UPDATE – Result – Rafael Nadal beat Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-1, 7-6
Rafael Nadal famously lost to Robin Soderling in 2009, only to revenge that quarter final loss last year by beating the Swede in the final.
With a head to head in Nadal’s favour of 5-2, you would think it would be all Rafa, but Soderling is playing great tennis, and I for one will be relieved if the Spaniard can battle through. Rafa in four sets.
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Roland Garros – Live Tennis on TV Streams (Free)
Rafael Nadal vs Robin Soderling, Wednesday, second match of the day, probably after about 3pm (1pm GMT)
Option 1 – French Open – Tennis – Live TV - English
Option 2 – French Open – Tennis – Live TV- English
The French Open draw is out and Nadal shares one side of the draw with Murray, while Federer and Djokovic are on the other half.
So that’s got to be good news for Rafa, tougher for Roger, and great news for those of us wanting to see the very best tennis in Paris.
Rafa’s biggest hurdles along the way could be Davydenko in the third round, followed by Verdasco and Soderling in a possible replay of the famous quarterfinal of two years ago when the Swede upset Nadal.
Federer on the other hand has a potential banana skin first up in Feliciano Lopez but then easier matches and possibly Wawrinka and Ferrer later in the draw.
Here is who I pick Roger and Rafa will have to face if they are to meet in the final in two weeks time:
Rafael Nadal potential opponents:
First Round: John Isner Second Round: Pablo Andujar Third Round: Nikolay Davydenko Fourth Round: Fernando Verdasco Quarterfinal: Robin Soderling Semifinal: Andy Murray Final: Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer
Roger Federer potential opponents:
First Round: Feliciano Lopez Second Round: Vincent Millot Third Round: Janko Tipsarevic Fourth Round: Stanislas Wawrinka Quarterfinal: David Ferrer Semifinal: Novak Djokovic Final: Rafael Nadal
If all goes to seed we are in for a scintillating last four. Going to be a lot of fun!
The French Open first round kicks off on Sunday May 22nd, and the seedings have already been announced (following the ATP rankings). The draw will come out today and be available here as soon as it is released.
Rafael Nadal will be looking at notching up his sixth Roland Garros title, to equal Bjorn Borg at the very top of the clay major mountain.
He will face tough competition though, most obviously from the seemingly unbeatable Novak Djokovic, but also let’s not count out Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Robin Soderling as possible winners.
According to the tournament website, Rafa practiced yesterday and his back was playing up a little, and he was less than happy with the way he was hitting the ball – let’s hope that the next 3-4 days training and rest will get him in shape.
Roger Federer has been putting in the hours – training on the main court since Monday and feeling comfortable with the surface and new balls. He must benefit from the lighter playing schedule than his other top four colleagues who played tough matches into the semifinal weekend at Rome last week.
This must be the most open Roland Garros in many years.
Who is your pick? I’m of course picking Rafa in the final over Nole, in five sets .
UPDATE – Matches over, Nadal beat Llodra 6-2, 6-2 and Federer won 7-6, 6-4, so next they will meet in the semis!
Rafael Nadal has never played Michael Llodra before, but should cruise through. Easily said
Roger Federer has a stunning 15-1 lead over Robin Soderling in the head to head, but do not forget that it was the Swede who won the last time the two met on clay – at the French Open in 2010.
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Mutua Madrid Masters – Live Tennis on TV Streams (Free)
Rafael Nadal vs Michael Llodra, not before 4pm (2pm GMT) Roger Federer vs Robin Soderling, not before 7pm (5pm GMT)
Option 1 – Madrid Mutua – Masters Series Tennis – Live TV - English
Option 2 – Madrid Mutua – Masters Series Tennis – Live TV - English
With a “Rafa Slam” or an extension of Fed’s all time Open record at stake, let’s take a look at what each player would have to overcome to reach that Nadal vs Federer final that so many of us are hoping for.
If all goes according to seed, here is how it would go according to the draw (link to full draw here):
Rafael Nadal
Roger Federer
Round 1
Marcos Daniel (96)
Lukas Lacko (99)
- Head to Head
2-0
0-0
Round 2
Daniel Gimeno-Traver (58)
Gilles Simon (41)
- Head to Head
0-0
0-2
Round 3
Feliciano Lopez (32)
Albert Montanes (25)
- Head to Head
6-2
3-1
Round 4
Marin Cilic (15)
Mardy Fish (16)
- Head to Head
0-1
6-1
Quarter Finals
David Ferrer (7)
Andy Roddick (8)
- Head to Head
11-3
20-2
Semifinals
Robin Soderling (4)
Novak Djokovic (3)
- Head to Head
5-2
13-6
Finals
Nadal vs Federer (Head to Head 14-8)
Singles ranking in brackets, Head to head with Nadal or Federer
The main early obstacle for Nadal seems to be the third round where he will face the winner of Marin Cilic or John Isner. Cilic beat Rafa in their only previous meeting.
Federer’s second round match will be a tough one on paper – Gilles Simon beat him in their only earlier encounters, though his form in recent months has not been so predictable.
After that, the semis will probably be where the real work kicks in. Rafa should (on paper) meet Soderling or Murray – two of the best players on hard court over recent years. Federer against Djokovic will also be fascinating.
