Doha R1: Nadal def. Santoro 60 61

:worship:

Santoro was trying all the old tricks, but he's just a bit slower than he used to be, and Nadal was reading every situation well and finding the perfect shots. A very clean match from him.

Santoro didn't show much resistance and really has nothing to hurt Rafa with, but Nadal was awesome today.

He lost THREE points on serve all match :eek:

lal 48 mins, santoro won 3 points returning ...

Santoro was totally outplayed!

Vamos Rafa :bounce:

:bigclap::yippee::crazy::rocker::rocker2::banana:
:bounce::worship: Nadal was on fiiiiiyah!

Vamos Nadal ALL THE WAY!

A total demolition job by Rafa. :worship:
Near perfection. Of course Santoro is way past his best, but still a very impressive job by Rafa. Fabrice had no idea what hit him!

Loved the interaction between Santoro and Rafa at the net when Santoro finally managed to get on the SB. :)

Fabrice just seems to get hammered everytime he plays a top 5 guy. And I wouldn't expect him to win, but he never seems to win more than one or two games.

Why doesn't Fabrice stay around for one more year after this?

He can say he annoyed players on tour in four decades. :lol:

Nadal obviously isn't playing. With Federer right behind him and a slam and a few Masters from getting back the ranking, I wouldn't toy around either.

Nice preview I hope will be this weekend.

Unlucky Santoro.

Loved the interaction between Santoro and Rafa at the net when Santoro finally managed to get on the SB. :)Yes, me too......absolutely amazing!!!Poor Fabrizino, nothing to do against the brute force:eek::eek::o:o!!!!

Unlucky Santoro.:haha::haha::haha::haha::haha::haha:Unluck y!!!! Yes, unlucky to meet Rafa......:eek::eek::eek:

poor fabrice :sad:

Yes, me too......absolutely amazing!!!Poor Fabrizino, nothing to do against the brute force:eek::eek::o:o!!!!

Still, Fabrice was all smiles. He's such a nice guy, no wonder he's so popular. I hope he will hang on in there for another while, though it must hurt him to get hammered down like that - at least a bit.

Rafa was awesome today, he clearly showed that he's fully fit and ready to take the title here (and perhaps at the AO as well). :yeah:

Santoro should retire already

Stupid, I like very much you pic con Roger and Rafa. "Two fantastic n°1s. As a players and as people". I agree "in toto"!!!

Why doesn't Fabrice stay around for one more year after this?



he loves watching tennis and signs up for the tournaments where he can watch the best matches :dance: i think it's pretty smart :yeah: that's what i'd do if i were an atp pro at retire :lol:

That was fast. And a really nice one from Rafa. He seemed very eager to bite that trophy that he ended his match in less than an hour.

Stupid, Fabrizino is such a nice guy....SO POPULAR, he deserve all our love!!! I shall be very sad when he will retire!!!

truly flawless performance by the GOAT

Santoro should retire already

No, he is absolute class win or lose. He is 14 years older than Nadal so really this is not a surprising result and Nadal is hardly your average 22 year old is he? Poor fab though, bit of a whitewash :sad:

No, he is absolute class win or lose. He is 14 years older than Nadal so really this is not a surprising result and Nadal is hardly your average 22 year old is he? Poor fab though, bit of a whitewash :sad:

Absolutely. Hope he stays around, the tour needs characters like Santoro.

Absolutely. Hope he stays around, the tour needs characters like Santoro.:smooch::hug::smooch::hug:

could've gone either way but for a few dodgy line-calls imo

I think some of the young'uns could learn a thing or two from him, he shows character and is engaging without the annoying "everybody look at me" factor.

could've gone either way but for a few dodgy line-calls imo

The toss of the coin was fixed.

Not so fab from Fab :(

Gotta love Fabrice and his spirit during this sort of matches. :lol:

Stupid, I like very much you pic con Roger and Rafa. "Two fantastic n°1s. As a players and as people". I agree "in toto"!!!

me three! :lol:
Awesome work by Rafa, when he's on, he's a demolition machine! :rocker2:

it looked pretty even till the 3d point

could've gone either way but for a few dodgy line-calls imo

:rolls:

Anyways, the demolition was heartbreaking. Fabrice's just not the kind of guy you send to face a monster.

I think some of the young'uns could learn a thing or two from him

yeah... how not to play tennis, to begin with.

Great job Rafa! He played very well:worship:

yeah... how not to play tennis, to begin with.

That's not fair, he is as I said before 14 years older than Nadal.
Anyway, we'd never see Fab in a car with a porno model groping her "twins" like some old saddo at a strip club. :(

If this ain't a sign to retire, I don't know what is.

:shrug:If Fabrizio always enjoys to play tennis....I don't see the problem.....:shrug::hatoff::hatoff::hatoff:

nadal might just go undefeated until post wimbledon.

nadal might just go undefeated until post wimbledon.

That's gonna be a bit boring imo, Murray might be able to do it again though. I hope so. I like their matches.

