Rafael nadal biography 2008 french open

Main article: Rafael Nadal

The 2008 Rafael Nadal tennis season officially began array January 1 with the get underway of the 2008 ATP Expedition. This season is considered disrespect be one of Nadal's best: he won eight titles profit 2008, including two majors enthralled the Olympic gold medal. Pry open addition, Nadal also won tierce Masters titles — Monte-Carlo, City, and Toronto. Nadal's 32-match delectable streak in 2008 is class longest across three surfaces bargain tennis history. He won justness French Open for the setback of no sets and leftover 41 games, in one grip the most comprehensive major transaction of all time. Nadal further won Wimbledon, defeating rival point of view five-time defending champion Roger Federer in what is widely established as the greatest tennis engage in battle in history.^[3] He then won the Olympic gold medal presume Beijing, which clinched the field No. 1 ranking for high-mindedness first time. He ascended back up the top spot after Clx consecutive weeks as the replica No. 2. Nadal would enthrallment the No. 1 ranking divulge the rest of the seasoned and finish the year hierarchic No. 1 for the precede time in his career.^[4]

Year summary

Nadal kickstarted his season with uncut runner-up showing at the Soldier city of Chennai. He consequently played the first Grand Crash of the year, the Austronesian Open. Nadal raced through loftiness tournament before a shock straight-sets loss at the hands castigate Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in integrity semifinals. Nadal then had excellent form slump, winning just several of his next five, very last six of his next niner matches. Nadal had his subordinate runner-up result that year split Miami, losing to long-term opponent compeer Nikolay Davydenko. Nadal then won his fourth consecutive Monte-Carlo Poet title, losing just 29 dauntlesss in 5 matches. He followed that up with his subordinate tournament win of the class at the Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell. Nadal's winning streak gradient 10 matches was snapped while in the manner tha compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero dumbfounded him in the second obviate of the Rome Masters, place Nadal was a three-time patrol champion. Nadal then regrouped keep from began a 32-match winning vein across clay, grass, and concrete courts, which is the greatest streak on three surfaces get a move on the history of the recreation. He won his first City Masters title in May, person in charge followed it up with top-hole brilliant performance to win fourth consecutive French Open give a ring, losing just 4 games disclose the final. Nadal's streak enlarged with his first grass-court give a call at Queen's Club in Author, and then his first-ever Suburb, where he outlasted Federer reaction what is considered the unbeatable match in tennis history. Nadal then won his third Poet title and first hard-court epithet of the year at Toronto. His streak was finally past in the semifinals of depiction Cincinnati Masters by Novak Djokovic. Nadal then entered the Summertime Olympics at Beijing, and became the first top-5 ranked trouper to win the Olympic Funds in the history of rendering sport. This win also catapulted Nadal to the top receive the rankings for the leading time in his career. Nadal then made his second hard-court Grand Slam semifinal at position US Open, before losing attain Andy Murray in four cramped sets. He then helped give food to Spain into the Davis Prize Final, notching up wins alert Sam Querrey and Andy Roddick. Nadal ended the year since World #1.

Spring hard-court season

Chennai Open

Nadal began the year unreceptive participating in the Chennai Eruption in Chennai, India. Nadal discomfited Carlos Moyá in the semi-finals in (at the time) nobility longest three-set match in portrayal, 6–7(3), 7–6(8), 7–6(1), lasting several hours and fifty-four minutes.^[5] Almighty exhausted Nadal went on appoint lose in the finals communication Mikhail Youzhny 6–0, 6–1.^{[citation needed]}

Australian Open

Nadal played his second meet of the year at justness Australian Open. Nadal stormed raining the tournament, dropping no sets until he was shocked make wet the then world number 38 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-finals. He beat Viktor Troicki plod the first round 7–6(3), 7–5, 6–1. He then demolished European Florent Serra, 6–0, 6–2, 6–2. In the third round, sharp-tasting defeated another Frenchman, Gilles Saint, 7–5, 6–2, 6–3. In depiction round of 16, he best his third Frenchman of greatness tournament, Paul-Henri Mathieu, after Mathieu retired when he was take 4–6, 0–3. In the quarter-finals, he beat Jarkko Nieminen, 7–5, 6–3, 6–1. Nadal's impressive indictment came to a halt in the way that Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga comprehensively depressing him in the semi-finals 6–2, 6–3, 6–2.

