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Rafa Returns … In Astana, Kazakhstan
26 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Rafael Nadal will play in a two-day exhibition match with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Kazakhstan. It will be the first time that Nadal will visit the Central Asian nation.
The Kazakhstan Tennis Federeration (KTF) reported that ATP World Number Two player Rafa Nadal will be in Kazakhstan from September 24 to September 25 where will compete against Tsonga in two matches at the National Tennis Centre in Astana. In addition to the exhibition matches, both Nadal and Tsonga will also conduct a master class for promising young Kazakhstani athletes of Academy Team Kazakhstan. Tennis fans from Nazarbayev University and the International School of Heyliberi are also welcome to meet both Nadal and Tsonga at an autograph session.
Bulat Utemuratov, the KTF president: “This visit is an invaluable opportunity for our young tennis players and the younger generation of tennis professionals to see the living legends, get inspiration, and to learn from these legendary masters.”
Nadal has been out of action since his Round of 16 elimination at Wimbledon this summer against Nick Kyrgios. A right wrist injury has prevented Nadal from competing in the summer hard court season and US Open.
It is hoped that Nadal will be able to compete at the ATP Beijing tournament which begins on September 29.
Meanwhile former WTA Number seven ranked player Nicole Vaidisova, of Czech Republic, returned to pro tennis with a straight set win in an ITF event. Vaidisova was just a match point away from the French Open final a few years ago before she suffered a burnout from pressure and physical injuries. Vaidisova has a long way to go to rebuild her ranking but if players like Kimiko Date and Mirjana Lucic can do it, so can Vaidisova.
Scoop Malinowski · September 17, 2014 at 9:54 am
Great to see Rafa finally back. He has been thoroughly missed. Expect Rafa to storm through the draw like a … raging bull )
Andrew Miller · September 17, 2014 at 11:08 am
Rafa and Vaidisova both!
“After more than four years away from tennis, former world No. 7 Vaidisova defeated Sesil Karatantcheva 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the ITF Pro Circuit Coleman Vision Tennis Champions tournament.”…The 25-year-old announced her comeback on Instagram last week, writing, “I am excited to be competing again, it’s been a long road to get to this point…This time last year I was recovering from my 2nd shoulder surgery and going through a very personal heartbreak.â€
And if you want to see how well the ball striking is going –
watch it live.
http://www.usta.com/Pro-Tennis/Pro-Circuit/2014_pro_circuit_womens_live_streaming/
Andrew Miller · September 17, 2014 at 11:15 am
No worm jokes. With Hingis and Kvitova having broken the curse, it’s Vaidisova’s turn. I expect her to win a Masters and more!
Steps: I think the WTA Czech contingent has caught onto Steps – at first they can’t resist the sheer Steps charm. But they all break the curse. Steps is essential in breaking hearts – call him the Rory McIlroy of the tennis world – every player he breaks with ends up then reaching a career high. This guy is the savior of the Czech Fed Cup team.
Scoop Malinowski · September 17, 2014 at 11:55 am
Nicole Vaidisova is… unstoppable ) Great to see her back too. Last I heard she was thinking of a comeback, after a few years of basically yoga and shopping. She can become a big force in the sport. She is still very young, if Date and Lucic can do it, surely so will Vaidisova. Who knows maybe she can become a big threat to Serena.
Andrew Miller · September 17, 2014 at 11:27 pm
Vaidisova has a game built to win. Fundamentally solid. Great serve, movement a little like davenport which means with a physio she is more than capable. Id like a big comeback with commitment to the sport. She went all out for love. Now lets see her get back to 40-love service games.
Andrew Miller · September 17, 2014 at 11:32 pm
Read about tiafoe. Reworked his groundies looks better. Said the eight months reworking his forehand were horrible and he hated it ! See players dont like changing the game because you dance with the fh or bh that brought you but if you are like sampras (i heard a rumor rios would practice his trick shots etc too ) and you rework your game you do big things.
jblitz · September 18, 2014 at 4:29 am
So looking forward to seeing Rafa play tennis again. Toni said in an interview a couple of days ago that Rafa’s wrist is now healed and he’s amping up the power of his backhands in practice. The match(es) against Tsonga should be just the kind of competition he needs to get back into his bull mode.
This weekend the finals of his Rafa Nadal Mapfre tennis tour are happening in Mallorca. By all accounts the tour has been a huge success and the kids are really buying into his philosophy of playing the game with good sportsmanship and the parents especially are loving it. There will be no cursing or racquet smashing at this tournament!
Scoop Malinowski · September 18, 2014 at 8:16 am
I was told by a source in Bradenton Vaidisova is really into it this time, she went all in. She tried about two years ago but it was a half-ass effort and she got injured. Now she’s going all in, much more upbeat attitude. We can see the results are already paying off, with a nice win vs. battle tested Karantcheva. With her size, strength, and recharged batteries, I say top ten is very possible. She can be a big threat to Serena. If she really wants it.
Scoop Malinowski · September 18, 2014 at 8:18 am
Pete had the big weapon to cover for the backhand Andrew. Not sure if Taifoe has the big weapon to cover for the inevitable struggle period he will go through while adjusting his game.
Scoop Malinowski · September 18, 2014 at 8:19 am
Thanks for the scoop jblitz about the Rafa tourney in Mallorca.
Andrew Miller · September 18, 2014 at 10:16 am
Tiafoe is good scoop. I wasnt sure watching his game last year and thought he had a lot to work on, but this year he has worked on it and his game is a real game. Watch him win this year at age 17 – he should find his rhythm on the challengers and i wont be surprised if he wins a few plus one of the big jr tournaments.
