Posts tagged RafaelNadal at FanHouse

Spain's Rafael Nadal showed once again that he's the best tennis player in the world today, defeating Chile's Fernando Gonzalez in straight sets to win the Olympic singles gold medal. Serbia's Novak Djokovic won the singles bronze.

For Nadal, who officially becomes the No. 1 ranked player in the world tomorrow, it's the latest achievement in a great year. Nadal has already won the French Open, defeated Roger Federer in the best Wimbledon final ever, and now has a gold medal around his neck. He'll also be favored to win the U.S. Open, which begins next week.

Nadal's ascension to the top of the tennis world has come at the expense of Federer, who has been the top-ranked player for 237 consecutive weeks, ending today. Federer did salvage something from the Olympics, as he and partner Stanislas Wawrinka won the doubles gold medal for Switzerland. Federer and Wawrinka defeated Sweden's Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson in the gold medal match; American twins Mike and Bob Bryan won the doubles bronze.

Spain's Rafael Nadal showed once again that he's the best tennis player in the world today, defeating Chile's Fernando Gonzalez in straight sets to win the Olympic singles gold medal. Serbia's Novak Djokovic won the singles bronze.

For Nadal, who officially becomes the No. 1 ranked player in the world tomorrow, it's the latest achievement in a great year. Nadal has already won the French Open, defeated Roger Federer in the best Wimbledon final ever, and now has a gold medal around his neck. He'll also be favored to win the U.S. Open, which begins next week.

Nadal's ascension to the top of the tennis world has come at the expense of Federer, who has been the top-ranked player for 237 consecutive weeks, ending today. Federer did salvage something from the Olympics, as he and partner Stanislas Wawrinka won the doubles gold medal for Switzerland. Federer and Wawrinka defeated Sweden's Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson in the gold medal match; American twins Mike and Bob Bryan won the doubles bronze.

Spain's Rafael Nadal defeated Serbia's Novak Djokovic in a classic today at the Olympic Green Tennis Center in Beijing.

Nadal, who entered the Olympics as the No. 2 seed, and Djokovic, seeded third, engaged in a back-and-forth battle. Nadal took the first set 6-4, playing the brand of tennis we've come to expect from him. But Djokovic did the unthinkable in the second set, whipping Nadal 6-1.

The third set came to a shocking end when Nadal broke Djokovic's serve. On the final point, Djokovic missed what should have been an easy overhand, hitting it wide and giving the match to Nadal, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.

Nadal, who will surpass Roger Federer to become the No. 1 ranked player in the world next week, will now take on Fernando Gonzalez of Chile for the gold medal. If Gonzalez wins it would represent perhaps the biggest upset in any sport so far in these Games. Djokovic will play American James Blake -- who accused Gonzalez of cheating by refusing to concede a point after they played this morning -- for the bronze.

Spain's Rafael Nadal defeated Serbia's Novak Djokovic in a classic today at the Olympic Green Tennis Center in Beijing.

Nadal, who entered the Olympics as the No. 2 seed, and Djokovic, seeded third, engaged in a back-and-forth battle. Nadal took the first set 6-4, playing the brand of tennis we've come to expect from him. But Djokovic did the unthinkable in the second set, whipping Nadal 6-1.

The third set came to a shocking end when Nadal broke Djokovic's serve. On the final point, Djokovic missed what should have been an easy overhand, hitting it wide and giving the match to Nadal, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.

Nadal, who will surpass Roger Federer to become the No. 1 ranked player in the world next week, will now take on Fernando Gonzalez of Chile for the gold medal. If Gonzalez wins it would represent perhaps the biggest upset in any sport so far in these Games. Djokovic will play American James Blake -- who accused Gonzalez of cheating by refusing to concede a point after they played this morning -- for the bronze.

I noted earlier this week that after Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer in an epic match at Wimbledon, Los Angeles Times columnist Kurt Streeter wrote a column in which he mentioned Nadal as an athlete who will have to face scrutiny in this era of constant skepticism about performance-enhancing drugs.

The basic thrust of Streeter's column -- that we live in an era in which doubt about performance-enhancing drugs pervades sport -- is correct. But the way Streeter brought Nadal's name into the story was unfair.

On Sunday, Rafael Nadal gave us one of the greatest performances in tennis history in defeating Roger Federer in a five-set marathon at Wimbledon.

