2014 Roland Garros QF: Nadal vs. Ferrer

[Front242]

I felt I didn't get enough sleep so I lifted less than usual in the gym yesterday. Actually no I didn't. I lifted more than usual. He didn't appear to be serving slow to me today anyway. Here it is, the All-Spanish grunt fest we've all been waiting for and a repeat of last year's final! Sigh.

 

[brokenshoelace]

He didn't appear to be serving slow to me today anyway.

Yeah he was. Just look at the service speed indicator right behind him as he's serving.

 

[Front242]

Fair enough. His movement was A-OK though. I don't see it being an issue personally against anyone but Djokovic though.

 

[Moxie]

^I'm guessing you won't be tuning in for this one, Front. :snigger

 

[Front242]

^ Nah I'll watch it alright if I'm at home, Moxie as I think Ferrer will provide more of a challenge in a quarter final than a final. I didn't watch last year's final mostly 'cos we were in Faro on holiday when it was on and she was grumpy enough that I was sitting at the bar for the semi But the semi for me and indeed most of us, no doubt, was the real final

 

[TennisFanatic7]

I voted for Rafa in five, but I think Ferrer has a better shot here than he will have ever had before at Garros.

Watching Nadal so far, his movement seems fine, as do his groundstrokes, but while Ferrer is no Djokovic, he is a huge step up from the likes of Lajovic and Ginepri, so this will be the first test of any note Rafa's had. If there is a problem with the serve, David is the kind of player to punish it.

Still think Rafa will take this though, and I think he'll beat Murray in the SFs too if Andy gets through.

 

[TsarMatt]

I really applaud Ferrer. He's really closed the gap against Nadal over the last year, which, to me, would have sounded implausible around 2-3 years back when Nadal always had comfortable victories over him.

Ferrer is just a beast. The consistency and effort he constantly puts in is something. One of my favourite players, even if he doesn't have the most appealing style out there. Just a perfect example of utilising your game to the fullest extent possible and getting rewarded.

 

[Moxie]

^ Nah I'll watch it alright if I'm at home, Moxie as I think Ferrer will provide more of a challenge in a quarter final than a final. I didn't watch last year's final mostly 'cos we were in Faro on holiday when it was on and she was grumpy enough that I was sitting at the bar for the semi But the semi for me and indeed most of us, no doubt, was the real final

But won't you be holding your nose, against your two least favorite players? :laydownlaughing

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

The old Spaniard beats the Top Spaniard in 4!

 

[Moxie]

The old Spaniard beats the Top Spaniard in 4!

I dunno, Kiu. The 'old guy' wanted it pretty bad last year and got skunked. You're guessing it changes drastically this year because…?

 

[the AntiPusher]

^ Nah I'll watch it alright if I'm at home, Moxie as I think Ferrer will provide more of a challenge in a quarter final than a final. I didn't watch last year's final mostly 'cos we were in Faro on holiday when it was on and she was grumpy enough that I was sitting at the bar for the semi But the semi for me and indeed most of us, no doubt, was the real final

But won't you be holding your nose, against your two least favorite players? :laydownlaughing

Front mostly has Rafa dolls at home that he has in the past stuck pins in Rafa's knees, and most recently his back. No Sir, in deed.. Front no likey Ralphy

 

[nehmeth]

The old Spaniard beats the Top Spaniard in 4!

I dunno, Kiu. The 'old guy' wanted it pretty bad last year and got skunked. You're guessing it changes drastically this year because…?

... Rafa actually does have a bad back??

Still think he pulls it out and beats Ferrer, but Kiu could be right.

 

[Moxie]

The old Spaniard beats the Top Spaniard in 4!

I dunno, Kiu. The 'old guy' wanted it pretty bad last year and got skunked. You're guessing it changes drastically this year because…?

... Rafa actually does have a bad back??

Still think he pulls it out and beats Ferrer, but Kiu could be right.

Could be. But call me old-fashioned. I think if you're going to declare for an upset, you should state your own case. Not just nip in for a prediction and hope it works out.

Unless Rafa's back gives out on him, I think he can get through the week with a niggle. If he comes up against Djokovic, though, that's another thing. I don't so much mind that the serve is soft, but he's not really hitting his spots either.

 

[rafanoy1992]

First of all, I want to say a Happy 28th Birthday to Rafael Nadal! I hope more great things happen to him inside the tennis court and outside of the tennis court.

As for my prediction, I pick Nadal in four very tight sets. I hope the back issue does not flare too much.

 

[Front242]

Well spotted. Had forgotten he was 28 today. Too much is being made of his back imo. His movement looked fine and even if his service speed is down it's hardly like Ferrer is a world class server either. It wouldn't be much of an issue against anyone besides Djokovic imo.

 

[Riotbeard]

Well spotted. Had forgotten he was 28 today. Too much is being made of his back imo. His movement looked fine and even if his service speed is down it's hardly like Ferrer is a world class server either. It wouldn't be much of an issue against anyone besides Djokovic imo.

I agree about this in general. It hasn't affected any of his game except his serve, but the reduction in serve speed is worth noting, given the caliber of returners he has to play the rest of the tournament. I think that factor at least is going to start catching up with him this round.

 

[isabelle]

I'm going with Daveeed in 4, vamos chico

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal is moving fine. Not vintage or anything but he doesn't seem to be hampered. It's the serve that's worrying. It's not like the back will give out on him (at least that''s not what I gathered from his statement) so it's not an AO 2014 scenario, but taking anywhere between 30 and 40 kph off his first serve (which is what happened in the past few matches) is a big deal. Maybe he was juts conserving himself for when he'll need it though, in order not to worsen the back. We'll see.

 

[Iona16]

It's been confirmed that this match will be on Lenglen.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Well spotted. Had forgotten he was 28 today. Too much is being made of his back imo. His movement looked fine and even if his service speed is down it's hardly like Ferrer is a world class server either. It wouldn't be much of an issue against anyone besides Djokovic imo.

Too much isn't being made of his back because people aren't really making too much out of it. They're just saying what he's saying, which is that it's affecting his serve. He looks fine otherwise. Now I could have missed some posts that are blowing Nadal's injury out of proportion, in which case, my bad, but frankly I haven't seen too much hoopla surrounding it, and rightly so.

The only problem is that Nadal's serve has looked bad for a while now, and this surely doesn't help. Again though, the effect it had was tangible because Rafa was serving in the 160 kph's in his 3rd round match, and in the 170 kph's in the 4th. Though as I suggested in another thread, he might be taking it safe in order not to risk anything with the back, and maybe he'll loosen up now that the business end of the tournament started.