Majorca’s favourite tennis player Rafa Nadal returned to serious competitive tennis after an injury laid him off for several months at the U.S. Open, but he could only reach the semi-final stages.

But considering he was out of the game and missed this yer’s Wimbledon, it was a good preformance that islanders hope will see Rafa return to his winning ways before too long.

The surprise winner was Juan Martin del Potro.

In the final it was the fourth set where the Argentine showed his strengths and focused concentration. With this set tied 4-4, Roger Federer took the lead with a strong backhand. He then got del Potro in a position wher he only needed two points to win the Championship.

Del Potro didn’t crumble under the pressure. He served an ace and a forehand shot down the line as well. He battled Federer and forced the fourth set into a tiebreaker. Federer then committed two forehand errors in the tiebreak, which cost him the set.

With momentum in del Potro’s favor, the fifth set was less difficult for him. He broke Federer’s serve early in this set. This was through a blistering forehand passing shot that went cross-court. This gave del Potro a 2-0 lead. He subsequently fought Federer harder and another impressive forehand gave del Potro the set and the title.

The loss was the first one in 41 matches at Flushing Meadows for Roger Federer. This year, Federer won the French Open and Wimbledon Championship. He has the distinction of holding the all-time record for men’s singles with 15 Grand Slam titles.

Juan Martin del Potro began playing tennis when he was six-years old. This was in Tandil, located outside of Buenos Aires in Argentina. By the time he was 17, he was the youngest player on the tour to finish the season in the Top 200. The next year, he was the youngest player on the tour to finish the season in the Top 100.

With his U.S. Open showing, del Potro is the first player to beat Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer back-to-back at a major. One of his strengths is his return shots of great force. The challenge now for del Potro is to build on this and his other strengths for consistent performance, and to break the dominace of Roger Federer and of course Rafael Nadal.

Congratulations to Majorca’s Rafa Nadal for winning the Australian Open at the weekend, one of tennis’ five Grand Slam events.

In one of the best Grand Slam finals ever, Rafa Nadal triumphed over Roger Federer from Switzerland in an ultra-competitive five-set match. The duo traded set wins for the first four sets. However, Nadal came out victorious, 6-2, in the final set. This was not without a lot of hand wringing and nail biting for fans. In the end, it was worth it for the enthusiastic crowd at the Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park.

Rafael Nadal’s momentum from the semi-finals carried over into the final. In the semi-final, he played a hard-fought match against fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

The largest island of Spain, Majorca is in the Mediterranean Sea and part of the Balearic Islands, it’s favoured by British and German holidaymakers and holiday companies like Thomas Cook holidays - Nadal is the first Spaniard to win in Melbourne.

Nadal had a marathon semi-final match against Verdasco that lasted more than five hours. You would think exhaustion would have been a factor for him in the ensuing final. However fatigue was more a nuisance than a hindrance to Nadal’s efforts. He knew what he was in for against the always tough Federer. He rose to the challenge.

The crowd witnessed two men at the epitome of tennis excellence. Their final match was over four hours long. It was high-intensity all the way. The 22-year-old Nadal had some amazing forehand shots (on the run) that dug him out of dangerous situations. In addition, he made beelines for Federer’s drop shots and caught up to them consistently.

Federer played excellent throughout the final match as well. In fact, he had numerous opportunities to win the Australian Men’s Final. Federer volleyed back many powerful overhead shots that gave Nadal trouble. With these and his other strategies Federer won set two, 6-3, and set four by the same score.

Rafael Nadal countered with consistent backhand efforts. He definitely needed these accurate shots. He was facing an opponent who won the Men’s Australian Tennis Final in 2004, 2006 and 2007. Nadal was a semi-finalist in the 2008 Australian Men’s Tennis Final. The world’s current third-ranked men’s tennis player, Novak Djokovic won this event in 2008.

The fourth set of this year’s final was particularly dramatic. Nadal chased a lob down that was over his head. He chased it down with his back to the net and connected. He also exhibited in-air body twists to connect with Federer’s powerful overhead shots. Truly, the crowd was witnessing years of training and perseverance on the open court.

At one point in the fourth set, the score was 2-2. A rally from all areas of the court was in progress. It ended with a Nadal forehand that hugged the line. This was a significant shot. Even though he lost this set, the shot inspired Nadal. It gave him the momentum to secure his victory in the fifth set.