Let the action begin – and begin it will on Monday 17th January when Roger Federer will play his first round match. He is third on the Rod Laver court, so will probably come on some time after 2pm local time, 1am GMT. Rafael Nadal will have to wait until Tuesday 18th January.
Tomas Berdych defeated Marcos Baghdatis and so will face Rafael Nadal in Friday’s semifinal in Abu Dhabi.
In the other 1st round match, Robin Soderling secured his slot in the semifinals by beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. He’ll face Roger Federer next.
The final (featuring, we hope, Nadal vs Federer…) will be on Saturday.
Below are the best links for free TV streams over internet that we could find in our wide scan and evaluation of available sources.
Mubadala World Tennis Championship – Semifinals – Live Tennis on TV Streams (Free)
Roger Federer vs Robin Soderling, 3pm local time, 11am GMT
Rafael Nadal vs Tomas Berdych, immediately following
Option 1 – Abu Dhabi – Tennis – Live TV
Option 2 – Abu Dhabi – Tennis – Live TV
Option 3 – Abu Dhabi – Tennis – Live TV
If none of these are working, or to find one that works better, do try the listings at SPVod, Myp2p, RojaDirecta, Atdhe, Fromsport , Channelsurfing.
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The Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi features six of the world’s top tennis players, including both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
The play starts on Thursday 30th December where the 3rd to 6th ranked players play off against each other for a slot in the semifinals.
Rafa and Roger, as top seeds, have byes from the first round and so will start on Friday in the semis.
Nadal will play the winner of Baghdatis versus Berdych in the tournament’s opening match. Federer will face either Soderling and Tsonga in the other semifinal.
The final (featuring, we hope, Nadal vs Federer…) will be on Sunday.
Below are the best links for free TV streams over internet that we could find in our wide scan and evaluation of available sources.
Mubadala World Tennis Championship – Live Tennis on TV Streams (Free)
Matches to follow for Friday Semifinals
Option 1 – Abu Dhabi – Tennis – Live TV
Option 2 – Abu Dhabi – Tennis – Live TV
Option 3 – Abu Dhabi – Tennis – Live TV
If none of these are working, or to find one that works better, do try the listings at SPVod, Myp2p, RojaDirecta, Atdhe, Fromsport , Channelsurfing.
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Roger Federer faces Robin Soderling in his last match of the group stages.
With his 14-1 lead in the head to head, and superb 2-0 form in the group matches to date, Roger will be feeling confident. But Soderling is at 1-1 and will be very motivated to repeat the upset of Roland Garros this year and if so (probably) secure a place in the semis.
Below are the best links for free TV streams over internet that we could find in our wide scan and evaluation of available sources.
ATP World Tour Finals – Live Tennis on TV Streams (Free)
Roger Federer vs Robin Soderling, Thursday, not before 2pm GMT
Option 1 – ATP World Tour Finals – Tennis – Live TV – Good, English
Option 2 – ATP World Tour Finals – Tennis – Live TV – Good
Option 3 – ATP World Tour Finals – Tennis – Live TV – Excellent, English
If none of these are working, or to find one that works better, do try the listings at SPVod, Myp2p, RojaDirecta, Atdhe, Fromsport , Channelsurfing.
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The draw for the World Tour Finals 2010 was made in London yesterday, at the Galleria Pall Mall.
Below are the groups and the first up opponents for Rafa and Roger.
As expected, their No.1 and 2 seeding means they are in separate groups, and if they are to meet that will come in the latter stages. The top two from each group will progress to the semifinals.
The action gets underway this Sunday, 20th November.
GROUP A
Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic
Tomas Berdych
Andy Roddick
GROUP B
Roger Federer
Robin Soderling
Andy Murray
David Ferrer
Roger Federer’s first match will be on Sunday, not before 8pm local time, against the seventh seed David Ferrer of Spain.
Rafael Nadal will start on Monday, also after 8pm, and will face the American Andy Roddick (8th seed).
UPDATE – Soderling beat Monfils to claim his first Masters Series 1000 title: 6-1, 7-6
Unfortunately neither Roger Federer (beaten by Gael Monfils 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 in the semis) or Rafael Nadal (shoulder injury) will be in the final at Paris, but that won’t prevent us from enjoying what will be a great afternoon’s tennis.
Monfils and Soderling have played twice before, with the Swede winning on both occasions. Will the home crowd be enough to cheer the Frenchman to a victory tomorrow?
Below are the best links for free TV streams over internet find from our wide scan and evaluation of available sources.
BNP Paribas Paris Final – Live Tennis on TV Streams (Free)
Option 1 – Paris – Tennis – Live TV – Excellent, English
Option 2 – Paris – Tennis – Live TV – Good, English
Option 3 – Paris – Tennis – Live TV – Excellent, English
If none of these are working, or to find one that works better, do try the listings at SPVod, Myp2p, RojaDirecta, Atdhe, Fromsport , Channelsurfing.
Also refer to this post for more information on watching TV over the internet, or feel free to leave a comment to report good or bad links (no registration required).
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Live TV over Internet stream links at end of post
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