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The Madrid Open final between Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori has not yet finished but it is over and I can no longer watch. I am actually mad…Nishikori was beating Nadal like a drum on clay in Spain, and then the back injury he has battled with has taken him out of it…update he just withdrew. What a SHAME! Nishikori won the first set 6-2 and had Nadal on the ropes in the second with a break and then the back injury reared its ugly head and it all turned on a dime. He tried to play the third set but he could barely walk. No disrespect to Nadal and his fans, but he did not turn this match around. Nishikori was on the way to a huge win before this injury and it really is a shame to watch and see the pain in his eyes and surely in his heart as well. Nishikori is quite the up and comer but sometimes his body does let him down. He has been working on his strength, he is like David Ferrer, a short guy (5″10″) and plays a similar style…energizer bunny that keeps on going. Today, he could not keep on going and Rafa wins the Madrid title…by default.
On the women’s side, Maria Sharapova won her 9th career title on clay, after dropping the first set to S. Halep of Romania, 2-6. Halep faltered in the second and Maria went on to win the title with a second and third set win, 6-2, 6-3. Not the outcome I wanted but it was the outcome I expected. So congrats to Sharapova and Nadal…albeit with an asterisk from me!
Just had to vent..hate to see what just happened to Nishikori. So, next week we move to Rome. Djokovic has announced his intention to play as has Serena (both with injuries). Federer has not yet given us his intention…he was practicing in Zurich yesterday with his twin daughters in attendance. So…we shall see.
Happy Mothers Day to all mothers out there! Have to head out for an appointment then dinner with one of my daughters. Back later with the final round results from TPC Sawgrass!
Sorry guys…dinner ran long and then there was that rain delay in Jacksonville! I have it on my DVR but to sum things up for you…Martin Kaymer sinks a 30 foot shot for par on the 17th and it saved the lead for him, winning at -13. Jim Furyk came in second at -12, Sergio Garcia in third at -11, Justin Rose and 20 year old Jordan Spieth (started the day tied for the lead) finished at -10. Rounding out the top of the leaderboard, Jimmy Walker, Lee Westwood and Rory Mcilroy (what a comeback from Rory in the final round!) at -9. Tremendous finish after the weather delay at TPC Sawgrass with the German born Kaymer winning his first tournament on American soil in four years! So close for Furyk, and Spieth again in the top five.
