Nadal loses to Zeballos in Chile final

[joeybee12]

VINA DEL MAR, Chile (AP) -- Rafael Nadal said all along it might take a while to return to form after seven months off due to an inflamed left knee. In the meantime, the Spaniard is happy to be back on the court.

Nadal lost the singles and doubles finals at the VTR Open on Sunday, but sounded upbeat despite the disappointing finish to his comeback tournament.

''Everything was very positive,'' he said. ''It's true I wanted to win the final, and it's true I didn't play my best match this afternoon. There are a lot of things that show I'm not perfect yet.

''I hope this is the beginning of a lot of tournaments and a lot of good results for me.''

Nadal was beaten by Argentina's Horacio Zeballos in three sets in the singles final. Then Nadal and partner Juan Monaco lost 6-2, 6-4 in the doubles final against the Italian pair of Paolo Lorenzi and Potito Starace.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nadal-loses-zeballos-chile-final-001858100--ten.html;_ylt=AuyrvgQ.2OV9JhHEOscnEOI4v7YF;_ylu=X3oDMTRwcTJnZXE1BG1pdANMSVNUUyBNaXhlZCBMaXN0IFRFTk5JUyBIZWFkbGluZXMEcGtnA2JjNTI4NTk1LWQ1MjctM2E2Zi05YTZmLTFlNjI5NzkyNDEyNARwb3MDMgRzZWMDTWVkaWFCTGlzdE1peGVkTFBDQVRlbXAEdmVyA2E5ODliMWIwLTc0MDgtMTFlMi05N2RjLWE1MTNlMTczNGFkZQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTFra2dhYTdpBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAN0ZW5uaXMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3


Actually, I think Nadal is trying to suck for a while so he doesn't give his latest blood doping away...and when he plays better later in the season and closer to the French.

[TBF]

1. Nadal has been making comments in the press about that -

“What is happening in Spain, I don’t understand it,” he told the magazine.

“I don’t understand why Dr Fuentes is not giving names. And I don’t understand why the judge has not asked him to do so.

“I don’t understand why we never get to the bottom of these things. We need to clean everything up. I believe this doctor has worked with foreign athletes but because he is Spanish it is Spanish sport that is being prejudiced.

“As an athlete that hurts me. Because of people like (US cyclist Lance) Armstrong, we all have a dubious image.”


Personally, I think all that this tells us is that Eufemiano Fuentes is not the one working with Nadal.

http://tennis.si.com/2013/02/07/rafael-nadal-operation-puerto-doping-case/#

[joeybee12]

2. Yup...I also think Fuentes is solely working with Spanish athletes...

And releasing the list would be a huge embarrassment for the country...so there was a lot of pressure on the judge not to release the names.

[marmar]

3. I'm glad he's back....His presence is missed.

I know joeybee will not share this sentiment.

[joeybee12]

4. NO, I won't!

[bigwillq]

5. I am so happy he is back.

I missed RAFA!

[TBF]

6. Only because he makes it a top 4 -

so they each have to play someone decent to get to the finals. Other than that, not so much ...