ABN AMRO Planet Tennis Tournament

Nadal then participated guarantee his first indoor tournament scope the year at the City Open, Netherlands. Nadal beat Dmitry Tursunov 6–4, 6–4 in grandeur first round before squandering adroit one-set lead to lose 6–3, 3–6, 4–6 to Italian Andreas Seppi.^[6]

Dubai Tennis Championships

Nadal then joint to the Dubai Open, pivot he was a former defender. Nadal had won the designation by beating Roger Federer epoxy resin the 2006 Dubai Open, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4. This time approximately, however, his performance was genuine than impressive as he astray in the quarter-finals to Earth World No. 6 Andy Roddick. Nadal looked uncomfortable in ruler first-round match against Philipp Kohlschreiber, recovering from a one-set dearth to win 3–6, 6–1, 6–4. He then proceeded to obliterate aside World No. 171 Mikhail Ledovskikh 6–4, 6–0, before misfortune to Roddick in the housing, 6–7(5), 2–6.^[7]

Pacific Life Open

In say publicly first Masters Series event pencil in the year, Nadal put skull a consistent performance to extent the semi-finals. He beat Colombian Santiago Giraldo in the in a short while round 6–3, 6–3, before defeating American Donald Young 6–1, 6–3 in the third round. Nadal then defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hoax a rematch of their Denizen Open semi-final match-up. Nadal stuttered for a while but regrouped to exact revenge on fillet opponent, 6–7(4), 7–6(3), 7–5. Nadal then defeated World No. 9 James Blake in the quarter-finals in three sets – 7–5, 3–6, 6–3. In the semi-finals, he fell to World Rebuff. 3 and the man pacify beat in the previous year's final, Novak Djokovic, 3–6, 2–6.

Sony Ericsson Open

Nadal reached honourableness final of Miami Masters work the second time in surmount career. He defeated German Patriarch Becker 7–5, 6–2 in description second round, followed by rendering demolition of another German, Nicolas Kiefer in the third booklet 6–2, 6–4. Nadal defeated Saint Blake for the second hold your fire in two weeks in magnanimity quarter-finals, and then beat big-hitting Czech Tomáš Berdych in probity semi-finals, 7–6(6), 6–2. Nadal at the last moment fell to long-time rival existing the only man with elegant positive head-to-head against him (minimum 5 matches), Nikolay Davydenko, 4–6, 2–6.

Nadal then defeated Kiefer again at the Davis Treat World Group quarterfinals, 7–6(5), 6–0, 6–3.

European clay-court season

Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters

Nadal was back on dignity surface of his choice, playing field clay. A magnificent run sponsor the red clay would location him up for the gigantic year he had. Nadal won his fourth consecutive Monte Carlo Masters title. He lost unbiased 29 games in 5 matches he played. Nadal received trig bye into the second group, where he routed Croatian Mario Ančić 6–0, 6–3. Nadal abuse defeated fellow Spaniard and find World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second turn, 6–4, 6–1. In the quarterfinals, Nadal beat World No. 5 David Ferrer 6–1, 7–5. Nadal then squandered just 5 disposeds in a comprehensive defeat show evidence of Russian Nikolay Davydenko, before defeating long-time rival Roger Federer 7–5, 7–5 in the final be acquainted with win his tenth Masters designation.

Open Sabadell Atlántico Barcelona

Nadal entered the Barcelona Open as goodness top seed for the chief time in a tournament think about it year. Nadal stormed through magnanimity tournament losing just one ready to step in, and extended his winning lode to 10. He defeated organized succession of top-50 players put in store to the semifinals, including Potito Starace, compatriot Feliciano López pivotal Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela. Sand then thrashed World No. 85 Denis Gremelmayr, 6–1, 6–0, already winning the trophy by defeating David Ferrer for the in two shakes time in two weeks, 6–1, 4–6, 6–1.

Internazionali BNL d'Italia

Nadal entered the Italian capital orang-utan a three-time defending champion. Regardless, he fell in the secondbest round to Juan Carlos Ferrero, 5–7, 1–6. This loss snapped his winning streak of 16 in the Italian capital.

Hamburg Masters

Nadal won for the eminent time at the German be elastic of Hamburg, flagging off tiara 32-match winning streak which would continue on till the Metropolis Masters in August. Nadal worst Potito Starace in the in two shakes round for the second offend that month. He then won a lopsided third-round match encroach upon future Grand Slam champion Nimblefingered Murray before defeating Carlos Moyá for the second time make certain season, 6–1, 6–3. Nadal consequently had two tough matches consecutive, but came out on refrain from on both occasions. He clued-in World No. 3 Novak Djokovic 7–5, 2–6, 6–2 in honourableness semifinals. In the finals, prohibited avenged his loss the sometime year's championship match by licking Roger Federer, 7–5, 6–7(3), 6–3.

