:00:39. > :00:44.I don't think it gets much better than watching Rafael Nadal play.
:00:45. > :00:56.Great hitting. Simple as that.
:00:57. > :01:06.He's in complete control. Strong play from Nadal.
:01:07. > :01:13.Never a bad time to see Rafa play. He is playing with hunger and some
:01:14. > :01:17.fire and finally, some confidence. Good afternoon.
:01:18. > :01:22.Yes, he is back. It is great for the game. Rafael Nadal is back in form.
:01:23. > :01:27.He is one of the great entertainers in this sport. Tim and Andrew are
:01:28. > :01:32.with me again. Andrew, it has been a tough year for him but over the last
:01:33. > :01:38.two-and-a-half months he is regaining the confidence again?
:01:39. > :01:43.Totally. No knee-jerk responses to anybody else's views about the way
:01:44. > :01:48.he chooses his coach, his diet. He has stuck with his guns, preparing
:01:49. > :01:53.for 2016 now. And maybe he is surprised at the form he is showing.
:01:54. > :01:57.To beat Stanislas Wawrinka and Andy Murray in the same week in straight
:01:58. > :02:01.sets it is one of the best weeks of his career. In terms the getting
:02:02. > :02:06.himself back, he is back in position.
:02:07. > :02:12.It looked like he was about to drop from the top ten? Unheard of! He set
:02:13. > :02:18.the bar high. He has been playing since 15, 16. So to have a small dip
:02:19. > :02:22.is not bad going. He was frank in March, when he said he was
:02:23. > :02:27.struggling with confidence. But that is what he needed to regain. The
:02:28. > :02:32.only way to regain that was match and tournament wins. As Andrew said,
:02:33. > :02:39.it is great to see him playing so well. If you had said to me before
:02:40. > :02:45.the matches between Murray and Wawrinka, I would have not been so
:02:46. > :02:49.sure. But it Haas been great to watch.
:02:50. > :03:24.Ladies and gentlemen, from Spain, David Ferrer!
:03:25. > :03:31.APPLAUSE. Ladies and gentlemen, making his
:03:32. > :03:36.seventh appearance, the winner of 67 title, including 14 Grand Slams
:03:37. > :03:37.seventh appearance, the winner of 67 27 Masters trophies, from Spain,
:03:38. > :04:20.APPLAUSE. Rafael Nadal!
:04:21. > :04:25.APPLAUSE. So, Rafael Nadal is on court to face
:04:26. > :04:30.his fellow countryman, David Ferrer. Now this match doesn't really mean a
:04:31. > :04:36.lot in this tournament. Rafael Nadal is already through. But it is,
:04:37. > :04:40.Andrew. It is about a lot of money, ranking points but for Rafa it is
:04:41. > :04:43.about momentum and keeping the confidence going? The same situation
:04:44. > :04:49.that Federer was in against Nishikori. It is about
:04:50. > :04:55.self-motivation, keeping form and he doesn't want to lose to David
:04:56. > :05:00.Ferrer, it is just that. David Ferrer has had much of an
:05:01. > :05:06.impact on this court as elsewhere. He can give him a hard time. Rafael
:05:07. > :05:10.Nadal has a hard time tomorrow. He is up against Novak Djokovic, will
:05:11. > :05:14.he want to give everything today? I suspect he will, as it is the
:05:15. > :05:20.competitor that he is. He may be tempted to back off. But perhaps not
:05:21. > :05:25.so in his mind. And David Ferrer is a battler. He will want to come out
:05:26. > :05:30.to win? Very much so. The match win is the equivalent of
:05:31. > :05:35.making a final on the regular tour. So he wants to finish the year off
:05:36. > :05:40.with another win. He has qualified for the World Tour Finals, it is a
:05:41. > :05:45.fantastic achievement. From Rafa's point of view, with the semi-final
:05:46. > :05:50.tomorrow, he will want to put in a disciplined performance, and get the
:05:51. > :05:53.job done in straight sets, so he is not wasting energy ahead of the
:05:54. > :06:00.match tomorrow. Everybody is ready for the coin toss
:06:01. > :06:06.but not Rafa. He has to get the bottles in place. He has his little
:06:07. > :06:15.superstitions but he must be ready. We can talk about that later on. But
:06:16. > :06:19.here he comes. Gentlemen, it would be helpful in
:06:20. > :06:27.you make your challenges clear and quick. Hawk-Eye is in place.
:06:28. > :06:40.Furthermore, we have TV changeovers. Heads or tails? Heads it is calling.
:06:41. > :06:45.Heads it is. OK a quick photo with Heather.
:06:46. > :06:49.So, are they ready? Yeah, Rafa is getting ready.
:06:50. > :06:56.Always ready for the first point, Rafa. So this is the match we have
:06:57. > :06:57.today in this group. Tonight it will be Andy Murray against Stanislas
:06:58. > :06:59.Wawrinka. today in this group. Tonight it will
:07:00. > :07:03.be Andy Murray against Stanislas Wawrinka. As I said, Rafael Nadal is
:07:04. > :07:08.through. But the winner of tonight's match goes through to the other
:07:09. > :07:12.semi-finals to face Roger Federer. Andy Murray against Stanislas
:07:13. > :07:15.Wawrinka, you can hear that at 8.00pm on Five Live Sports Extra.
:07:16. > :07:20.So the semi-finals decided yesterday. Roger Federer went
:07:21. > :07:24.through in the afternoon, Novak Djokovic went through in the evening
:07:25. > :07:32.against Tomas Berdych. He needed one set. Winning it in 6-3 in 42
:07:33. > :07:40.minutes. Tomas Berdych fought hard. Novak Djokovic had to fight hard,
:07:41. > :07:44.winning 7-5. The world number one goes through in the semi-final as
:07:45. > :07:54.second in the group. But delighted to be back in form after the lost
:07:55. > :08:00.against Roger Federer. So, I mentioned the semi-final. Now
:08:01. > :08:05.Rafael Nadal against Novak Djokovic, that will be the afternoon match but
:08:06. > :08:10.over on BBC One at the same time, 2.00pm. So we are all ready for this
:08:11. > :08:15.match. Rafael Nadal, we talk about the belief. And so many people, we
:08:16. > :08:20.can talk about the physical ailments that people have, you have a physio
:08:21. > :08:25.to get it right, a technical, you get in a coach but who helps you get
:08:26. > :08:29.back your belief? It is very difficult. A break down in
:08:30. > :08:34.confidence? It is the sum of thoughts. With Rafael Nadal winning
:08:35. > :08:39.so many tournaments around the world, you would think he would have
:08:40. > :08:43.so many positive thoughts. But with a few bad losses, doubts were
:08:44. > :08:48.creeping into his mind. They were becoming an issue. When he was
:08:49. > :08:54.playing the big points in the bigger matches he would be second-guessing
:08:55. > :09:00.himself, maybe not going to the line, making a few unforced errors.
:09:01. > :09:07.The problem then escalated. He has had problems. But he is back in
:09:08. > :09:10.shape. His game is coming back. If he produces performances as he has
:09:11. > :09:15.done against Stanislas Wawrinka and Andy Murray, that will be better for
:09:16. > :09:18.his confidence. Superstitions are a big part of his
:09:19. > :09:23.game. We spoke about the bottles? There is something for him to rely
:09:24. > :09:30.on when the going gets tough. We talk about who helps you it is
:09:31. > :09:34.psychological. But it is the sum of your thoughts, you sound like you
:09:35. > :09:38.have dabbled in this area. I like it. But everybody gets through.
:09:39. > :09:43.There is a pattern between points and a pattern. People take a certain
:09:44. > :09:49.amount of time on a golf swing, that there is something you can rely on.
:09:50. > :09:54.I'm impressed by how Rafa has changed little. He has worked
:09:55. > :09:57.harder. I thought he would be gone at the top level but this week
:09:58. > :10:04.convinced me he is definitely coming back. Roger Federer was saying this
:10:05. > :10:10.last week, that he expects Rafa to have a big 2016. We all expect that.
:10:11. > :10:16.Well it is great he is coming back. Superstitions are important. The
:10:17. > :10:21.social media question is what is the quirkiest thing you have seen on the
:10:22. > :10:27.court? So a couple of things to look out for in this match as far as
:10:28. > :10:32.Rafael Nadal. There he is, it is the touch of the shorts, shoulder,
:10:33. > :10:37.shoulder, nose, ears, neck, and then nose, and then a tap of the leg as
:10:38. > :10:41.well. Eight different movements in that. Then the second serve, he
:10:42. > :10:50.loses a few. This is the second serve. Still the shorts, still the
:10:51. > :10:56.nose, Yep, bottom! But no nose, just the ears.
:10:57. > :11:00.So when does a routine become a superstition and when is a routine
:11:01. > :11:05.not a superstition. That is part of a routine. But for the bottles on
:11:06. > :11:08.the change of ends, that is border line strain.
:11:09. > :11:12.That is more a superstition. The others, I would like to give him the
:11:13. > :11:16.benefit of the doubt. That is routine.
:11:17. > :11:23.And this one, they must be put in a certain position from each other.
:11:24. > :11:34.It is a feng shui thing he likes. There are a few players that have
:11:35. > :11:38.gone past and knocked the bottles over to change his stride. But he
:11:39. > :11:43.laughs. And hair is an issue. Rafa sweats a
:11:44. > :11:47.lot. This is a way of getting the sweat out.
:11:48. > :11:52.You are running this, you want to see it in slow motion.
:11:53. > :11:59.So, that is how Rafa prepares at the change of ends. And aroundy, he was
:12:00. > :12:05.really weird. A lock of hair. He didn't like it. I don't know who
:12:06. > :12:18.carries scissors on to the court but he did. He got rid of that quick.
:12:19. > :12:29.We need a whole beauty particle your on -- parlour on there.
:12:30. > :12:34.I this it is interesting, especially when
:12:35. > :12:43.I this it is interesting, especially If you want to get in touch, please,
:12:44. > :12:49.you can. We would love to hear your thoughts on this.
:12:50. > :12:54.Let's say a little bit about David Ferrer, what an amazing, good year
:12:55. > :13:00.he has had. Always consistent. Not so much in the Grand Slams but five
:13:01. > :13:06.titles? Exactly. How do you measure a career? Davis Cup record. He is
:13:07. > :13:11.always part of the set up. The Grand Slams, the final of the French Open.
:13:12. > :13:19.The consistency, 50 Grand Slams in a row until Wimbledon. He had to miss
:13:20. > :13:24.one. If someone has maximised their talent, David Ferrer has.
:13:25. > :13:27.He is always difficult to beet. You talk about his performance, week
:13:28. > :13:33.in, week out, day in, day out. You talk about his performance, week
:13:34. > :13:37.are very few dips. Where he struggles against the big players is
:13:38. > :13:44.having the big weapon to do some damage. But this year, aged 33, five
:13:45. > :13:46.titles, back at the World Tour Finals it is an incredible
:13:47. > :13:55.achievement and a great role model for up and coming professionals.
:13:56. > :13:58.And looking at the players, Rafa is back, Roger Federer, he still has
:13:59. > :14:05.the motivation. They are still hungry. They have so much money,
:14:06. > :14:09.they could easily give up, they have so much money, they could go to
:14:10. > :14:14.Monte Carlo but they still have the passion? It is.
:14:15. > :14:19.With the game, with the ambassadors at the top of the game it is
:14:20. > :14:23.emphasising how difficult it is for the younger players to break into
:14:24. > :14:27.this upper echelon of world tennis. But they set the bar. They continue
:14:28. > :14:30.to play the best tennis. Long may it continue. As you can see by the
:14:31. > :14:36.crowds, many people are keen to watch it.
:14:37. > :14:42.I put Ferrer in that group. He was a finalist in the tournament in 2007.
:14:43. > :14:48.He has not been in the final since, he will not but Rafa is certainly
:14:49. > :14:53.looking to do it. He has won the group but he still wants to keep the
:14:54. > :15:01.confidence going. Time for me to hand over to Tim and Andy.
:15:02. > :15:06.Thank you very much. We should ask you if you have ever
:15:07. > :16:37.had any quirky habits. Should have asked you that a minute ago.
:16:38. > :16:47.Just warming up nicely. It wasn't a bad approach shot but
:16:48. > :17:10.Rafa is able to bend that one around.
:17:11. > :17:14.Oh! Hello. Keen to get the job done today.
:17:15. > :17:18.Really stepping in and taking the ball on.
:17:19. > :17:23.This is often a sign of confidence. The defence is there. A great
:17:24. > :17:27.length. And then this one, perhaps earlier on in the season he may have
:17:28. > :17:30.backed off a little bit there. Absolutely taking the ball on the
:17:31. > :17:55.right. A good chance to go ahead.
:17:56. > :18:02.A poor start for David Ferrer. I haven't checked the record books
:18:03. > :18:06.on this, did you play Rafa? Yes, I did.
:18:07. > :18:12.I played Rafa twice. I lost on both occasions.
:18:13. > :18:14.Whereabouts did you play him? In a night match in Rome in the third
:18:15. > :18:20.round. How old was he? I think he was...
:18:21. > :18:28.I'm not sure. He was old enough. I think the match went on for about
:18:29. > :18:36.an hour and 40 minutes. I was really chuffed but I lost 6-2, 6-2.
:18:37. > :18:40.One was clay, the other was where? A hard court in Dubai. Any good? No, I
:18:41. > :18:46.came second. What is it like to receive that
:18:47. > :18:49.forehand. It seems to have a natural disguise, it has a lot of bend on
:18:50. > :18:53.it. I tried to volley it. Once it
:18:54. > :18:55.bounced, it was the work off the court. It was very difficult to
:18:56. > :19:20.control. Going back a few years before Nadal,
:19:21. > :19:30.there was a great Spanish clay-courter that everyone always
:19:31. > :20:00.for gets, I think, Serge Griguerra. Boy, he could play.
:20:01. > :20:09.Bruguerra certainly bridged the gap for Spain in the modern era.
:20:10. > :20:15.He was quickly followed by the likes of Carlos Moya.
:20:16. > :20:29.Juan Carlos Ferrero. Yes, there have been one or two!
:20:30. > :20:42.Albert Costa. Did we say him? Carlos Costa, did you say that one? No, I
:20:43. > :20:48.didn't say, Carlos, actually. Talk about confidence coming back to
:20:49. > :20:51.Rafa's game. It looks so much freer. More aggressive going for the shots.
:20:52. > :21:15.Both off the forehand and the backhand.
:21:16. > :21:20.It must be such a relief for him. Because really the first time in his
:21:21. > :22:44.career, he has had to face a crisis of confidence, has been this year.
:22:45. > :22:49.This is a Spanish Davis Cup team that had to play in Denmark in
:22:50. > :23:12.September, against Denmark. These two, they got the job done.
:23:13. > :24:05.Ferrer is keen to win some points, let alone games.
:24:06. > :24:12.The moment you see that whip coming out, I suppose you just have to pick
:24:13. > :24:17.one direction or the other. Even then, even if you get to this, what
:24:18. > :24:18.are you going to do to it? The length is good again here.
:24:19. > :24:58.Zip! He doesn't seem in the mood to hang
:24:59. > :25:02.about. To finish off the point about the Davis Cup. He has an unbeaten
:25:03. > :25:07.streak of 22 matches in the Davis Cup. To ah go to Denmark after the
:25:08. > :25:12.Davis Cup, to play for his country it is a good effort.
:25:13. > :25:18.It certainly is. And right now, this type of tennis is as good as Rafa
:25:19. > :25:22.can play, as good as most people can play. He is close to the line,
:25:23. > :25:26.moving forward. Playing as if he thinks there is no
:25:27. > :25:35.chance at all of losing this match it is a wonderful freedom.
:25:36. > :25:39.Free the mind and the body follows. The muscles are working again. There
:25:40. > :25:42.is no tightness. Whether he can follow this up in the semi-final
:25:43. > :25:44.against Novak Djokovic. A block buster of the tour finals. 2.00pm,
:25:45. > :25:55.BBC One. Do join us for that. will be quite something.
:25:56. > :25:59.Pick a winner of that right now? Novak Djokovic or Nadal? I will take
:26:00. > :26:05.Djokovic. He is my favourite for the tournament.
:26:06. > :26:15.23-22, in their head to head. Amazing rivalry that they have got.
:26:16. > :26:24.45 matches. Djokovic could tie it up at 23-23.
:26:25. > :26:27.He was tied at, Djokovic, 21-21 with the Federer. He had
:26:28. > :26:32.He was tied at, Djokovic, 21-21 with squeaking in front for the first
:26:33. > :29:20.time but Federer had other ideas in the round-robin match.