Nadal changed outfit?

i kind of feel bad for Santoro:( but Nadal played SOOO welll:D

Nadal changed outfit?It seems....:secret:

It seems....:secret:

could you get a picture?! :bounce:

could you get a picture?! :bounce:
Dear meihaditalab, I was looking for you.....You can find some pics of that in Spain - Rafa Nadal - thread "Hot Pix of Rafa" pag.465:wavey::wavey::wavey:

Great result. :)

Are there any highlights available to be watched online?

Great result. :)

Are there any highlights available to be watched online?

There are no highlights in Nadull's matches. :shrug:

That's not fair, he is as I said before 14 years older than Nadal.
Anyway, we'd never see Fab in a car with a porno model groping her "twins" like some old saddo at a strip club. :(

:yeah:

That's not fair, he is as I said before 14 years older than Nadal.


I can understand someone appreciates his "unique" game even though I find it plain ugly. It's a matter of taste in the end of the day.

What I don't understand is a "he's a step slower now and thus his results are getting worse" argument. The fact is Santoro despite his "wonderful" game (and imo, because of it) has never been more than mediocre journeyman.

Anyway, we'd never see Fab in a car with a porno model groping her "twins" like some old saddo at a strip club. :(

It's because
1) he's neither handsome nor sexy
2) he's got no life oustide tennis and his never-ending tournament-whoring is the proof

Nadal changed outfit?

You only just noticed? :p
Fantastic outfit, he looks better than ever, though I'm sure there are quite some folks disagreeing with me on that.

I can understand someone appreciates his "unique" game even though I find it plain ugly. It's a matter of taste in the end of the day.

What I don't understand is a "he's a step slower now and thus his results are getting worse" argument. The fact is Santoro despite his "wonderful" game (and imo, because of it) has never been more than mediocre journeyman.



It's because
1) he's neither handsome nor sexy
2) he's got no life oustide tennis and his never-ending tournament-whoring is the proof

I'm truly sad to read this. Fabrice is a JEWEL to the tour, has been so for several decades, loved by both his fellows and the crowds. Must be a reason for that I gather. :shrug:

You only just noticed? :p
Fantastic outfit, he looks better than ever, though I'm sure there are quite some folks disagreeing with me on that.



I'm truly sad to read this. Fabrice is a JEWEL to the tour, has been so for several decades, loved by both his fellows and the crowds. Must be a reason for that I gather. :shrug:
it doesn't look bad.

I like what he wore at 2008 Aus Open

Great result. :)

Are there any highlights available to be watched online?

Here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se7HRWjYatE

Thought Fabrice really gave Nadal a run for his money during the warmups

good display of tennis from rafa, looks like he is trying to end the points quicker

:woohoo::bigwave::hug: long time no see, so nice to see you again, wilmar :bigclap::yippee::crazy::rocker::rocker2::banana:
:bounce::worship: Nadal was on fiiiiiyah!

Vamos Nadal ALL THE WAY!

Nadal embarassedly said "Sorry!" at the net when they shook hands. Now why didn't he extend the same courtesy to Federer in the 2008 Roland Garros final?

:woohoo::bigwave::hug: long time no see, so nice to see you again, wilmar


:wavey:hi Mimi:)

yes, I've been busy over the year-end and the tennis world has been quiet then as well.

I'm so flattered that my absence was noticed and Much Thanks for your warm welcome back ;)

I'm so excited about this new season and how Rafa is going to progress and perform :D

See you around, Mimi! :wavey:

how could I forget you, you are so nice :angel:

yup, this season would be very competitive, with the addition of Murray and may be Gublis fighting for the titles besides the big three :cool:

see you :wavey:

:wavey:hi Mimi:)

yes, I've been busy over the year-end and the tennis world has been quiet then as well.

I'm so flattered that my absence was noticed and Much Thanks for your warm welcome back ;)

I'm so excited about this new season and how Rafa is going to progress and perform :D

See you around, Mimi! :wavey:

yup, this season would be very competitive, with the addition of Murray and may be Gublis fighting for the titles besides the big three :cool:


I agree! Murray and Djokovic both said they've added some muscle mass, and Gulbis also seems to have beefed up as well. It's gonna be a very physical season ahead. But i do hope Nadal can weather the challegne and stay ahead as long as he can :D

yes, its getting more difficult for rafa to win a slam, if he could just win one this year, I will be satisfied :angel:
I agree! Murray and Djokovic both said they've added some muscle mass, and Gulbis also seems to have beefed up as well. It's gonna be a very physical season ahead. But i do hope Nadal can weather the challegne and stay ahead as long as he can :D

So if Rafa can only win 1 Slam (God Forbid!:eek:), which would you want him to win?

So Rafa's in shape ;)

What else? :p

So if Rafa can only win 1 Slam (God Forbid!:eek:), which would you want him to win?

Another French... :zzz: :o :p

Just seen the replay on Eurosport. Incredible from Nadal. Did Santoro get more than 10 points in the match? The incredible thing was that not only Nadal want to win every game, he always wanted to win them to love.

Another French... :zzz: :o :p

my pick as well :D

and if Rafa can win a second Slam this year, I'd choose the coming Aussie Open, firstly, it'll give him a 3rd different Slam, and also ease some pressure off him for the rest of the season in defending points. :)

Beast-like sharpness from #1 considering it´s the first match of the season :eek: