Rafael Nadal wins the Western & Southern Open for the first time in his career and completes the improbable Montreal-Cincinnati double with a victory over John Isner on Sunday. With the win, Nadal will be seeded second at the U.S. Open.
Rafael Nadal’s remarkable, resurgent 2013 campaign keeps getting better and better.
Nadal captured his ninth title of the season and first of his career in Cincinnati with a 7-6(8), 7-6(3) win over John Isner in the final of the Western & Southern Open on Sunday afternoon. The Spaniard fired six aces and saved all three of the break points he faced to prevail in one hour and 54 minutes.
Isner, as he often does, had delivered a flair for the dramatic during his surprising run to the championship match. The 6’10” American had won four of five tiebreakers this week while upsetting Novak Djokovic 7-5 in the third set and saving a match point in the second set against Juan Martin Del Potro. In this one, however, Isner did not have quite enough at the crucial moments.
Nadal faced two set points at 5-6 in the opener, but he fought them off with clutch serving. The No. 4 seed saved another in the tiebreaker before finally sealing the deal on serve at 9-8 when Isner netted a backhand. Nadal ultimately got the job done without earning a single break point against his opponent’s huge serve. The second ‘breaker, though, was more straightforward. Nadal raced to a 5-1 lead an ultimately converted championship point with a perfect forehand passing shot.
“It means a lot winning two straight titles on hard (courts),” assured Nadal, who also triumphed last week at the Montreal Masters. “It’s just amazing for me. I never did something like this in my career.”
“I played extremely well all week,” Isner reflected. “I played well again today. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t good enough. Unfortunately for me, I ran up against one of the greatest tennis players of all time. As I said on the court, i’m going to hold my head up high after today’s match and after this whole week. But Rafa was better than me today.”
Nadal will move up to No. 2 in the world on Monday and be seeded second for the U.S. Open. He will also win the U.S. Open Series unless Isner reaches at least the semifinals next week in Winston-Salem. Isner’s Cincinnati run earns him a Top 16 in New York.
highlights:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0yQ8ZN6tbs]
Ricky on Twitter..cmon Ricky..those matches were close but he played the bigger points, the points that mattered better and won..and nowhere in your tweet you mention he won..its all about almost lost/could have lost..Why cant you just accept he won it fair n square ?
Ricky Dimon @RD_Tennistalk 15h Nadal is on fire but nowhere close to his own separate level ahead of other top players. Almost lost to Djokovic in Montreal….Ricky Dimon @RD_Tennistalk 15h ….easily could have lost to a slumping Federer and easily could have lost to the No. 22 player in the world today. Far from unbeatable.
Hahaha! Could have, should have………no-one remembers “nearly there” players except cross fanboys! Okay, let’s turn the argument the other way: why couldn’t Novak, Fed and Izzy beat this far from unbeatable guy?
so y’all think Rafa is unbeatable?
okay.
RITB..note use of word ‘easily could have lost’ :-)..easily..haha..yeah easily could have lost but still won 3 times at that..:-0
No player is unbeatable.. Is there any player who has 0 losses for the season? No right , so every player is beatable.
But the guy has won 2 Masters back to back ..I know he proved your predictions on Djoko winning both wrong..but that doesnt mean its right to portray it as ‘could have easily lost/almost lost’ rather than ‘ won by a close margin’ which is he real fact .
And have we forgotten how many narrow losses Djoko escaped in 2011 and 2012
both are statements of fact.
you just don’t like the way I put it because you are biased. but the way I put it is a fact. Just as the way you put it is also a fact.
It is only a fact that will go in the books that he won those matches
That he could have lost is not a fact as it did not happen, it is conjecture & speculation.
The only other fact is he won all those matches by a close margin as there were 2 points margin in Djoko match, 7 in Fed match , not sure how many in Isner match.