:29:21. > :29:25.The second oldest man in the tournament, David Ferrer. Still a
:29:26. > :29:32.great turn of speed. Stepping it up, taking it on. Break point to make
:29:33. > :29:36.himself that much a bigger part of this set. It must be exhausting
:29:37. > :29:41.bouncing up and down like that! You can hear him in the background,
:29:42. > :30:14.even if he is not in shot. Firmly delighted. Plenty of people
:30:15. > :30:19.have gone against Nadal, especially on a clay-court it is a while since
:30:20. > :30:23.the first game. He is always a player you feel will go through and
:30:24. > :30:42.clock up a quick victory but perhaps not so today. 3-1 now.
:30:43. > :30:57.To me, Nadal is flattening out his backhand. The meat, Ferrer needs to
:30:58. > :31:15.open up down the line. But Rafa is really stepping in.
:31:16. > :31:24.The players will adjust their game for different surfaces. When he won
:31:25. > :31:33.his first US Open, he was serving quicker. Flatter. Yes, flatter, but
:31:34. > :31:35.his forehand on the clay, there has never been a better shot in the
:31:36. > :31:50.game. If you are going to build a game
:31:51. > :31:56.plan against Nadal, the occasional serve and volley out to the back and
:31:57. > :31:58.on the deuce court has got to be a tactic. But it is not something
:31:59. > :32:29.Ferrer is comfortable with. I guess the other attack Dick is a
:32:30. > :32:58.lot of aces. You would be a good coach, you would. Serve an ace!
:32:59. > :33:03.Top two Spaniards going head to head here at the O2 arena. They are
:33:04. > :33:13.ranked number five in the world, Nadal. Unbelievable, how many
:33:14. > :33:21.players they continue to produce. Number three you have the Luciano
:33:22. > :33:32.Orquera the Tommy Robredo is still playing a nice game of tennis. Why
:33:33. > :33:36.there can't be a belt and how come it happens there and it doesn't
:33:37. > :33:41.happen here and you have 20 seconds? Environment, it is part of
:33:42. > :33:46.their culture. More people playing tennis, more of their best athletes
:33:47. > :33:50.playing tennis. Clay courts, great surface to learn your trade. Great
:33:51. > :33:57.role models. They have so many great players at the top of the game in
:33:58. > :34:03.the last 15, 20 years. What did you mean by environment? Better club
:34:04. > :34:08.structure, it is safe to say that climate helps, more people playing
:34:09. > :34:13.tennis at the weekends, introducing youngsters to the game, more
:34:14. > :34:18.tournaments. The clubs are more inviting than ours, places of social
:34:19. > :34:24.interaction, families, good food, that sort of thing? That is right
:34:25. > :34:29.and if you look at the numbers, if you think where tennis fits in to
:34:30. > :34:36.our list of sports, it is a long way down the pecking order. Like France,
:34:37. > :34:46.in France, tennis is the number one female sport, number two male sport.
:34:47. > :34:55.Perfectly matched isn't he for this court surface. He still has a break
:34:56. > :36:23.at 3-2. Very tidy, isn't he? You saw the
:36:24. > :36:29.first 1213 points of the match and you thought it would be over
:36:30. > :36:30.quickly. But Ferrer has done a great job of sticking in there and raising
:36:31. > :36:58.his levels. Now three break points to get back
:36:59. > :37:22.on level terms. Complete role reversal.
:37:23. > :37:37.Brilliant game from Ferrer. Back on serve at three games all.
:37:38. > :37:48.Brilliant game from Ferrer. Back on work from him. Sixth appearance, we
:37:49. > :37:48.have had six appearances, work from him. Sixth appearance, we
:37:49. > :38:14.in Shanghai as long ago as 2007. Hasn't lost a match when he has won
:38:15. > :38:25.the first set, this year. 43 matches when he has won the first set, zero
:38:26. > :40:05.loss. Andy Murray letters that. -- betters.
:40:06. > :40:14.This guy has just given an absolute lesson in
:40:15. > :40:16.This guy has just given an absolute there and try on every single point.
:40:17. > :40:27.This guy has just given an absolute it? It is, simple. Such solid ground
:40:28. > :40:33.strokes, serve starts the point but then he is just relentless. And that
:40:34. > :40:43.is away and back is four games in a row. If Nadal thought he was in for
:40:44. > :40:47.that's going to be the case today. Something of an advantage for Ferrer
:40:48. > :40:54.to brag this with Nadal as much as he has. They know each other so
:40:55. > :40:58.well. It is a ball he has received many times, the forehand? Yes, they
:40:59. > :41:07.know each other enough to know there is no hidden secrets. But his game
:41:08. > :41:11.is so efficient from both wings, hitting hard, moving well. Very few
:41:12. > :41:15.unforced errors. You know when you play David Ferrer, he will not give
:41:16. > :41:20.you anything, you have got to go out and earn it. You are watching the
:41:21. > :41:25.season-ending championships. On everybody's minds, the matches have
:41:26. > :41:33.a more competitive this year than last. There were injuries flying
:41:34. > :41:42.around last year, one of two motivation problems. Surgery booked.
:41:43. > :41:48.Djokovic, going for four in a row. There have been more storylines
:41:49. > :41:52.around this day, perhaps more intensity. We have the Davis Cup
:41:53. > :41:56.final next week for Andy Murray and the British team. I think the group
:41:57. > :42:01.matches have been more entertaining. When you look at the semifinal
:42:02. > :42:06.line-up, we have Roger through, Djokovic is through, Rafa is through
:42:07. > :42:11.and now we need the final piece of the puzzle with a Andy Murray and
:42:12. > :42:16.Stan Wawrinka match-up will stop Andy Murray is playing tonight. The
:42:17. > :42:25.winner of that is to play Roger Federer tomorrow night. If you have
:42:26. > :45:06.tickets you will see Djokovic versus Nadal.
:45:07. > :45:15.Rafael Nadal, changing his racket. He likes to change a racket for when
:45:16. > :45:19.he receives serve. For the first time he receives serve when the new
:45:20. > :45:25.ball is into play. Personal preference. Doesn't like to serve
:45:26. > :45:31.that game with the new ball and a new racket, would refer to have a
:45:32. > :46:02.little bit of wear and tear on the strings.
:46:03. > :47:08.Keeping his weight so low, it is the footwork that is so impressive.
:47:09. > :47:12.Look at this. Swinging the arms so fast, but keeping the head so
:47:13. > :47:17.still. If there is any head movement when you are hitting at that heart,
:47:18. > :47:50.the mis-hit comes into play. Not holding back. Pretty much at
:47:51. > :47:55.full throttle, around 116,, 120 mile an hour. Not the tallest, but
:47:56. > :47:59.serving three aces. You would have to be downhill, downwind to be any
:48:00. > :48:29.faster than that. I wonder what the coach says to
:48:30. > :48:32.Ferrer before he goes out. He probably says work hard. Are your
:48:33. > :49:08.laces tied up? Go! Strange he would say, sorry, to his
:49:09. > :49:48.fellow Spaniard in English. I think the other thing about tennis
:49:49. > :49:52.in Spain and perhaps France, obviously the two
:49:53. > :49:55.in Spain and perhaps France, and the reason there is this
:49:56. > :49:58.conveyor belts, they never let people who have professional
:49:59. > :50:00.experience at the game go anywhere. Why would you want to lose that
:50:01. > :50:10.experience to other professions? Why would you want to lose that
:50:11. > :50:16.tennis court in majolica next year, 26 courts and an accommodation block
:50:17. > :50:21.and schooling for 140 pupils. That is bound to be oversubscribed. If
:50:22. > :50:26.they ran that properly, can you imagine he would not want to go
:50:27. > :50:31.there to advance their tennis. Presumably it will be staffed very
:50:32. > :50:36.well until a high-level as well. I assume Rafa wouldn't put his name
:50:37. > :50:42.and reputation to anything that wouldn't work. But they don't let
:50:43. > :50:48.people go do they? Also, the knowledge to pass on to the
:50:49. > :50:54.coaches, with the coaching education side of things. And the parents,
:50:55. > :50:57.everybody needs guiding. They come into the game and don't have any
:50:58. > :51:03.experience, you need somebody who has been out there and to tell you
:51:04. > :51:03.the truth. Look at the numbers, would that help, as
:51:04. > :51:12.there, with a process that information? If there was a glaring
:51:13. > :51:18.aspect to those statistics, whether it be your first serve percentage
:51:19. > :51:24.points one behind second serve, may be? I think they are very much in
:51:25. > :51:25.the moments of worrying about the next point, rather than what has
:51:26. > :52:55.gone on before. I know in the Nadal Academy next
:52:56. > :52:57.year, will have a sport Museum. Just put his trophies in their! It would
:52:58. > :53:20.be a good start. A career Grand Slam of all four
:53:21. > :53:27.majors for Nadal. Olympic gold medal as well, Davis Cup. First one as a
:53:28. > :53:37.17-year-old in front of 20,000 people in Seville. On his debut.
