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Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2013
by MAC

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

This is a personal view from courtside as I was lucky enough to be there for all of Rafa's round robin matches and the final.

We were more than a little worried about his first match against David Ferrer because of what had happened in Paris just three days earlier. Turned out OK, though, since David was obviously tired after playing so much tennis over the last few weeks. If I'd known it was going to be 6-3, 6-2 I would have saved myself a lot of angst beforehand.

Here are the pics.

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

The second match, against Stanislas Wawrinka was even more scary. We knew Rafa just needed one more win to ensure the year end number one ranking so there was a lot riding on this match. I confess to hiding behind my t-shirt for large parts of Rafa's service games. I know it's stupid, but it's the only thing I can do to keep my heart-rate down to acceptable levels. I'm not keen on tiebreaks at the best of times and these two were particularly nervy. Still, a win is a win (7-6(5), 7-6(6)) and we could at last rest easy knowing Rafa was through to the semi finals with the number one ranking in the bag.

Needless to say, I didn't get a lot of pictures.

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

I wasn't too worried about his match against Tomas Berdych. The important achievements had been made and it's been seven years since Tomas got the better of Rafa on any surface. We did hope for at least one set since that would guarantee Rafa would lead the group and he got that straight off by breaking Berdych in the opening game and hanging on to his serve for the rest of the set.

As we all relaxed, it seemed Rafa did, too. But at least going to a third set gave us two shirt changes. (Some have hinted that he just lost the second set to make Stan sweat.) He waited until what turned out to be Berdych's last service game to break again and then held on for a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 win.

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Sadly, I couldn't be there for his semi final against Roger Federer who had beaten him on all four previous meetings at the World Tour Finals. This time was so different with Rafa winning in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3. I really would have liked to have seen that in person.

The final didn't have the fairytale ending we wished for. Novak Djokovic maintained a high level of play throughout the match and Rafa lost, 3-6, 4-6.

I did manage to get a few pictures from my seat up in the nosebleeds.

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com

Although Rafa didn't get the trophy, we are thrilled that he consolidated his position as year end number one. We are enormously proud of his unique achievement in getting this ranking back for a third time.

Enhorabuena, Rafa