Rafans..if you want to relive the 9 titles
https://twitter.com/RafaelNadalFC/status/369242594447867904/photo/1
lol.. no Ricky, even though I understand where you are coming from on this but ‘could have easily lost’ is funny..it was not that he broke in the last game when receiving to save the match … and fed was playing great and not that close to winning..he could not cross a barrier… plus, rafa was definitely finding his best form againt dimi and federer…he found it in set 3 against fed and then was brilliant in the berdych match
Thinking rafa is unbeatable on these courts is stupid…but I would give rafa the favourite tag easily..as sanju rightly pointed out, djokovic so narrowly escaped in so many matches in 2011 even !
and djokovic was just so close yet so far ! he reached the tie break but the was never even close to threatening rafa as he trailed 0-6 ! a
I love how Ricky likes to provoke us with his comments. No one here has said anything like Rafa is unbeatable! We know better! It is also interesting to note that Murray did not do well at these events last year and still won the USO. He had disappointing results again that cost him the #2 ranking, but he could still win the USO again. Djoker isn’t going anywhere. He will want to do well at the USO. Both these guys have big points to defend. They will go in as favorites to win. But there are others in the mix now and Rafa is one of them. Delpo is another. Fed looked really good against Rafa and seemed to find some answers, but will he be able to do it given being ranked outside the top four? Can he play well enough consistently to be a threat at the USO? We will have to see.
Just because Rafa had a tough time getting some of his wins, doesn’t somehow diminish them. In fact, I would say the opposite. The hard fought wins are sometimes the most satisfying. I think that Rafa will derive even more confidence knowing that he was challenged and was up to it.
There have been some good points made about how Djoker has escaped narrowly many times in the past. The simple fact is that he is playing nowhere near his best form these days. He is losing matches that he would have won in the past. He is losing them in ways that are concerning. Since when does he double fault at key points in a match? Since when does he double fault to give away service breaks? Since when does he give up leads only to lose? I think there is some kind of mental burnout or something going on with Djoker. A win at the USO would certainly do a lot to reestablish him as the top guy in this sport.
i’m not saying any of you did. I am saying there is a prevailing thought around the internet – on Twitter, other website, etc. – among Rafans that Rafa is unbeatable.
Nadal wins US Open Series – https://tenngrand.com/2013/08/20/isner-out-of-winston-salem-nadal-wins-u-s-open-series/
hi nny.. i was searching the photos of tennis players and their wives & girlfriends but then i was confused coz i hv not seen rafa’s gf.. what is the name of her current gf? i think he changes gfs quickly ..
who changes GFs quickly?
surely you don’t mean Rafa
hey ricky.. and all you guys i don’t don’t know enough things about tennis yet so don’t angry or don’t overreact.. told you guys already i hv been following tennis since 2011 WTF so its almos 1.5 years and in my country cricket is the game which i hv been watching all the time tennis is whole a new thing for me and interesting too.. i watch djoker gf Murray’s gf federer’s wife kids usually on the court but i don’t remember where is rafa’s gf i remember it was 2012 frenchopen i think when i saw his gf..
ah i gotcha. Nadal’s long-time girlfriend’s name is Xisca. She rarely attends tournaments but she does every now and then. They have been dating for years. As far as I know, she’s the only GF Rafa has ever had.
and i was impressed by the atmosphere of tennis in WTF it was great n then i was umpressed by the looks of tennis guys at that time fed was my fav then i was impressed by delpo he was too humble then in Wimbledon i was cheering for murray because he was a deserving guy when he broke into tears i was also crying .. so then he was my fav then dimi came he was cute 😉 so he is also in my fav list.. then i see here bundle of rafans i m not against him but i don’t like his hairstyle may be he will look cute but he needs a haircut 😉 then may be he could also be my fav guy 😉
ricky is a rafa fan ! LOL
The full interview with Rafa on August 18, 2013:
http://rafaelnadalfans.com/2013/08/19/an-interview-with-rafael-nadal-august-18-2013/
Rafa describes how he tried to make adjustments during the match; he was trying to stay positive – to enjoy being in a final and not to get frustrated by Isner’s serve; he says that the support of fans is very important; he is going to start practice in New York on Wednesday.
contrary to popular belief, Djokovic is still a heavy favorite to win the US Open. Just check the odds.
