20050606

RAFEAL NADAL
IS
THE
ROLAND GARROS
CHAMPION ! :D

defeated MARIANO PUERTA


Rafael Nadal became the first player since Mats Wilander in 1982 to win Roland Garros at his first attempt. The 19-year-old Spaniard saved three set points in the fourth set to defeat Argentine Mariano Puerta 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 in Sunday’s final.

Nadal, who celebrated his 19th birthday Friday by defeating top seed and World No. 1 Roger Federer in four sets in the semifinals, joins Federer with six titles on the year (all on clay). He boasts a 38-2 match record on clay in 2005 and is also an ATP-best 48-6 on all surfaces this season.

Nadal has won 24 consecutive matches, a streak that includes victories at the Telecom Italia Masters in Rome, the Open SEAT Godo in Barcelona and Masters Series Monte-Carlo. It is the longest winning streak of any teenager in the Open Era, topping Andre Agassi's run of 23 matches in 1988.

At 19 years at two days Nadal became the sixth-youngest Grand Slam champion, and the fourth-youngest Roland Garros champion in the Open Era. Nadal is the first teenager to win six titles in a year since Agassi in 1988 at the age of 18.

Nadal joins INDESIT ATP 2005 Race leader Roger Federer with 665 Race points but Federer remains in first place because he has earned more points at mandatory events. By reaching the final, Puerta moves to sixth position in the Race, having started the tournament at No. 21.

Nadal broke his Roland Garros jinx in emphatic fashion. He had missed the tournament the past two years: In 2004 he was sidelined by a stress fracture in his left ankle, sustained in Estoril, which kept him out of action for almost three months. He missed the 2003 event because of an elbow injury sustained during a practice session the week before the tournament. He tripped over the net and cracked his right elbow.

Puerta, who in 1995 was the Roland Garros boys' runner-up, had never been beyond the third round of a Grand Slam before his unlikely run to the final. Puerta defeated four seeds en route to the final, including No. 12 seed Nikolay Davydenko in five sets in the semifinals.

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID

Nadal: “When I begin the second set, I stay better with the calm, because in the first set I am a little bit nervous. And I play more aggressive in the second and third set.

“I won in Monte- Carlo, Barcelona and Rome, and that is important for my confidence for this tournament

“I can't say my feelings because that's unbelievable for me. Is a dream for me, to win here. And when I won this tournament, I remember the bad moments when I practice a lot, when I was young.

“I need improve every day. I am only 19 years and two days old. To stay at this level, I need improve every day. I need to improve on all surfaces. I need improve a lot my serve, because with this serve I have problems every game. And I want to practice a lot to improve all shots, especially the volley and to play better in indoor and grass.”

Puerta: “I had the possibility of going into a fifth set. Unfortunately, it was not the case, but he must be given credit because there were three [set] points where he really went to get the ball.

But it was a beautiful match all the same. I was ready to go into the fifth set. I was one point away. Nobody took a fifth set from him here. I'm very pleased because in the fourth set, I relaxed. At a certain stage, I thought that I had to leave the court. When I went off the court, I knew I had lost against the best player in the world on clay. What could I do?

I believe he played better than I did. He was much more precise. He was complete physically. He had his game together. It is a little bit like I had to adapt myself to his game. It's been a long time; I hadn't played five-setters. Even if I have a good practice and I'm fit, I still felt some tiredness after that.”



Rafeal Nadal ! :D


Roger Federer and Rafeal Nadal


Rafeal Nadal's Forehand


Rafeal Nadal's Backhand


Rafeal Nadal fighting hard to save a ball.


Look at Rafeal Nadal's muscles !


VIC-TO-RY !!!!! :D


HARD WORK AND PERSERVERANCE PAID OFF !
THT'S THE WAY !!!


HAIL RAFEAL NADAL !!!!! :D :D :D

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