This victory gave Rafael Nadal his first hard-court Grand Slam title. He is the number one ranked men’s player, with Federer ranked second. Federer is now 2-5 versus Nadal in Grand Slam finals. The two men have a great, friendly rivalry going. Nadal has victories now against Federer on clay, grass and the aforementioned hard-court. This is Nadal’s sixth major title win. It is also his fifth straight victory over Roger Federer.

While still excellent tennis, the Women’s Australian Tennis Final was less dramatic. Serena Williams of the United States defeated Russian Dinara Safina. The final score was 6-0, 6-3, in Williams’ favor. Serena is the number one ranked female player. Safina is second. Jelena Jankovic of Serbia and Montenegro is third.

Serena Williams won this final in under one hour. It was the first evening women’s final in Australia. For the 27 year-old tennis star, it was her 10th Grand Slam victory.

There will certainly be more dramatic and close women’s finals coming down the pike. As far as men’s finals go, they will have to raise their games to new heights to top this match Down Under. It most definitely can happen. It will be well worth it when a match of this caliber comes around again, hopefully for Wimbledon in the summer.

Historically for many holidaymakers in the past a week or two in Spain or her islands has meant beaches, clubs and bars, but as holidaymakers become more environmentally aware and wanting more from their holidays, cycling is becoming more popular as a way to see a different part of the country.

Spain and the Balearic Islands are two of the most popular cycling vacation destinations in all of Europe. For tourists who do not wish to travel with their bicycles, rentals are readily available throughout Spain and the islands.

Cycling vacations aren’t new - they are simply rising in popularity. Some cities and small towns throughout Spain offer guided cycling tours from companies that have been in the tourist business for some time and have noticed the increasing trend towards cycling while on holiday by tourists.

Guided tours often include a luggage service that delivers your personal belongings to your next area of interest for those who want more than a morning or afternoon of cycling, and want to go a grand tour with hotel stops en-route.

Alternatively, independent cycling holidays are available for those who wish to tour Spain completely at their leisure and can research routes beforehand.

Cycling offers much more freedom than traditional holidays. Unlike most other forms of travel, cycling is based on a holidaymaker’s whim. Cycling vacations can be from hotel to hotel or village to village. Many villages in remote places are nearly untouched by tourism. Cycling provides an up-close view of the true way of life in these villages. Rolling vineyards, sun-kissed villages and poppy fields are just a few of the visually appealing sights awaiting cyclists.

MP3 Guided Tours

One great tour option available for DIY cycling tourists is the MP3 guided tour. Instructional digital audio is provided, along with maps of the area and its marked trails. Cyclists are free to roam at their own pace while following pre-recorded directions from a trained guide. MP3 guided tours are not recommended for beginning cycling tourists.

A Thousand Miles of Cycle Routes

Spain offers cyclists nearly a thousand miles of cycling routes - small by comparisom with some countries, but on the increase. Routes are being expanded each year to accommodate even more cyclists.

The routes include an array of difficulty levels, but most are flat, very clearly marked and beautifully groomed. Many routes have been created to cover old railway tracks. These unused railway tracks were built flat and stretch many miles across Spain, making them perfect for cycling trails. Mountain trails are also available for the more experienced cycling tourist.

Family cycling vacations are available in nearly every city, town and village in Spain. Popular routes include historical sites, gothic cathedrals, coastal scenery, poppy fields and riverside trails. In Mallorca for example careful route planning and support are available from a variety of locally owned cycle touring companies. Some tours include a back-up vehicle stocked with supplies and emergency equipment, including first aid kits.

Cycling Holidays on Menorca and Mallorca

The Balearic Islands offer a unique experience for family cycling holidays. Residents of the islands are accustomed to tourists, especially in areas surrounding the highly popular resorts. Inland areas of the islands offer a much different view of the island lifestyle.

Open air markets and family owned restaurants await weary travelers in the smaller less touristy villages. Cyclists often enjoy authentic Mediterranean cuisine and locally made wines after a long day on the trail. The Balearic Islands are relatively small, making them great cycling destinations for families or for a first cycling vacation.

Professional Cyclists Train in Spain

During the off-season, professional cyclists can often be found on the trails in Spain or the Balearic Islands. Most locations in Spain and the Balearics offer more than 300 days of sunshine per year, making them perfect for year round training. Cycling trails in Spain and the Balearic Islands provide many miles of scenic landscapes for professionals looking for a change in scenery.

And training in Mallorca certainly paid off for the British Olympics cycling team, who came away from Bejing this summer with more gold medals than any other nation, they obviously found a good number of different routes on their map of Mallorca map!