Yes infact heard Rafa is 3rd behind Djoko and Murray 🙂
Thats okay with us Rafans, we dont want the favourite tag neither does Rafa want it ;-).
wc0206@August 19, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Ricky!
The last 7 times you picked Djokovic to win a tournament (Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome, Wimbledon, Montreal, Cincinnati), he didn’t win. I don’t mind if you continue to pick him! 🙂
full photo gallery from Cincinnati – https://tenngrand.com/photos/
Nadal wins US Open Series – https://tenngrand.com/2013/08/20/isner-out-of-winston-salem-nadal-wins-u-s-open-series/
sana@August 20, 2013 at 1:43 am
— i hv not seen rafa’s gf.. what is the name of her current gf? —
“Wimbledon: The senorita who inspires Nadal”
Published: Mon, July 5, 2010
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/184938/Wimbledon-The-senorita-who-inspires-Nadal
Rafael Nadal and Maria Francisca Perello. Photostream (17 photos).
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Rafael+Nadal/Maria+Francisca+Perello/Juntos+Por+La+Integracion+Charity+Gala+Barcelona/js5p7uso90g
Maria Francisca Perello (Xisca) and Rafa have been dating since she was 17 and he was 19.
sana@August 20, 2013 at 1:43 am
— i hv not seen rafa’s gf.. what is the name of her current gf? —
My previous post didn’t go through, probably due to the links (URL). I am trying again. Now I have put a space in both URL (after h), you need to remove it.
“Wimbledon: The senorita who inspires Nadal”
Published: Mon, July 5, 2010
h ttp://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/184938/Wimbledon-The-senorita-who-inspires-Nadal
Rafael Nadal and Maria Francisca Perello. Photostream (17 photos).
h ttp://www.zimbio.com/photos/Rafael+Nadal/Maria+Francisca+Perello/Juntos+Por+La+Integracion+Charity+Gala+Barcelona/js5p7uso90g
Maria Francisca Perello (Xisca) and Rafa have been dating since she was 17 and he was 19.
sana@August 20, 2013 at 1:43 am
My post went through, but one URL is not entirely visible. I am trying again, this time ‘tiny URL’.
Rafael Nadal and Maria Francisca Perello. (17 photos).
http://tinyurl.com/lud84q2
sana@August 20, 2013 at 1:43 am
‘Tiny URL’ went through! I made a ‘tiny URL’ for the other URL too.
“Wimbledon: The senorita who inspires Nadal”
Published: Mon, July 5, 2010
http://tinyurl.com/n8ofcbb
Thanks Augusta08 😉
A blow by blow account of how Rafa outwitted Isner.
‘BRAIN GAME: UNBREAKABLE NADAL’
by Craig O’Shannessy
http://preview.tinyurl.com/myzuts8
It doesn’t come up for me.
I was here to post the same link, ed ! haha…. the last para is so powerful.,.
Nadal’s successful campaigns at Roland Garros, where he has won eight times, are built around winning ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid. His clay-court confidence especially comes from saving break points so he arrives in Paris feeling like Superman. Nadal has now won successive ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles in Montreal and Cincinnati and opponents have only managed to convert exactly 4/18 in both events (8/36 total = 22%). There is a certain sense of déjà vu in Nadal’s preparation as he heads to New York searching for his 13th career Grand Slam championship title.
before USO, I had murray the fav, followed by djo , then rafa ,then delpo and then fed..
Now, it is surely rafa..followed by andy and nole. then delpo-fed ….