:53:38. > :53:44.Beat Roddick. Probably say this is the one major title has eluded him.
:53:45. > :53:58.He has had to pull out four times because of injury.
:53:59. > :54:06.Rafa, so often aurally exhausted at the end of the year. This sheer
:54:07. > :56:02.workrate takes its toll on the body. Nadal, indicating the ball was out.
:56:03. > :56:12.But I am surprised there wasn't a challenge. Ferrer was looking over
:56:13. > :56:13.to his box to get the nod from them. Think they indicated it was just
:56:14. > :57:00.long. So happy to go into that Nadal
:57:01. > :57:07.forehand, isn't he? Got to choose the right moment. Rafa just dropped
:57:08. > :57:12.it short. Rafa just hedging his bets will stop Ferrer, able to flatten
:57:13. > :57:25.that out up the line. They are not hanging about, 42
:57:26. > :57:58.minutes played only. Definitely a bit yippy on that
:57:59. > :58:24.serve. First saw the ball toss going astray
:58:25. > :58:39.again Stan Wawrinka. It is a break of serve. Nadal, who went on to a
:58:40. > :58:50.quick 3-0 lead. There is eight doubles teams here as well, I was
:58:51. > :58:55.sorry to see Jamie Murray and his partner going out, playing their
:58:56. > :59:03.last match, so it seems. The Bryan brothers going through again. That
:59:04. > :59:11.is it for Jamie and John Peers' partnership over the years. Going to
:59:12. > :59:15.change partners now. It will be Davis Cup next for Jamie, presumably
:59:16. > :59:21.with Andy Murray, next Saturday. Kyle Edmund lost in the second round
:59:22. > :59:27.of the Challenger Event. Having won last week and winning around this
:59:28. > :59:35.week, he is in great shape for selection, who knows what'll happen,
:59:36. > :59:43.Tim? What is that? Bit of coverage around, but you think Kyle Edmund
:59:44. > :59:51.will get the nod now, with respect to James Ward? It is a good trouble
:59:52. > :59:57.for Lyon to have, all three players, Dan Evans, James Ward and Kyle
:59:58. > :00:01.Edmund were out of form have all won challengers since that. But on a
:00:02. > :01:19.clay court, I think we are all leaning towards Kyle Edmund.
:01:20. > :01:28.Bearing in mind that David Ferrer has not lost a match from a set up
:01:29. > :01:33.this whole year. If he can just get back into the
:01:34. > :01:37.tie-break here, who knows what can happen. It is certainly not a quick
:01:38. > :01:45.match. We know that Nadal is going through
:01:46. > :01:58.in the championship, so there is nothing left about the meaning of
:01:59. > :02:02.the contest here. Oh, that's away.
:02:03. > :02:09.the contest here. It's not a very tight game, is it?
:02:10. > :02:12.That's why it is very difficult to predict these types of matches. Such
:02:13. > :02:18.small margins, predict these types of matches. Such
:02:19. > :02:24.he will runaway with it. Then Ferrer wins four games in a row. Nadal
:02:25. > :04:09.breaks to serve the set and now down 0-40.
:04:10. > :04:43.Three points certainly didn't help him there.
:04:44. > :05:25.From 0-40 down to a set point up now for Rafael Nadal.
:05:26. > :05:29.You can't leave the ball there. I know it is hypercritical, and Ferrer
:05:30. > :07:07.has to hit that winner. Yes, it's got to be deeper than
:07:08. > :07:12.that. Again, a little bit central, a
:07:13. > :07:16.little bit short from Nadal. But a fantastic forehand. Ferrer keen to
:07:17. > :07:32.step in and go for that when he gets the chance.
:07:33. > :07:40.Some errors from Nadal. Ferrer's work rate, an absolute example, as
:07:41. > :07:44.you expect. Three breaks of serve each in the
:07:45. > :09:23.set. Three holds. So a tie-bake it is.
:09:24. > :09:31.Oh, just long! Nadal had his man beaten, for sure. He was just unable
:09:32. > :09:51.to drop the ball in. Rafa's sister on the left.
:09:52. > :09:54.The girlfriend is on the right watching on.
:09:55. > :10:08.The score is 0-2. A couple of early Christmas presents
:10:09. > :11:46.to one another! Just one of the corporate boxes
:11:47. > :11:50.getting into the weekend a little early. I don't think that they are
:11:51. > :12:03.heading back to the office this afternoon!
:12:04. > :12:12.Total attendance at this event. Well over 1. 5 million. That is the
:12:13. > :12:21.six-year attendance figure this year. Plus this year, so it will
:12:22. > :12:26.probably go up to 1. 75 this year. Quite remarkable. With all of the
:12:27. > :12:28.music and the shenanigans that go with it. Just the right balance.
:12:29. > :12:43.It's not overdone. Some encouragement from the crowd
:12:44. > :12:54.for Rafa. They're enjoying this match.
:12:55. > :12:58.4-2 in the break there to Ferrer. The umpire backing off on the time
:12:59. > :13:01.situation here. That has to have been a
:13:02. > :14:13.minute-and-a-half between the points.
:14:14. > :14:18.So just a rallying backhand cross-court, really.
:14:19. > :14:25.The height over the net was pulled wide. That's what it is.
:14:26. > :14:31.So, four set points to David Ferrer. The first set of this group match.
:14:32. > :14:35.And if Ferrer does win this set, we'll see how deep Nadal wants to go
:14:36. > :14:43.and how much energy he wants to give.
:14:44. > :14:48.Well, that's a correction from quite a long way away, the umpire's chair.
:14:49. > :14:57.I wonder about that. You have to have a look at that.
:14:58. > :15:04.It was a correction from the chair. The lineswoman called it out quickly
:15:05. > :15:10.and distinctly. And it was out. So Ali should have
:15:11. > :15:17.left that alone, it is set. To me it looked in.
:15:18. > :15:22.Well, there we go. That's it, Ferrer has not lost a set
:15:23. > :15:26.or a match from a set up here. Nadal is going to have to dig deep if he
:15:27. > :15:35.is to come back from a set down. An odd set, that.
:15:36. > :15:41.Yes, he will have to dig deep to extend his unbeaten run here at the
:15:42. > :15:47.championships. But this match, the results don't matter, Rafael Nadal
:15:48. > :15:53.is back for the semi-final where he takes on a formidable foe.
:15:54. > :15:54.The dominant force in men's tennis, the defending champion here in
:15:55. > :16:12.London. Yes, Nadal against Djokovic. The two
:16:13. > :16:18.Iron Men in tennis. They have met 45 times before. Many of them have been
:16:19. > :16:23.immense battles. You can see that on BBC One at 2.00pm. But Rafa needs to
:16:24. > :16:26.find form in this match today to take on the world number one. Thank
:16:27. > :16:29.you very much for sending in your comments. We have been asking you
:16:30. > :16:39.the strangest things seen on a court. Mark says at last year's US
:16:40. > :16:46.Open, Marin Cilic and eve an ease very much would not shave in case it
:16:47. > :16:51.decided on results. Nicola says anything beets giving
:16:52. > :16:58.your hair a quick trim. I hope he wins later today. Come on, Andy. And
:16:59. > :17:01.Susan says she finds it difficult to watch Nadal with his shorts, hair
:17:02. > :17:06.and nose routine. Maybe you are enjoying that. But other strange
:17:07. > :17:12.things we have seen, remember Richard Gasquet with the racket
:17:13. > :17:16.regriping and the streakers on the tennis court and the wife slapping
:17:17. > :17:20.the umpire? There have been some moments.
:17:21. > :17:25.We have, Sue, we are having one now, listening to you whilst Rafa is
:17:26. > :17:30.getting naked here! Sue, did you have anything you did before a match
:17:31. > :17:35.that became a habit? No, very, very boring. Bounce the ball three times
:17:36. > :17:40.before the first set, two before the second. Nothing like anywhere near
:17:41. > :17:45.the routine that Rafa goes through. I think I would have been exhausted
:17:46. > :17:50.trying to remember it! Too much to think about just trying to beat the
:17:51. > :17:55.opponent. Thank you, Sue. How distracting for you, well done! 7-4
:17:56. > :18:03.to Ferrer here. He has not lost a match this year. From this position
:18:04. > :18:08.and how deep does Nadal want to go with the Djokovic semi-final
:18:09. > :18:14.tomorrow at 2.00pm, Tim? I don't think that Nadal knows any other way
:18:15. > :18:21.than to give 100% at all times. Certainly on the practice court, let
:18:22. > :18:23.alone in the match court. Amazing, watching him practice is
:18:24. > :18:27.extraordinary. The energy levels he puts out.
:18:28. > :18:47.It is personal pride. He does not want to lose the match. Not a
:18:48. > :18:51.chance. I wouldn't imply about digging deep
:18:52. > :18:55.but it was an effort thing. It is really, you cannot have the same
:18:56. > :19:01.intensity in a dead match always as you will in a Wimbledon final. It is
:19:02. > :19:07.bound to be different. The mind is not as engaged. I would never imply
:19:08. > :19:18.there is not a best effort but 99% is not as much as 100 and it makes
:19:19. > :19:24.such a difference. That's why Federer was impressive
:19:25. > :19:29.yesterday against Nishikori. The round-robin group, whilst we always
:19:30. > :19:33.see great tennis, one against another, there are dead matches. Yes
:19:34. > :19:35.had a couple in the afternoon sessions this week. It is just the
:19:36. > :22:27.format. A good hold from 0-30. Especially
:22:28. > :22:31.after losing the first set. At these occasions, the Grand Slams,
:22:32. > :22:36.the tennis family comes together. You wanted to say a few words about
:22:37. > :22:41.somebody we lost from that tennis family? Very much so. I was sad to
:22:42. > :22:51.read that Jim Slater passed away. When I started on the David Lloyd
:22:52. > :22:58.academy, it was backed by Jim Slateer. It restored the link with
:22:59. > :23:05.chess. He gave me a great opportunity. I was sad to see his
:23:06. > :26:10.passing at the age of 86. I send my condolences to his wife hell and
:26:11. > :26:13.their four children. Semi-finals will be starting
:26:14. > :26:18.tomorrow at 2.00pm. Two semi-finals tomorrow. The final is on Sunday
:26:19. > :26:24.evening at 6.00pm. Mark your cards for that one.
:26:25. > :26:29.It will be Nadal versus Djokovic in the first semi-final and Federer
:26:30. > :26:32.versus the winner of tonight's match here in the other one it is either
:26:33. > :29:54.Wawrinka or Andy Murray. I can certainly see how they are
:29:55. > :29:59.trying to keep the pace of play flowing. 25 seconds between the
:30:00. > :30:03.points in the main tour. I don't understand how it is the same in the
:30:04. > :30:19.Slams when they are playing the best of five sets.
:30:20. > :30:30.Heavy ball on the forehand side. Is that an energy bar? Why is there a
:30:31. > :30:36.difference, 25 seconds on the tour and in the Grand Slams, 20 seconds.
:30:37. > :30:40.It is ridiculous? You are something to do with the organisation of
:30:41. > :30:48.Wimbledon, you are well placed to ask the question? Absolutely, I
:30:49. > :30:53.can't remember when it changed. For consistency and continuity, it
:30:54. > :30:56.doesn't make any sense at all. He would have thought when they are
:30:57. > :31:02.playing best of five sets, long matches, some of the players are
:31:03. > :31:06.struggling to keep to 25 seconds on the tour, so what chance have they
:31:07. > :31:13.got when they have to go in 20 seconds? The Times spent between
:31:14. > :31:16.points can be equally as important as the time playing them, in terms
:31:17. > :31:23.of handling one point, settling down and getting ready for the next. It
:31:24. > :31:27.is all a process. For there to be 20 seconds in one tournament and 25 in
:31:28. > :31:34.another seems ridiculous to me. Perhaps it is the remnants of the
:31:35. > :31:41.often rocky relationship between the ITF, the international tennis
:31:42. > :31:43.Federation and the ATP, the Association of tennis professionals,
:31:44. > :31:53.which is the players and the tournaments. It is all a bit
:31:54. > :31:55.complicated. An awful lot of people coming in, have we had a train
:31:56. > :32:09.problem or something? Drinks rape. It does seem to be more than
:32:10. > :32:23.normal, but it is Friday. A lot of people working from home
:32:24. > :37:27.today. Nadal, keeping his nose ahead. Since
:37:28. > :37:36.2009 it has been at the O2 arena. What cities would did for this, Tim,
:37:37. > :37:42.after this? This tournament is solely owned by the ATP, isn't it?
:37:43. > :37:50.Lots of potential targets. Would there be an opportunity in the
:37:51. > :38:03.middle east, the far east? A lot of tournaments heading towards China,
:38:04. > :38:10.big-money out in China. In India, the IPTL. What about Madison Square
:38:11. > :38:14.Gardens? It goes to Australia because Lleyton Hewitt finished as
:38:15. > :38:20.world number one and was a big attraction. Then you reflect of how
:38:21. > :38:25.well this event works in London with the schedule, the last tournament of
:38:26. > :38:30.the year being in Paris. It has got to be a serious bid with a big
:38:31. > :38:34.sponsor and the potential of some enormous attendances, to contemplate
:38:35. > :38:37.moving this away. 61 enormous attendances, to contemplate
:38:38. > :38:40.over the year in 31 different countries. This is top eight in the
:38:41. > :38:46.singles and countries. This is top eight in the
:38:47. > :38:55.as well. Two Spaniards here. David Ferrer, number 7 in the world
:38:56. > :39:18.serving to Rafael Nadal, number five.
:39:19. > :39:23.Has been a second set. Nadal, looking to stamp
:39:24. > :40:58.his authority. The right idea from Nadal, tried to
:40:59. > :42:07.take the ball a little bit earlier, attack the whole,
:42:08. > :42:30.You have got to go to the Nadal backhand, but he has so much
:42:31. > :42:34.variation. We have seen him adding shots over the years on that side
:42:35. > :42:39.will stop adding the chip down the line. He can go crosscourt with bat
:42:40. > :42:43.and he can step it up and wind it up with the two hander. On the 26th
:42:44. > :43:26.shot, the clean winner. See how quick Nadal was on to that?
:43:27. > :43:32.Ferrer was caught in no man's land. Very interesting change of pace.
:43:33. > :43:35.Nadal used the slice and almost encourage Ferrer to come forward a
:43:36. > :43:38.little bit. He didn't do enough with the shot, and then Nadal was able to
:43:39. > :44:46.pounce. Been on court nearly an hour and a
:44:47. > :44:52.half. You wonder whether it will become detrimental to Nadal's
:44:53. > :44:57.performance tomorrow? Are you suggesting the ball in the corner, I
:44:58. > :45:04.thought Nadal was onto it, it was a tough ball, deep and spinning. Might
:45:05. > :45:09.be saving something for tomorrow. This is a dead match, tomorrow very
:45:10. > :45:15.much alive in the semifinal? It would be understandable for most
:45:16. > :45:20.players, but Nadal isn't like most players. He will be doing everything
:45:21. > :45:26.he can to win this match. If it goes on two, two and a half, could close
:45:27. > :45:28.to three hours, it is not the ideal preparation to play the world number
:45:29. > :46:03.one. Whereas David Ferrer, could be on a
:46:04. > :48:56.beach by tomorrow. So Nadal versus Ferrer. Just the
:48:57. > :48:59.nine French Open championships. He has had such a disastrous year but
:49:00. > :49:10.his record now at the French Open, having lost for the second time, 70
:49:11. > :49:20.victories and two. It is remarkable. Here is the record. Nine French
:49:21. > :49:28.opens. So delaying and Djokovic are the only ones to be Tim at the
:49:29. > :49:32.French. Wimbledon, a couple of times including a much I would consider
:49:33. > :49:39.the greatest of all time, the 2008 Wimbledon final. The two US Open
:49:40. > :49:46.victories, Beijing. Davis Cup victories for Spain. And the world
:49:47. > :49:53.tour Masters, the big nine on the ATP Tour, outside the Grand Slams.