In the three days since then, that match has been hailed as the greatest in the history of the sport, and Nadal has been crowned the new king of tennis. But since this is sports in the year 2008, that great performance is now followed by questions of whether Nadal is using performance-enhancing drugs.

USA Today is out with a list of the Top 5 sports losses of 2008, and at the top of the list is Roger Federer's loss on Sunday to Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon on Sunday:

Federer had to be crushed not to get his sixth consecutive Wimbledon title. Still, he and Nadal have created a rivalry that will lift them both. If the loss stirs Federer to come back stronger his legacy will be huge. As it was, his comeback from two sets down in the four hours, 48 minute classic will be talked about for a long time.

I have no real argument with that, but there's a loss that happened less than 24 hours earlier that deserves to at least be in the Top 5.

I'm talking, of course, about Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's loss to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86. That fight, in which Griffin took Jackson's light heavyweight title by a close unanimous decision, was probably my single favorite sporting event so far in 2008, and I haven't seen anyone in any sport fight harder in defeat than Rampage did Saturday night.

The Golf Blog asks the big question today that I'm a little embarrassed not to have posited first: was Rafael Nadal - Roger Federer at Wimbledon better than Tiger Woods - Rocco Mediate at the U.S. Open?

Although, in fairness, I probably didn't think about asking it because to me (in a totally personal manner) the enjoyment of watching decent golf outweighs the enjoyment of watching good --> pretty good tennis. But it's still a very viable question, particularly when you shape it in a historical manner.

How will history rank Nadal-Federer Wimbledon 2008 against Tiger Woods-Rocco Mediate at the U.S. Open 2008? Which "major" victory will be considered as the greater victory in their respective sports? It's true Tiger was playing with a torn ACL, but it's hard to overlook the fact that Nadal v. Federer involved No.2 versus No.1 in the finals, plus the already storied rivalry Nadal and Federer have built up.

In that context, the answer is simple: Nadal's win was better. He toppled the world's number one ranked player and he finally overcame the non-clay Federer demons that have plagued him for his career. (All while wearing a nifty Euro-lady-whipper!)

I wouldn't blame you if you ducked off of NBC immediately following the 4.2 day long Wimbledon Men's Final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal yesterday. But I would urge you never to do that again. You see, Wimbledon is one of those rare sporting events where they require the second place winner (read: loser) to stay on the court and enjoy the champion's celebration. Then, after all that, they interview said loser. Your interviewer is John McEnroe and he is awkwardly asking for hugs.



Sure, Federer just lost to Nadal and was about to cry and could be unseated as the world's number one. And maybe his reign as an absurdly dominant tennis player as come to an end. It was still great tennis and that's what Johnny Mac was thanking him for.

Awkward post tennis match hugs to Mssrs. Irrelevant for Lassoing this puppy.

Rafael Nadal wasn't the only young phenom making a name for himself this Sunday.

At the AT&T National, Anthony Kim fired a season-low 65 and is quickly becoming the young stud we've all been waiting for.

Kim made a birdie on his final hole Saturday to get within earshot of the lead, and a bogey free final round had him with his second trophy in his last five starts. The AT&T, hosted by Tiger Woods, was lacking with Woods sidelined by injury and not able to even travel to Congressional Country Club. Like you have to expect, Tiger's name came up after the round.

"I would watch everything he did, every move he made, when I was growing up," Kim said. "So to win his tournament is a true honor. I'm very excited."

Kim, 23, is the first golfer under 25 to win two tournaments in one year since Woods did it, getting a ton of help from some of the other players occupying the leaderboard.

Tom Pernice Jr., taking time away from his bellyaching about everything PGA-y, headed into the final round with the lead, but a two-over 72 that included two double-bogeys in his first ten holes Sunday. Steve Stricker, trying to find the form he had most of last season, was in second place through three rounds by a three-over 73 on a easy scoring day landed him in a tie for 18th. Even Jeff Overton, seeking his first career tour win, played the weekend one-over after opening 66-65.

Kim is now fifth on the FedEx Cup list and has made over $3 million so far in just 14 starts.

After the round, Woods gave him a call on his cell phone and Kim answered it, "Hey Bro." I guess Woods needs to realize he isn't the young kiddo on the block anymore.