It's A Relief : Nadal's current knee problems are "not serious"

That's a great news! After Rafa retired in third set against Murray in the semis, I really feared if it was the recurrence of the painful tendinitis, that caused him to miss his Wimbledon title defense last year. But thank goodness, it isn't so!

MRI and Ultrasound tests on his right knee have revealed that the injury is not the recurrence of tendinitis he had last year. It's actually “a small tear” in the hamstring at the back of his knee. His doctor, Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, says that it will be treated with physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory treatment – and rest. For now, Rafa has withdrawn from Rotterdam (where he lost to Murray in last year's final) and will resume regular tour and play schedule after four weeks.

Spanish paper El Pais, reports that Rafa’s primary objective is to be ready to defend his title at the Indian Wells, starting March 11. On the rankings front, unable to defend his Australian Open crown means Rafa will drop to no. 4, from the current no. 2. But I am not really worried for his ranking; I am sure he'll get back to where he was. He just needs to be fit enough to play his trademark grinding style of Tennis (and especially his knees, they are fragile!). And right now, he has said that he's concentrating on recovering well and getting back to the level he felt at Adu Dhabi and Doha at the start of this year.

Well, yeah!! It feels so good to hear that, esp. after all we Rafans have gone through, when he decided to miss his Wimbledon title defense last year. That epic Wimbledon 2008 Final was such a riveting experience for all of Rafans (and a disappointing one for Federer fans). All the rain delays, all the drama, saving match points, losing break points, and all. And that final forehand cross-court that Federer dumped into the net, that is now imprinted in my mind. I will never forget that! 

It's such a relief that his current injury is not the recurrence of Tendinitis. I wish him all the best!! VAMOS...RAFA..!!

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Sania Goes Down in Auckland; Rafa makes comprehensive 2010 Start

                                                                

Perhaps it was only destiny that Sania had to lose in Auckland 2nd round. Having been bageled by good friend and top 20 Italian, Francesca Schiavone in the first set that lasted  barely 25 mins, Sania was able to put some fight in the second, but eventually the Italian raced ahead, with a 60, 63 win in 1 hr 10 mins.

Ideally, every player wants to play only a few number of matches, and not a whole tournament before going down-under for a warm-up tournament before the Australian Open. Auckland provided that just about enough practice for Sania. She played 3 matches, 2 Singles, one of which was a close 3-setter win and a doubles match, that ended as a straight sets loss, but gave her good level of match play.

Now she moves onto Hobart for Moorilla Hobart International, where she has top 30 players like Anabel Median Garrigues, Bondarenko Sisters, Jie Zheng, Sorana Cirstea, and American teenage phenom Melanie Oudin in the field.

Elsewhere on ATP World Tour in Doha, Rafa made a comprehensive start to his season, winning 63, 63 against Italian Simone Bolelli, for his first official match win of the season. Having won the Abu Dhabi exhibition event, Rafa said that he came in with good confidence and enough match practice to get his season started in Doha.

 

World No 1, Roger Federer meanwhile showed that he is more than ready to get the season started by beating Christophe Rochus of Belgium 6-1, 6-2. Federer said that he was happy after the match, as he moved well and was able to create good points. Federer now goes on to play Russian Evgeny Korolev, whom he has beaten twice, at US Open and at his own hometown event in Basel, in the fall of 2009 season.

Rafa plays Potito Starace, another Italian opponent in Round 2, who beat Portuguese Fredrico Gil 62 60.

I will follow up with Rafa and Federer results and comments through the remainder of the week and for Sania in Hobart from next week.

Its gonna be Nadal vs. Soderling at the Adu Dhabi Exho Finals

Rafael Nadal beat his Davis Cup team mate David Ferrer in straights and Robin Soderling was finally able to put a break against his losing streak to Swiss Former World No. 1, Roger Federer to make it to the finals of The Capitala World Tennis Championship Exhibition in Abu Dhabi.

David Ferrer came in as a late replacement for Jo-Wilfred Tsonga and made most of his opportunity when he overcame ATP World Tour Finals (2009) Champion Nikolay Davydenko in three sets 26, 62, 64. His Davis Cup team mate Rafael Nadal made a god start to his year by beating him in straight sets 76(3), 63 in SFs., to advance to finals.

He'll next play his conquerer at the French Open 2009, Robin Soderling in the finals. Soderling was able to reverse his losing trend to former World no. 1,  Roger Federer. Soderling had lost to Federer in all of their past 12 matches, but managed to overcome his nemesis in three sets 67(6), 76(1), 62.

After the match, Soderling said:

"I always said the more times I play him, the closer I'll get, and here I am today. So far so good, but it's going to be a long season for sure, hopefully I'll get to play against Roger a few more times. Now when I go out there I feel more confident having beaten all the top guys. I can now believe that I belong up there."

Federer was in all praise for the Swede :

Magnus (Norman), his coach, has been doing a great job with him and I'm sure we will be playing a number of times in the future. It was hard to play him in the very first match of the year, but I had fun.

Federer and Ferrer will now face-off against each other in 3rd / 4th place play-off before the Nadal vs. Soderling finals. Winner of this exhibition tournament will take home a prize of $250,000