Dubai: Nadal beats PHM 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-2

No surprise.

PHM game is soooo predictable :o :sad:

vamos rafael!!!

Matheiu :sad:

Vamossss Rafa , good recovery from the 1st set !

Vamos Nadal :shout::shout::shout:

PHM :shrug:

PHM game is soooo predictable :o :sad:

Tease and choke?

Well done Rafa! :D :yeah:

The first set was an unpleasant surprise but the next two were what Tiggers like best. ;)

Has it been officially confirmed that El Aynaoui has withdrawn from singles? :confused:

Congrats Nadal!

Paulo :mad:
BP conversions : PHM 0/8 :banghead: Nadal 4/6

One loss away for Paulo to be in the "head to head ...pigeons thread" :sad:

Tease and choke?

Yeah, and no effect/depth variations at all, always suits Rafa's game, Paulo was quite lucky to win the first set actually...

Has it been officially confirmed that El Aynaoui has withdrawn from singles? :confused:
I don't think so but I doubt he'll be back if he left Dubai. We'll find out tomorrow I guess.

Congrats Rafa :)

It was the longest match so far i think. :)
A battle from the base lines most of the times, Very close style from both.

Nadal :woohoo: Vamossss i am really happy for him. I guess he's gaining more more 'sense ' of the court again and more confidence by time. Regardless of any further results here, i think it's was an important match for Rafa. :D

PHM:I guess seeing the score only, wouldn't give him his full right. The guy really played well. :hatoff:

Congrats, Rafa!!! :bounce:

A good win by Rafa, he was sharp in taking his opportunities while Paulo did not take his. I also get the feeling that Rafa has improved his serve. Once more a rotten draw for Paulo, i hope he gets better luck in the coming masters series.

Vamos Rafa! :D

Paulo :sad: It could've been closer, but good effort on the first set, I guess.

Well done, u animal :lol:

I didn't no Nadal was in Dubai :scared:

Congrats Nadal!

Paulo :mad:
BP conversions : PHM 0/8 :banghead: Nadal 4/6

One loss away for Paulo to be in the "head to head ...pigeons thread" :sad:

Paulo, you :silly:! :fiery:

He had 2 GPs at 1-1 and got broken, then 2 BPs in the next game and couldn't convert. Another 4 BPs in the last game and couldn't break. :mad: :rolleyes:

Paulo :sad:

Rafa :)

PHM 0/6 BP in the final set.

Hopefully this is a warmup match for Nadal.

well done rafa... it wasn't easy at all for him

Paulo, you :silly:! :fiery:

He had 2 GPs at 1-1 and got broken, then 2 BPs in the next game and couldn't convert. Another 4 BPs in the last game and couldn't break. :mad: :rolleyes:

:hug:

I would be proud if I were u, he´s giving Nadal tougher times when they meet, but the kid is a fucking animal playing under pressure :shrug:

His serve has improved. And he lost some weight, I guess he will be even quicker but might lose some power. All that is a bit scary.

PHM didn't play badly, but his game is really too one dimensional.

:hug:

I would be proud if I were u, he´s giving Nadal tougher times when they meet, but the kid is a fucking animal playing under pressure :shrug:

Sorry, but it's worrying because it's not just against Nadal that he has this type of :cuckoo: BP conversions. He needs to learn to play the big points better. :mad:

Rafa :D :yeah: :woohoo:

Sorry, but it's worrying because it's not just against Nadal that he has this type of :cuckoo: BP conversions. He needs to learn to play the big points better. :mad:

Contrary to many belief, PHM has actually a very decent break point conversion (not in this match obviously). It's more his now legendary difficulty to close match his big problem.

Contrary to many belief, PHM has actually a very decent break point conversion (not in this match obviously). It's more his now legendary difficulty to close match his big problem.

Yes, I know. Apparently, he had one of the highest BP conversions last year. :rolls:

It's in the big matches where it goes :cuckoo:.