:49:54. > :49:55.27 of those. Just amazing. We thought we might lose him to
:49:56. > :50:02.injuries a couple of times along the way, but here he is and in good
:50:03. > :50:05.shape for 2016. You can understand some of the injury issues, but with
:50:06. > :50:10.a CV lag that I wouldn't have thought you'd be struggling for
:50:11. > :50:16.confidence, as he was earlier this year. Everybody loses confidence, so
:50:17. > :50:18.it seems. Putting his name to his own academy, I cannot wait to see
:50:19. > :50:35.what he produces there. 17,000 people cheering. Wasn't
:50:36. > :50:40.expecting that. 17,001, because David Ferrer wasn't expect it
:50:41. > :50:57.either. He would be thinking crosscourt. It was lovely.
:50:58. > :51:04.Nadal building pressure with the scoreboard, serving first and
:51:05. > :51:23.keeping his nose in front. Few alarm bells for Ferrer, down 3-4, 0-30.
:51:24. > :53:27.Ball toss. Scoreboard pressure, service motion at the moment.
:53:28. > :53:40.The umpire up in the chair getting an earful. It is a vibration monitor
:53:41. > :54:21.that goes off and the umpire has to do respond to that.
:54:22. > :54:48.Nadal, exerting influence from the back of the court in the second set.
:54:49. > :54:53.There are so often a blizzard of statistics and graphics and
:54:54. > :54:59.everything else that comes up on the screen these days. Sometimes it is
:55:00. > :55:04.impossible to consume it all. But second serve points one is always
:55:05. > :55:11.interesting as to who has the upper hand. How you defend your second
:55:12. > :55:41.serve marks you out in the professional game.
:55:42. > :55:52.It is a relevant point. When I look at statistics for this match, Rafael
:55:53. > :55:57.Nadal is winning 60% of the points on the first serve and 64% of points
:55:58. > :56:18.on the second serve. Not normally that way round.
:56:19. > :56:30.He is not going to get this one. We have a deciding set here as Nadal
:56:31. > :56:37.wins the second set, 6-3. We are enjoying it. More tennis here at the
:56:38. > :56:41.O2 next week. This time we will be commencing the Davis Cup final and
:56:42. > :56:46.we cannot wait for this at the Flanders Expo.
:56:47. > :56:55.In 2004, Rafa wanted for the first time. In that moment, it was so
:56:56. > :56:59.special. Djokovic, won it in 2010. It gives you instant evasion and
:57:00. > :57:07.inspires you to play your best. Last year, Roger won it. It is one of the
:57:08. > :57:12.best days of my life. So did stand. It was a dream, to Playboy your
:57:13. > :57:20.country. This year, can Andy and company follow suit. The Davis Cup,
:57:21. > :57:24.across the BBC from next Friday. Davis Cup is so important. Not often
:57:25. > :57:31.appoint a use to illustrate how difficult it is to win the Davis
:57:32. > :57:34.Cup. When we had Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski in and around the top ten,
:57:35. > :57:39.they were unable to win a world group match. Not through lack of
:57:40. > :57:43.trying and dramatic matches and heroin efforts, but it is that
:57:44. > :57:49.difficult. Which makes this more amazing. James Ward has done a
:57:50. > :57:54.fantastic job but it has been built around Andy Murray. Eight and zero
:57:55. > :58:00.this year, eight victories and no losses. He has been the cornerstone
:58:01. > :58:04.of the team, but also Leon Smith deserves a lot of credit, the way he
:58:05. > :58:09.has a man managed what has been going on during the week, during the
:58:10. > :58:14.lead up to these ties. It will take one last big effort. I can we go
:58:15. > :58:19.into this tie against Belgium as the favourites, but away on clay is
:58:20. > :58:26.never easy. But without Murray, it couldn't have happened. John Lloyd,
:58:27. > :58:31.found himself as captain without Andy Murray quite a lot. It is Andy
:58:32. > :58:35.Murray's commitment. Leon Smith has done a great job, there is a real
:58:36. > :58:41.togetherness. But he is not a miracle worker? Certainly in art and
:58:42. > :58:44.the way Murray has performed consistency against big nations in
:58:45. > :58:51.tennis, beating the Americans, the French just after Wimbledon. Andy
:58:52. > :58:55.Murray in action tonight, could be his last match, if he loses it to
:58:56. > :59:01.Stan Wawrinka. Before that, Davis Cup final next Friday. We will see,
:59:02. > :59:04.you might have three more matches here, as we head into the weekend.
:59:05. > :00:37.Either way, we don't want him injured.
:00:38. > :00:43.This proud record of David Ferrer of never having lost a match this year.
:00:44. > :00:53.After winning the first set it is in grave danger now, it would see.
:00:54. > :00:55.There is a 0-30 opportunity here. Nadal has won all of the other
:00:56. > :02:21.points. Nadal has won all of the other
:02:22. > :02:31.It gets in the way but it can't be moved.
:02:32. > :02:36.And that will please him at the start of a third set.
:02:37. > :03:08.And that will please him at the Nothing wrong with that ball toss.
:03:09. > :03:14.Again, I think you would say it was the right shot, just not quite the
:03:15. > :03:20.execution he was hoping for. Pushing Nadal with a big forehand down the
:03:21. > :03:24.execution he was hoping for. Pushing line, so he would open up
:03:25. > :04:03.execution he was hoping for. Pushing of the court. It's a big game in
:04:04. > :04:07.this third set. Both players producing phenomenal length on the
:04:08. > :04:10.ball. A good ten or 12 shots landing
:04:11. > :04:27.within a council of feet of the baseline.
:04:28. > :05:24.That's the one that just dropped a little bit short.
:05:25. > :05:30.Oh, that is superb, isn't it?! Yes, applauded by Nadal's uncle. I can
:05:31. > :05:35.understand that. That ball was going away from Ferrer with the side
:05:36. > :05:43.spinners off the top. It was way off the top. You don't get those unless
:05:44. > :06:26.you have trained hard. Applauded by both Nadals.
:06:27. > :06:31.And were you you trying to imply his intensity was there? No, I didn't
:06:32. > :06:40.quite say that! I don't think he can resist the fight. But the detriment
:06:41. > :06:44.tomorrow, if you go deep maybe two-and-a-half, three hours, I don't
:06:45. > :07:05.think you think when you are out there, you just want to beat the
:07:06. > :07:15.other guy, don't you?! Really upping it now.
:07:16. > :07:20.When you think about it, Nadal just doesn't know any other way to play.
:07:21. > :07:44.Consistent aggressive hitting from the baseline.
:07:45. > :07:50.Are there any ice baths here? You have to look at when he played last
:07:51. > :07:57.year with Federer with the monster match with Stanislas Wawrinka. He
:07:58. > :08:02.could barely walk from that. This is the problem with back-to-back
:08:03. > :08:42.finals, it is difficult to recover from. Whatever happens, this set is
:08:43. > :08:44.going to send David Ferrer into the off-Seaton.
:08:45. > :09:08.With his lactic acid. Federer talking in his press
:09:09. > :09:12.conference after playing Nishikori but how delighted he was to play
:09:13. > :09:16.yesterday and have a rest before the semi-finals tomorrow. I cannot
:09:17. > :09:24.overstate how important that could be.
:09:25. > :09:26.He plays the winner of the match tonight, between Murray and
:09:27. > :10:07.Wawrinka. And that is tomorrow night.
:10:08. > :10:12.The longest game of the week so far, I'm reliably informed.
:10:13. > :10:17.It will feel like the longest game of the year for David Ferrer.
:10:18. > :10:53.It's quite a spectacle to see this man back, isn't it? Nadal seems to
:10:54. > :10:57.play the deuce point that fraction a bit more aggressively on the break
:10:58. > :12:12.point. Dropping the ball short. It gave Ferrer the opportunity to get
:12:13. > :12:18.on top. Any argument for a sudden-death
:12:19. > :12:47.point in dead matches? I thought you were going to say any argument if
:12:48. > :12:51.you start serving and volleying now. It's where the scoring system is one
:12:52. > :12:57.of the beauties of the game. The physical demands of a 12, 13 minute
:12:58. > :13:12.game and the mental demands for Nadal to get over if he can't break.
:13:13. > :13:21.And finally it ends. A little worried David Ferrer gets
:13:22. > :13:25.his nose in front. A brutal physical game. The point I
:13:26. > :13:30.am making is, perhaps after one deuce or after two deuces, you can
:13:31. > :13:35.do what they do in the doubles and select a side, and one point decides
:13:36. > :13:39.the game. In college tennis in the United States they do that, it might
:13:40. > :13:44.save the players from themselves in this situation. The last thing I
:13:45. > :13:47.want to see is Nadal exhausted or stiff tomorrow playing against Novak
:13:48. > :13:53.Djokovic. I know there is no chance of it
:13:54. > :13:57.happening but I want to see a Nadal Djokovic match, that is unaffected.
