2014 Aussie Open QF: Nadal vs. Dimitrov

[brokenshoelace]

Well, you can chalk this up as another stamina win for Nadal. Can't compete with the opposition at his peak level, but goes into a lock-down defensive make-everything mode to pull out a tight set, and then from there becomes offensive as the other guy completely loses energy.

It's called outlasting people. Stamina.

Agreed in full.

 

[El Dude]

Well, you can chalk this up as another stamina win for Nadal. Can't compete with the opposition at his peak level, but goes into a lock-down defensive make-everything mode to pull out a tight set, and then from there becomes offensive as the other guy completely loses energy.

It's called outlasting people. Stamina.

Ha ha, I only read this after writing my last post. Great minds, Cali.

But I agree with you! Except that, as I said, I see this as a feature of Rafa's greatness - one of his best skills, if not his best skill (like Novak's ability to come from behind and get back in a match seemingly no matter what).

 

[Front242]

Another similarity between Dimitrov and Federer regarding the Nadal match-up is the return of serve. Nadal really isn't doing much with the serve other than placing it to the backhand side, and yet he can still hit a forehand on the next shot.

Definitely. Especially the frequent lame chips that land in the net :nono

 

[DarthFed]

Eye of the beholder El Dude, I find everything about his game ugly but I love the heart and toughness. He does it the hard way and does it over and over again. You almost never see him crumble under pressure which other top players have done tons of times.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Not sure why Nadal feels the need to go for the lines as much.

 

[DarthFed]

Awful game for Rafa so far

 

[calitennis127]

This match exemplifies both why I can't love Rafa as a player AND why he's so great. The fact that he can hang in there for a couple sets while not playing his best tennis, and then win a match (presumably) simply by outlasting and tiring his opponent, points to both his greatness and the lack of elegant finesse that I value in tennis players.

In other words, he wins a lot of his matches largely through hanging in there and frustrating his opponents so that they self-implode, defeating themselves. I rarely if ever see Roger Federer do the same - he seems to actually beat his opponents.

(this is not a knock on Rafa, btw - I'm very clear to say this is a feature of his greatness, it is just a kind of greatness that I find less aesthetically appealing that Roger's--or Pete Sampras'--kind)

Man, I feel and sound like Cali.

Must be a good feeling!

All you and I are doing, El Dude, is pointing out what is clearly right in front of us. Don't let the rest of these board people pressure you out of saying what is accurate.

 

[Moxie]

This match exemplifies both why I can't love Rafa as a player AND why he's so great. The fact that he can hang in there for a couple sets while not playing his best tennis, and then win a match (presumably) simply by outlasting and tiring his opponent, points to both his greatness and the lack of elegant finesse that I value in tennis players.

In other words, he wins a lot of his matches largely through hanging in there and frustrating his opponents so that they self-implode, defeating themselves. I rarely if ever see Roger Federer do the same - he seems to actually beat his opponents.

(this is not a knock on Rafa, btw - I'm very clear to say this is a feature of his greatness, it is just a kind of greatness that I find less aesthetically appealing that Roger's--or Pete Sampras'--kind)

Man, I feel and sound like Cali.

Sadly, you do sound like Cali. This match isn't over, but if Rafa wins, it will likely be a 'win ugly.' But that isn't how Nadal wins all of his matches. That would be a mischaracterization of how he plays. I'll leave it for later. Too much tennis to watch.

 

[Front242]

Awful game for Rafa so far

And for Dimitrov it'll be even worse if he doesn't manage to break.

 

[Front242]

What a stroke of luck for Dimitrov.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Is Nadal trying to impress Sharapova with those doubles?

 

[Moxie]

Can't believe Nadal gave that break back.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Dimitrov hasn't really looked that good since the early stages in the second set, and yet he leads. Goes to show you how poorly Nadal is playing.

 

[DarthFed]

Nadal watched too much Djoker today

 

[calitennis127]

Well, you can chalk this up as another stamina win for Nadal. Can't compete with the opposition at his peak level, but goes into a lock-down defensive make-everything mode to pull out a tight set, and then from there becomes offensive as the other guy completely loses energy.

It's called outlasting people. Stamina.

Ha ha, I only read this after writing my last post. Great minds, Cali.

But I agree with you! Except that, as I said, I see this as a feature of Rafa's greatness - one of his best skills, if not his best skill (like Novak's ability to come from behind and get back in a match seemingly no matter what).

Oh, it is undoubtedly part of his greatness. Without question.

But if you recall, my argument is that when Nadal does this to win matches, it isn't talent per se for playing the game of tennis. It has nothing to do with shotmaking or skill or even peak athleticism, so much as it does craftiness, constancy, and persistence.

 

[Front242]

Dimitrov hasn't really looked that good since the early stages in the second set, and yet he leads. Goes to show you how poorly Nadal is playing.

Agreed. I thought he was done and dusted after losing the 2nd set to be honest.

 

[DarthFed]

Dimitrov hasn't really looked that good since the early stages in the second set, and yet he leads. Goes to show you how poorly Nadal is playing.

Agreed, Dimitrov wasn't serving big either until last game. This set should've been Rafa's by now, huge drop in play out of nowhere.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Vamos Grigor, take the third now.

 

[Front242]

Lose the damn slice, Dimitrov.

 

[calitennis127]

Dimitrov hasn't really looked that good since the early stages in the second set, and yet he leads. Goes to show you how poorly Nadal is playing.

Absolutely....compare this to how insanely good he looked in, for example, his match against Janowicz in Montreal. When Nadal wins, he is so damn impressive every time.