2014 Aussie Open QF: Nadal vs. Dimitrov

[rafanoy1992]

I'm really worried for Rafa in the semi if he makes it. That blister is making him serve so slowly. And he cannot hit any forehand if he is not in perfect position. Even then, its 50-50 on him making it.

Although I think the blisters is having an effect Nadal's play, I don't think the blisters are the main reason why Nadal's level is inconsistent right now.

I think he is anxious and nervous right now. I don't why is nervous maybe because he is facing the young guys or something. I do think potentially winning his second career slam is starting to creep up on him. Him and Uncle Toni knew what's at stakes here before the tournament. And the pressure to win his second career slam skyrocketed when Djokovic lost last night.

I do hope he plays a lot better. Watching him playing like this is horrendous.

 

[Goldenboy]

Rafa implied in his presser that he could take the tape off and play but he didn't know what would happen to the blister if he did (i.e. it could backfire on him for the next match).

So he might take it off for the semi, and risk it in the final.

No way he is winning the semi like this.

 

[Front242]

To fail to break when your opponent is playing that badly is just plain bad. Dimitrov should've volleyed the other way point before the game was over and after Nadal gifts a DF you simply have to capitalize and he failed miserably.

 

[DarthFed]

Well we know no matter how bad Rafa plays vs Fed it won't matter. Murray might be a different story.

 

[Front242]

I'm really worried for Rafa in the semi if he makes it. That blister is making him serve so slowly. And he cannot hit any forehand if he is not in perfect position. Even then, its 50-50 on him making it.

Although I think the blisters is having an effect Nadal's play, I don't think the blisters are the main reason why Nadal's level is inconsistent right now.

I think he is anxious and nervous right now. I don't why is nervous maybe because he is facing the young guys or something. I do think potentially winning his second career slam is starting to creep up on him. Him and Uncle Toni knew what's at stakes here before the tournament. And the pressure to win his second career slam skyrocketed when Djokovic lost last night.

I do hope he plays a lot better. Watching him playing like this is horrendous.

That's exactly why I also believe he's playing so badly and not because of his hand.

 

[DarthFed]

He was every bit this bad vs Nishikori before Nole lost.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal's number of unforced errors against Djokovic in 4 sets at the US Open: 20.

Nadal's number of unforced errors in this match: over 40.

Yes, completely normal.

 

[Front242]

Nice shot by Dimitrov.

 

[Goldenboy]

Darth, I feel Rafa was a little better against Nishikori. This is abysmal. That 3rd set was some of the worst play I have ever seen from him.

 

[DarthFed]

His return is horrible, even worse than Roger

 

[brokenshoelace]

I'm really worried for Rafa in the semi if he makes it. That blister is making him serve so slowly. And he cannot hit any forehand if he is not in perfect position. Even then, its 50-50 on him making it.

Although I think the blisters is having an effect Nadal's play, I don't think the blisters are the main reason why Nadal's level is inconsistent right now.

I think he is anxious and nervous right now. I don't why is nervous maybe because he is facing the young guys or something. I do think potentially winning his second career slam is starting to creep up on him. Him and Uncle Toni knew what's at stakes here before the tournament. And the pressure to win his second career slam skyrocketed when Djokovic lost last night.

I do hope he plays a lot better. Watching him playing like this is horrendous.

That's exactly why I also believe he's playing so badly and not because of his hand.

I honestly doubt that. He might be playing badly due to his hand or just because sometimes things don't click, but I don't think it's anything mental. Nadal has had far bigger pressure on his shoulders before. Is "second career" slam really that much of a pressure thing once you've won your first career slam and 13 slams in total? I never viewed this whole 2nd career slam thing to be a big deal regardless.

 

[Front242]

His post match interview will be interesting.

 

[the AntiPusher]

He was every bit this bad vs Nishikori before Nole lost.

Darth, Rafa play has been terrible which is something that we all have seen before. Historically, he gets better as the "cream rises to the top". I think today that Grigor has caught Rafa on an "off" day but Rafa is doing what a champion do, weather his opponent's storm of a challenge to try to Live to play another Day.

 

[Front242]

I'm really worried for Rafa in the semi if he makes it. That blister is making him serve so slowly. And he cannot hit any forehand if he is not in perfect position. Even then, its 50-50 on him making it.

Although I think the blisters is having an effect Nadal's play, I don't think the blisters are the main reason why Nadal's level is inconsistent right now.

I think he is anxious and nervous right now. I don't why is nervous maybe because he is facing the young guys or something. I do think potentially winning his second career slam is starting to creep up on him. Him and Uncle Toni knew what's at stakes here before the tournament. And the pressure to win his second career slam skyrocketed when Djokovic lost last night.

I do hope he plays a lot better. Watching him playing like this is horrendous.

That's exactly why I also believe he's playing so badly and not because of his hand.

I honestly doubt that. He might be playing badly due to his hand or just because sometimes things don't click, but I don't think it's anything mental. Nadal has had far bigger pressure on his shoulders before. Is "second career" slam really that much of a pressure thing once you've won your first career slam and 13 slams in total? I never viewed this whole 2nd career slam thing to be a big deal regardless.

Could be right. Roger had a horrendously bad day against Hewitt in Brisbane. Happens to them all. Agree about the career grand slam not being a huge deal too. The match looks like it's over right here anyway.

 

[imjimmy]

Nadal's number of unforced errors against Djokovic in 4 sets at the US Open: 20.

Nadal's number of unforced errors in this match: over 40.

Yes, completely normal.

Exactly. And with someone like Djokovic who has far superior movement and defense and thereby makes you go for the more. I also agree with your previous point of Nadal just making adjustments with net play and the backhand. Use whatever that works.

I've actually never seen Rafa serve this bad. The 7 DFs were atrocious, and at least a couple did NOT even land in the service box. I just don't believe that. I could serve better than that (kidding).

Finally, I do believe this could be partly because of blisters and taping in addition to nerves obviously. The shots he's missed are routine. The blister looked pretty bad when they focused on it. when you have a tape on, it sometimes affects the feel of the ball. Whatever it is, it definitely won't get over by this week, so he probably has to play the rest of the tournament like this.

 

[Front242]

Dimitrov's clown mode just never wore off after set 1.

 

[Front242]

Nadal's number of unforced errors against Djokovic in 4 sets at the US Open: 20.

Nadal's number of unforced errors in this match: over 40.

Yes, completely normal.

Exactly. And with someone like Djokovic who has far superior movement and defense and thereby makes you go for the more. I also agree with your previous point of Nadal just making adjustments with net play and the backhand. Use whatever that works.

I've actually never seen Rafa serve this bad. The 7 DFs were atrocious, and at least a couple did NOT even land in the service box. I just don't believe that. I could serve better than that (kidding).

Finally, I do believe this could be partly because of blisters and taping in addition to nerves obviously. The shots he's missed are routine. The blister looked pretty bad when they focused on it. when you have a tape on, it sometimes affects the feel of the ball. Whatever it is, it definitely won't get over by this week, so he probably has to play the rest of the tournament like this.

Well, he is naturally right handed so there's always that option Is ok to give Roger more chance, no?

 

[DarthFed]

Piece of cake in the end

 

[Front242]

Now then. This post match interview should be interesting to gauge how he thought he played lol.

 

[brokenshoelace]

So with this kind of form, would the winner of Fed-Murray become the favorite in the semi? A Nadal-Fed match is certainly more intriguing now.