:13:58. > :14:02.If he is not monitoring himself here, Rafa.
:14:03. > :14:06.Thank goodness, there is no chance of it happening.
:14:07. > :15:07.OK, so he goes three-and-a-half hours and he won't be able to walk
:15:08. > :15:13.tomorrow, great. Go and take a seat, we'll bring the
:15:14. > :15:18.oxygen to you. I have been a big believer that you
:15:19. > :15:23.cannot give more than 100%. It's a good time to go to the laces here.
:15:24. > :15:26.I have to think that David Ferrer is trying harder than that.
:15:27. > :15:29.Drop his racket here, do something. trying harder than that.
:15:30. > :15:32.Just get the air in. That trying harder than that.
:15:33. > :15:37.sort of rally that stays with you for a little bit of time. But it is
:15:38. > :15:39.the fitness that enables you to recover. He will be all right in a
:15:40. > :15:48.few seconds. recover. He will be all right in a
:15:49. > :15:50.You wonder if Djokovic is watching recover. He will be all right in a
:15:51. > :15:54.this match with a big smile on his face. No question.
:15:55. > :16:34.He'll be saying, "What is he doing." Djokovic will find out what room
:16:35. > :21:00.David Ferrer is in tonight and send him six beers and say thank you very
:21:01. > :21:03.David Ferrer is in tonight and send already! Just enough top spin to get
:21:04. > :21:47.this final forehand to dip in. So, am I barking up the wrong tree
:21:48. > :21:51.with this thinking that there could be some detrimental effect against
:21:52. > :21:57.Novak Djokovic in the final if this goes too much longer? I thought you
:21:58. > :22:03.brought it up first about an hour quarter ago? Yes but you are trying
:22:04. > :22:07.to deflect the fact away from the fact you were trying to change the
:22:08. > :22:13.scoring in tennis. Is there an aringment for it? In
:22:14. > :22:16.doubles they do it? Exactly. In doubles, there is absolutely no
:22:17. > :22:25.place for it in singes. Even in a dead match like this.
:22:26. > :22:27.You can't say it is a dead match in the context of $167,000 for the
:22:28. > :22:32.winner. But in terms of going through to the
:22:33. > :22:37.semi-final, it does not mean anything for the finish of the group
:22:38. > :22:41.and the order? Sure. But it is not the ideal scenario for Rafa to have
:22:42. > :22:45.been out on the court for two hours and six minutes. But with his
:22:46. > :22:50.attitude and the professional attitude of the players he goes out
:22:51. > :22:56.to give 100%. He wants to win the match. He would love to serve and
:22:57. > :23:03.volley his way to a straight sets victory in an hour and ten minutes,
:23:04. > :23:20.he, unfortunately for him, he can't do that. You think about the wear
:23:21. > :23:26.and tear for his body. Trying to see it from his point of view. I am just
:23:27. > :23:30.desperate for the match tomorrow. I am not saying that he is not giving
:23:31. > :23:37.100%. But can you drop that about the
:23:38. > :23:41.deuce now? Yes, I'll leave that one out! I will not offer it as an idea
:23:42. > :25:21.again. Thank you.
:25:22. > :25:29.COMMENTATOR: Mr Nadal is challenging a ball on the right court side. The
:25:30. > :29:25.ball is called in. The call stands. Still this effort goes on.
:29:26. > :29:30.exhalation. When the best players in the women's games, when the decibel
:29:31. > :29:32.levels go up, sometimes you hear criticism. These guys are certainly
:29:33. > :31:56.louder than that. Two Spaniards playing with a great
:31:57. > :32:01.deal of pride, number one and two in Spain. Rafael Nadal fell to Number
:32:02. > :32:08.Ten in the world and when the computer rankings came out as they
:32:09. > :32:14.do on a Monday morning, to see Rafa at Number Ten was unusual. First
:32:15. > :32:19.time in ten years. Back up to number five and now with increasingly fine
:32:20. > :32:24.form and is trying to keep that going against Ferrer. No way he will
:32:25. > :32:29.let a much go, 17,000 people in here. He will deal with tomorrow,
:32:30. > :32:34.but is trying to beat this man in the picture. He is certainly getting
:32:35. > :32:38.back to the form he has shown. I suppose much time, all of it is good
:32:39. > :32:46.for him after the year he has had? Very much so, and Ferrer, we can be
:32:47. > :32:52.sure it is his last match of the year, he is like a dog with the
:32:53. > :32:56.bone, down 15-30 in that game, just will not give in. Keeps his nose in
:32:57. > :33:01.front. He would have been coming up when you are playing? I played
:33:02. > :33:05.against him on the number of occasions. He was somebody who did
:33:06. > :33:12.perhaps struggle with confidence and self belief. He didn't necessarily
:33:13. > :33:20.see him being at the leader-macro atop 50 player, let alone a player.
:33:21. > :33:27.An extraordinary player and is a lot like he isn't slowing down any time
:33:28. > :33:32.soon. 33 years of age, only Roger Federer older than him. The usual
:33:33. > :33:41.amount of semifinals and quarterfinals. The consistency,
:33:42. > :34:38.getting into this elite field. Nadal serving to -3 in the deciding set.
:34:39. > :34:50.Anything over the net, down that side of the court. After all that
:34:51. > :34:56.work... And he had done the hard work. Rafa had gone the wrong way.
:34:57. > :34:59.Perhaps just took his eye off the ball, was watching his opponent,
:35:00. > :35:29.rather than the ball. Total distance run. That is little
:35:30. > :35:40.short sprints back and forward, stopping as well. 12, 13 metres with
:35:41. > :35:51.either Macs. -- would be the maximum. But when you are having a
:35:52. > :36:51.26, 28 shot rally, a few of those back-to-back!
:36:52. > :37:06.Tim Henman and I were listing some of the Spanish players making up the
:37:07. > :37:12.heritage of the game. Rafael Nadal, has the lead now, we forgot about
:37:13. > :37:43.Arantxa 's and has, -- Sanchez. I hope he hasn't turned his ankle.
:37:44. > :37:47.Will we get another look at that? If he has done this... I get nervous
:37:48. > :37:54.watching him run around like this, I need to see him playing Djokovic
:37:55. > :37:56.tomorrow. We will know more over the next minute or so, whether he has
:37:57. > :39:03.turned that left ankle or not. Here is is that, in final sets this
:39:04. > :39:06.year when Ferrer has been pushed the distance, he has won 15 and lost
:39:07. > :39:34.one. Amazing, isn't he? One of Ferrer's view love service
:39:35. > :39:41.games. Good time? Obviously, getting towards the end of this match and
:39:42. > :39:43.it's been so close, when you can just have an easy game and put the
:39:44. > :39:52.pressure right back on your opponent, to come out and serve when
:39:53. > :40:01.you are behind in a set. Very slow court surface that Fabio Sanchez has
:40:02. > :40:07.laid down on of his company. Has five layers of paint. It will be
:40:08. > :40:13.taken out after the final. They have five hours to get rid of the whole
:40:14. > :40:17.staging. They do a lot of behind-the-scenes work as well.
:40:18. > :40:22.Anybody who has been here to the tour finals and all of the stands
:40:23. > :40:34.and stalls, loads of things to do. He was asked, what was it like
:40:35. > :40:42.coming in and working with AEG, who owned the stadium? He said, no
:40:43. > :40:50.problem, I wish it was as easy with the Rio Olympic.
:40:51. > :40:51.problem, I wish it was as easy with right to play Roger Federer tomorrow
:40:52. > :41:21.evening. No problem with his ankle, it seems,
:41:22. > :41:23.which is good for Rafael Nadal. Looked like he might have twisted it
:41:24. > :41:43.a bit in the previous game. Doesn't seem too bad, but hasn't won
:41:44. > :41:53.a point since. Needs to stop that rot pretty sharpish.
:41:54. > :45:00.From 0-30 and with one to questions around whether the ankle... Seems to
:45:01. > :45:54.have answered them. Deciding set, 4-4.
