Ferrer mauling Nadal to start the season

Ferrer 6-3 6-2 Nadal

As i write, World No.5 David Ferrer is busily mauling Nadal in the desert of Abu Dhabi. The season has started unofficially. Although this is an exhibition match, with a $250000 winner take all prize, there is motivation to play but Nadal seems to have no answers to Ferrer. Exhibition or not, Nadal should be attempting to stamp his authority on Ferrer after the New York 2007 trauma but not looking likely, he just avoided bagel here. Has to be worrying as the challenger many people have to beat Ferrer in 2012 is Nadal. Count this match and he would now have lost 1 of their last 1 matches in 2011 as well. Heading into the Australian Open, Ferrer has his one finger on the trophy already.


Anyway jokes aside, both Nadal and Federer played poorly today and will look to improve by the time of the Aus Open.
Cheers!

My heart goes out to Rafael Nadal. He did warn the tournament organisers and the press about his shoulder problem. It seems there's nothing much more to be done for Nadal at Abu Dhabai, apart from picking up his suitcase of cash to cover his expenses.

What worries me is that he might aggravate his shoulder injury in hauling that suitcase to the airport. Hopefully the tournament organisers would have been considerate by giving him one of those suitcases with wheels on it. He is likely to meet up with Roger Federer at the airport, where they can compare suitcases.

Oh well next stop Qatar. Another tournament, another suitcase. Life is tough.

Yes my heart also goes out to Nadal, getting €250,000 for just turning up and gifting his mate the win. Great sorrow.

Fedal for third place, so the suitcases need to wait a bit longer.

both would boycott the match if they intention is just to collect the prize money.

Fedal played two TB sets last year - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VFcjZX-49Y