not to be a chair umpire in my matches. I don’t think that’s fair.” ”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/rafaelnadal/11631798/French-Open-2015-Rafael-Nadal-admits-demanding-ban-on-umpire-Carlos-Bernardes-following-Rio-Open-dispute.html
chloro,
Yes, it’s always a good idea to turn it around so that those here who object to what Rafa did, will have to look at it from their favorite player’s perspective. I can only imagine the uproar and outrage from Fed fans if he was humiliated and disrespected this way.
don’t imagine that too much, nny, it wouldn’t be a pretty sight 🙂
ritb, funny how Novak so easily put the boot into rafa…. he should know better after his own incident where he was (reasonably) allowed some extra time off-court to fix his contact lens problem.
If Novak as a pro can’t be fair, perhaps we’ll have to turn to his fans, and those of The One Not To Be Named to be fair instead. Holding breath here. 🙂
Don’t hold your breath, @chloro. You’re not going to get any fairness from Nolefans at this time, understandably so. Rafa has proved himself to be Novak’s kryptonite at RG and regardless of his underwhelming form going into RG, they fear him.
The hyperventilation net-wide over this non-issue is a desperate attempt at putting pressure on Rafa, thus hopefully helping Novak.
C’est dommage que ………………
It was a bad call not letting Rafa go change his shorts.. I guess the umpire was pressured about how late it already was but that’s no excuse.
If we were Nole fans we would probably nit-pick about it as well… no biggie
It’s not just that, you’re not allowed to take anything except a bathroom break or a MTO. I’ve seen Jelena Jankovic change her inner clothing on court under a towel making no bones about it…because, well, you can’t. I wonder why Nadal didn’t ask for a bathroom break actually.
Whoever you are posting as “Anonymous”, I will say it again. Let’s say it was Fed or Novak in that situation. Are you going to tell me that you would not be outraged seeing either one of them have to put a towel on and changed their clothing on court?
Rafa probably felt that the umpire would understand and make an allowance for his predicament! Common sense and decency!
^^Roger that! Pun fully intended……….
^^Roger your pun! See my post written at the same time as yours, above.
Snap @chloro!
ritb, in another post (not sure the thread), you said ATP said on Tuesday that Rafa’s request is nothing different that what other players have asked. Can you provide a source?
Thanks.
Sure @hawkeye63
See the following quote from the Telegraph, link provided:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/rafaelnadal/11631798/French-Open-2015-Rafael-Nadal-admits-demanding-ban-on-umpire-Carlos-Bernardes-following-Rio-Open-dispute.html
“The Association of Tennis Professionals confirmed on Tuesday that the situation was far from unique, as supervisors at each event take into account requests from both players and umpires when they draw up the officials’ schedules.”
Simon Briggs is a well known journo on the circuit.
Why thank you ritb.
Poor @elina, must be tiring trying to knock some sense into the senseless. 🙂
#SatanIsNotNice
Ting!
Had it been Roger in Rafa’s shoes he would have said to the umpire: “I change my shorts when I want to, don’t tell me what I can do, right. I don’t give a **** what you think.” 🙂
In 2010, Djokovic was allowed time to sort his contact lenses out during a match with Nadal. Carlos was out of order. I’m sure the ATP realizes that the umpire humiliated Nadal in making him change his shorts on court.
“Sports Vision Correction Problem Leaves Djokovic In A Tennis Tailspin | 29.11.2010
In the middle of his round robin match against Rafa Nadal at the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London, Novak Djokovic had trouble with his contact lenses. Djokovic took a timeout and tried to resolve the problem with help from a trainer but when that did not work, Djokovic ran off the court to the locker room to get another pair of contacts. Unfortunately, the contacts clearly bothered Djokovic for the rest of the match which he lost in straight sets and highlighted how important it is for sports participants to make the right sports vision correction choice.
Djokovic, who complained about the irritation early in the first set and was still uncomfortable at the end, rarely hit a rhythm against the world No1. Long after the match, he was still at a loss to know exactly what had caused the discomfort. “I really feel sick talking about it, to be honest,” Djokovic said. “It has never happened to me before. My right eye got irritated, and from the five-all I could not play. I could not see a ball, especially the return. It was just terrible,” he explained.”
– See more at: http://igolenses.co.uk/night-contact-lenses-news/contact-lenses-for-sport-news/sports-vision-correction-problem-leaves-djokovic-in-a-tennis-tailspin-1104.html#sthash.mujLhfWu.dpuf
Was Novak threatened with a time violation? Was he issued one? @filter, would you know?
That qualifies as a medical time-out though. But the issue here is bigger. You can reprimand an umpire but asking him to not sit over your matches is ridiculous.
No. At the time they said it was equipment malfunction.
Stan Wawrinka says he has made similar requests as Rafa to have specific Umpires removed from his matches for short periods of time. Funny, I never heard any howls of righteous indignation/derision then from Nolefans/Fedfans:
https://mobile.twitter.com/ChiaraGamTWI/status/603556253944655872?p=v
#Bogeyman
Nadal’s reason was plain discomfort. Djokovic actually could not see the ball properly. It’s apples and oranges really. And it’s not like Nadal wasn’t negligent about it. He’d already taken time off once to change shorts. Doing it over and over against is something no umpire SHOULD allow. Again, making a mountain out of a molehill and throwing his weight around. #NID
Anonymous says: May 27, 2015 at 4:02 pm
Of course it’s apples and oranges, shorts are not contact lenses! Oh please, are you suggesting Novak was practically blind on account of how he had inserted his contacts? How do you characterize not seeing the ball properly then, if it’s not “plain discomfort”?