:45:55. > :46:02.Thought maybe Ferrer was gaining a bit of momentum. Now Nadal has won
:46:03. > :46:49.five points in a row. Felt Ferrer had a few opportunities
:46:50. > :46:53.to get on top in the rally. Couldn't quite get Nadal on the defensive and
:46:54. > :47:07.he was able to turn that defence into attack.
:47:08. > :47:13.Just admirable isn't it calm Ferrer. He never goes away, this guy.
:47:14. > :47:27.Playing him must be so difficult. Couple of errors in this game
:47:28. > :47:43.though. Turns up for work and puts in a
:47:44. > :47:48.shift every single day. Whether it is on the practice court or the
:47:49. > :47:56.match court. They two break points here.
:47:57. > :48:08.And that is in. Is that Ferrer's last service came up this year? We
:48:09. > :48:16.will see. Nadal will serve for this match in the third set. Founder Mark
:48:17. > :48:27.Burke and you thought Ferrer had 0-30 on Nadal.
:48:28. > :48:33.For a glorified exhibition, and I know for all of the money and the
:48:34. > :48:37.points and the rest of it, these boys are not short on points or
:48:38. > :48:41.money. It has been a fantastic match. For a dead match, which they
:48:42. > :48:46.can often be a damp squib, this has been unbelievable. Two and a half
:48:47. > :48:57.hours of this sort of intensity and effort. The shots we have seen this
:48:58. > :49:03.afternoon. That was the passing shot on break point. You wonder the way
:49:04. > :49:04.Ferrer set point up, whether you should have gone down the line on
:49:05. > :49:30.the backhand. So, the afternoon session here at
:49:31. > :49:37.the O2. As the lights dim once again on the crowd and the lights come up
:49:38. > :49:42.on the court. The stage is set for Nadal to complete this unblemished,
:49:43. > :50:04.unbeaten record in group play. The group he has already won.
:50:05. > :51:16.want to go on holiday just yet? No, he wants to play some more tennis.
:51:17. > :51:36.Former top-10 player Costa
:51:37. > :52:04.Former top-10 player Toni. Match point.
:52:05. > :52:20.And that is it! Rafa Nadal unbeaten with his good mate and Davis Cup
:52:21. > :52:23.run, David Ferrer. An amazing performance, but firstly
:52:24. > :52:34.congratulations to Ferrer. Great contribution to the tournament.
:52:35. > :52:47.Tim Henman, you get the feeling after a difficult year for everybody
:52:48. > :52:52.involved with Rafael Nadal's camp and Rafa himself, he is just so
:52:53. > :52:57.happy to be winning matches again? Absolutely, you can see by his
:52:58. > :53:02.reaction at the end of the match. He is through to the semifinals. He is
:53:03. > :53:07.keen to keep this momentum, build on the confidence he has gained in the
:53:08. > :53:11.latter part of the year. I think physically he will be fine going
:53:12. > :53:14.into the semifinals, he will be very excited about where his game is
:53:15. > :53:19.into the semifinals, he will be very right now. He is going to be
:53:20. > :53:22.absolutely pumped when he comes out once again tomorrow afternoon to
:53:23. > :53:32.play Novak Djokovic. It is a match to saver. David Ferrer has lost a
:53:33. > :53:39.match for the first time this year. Another proud year for him.
:53:40. > :53:45.match for the first time this year. David, under there. Such a superb
:53:46. > :53:52.record in 3-set matches, but on this occasion, beaten by Rafael Nadal.
:53:53. > :53:58.6-4 in the final set. Beaten but unbowed, I like this ovation. That
:53:59. > :54:15.is a contribution to the tournament. We will have a word with Rafa in
:54:16. > :54:22.just a moment. But not before everything is just so, in his world.
:54:23. > :54:26.He is neatly adorned and his laces are just right and everything is
:54:27. > :54:32.sorted out. He is so precise about everything that he does. One of the
:54:33. > :54:40.most watchable sportsmen on the planet. What is he going to put on
:54:41. > :54:43.here? Yes! He is so pleased and happy at the moment. So good to see
:54:44. > :54:59.him back in fine form and smiling. Tonight, Andy Murray in action.
:55:00. > :55:04.Another full house, no doubt, with his match with Stan Wawrinka. The
:55:05. > :55:10.winner of that will play Roger Federer. Whatever happens, we have
:55:11. > :55:14.some spectacular tennis coming up over the weekend but this afternoon
:55:15. > :55:21.belongs to Rafael Nadal. He is through and talking to Barry Milnes.
:55:22. > :55:25.Rafa, what can we say, what a fantastic match you and baby just
:55:26. > :55:31.played. Congratulations on a third straight win, but he really made you
:55:32. > :55:39.work for it, how do you sum it up? It was a great match, very intense
:55:40. > :55:45.rallies. I think I enjoyed it. Sorry or David today, the match decided a
:55:46. > :55:57.few things and I hope the crowd enjoyed it. I am just happy to be in
:55:58. > :56:01.the semifinals. Very, very important for me to finish the season playing
:56:02. > :56:05.like this, winning against the best players in the world. Tomorrow, big
:56:06. > :56:09.match again and the chance to compete against the number one in
:56:10. > :56:16.the world. Very excited and thank you very much everybody. It has been
:56:17. > :56:20.a great week. As you say, not much time before you have to be back here
:56:21. > :56:25.tomorrow afternoon to take on Djokovic. It is an amazing rivalry
:56:26. > :56:39.you have put together. Chapter 46, you lead in that, what can we expect
:56:40. > :56:46.tomorrow? This year is achieving almost everything one player can
:56:47. > :56:50.dream. To achieve one time in his career. He is achieving everything
:56:51. > :56:56.in the one year so congratulate him for all of the great things he is
:56:57. > :56:59.doing. Tomorrow, I know I have two plates to my limit my best to have
:57:00. > :57:06.any chance. Last year you are ruled out by injury and illness, but you
:57:07. > :57:09.have come back. Considering where you were Miami time struggling with
:57:10. > :57:14.the game, how special is it to be back here playing tennis like this
:57:15. > :57:18.in front of a crowd like this? It has been a tough year for me in
:57:19. > :57:24.terms of strange feelings on the court for me. But I always work hard
:57:25. > :57:31.to try to play matches like this again. The last five weeks, I think
:57:32. > :57:36.I am playing much better. Normally it is the toughest part of the
:57:37. > :57:40.season for me so this is great news. I am very happy for everything. This
:57:41. > :57:48.tournament always gives you a positive energy. I don't know what
:57:49. > :57:53.will happen tomorrow, but for sure, these last few weeks of the season
:57:54. > :57:58.will help me a lot next year. Indeed, we look forward to seeing
:57:59. > :58:02.you here tomorrow. Ladies and gentlemen, one more time, Rafael
:58:03. > :58:11.Nadal. We do look forward to that. Tonight,
:58:12. > :58:14.Andy Murray take some Stan Wawrinka. Murray hoping to remain the world
:58:15. > :58:20.number two and get through to the semifinals. Briefly, he said respect
:58:21. > :58:24.for the game and respect for the paying customers. He gave is all
:58:25. > :58:29.today, when he didn't have two? He doesn't know any different. Both
:58:30. > :58:33.players put on an unbelievable performance and intense rallies, but
:58:34. > :58:38.he has set it up nicely for tomorrow. Finished well, his
:58:39. > :58:42.confidence is high. No substitute for winning, he will need every
:58:43. > :58:47.ounce of the confidence he has deserved and earned. Great match
:58:48. > :58:52.night, Murray against Stan Wawrinka and then the semifinal, both will be
:58:53. > :58:55.spectacular whatever happens? Beautifully poised the way these
:58:56. > :59:00.groups have unfolded. The best players in the world in the
:59:01. > :59:05.semifinals so fingers crossed they can produce the goods. Absolutely,
:59:06. > :59:15.we will be back tomorrow at 2pm over on BBC One and we have two great
:59:16. > :59:20.champions, Djokovic against Nadal. The dominant force in men's tennis.
:59:21. > :59:25.I don't think it gets much better than watching Rafael Nadal play.
:59:26. > :59:29.That is a wicked tennis point. Brilliant performance. And that will
:59:30. > :59:31.be that! I'm here today to tell you
:59:32. > :59:33.the truth. Are you sure you want to continue
:59:34. > :59:36.down this road? Lots of people think they have
:59:37. > :59:38.nothing to lose. They just haven't thought it
:59:39. > :59:41.through. You have the very particular stink
:59:42. > :59:44.of a man out of his depth. You blunder further into a situation
:59:45. > :59:49.you simply do not understand.