Andrew Miller · September 18, 2014 at 10:21 am
Scoop tiafoe adjustED his game already – his strokes are superior to what they were. Still some work needed to smoothe a few rougher edges. His attitude is good too. Only issue is he might be being pushed by the big management companies lining up to take their cut if he signs with them. On the one hand the money would be welcome but on the other hand we all know what happens when pushe too hard too fast – the backlash.
Say it again. It isnt pretend that seven of final 16 junior qf at jr wimby were from states.
Scoop Malinowski · September 18, 2014 at 10:22 am
I like Tiafoe, he is fun to watch, dynamic player, solid game. Saw him lose a very close US Open qualies night match 3 setter to Tatsumi Ito who came out the next day and dominated Bogomolov easily. Also saw Tiafoe play Donskoy on stadium court night match at Citi Open in DC. Kid is very very good. He’s going in the right direction. Not sure if he needs any major changes, just keep working and evolving and learning.
Andrew Miller · September 18, 2014 at 11:10 am
Speaking of comebacks, Davis Cup usually inspires a group of players. See Mardy Fish when he carried the U.S. team in Colombia then had a personal-best year finishing in the world’s top 10. Who do you think gets the bump this year?
My vote is for Bellucci. Way too good to be slumming. Guy’s got to man-up. And strangely, I think this Davis Cup final will say something again about Monfils and Federer. I think they are going to face off and I think next year both will play good ball. Even though I think the game has changed and now players outside of the big four players know they can go far in slams, experience still counts and a Davis Cup win for either Monfils or Federer should spill over in Australia, just like it did for Verdasco when Spain won vs. the Nalbandian team.
If Switzerland loses – it will be ugly if they lose. I’d think it would break Federer’s heart. If the French lose no big deal – they can come back and win it next year. But I think the Swiss are aware it’s really now or never.
For the women’s game – Safarova keeps up the good playing. I think like Stosur Safarova’s due for something like a Masters title, maybe a slam final. Got to believe that Ivanovic isn’t done – her results in slams seem to be iffy once she gets rd. of 16 but sometimes she plays brilliant.
The women’s game isn’t boring these days. It is better than ever.
Andrew Miller · September 18, 2014 at 12:09 pm
Ivanisevic on Cilic:
“”The game at 4-3 (in the third set), the game against the wind, he served amazing. So then I said: ‘OK, let him have at least one ace because I knew he’s going to be nervous and because you never know with Roger, he’s never gone.
“But three aces in a row, is just beautiful. Just beautiful. It’s just like watching myself.”
Ivanisevic said they had worked a lot on Cilic’s serve […]
Word to all players – improve your game, see more wins.
Scoop Malinowski · September 18, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Just can’t see Federerland losing to France. I think France will match Tsonga and Simon vs. Fed, not Monf. Just a feeling. Agree though, if France can find a way to win this, will be yet another heartbreaker for Roger this year. Agree, WTA tennis is in a very good place right now.
Scoop Malinowski · September 18, 2014 at 3:03 pm
4-3 game to 5-3 was huge. Cilic let out a huge roar after it too. Like a lion roaring. He used to be so docile and subdued as a competitor on court. I remember remarking to Dan in Delray, “I can’t remember ever hearing Cilic make a sound on the court.” Suddenly now he shows passion and fire like Hewitt and Rafa. Word to all players – generate fire and passion and intensity and you will see more wins.
Scoop Malinowski · September 18, 2014 at 3:05 pm
Major win for Bellucci. We were just walking about him at US Open, I was told by Brazilian media person Bellucci is not physically or mentally fit enough, he gets tired in tough long battles. He seems to have overcome that. I expect his Davis Cup heroics to vault him up now. Shocking that Spain has been relegated. So much for Spanish tennis being the leader eh?
Andrew Miller · September 18, 2014 at 3:21 pm
Bellucci at least should bag non masters titles. When wawrinka turned up the pressure and turned back the Bellucci. I liked how he played at the open. Scoop i think bellucci probably feels like he has it in him to get way better results. Like tipsy i dont think it is improbable to see bellucci get himself back in the top twenty, but then again i think tipsy was a more courageous player. More brave and tough. Bellucci showed it for matches. Maybe he really thinks he can be the legitimate # 2 in brazilian history to guga.
Long shot. Lets see him bag a title before years end.
Scoop Malinowski · September 18, 2014 at 4:51 pm
If Bellucci hired a coach like Kuerten or Passos, he’d skyrocket up the rankings. Wait a sec…Passos already was his coach a couple years back. But if he hires a former major title winner coach like Lendl Goran Chang, Bellucci will be a top 20 player – or better. Everything is there, all the ingredients and weapons, he just needs the right coaching voice to bake the cake.
Andrew Miller · September 19, 2014 at 2:39 pm
Na li retires!
Scoop Malinowski · September 19, 2014 at 9:47 pm
Li Na retires. Another WTA player retiring out of blue, Bartoli, now Li Na. Who’s next? Venus perhaps.
jblitz · September 20, 2014 at 1:45 am
Here’s some of what Rafa’s been up to during his time off. 😀
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU6MzYXbgy8&sns=tw
Scoop Malinowski · September 20, 2014 at 7:38 am
Hilarious. Rafa is promising actor. ) Still a lil strange to see Rafa promoting gambling. Curious what entities are behind that gambling operation.
Andrew Miller · September 21, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Ivanovic / Goffin congratulations. Ivanovic beats Woz for 4th WTA title this year. Goffin wins too, gets a final. If Ivanovic keeps this up she should see another slam final.
Bryan · September 21, 2014 at 5:08 pm
Didn’t watch Woz vs Anna but did hear Anna was screaming more than usual. This apparently annoyed Woz who yelled something in Serbian at her. Anyone know what it was? I presume translation might’ve been “Shut up” but could be mistaken.