So, Novak’s contact lenses issue was not negligence on his part but Rafa accidentally putting on his shorts the wrong way round is? So, Novak has issues with his contact lenses it’s someone else’s fault? Please.
Just admit it you guys. This is one bat, amongst others, to bash Rafa over the head with. Because he has been dishing out the hurt on your favs on court for so long…………….
If you feel so sure about your answer, and how ok Novak was but not Rafa…
please answer the question above: if it were Novak in Rafa’s place asked to change his shorts in public, rather than be allowed an extra minute to go indoors to do it… would it THEN be OK?
What if it were Roger in Rafa’s place, would it THEN be OK?
If you feel so sure…. my post question is addressed to Anonymous (this time, but filter, or anyone else, feel free to give us your answer to this specific question).
Wrong again. He changed his shorts during a normal break. He did not take time out to do it.
I really don’t know why anyone would have a problem with what Rafa did. I say that it’s high time he stood up for himself! Rafa takes so much crap! He asked that Bernardes not umpire his matches! The ATP made the decision to do so!
Case closed! Any Fed or Novak fan who has an issue, is being fundamentally dishonest because they would be one hundred percent behind their guy if he made the same request after such treatment.
I want to hear from any Fed or Novak fan about how you would feel seeing your guy having to put a towel around himself to change his shorts on the court! Let’s be real here!
The righteous indignation on Satan’s blog is reaching fever pitch, hilarious! Some are even calling for a US Dept of Justice anti-corruption sweep like the current one engulfing FIFA which saw some top FIFA officials frog-marched out of a swanky Swiss hotel hidden under bed sheets!
I daresay some people’s anxieties about their fav’s (i.e. Novak) prospects are leading them to some pretty desperate thoughts: the only way to make SURE Rafa does not stage a “miraculous” recovery in form (Bodo, anyone?) and beat Novak is to frog-march him out of Chatrier in hand-cuffs, under pretext of crimes against the game!
Taking chances is a dicey game, comrades…………..
Don’t blame them really. Poor Novak has been so near and yet so far all these years……………..
Rafa 2nd tomm on Philipp Chartier
Oh that’s 5 am again my time! Well I will have to set my dvr for that one. Unless it gets pushed back and comes on later like Rafa’s first match.
“I don’ t think you’re wrong. I just don’t think it warrants removing the umpire altogether. It was a one-off situation that is highly unlikely to occur again. I don’t see Federer trying to remove Jake Garner because he did not agree with a discretionary exercise of power in 2009. I would say that tennis rules should be amended to allow for a change of apparel privately. I just posted that Jankovic had to change like that on court once. And I don’t support it but it’s a tricky spot to be in when you’re the umpire and the rules don’t make room for it.” I just wrote this in one of the posts. My issue is not with Nadal’s indignation at the umpire. It is at the extreme reaction. And Bernandes did allow him to go in once. He does it again, and it will raise a reasonable suspicion that he’s trying to stall the match for whatever reason even if that is not necessarily the case. Again, I’ve rarely heard complaints against CB before, so I’m inclined to believe that it wasn’t deliberate.
Also, Nole has an eyesight problem. I would think that’s slightly more extenuating for a tennis player than wearing shorts backwards. 😉
ATP has said that Rafa’s request is not uncommon among both players and umpires alike.
Even Federer said players should be able to make such requests.
Just another click-bait story from the media and fedole fans having a go at their players perceived biggest threat.
Nothing mew.
Rafa did not ask to remove any umpire. Just _requested_ not to have this one umpire him for a little while. Storm in a teacup.
Anonymous, if I read you right you are implying Rafa somehow wanted to stall the match by putting his shorts on backwards the first time. And that umpires can _never_ improvise reasonable and moderate exceptions to rules where common sense would agree with their judgement. Such as this case of not asking Nole, pardon, Roger, pardon I meant Rafa to change shorts in public.
On the other hand, there is a famous story of another fine player whose first name starts with an R going on a bathroom brake to deliberately interrupt his opponent’s winsome momentum. Said player in the post-match interview stated this in so many words, apparently boasting about it. For him that was alright, no? 🙂
Fed was gone for two minutes which is exactly the time between two sets. So regardless of what he said (or didn’t say) in an on-court interview where he was obviously joking, he was well within time. And again, in his case, a one-off. Nadal on the other hand, is notorious for stalling deliberately.
For that matter, said same player whose name begins with R let it slip that he pulled out of the WTF final against Nole not because he couldn’t play but because he couldn’t win under his current condition. Forget the paying fans that came to watch him play win or lose.
incredible sticking of one’s head in the sand, or worse: deliberate cherry-picking
Fed was not joking: I remember the details of that interview. And the momentum was with his opponent and did get broken. It was deliberate. And the explanation of the time-out was not a joke.
Nadal is not notorious for stalling. He is notorious for taking close to 25 seconds and sometimes over after long rallies to catch his wind. Among the others that do this frequently is the current number 1 male player who receives virtually no bad press about this in comparison.
I had noticed over a long period of time that Carlos B almost never overruled a call in favour of Rafa, never. At the O2 in 2009 when Rafa was playing Berdych, it was clear that the ball was called out so Rafa hit it without playing it so they should have replayed the point but Bernardes gave Berdych the point. I was there at the O2. Rafa called the ATP supervisor who obviously had to agree with Bernardes and Rafa nearly sat down refusing to play before he thought the better of it. He was so mad.