Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have battled their ways through the Rome draw and are now one round away from a blockbuster title match. Up first for the top two players in the world are respective Saturday semifinal showdowns against Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. (12) Grigor Dimitrov
Nadal and Dimitrov will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers and for the second time this season when they collide in the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Saturday.
All four of their previous meetings have gone Nadal’s way, but he has never defeated Dimitov in straight sets. They most recently faced each other at the Australian Open, where Nadal survived a memorable four-setter 3-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(7), 6-2. Their only previous clay-court clash came last spring in Monte-Carlo, where Nadal prevailed 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.
The world No. 1 has already been required to work harder this week than perhaps at any clay-court tournament of his career–especially of the best-of-three variety. He has spent a whopping eight hours and 42 minutes on the court in three matches, needing three sets to get past Gilles Simon, Mikhail Youzhny, and Andy Murray. Nadal is looking to win back-to-back titles on the slow stuff, having triumphed in Madrid after losing in the quarterfinals of both Monte-Carlo and Barcelona.
Dimitrov celebrated his 23rd birthday on Friday by reaching the semis in both singles and doubles (with Lukas Rosol). His singles victory came via second-set retirement from Tommy Haas after Dimitrov had won the first set 6-2. The Bulgarian preceded that with victories over Edouard Roger-Vasselin, Ivo Karlovic, and Tomas Berdych. Dimitrov is 26-7 for the year and projected to rise to another career-high mark of No. 12 in the world on Monday even if he loses this one to Nadal.
Given Nadal’s fatigue and their past history of competitive matches, it would seem like another three-setter is in the cards between these two men. However, Rome’s top seed is so battle-tested and also confident in the most important moments of matches that he just may find a way to get this done in straights. Either way, it should be another wildly entertaining contest.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing more than 8 games
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^^^ Don’t start me off ritb…………………he loves the sound of his own voice and is the self appointed spokesman pontificating on all matters he considers constitute an injustice.
Did the Serbian media cover the floods in Dorset last year?
Video. Rafael Nadal Press Conference / SF 2014 Rome Masters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7XHhnHexjU
¤¤ Rafael Nadal Interview for RTVE after SF at 2014 Rome Masters (given in Spanish)
[Translated from Spanish to English by Ericka Domenzáin; source Vamôs Rafael Nadal]
Q: Rafa after tough matches this week,this match must have tasted awesome for you..
RAFA:Well,it´s been a tough week for sure,today there were moments were I actually felt a little lack of energy but at the end I played well the complete match,yesterday with all the ups and downs during that match was more special but today I confirmed all the good sensations I had and I am happy,I have gone through difficult situations during the tournament but I think I have kept the illusion and the goal to have the victory and joy of doing what I do,that is play tennis and those things had led me to feel the motivation to be in Qf and semis and now I am on the final.
Q: Rafa this week u have done a master´s in suffering,master´s in coming back..can you tell us if you have learned something more,something more to add to your career?
RAFA: No,the truth is I have played enough of these kind of games during all my career,here are never too many and maybe I have played even more than I should have,but no,I havent learned anything,the positive thing is that i have that feeling of positivism,the willingess of fighting,of feeling satisfied with myself,not only on court,but also in my own mind..I have been overcoming some blocking thoughts,I have been suffering and accepting all the challenges,and we also have to take into account that the first 2 days,the situations here were very complicated,it was very windy and it made it very difficult to play,but I was there,I fought and since the first 2 matches fighting little by little I ended up feeling better and it is important that I am getting my confidence back now and I am adding more pts and this is good for now and for what´s coming,so suffering is always worth it.
Q:Rafa I have to ask you abt Djok,you have played the 3 matches with players that have better backhand that forehand,today was different with Dimitrov and tomorrow u are facing a player that it is not necessary to teel you how he is,he defends very well with his forehand,how do you see the match?
RAFA :well,it the kind of game that u can only win if you play almost a perfect match,to play at the highest level and even like that,sometimes even that is not enough,beyond some adjustments in my game,that of course I have to have them,he fact is I have to play at my highest if I want to have any kind of options. ¤¤
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFp9AEBB3vM#t=32
^^Just do your best, as always, Rafa. Vamos!