I do not understand the reason for having nole as the favourite (i dont care much though) … I mean, rafa’s current form is the biggest factor here.. normally, current form is not that big a factor for players who have actually a history of choking at big events or at yet to prove themselves at big events or their rivals are mentally and physically tougher for slam semis and finals…with rafa, his stamina and mental toughness is second to none ..so if he keeps playing with the same form and confidence, I would say it would be extremely hard for anyone to beat him…I would surely have rafa as a favourite against djoker if they meet in the final ( although the lead up to the final is important too) because of djoker’s recent mental fragility..he is short of confidence at the moment ..
rafa fans, I just realized that rafa can regain world no.1 by winning USO, granted djokovic loses before the final 🙂 I know he needs to win seven matches and the road to winning USO is very very tough and he may not be able to deliver, but I am surely optimistic 🙂
yes Rafa has a chance to get to no 1 soon or by the end of the year… but more surely he has a strong possibility of getting to no 1 by mid February (if not earlier) as he has no points at all to defend until well past the Australian Open.
If he remains largely injury free he would have to play pretty poorly for the next 5.5 months not to reach number 1.
For him to regain it post Djokovic 2011 and with Andy and other players playing much better than they did when he was last number 1 would (will!) be quite an achievement.
http://www.changeovertennis.com/return-of-serve-analysis-how-rafael-nadal-won-a-masters-1000-final-without-creating-a-single-break-point/
great analysis 😉
I meant to write pretty poorly compared to how we can reasonably expect him too perform. He is more rested than usual at this time of the year. No guarantees but we can expect him to go deep into the US Open. Similarly, baring injuries, we can expect him to go deep at the Australian Open. He has done that at both slams for a number of years, except when he got injured at the AO and once when arriving exhausted at the US Open (2008).
I hope he goes hell for leather on winning USOpen 2013 and Australian Open 2014 and then just concentrate on RG. He will be 28 next year, will need to take it easy as he will have achieved a double career Slam…..
He could of course oblige me by winning Wimby 2014, get the Rafa Slam and be 1 short of Roger’s Slam haul.
Ah well, dreams are free……………….
I thought he was going to get the Rafa Slam after he won the USO in ’10 and was doing so well. Then came getting ill i January ’11 followed by a hamstring injury just at the time Novak 2.0 was in his second month.
I can’t imagine he could get US and AO back to back this time. And it’s totally OK if he doesn’t. But yes, that dream has crossed my mind :-). Again, what we do know is that Rafa will surprise us but surpassing expectations (everyone’s expectations) in some important way at least once or twice a year. He has been doing that for many years now.
Just kidding of course. I am just happy Rafa is enjoying his tennis out there, win or lose. It was so painful watching him so not enjoying himself on court in 2011.
If he wants to surprise me, why not, I am game!
Rafa has his sights set on the USO. He’s had a plan since he came back in Montreal. He was testing some aspects of his game and clearly he’s been working on his serve and ROS. He has come back with a vengeance.
I am not going to forget Djoker and Murray. I think they should both be favorites. I know that Djoker hasn’t looked good at times throughout this year and has been inconsistent. I think he still has to be considered one of the favorites at the USO. I heard that if he loses before the semis and Rafa wins, then Rafa will be #1. But I expect Djoker to be determined to do well at the USO. Murray also has motivation as the defending champion. It’s not like these guys are going away any time soon.
I do think Rafa belongs in the group of favorites to win. He is playing simply brilliant tennis right now. If he can keep it up, then he has a good shot to win the USO. I think some forget that Djoker has only won the USO once and been in three finals. In 2010, where he lost to Rafa, in 2011 when he beat Rafa and in 2012 when he lost to Murray. So he does have three straight finals here. Rafa won in 2010 in his first final, lost to Djoker in his second final in 2011 and didn’t play last year.
I see Delpo in the mix too provided he can stay healthy. Fed is a possibility but won’t have it easy given his seeding.
Odds are “adjusting”.
Nole is paying slightly under 3:1. Rafa and Muzz are about the same at 3.5:1.
So Nole is no longer a heavy favourite.
Delpo is 4th at about 10:1.
Fed is 5th at about 15:1.
Isner is 6th!!!!!!
placing isner ar 6th is silly..so I see rafa is a joint 2nd with muzz