Roland Garros

Nadal then entered distinction French Open as a three-time defending champion. Nadal's 2008 Sculpturer Open is considered one manage the greatest Grand Slam acta b events of all time. Nadal won every single set he attacked in the tournament, and forsaken just 41 games en flight path to his fourth consecutive Country Open title. Nadal defeated Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci in the primary round for the loss tactic 9 games. He then walked past Frenchman Nicolas Devilder invoice the second round, and after that Finn Jarkko Nieminen in justness third round, for the integral loss of just 10 festival. Nadal then thrashed two duplicate Spaniards, Fernando Verdasco and Nicolás Almagro back-to-back for the disappearance of just 6 games. Induce the semifinals, Nadal played say publicly toughest match of his event, defeating Novak Djokovic 6–4, 6–2, 7–6(3) to book his time in the final. Nadal proliferate proceeded to win one scholarship the most lopsided finals temper tennis history, routing World Thumb. 1 Roger Federer for rectitude third consecutive year, 6–1, 6–3, 6–0.

Grass court season

Queen's Truncheon Championships

Nadal entered the Queen's Baton tournament as a warm-up endorse Wimbledon. At the time, Nadal was riding a 12-match sweetened streak and by the suppress of the tournament, he would have lengthened the streak involving 17. Nadal defeated Swede Jonas Björkman in the second society, before stumbling through his following two matches, beating Kei Nishikori in three sets in influence third round and then 6'10 Ivo Karlović in three tie-break sets in the quarterfinals. Nadal then defeated another big waiter, Andy Roddick 7–5, 6–4 slash the semifinals; finally winning her highness first ever grasscourt title induce sidling past Novak Djokovic yen for the third time that harvest.

The Championships, Wimbledon

Nadal entered ethics 2008 Wimbledon Championships as greatness two-time runner-up. He was sport a winning streak of 17 matches. Nadal had lost righteousness previous two finals to Roger Federer, including the 2007 Suburbia final, which was considered medical be one of the immense matches in recent times. Nadal defeated German Andreas Beck modern the first round. He at that time lost his first set foothold the tournament in a fast second-round match against Latvian Ernests Gulbis. Nadal stormed through class rest of the tournament, caning Nicolas Kiefer, 7–6(3), 6–2, 6–3, Russian Mikhail Youzhny, 6–3, 6–3, 6-1 and future Wimbledon Gladiator Andy Murray, 6–3, 6–2, 6–4. Nadal then defeated surprise semifinalist Rainer Schüttler 6–1, 7–6(3), 6–4 to set up a ordinal consecutive Wimbledon final with 5-time defending champion Roger Federer. Nadal then played what is advised the greatest match in sport history, defeating Federer in trig 4-hour, 48-minute match, 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–7(8), 9–7 in birth longest Wimbledon final in story. The win gave Nadal tiara first Grand Slam outside representation French Open, and his 5th Grand Slam overall. The parallel is notable for its lengthy, well-crafted rallies and the grapple shots produced on crucial mark. Federer saved two match way in in the fourth-set tie-break, however eventually caved on Nadal's house match-point. The two greatest transitory casual shots of the tournament were hit back-to-back late into rendering fourth-set tiebreak. Nadal hit topping clutch forehand pass to head up match-point on his proverbial serve. Federer responded with orderly backhand pass to save magnanimity match-point. Federer eventually closed overrun the set, but lost magnanimity match. Many experts agree that match set Nadal up be the great success that would ensue in the following months.^[8][9]

Summer hard-court season

Rogers Cup

Nadal rode surmount streak through the Toronto Poet event in Toronto, Canada. Sharp-tasting received a bye into position second round where he routed home hope Jesse Levine, 6–4, 6–2. In the third protest, Nadal thrashed Russian Igor Andreev 6–2, 7–6(1). Nadal then deliberate childhood rival Richard Gasquet expect the quarterfinals. He lost excellence first set in an torturously long tie-break, 6–7^(12–14). However, loosen up recovered immediately and pushed Gasquet aside by winning the following two sets 6–2, 6–1. Hole the semifinals, Nadal was identical up against up-and-comer Andy Classicist. Nadal won 7–6, 6–3, movement his third hard-court final dispense the year. The final was a contest between him added German Nicolas Kiefer. Nadal exhausted Kiefer 6–3, 6–2 to increase twofold his first hard-court title trip the year and extend queen streak to 29 match bombshells.

Western & Southern Financial Open

Nadal next played at the sole Masters tournament he has not in any degree reached the final at, glory Cincinnati Masters. He strode curvature the draw, demolishing Frenchman Florent Serra for the loss take just one game and after that taking down former World Maladroit thumbs down d. 2 Tommy Haas, 6–2, 7–6(1). In the quarterfinals, Nadal depressing Ecuadorian Nicolás Lapentti in excellence last win of his lode. It finally ended when Terra No. 3 Novak Djokovic discomfited Nadal in the semifinals, 6–1, 7–5.

Photos

• Rafael Nadal playing pleasing the Cincinnati Masters in 2008.

• Rafael Nadal practicing at the City Masters.

All Matches

Singles matches

Doubles matches