2016 U.S. Open: Day 7, September 4 - Order of Play

[GameSetAndMath]

Here is the link to Rafa's Interview after his loss to Lucas.

Unlike his fans, he paints a clear and honest picture. Rafa says " He played well, I did not play bad. I did not play enough well no". Rafa says " He played the last few points with better decision. It is not mental or physical problem. It is just sport. The opponent played little bit better than me and so he won".

So, Nadalites stop talking about choking.

 

[Fiero425]

Here is the link to Rafa's Interview after his loss to Lucas.

Unlike his fans, he paints a clear and honest picture. Rafa says " He played well, I did not play bad. I did not play enough well no". Rafa says " He played the last few points with better decision. It is not mental or physical problem. It is just sport. The opponent played little bit better than me and so he won".

So, Nadalites stop talking about choking.

,,,and of course there was the obligatory "stupid & lame" question of "PRESSURE!" Rafa swatted it aside invoking his "14 majors!" I'm no fan of Nadal's, but the press is in even lower esteem in my book! BTW Pouille won this match; Nadal didn't lose it! :nono :cover

 

[Kieran]

Here is the link to Rafa's Interview after his loss to Lucas.

Unlike his fans, he paints a clear and honest picture. Rafa says " He played well, I did not play bad. I did not play enough well no". Rafa says " He played the last few points with better decision. It is not mental or physical problem. It is just sport. The opponent played little bit better than me and so he won".

So, Nadalites stop talking about choking.

:laydownlaughing :lolz:

Don't be so bloody innocent. And don't be so obvious either, I see right through you.

You ever hear a single sportsman come out and say, I choked? Typically. Rafa was being classy. And in the interview he mentioned his old mantra about needing to be calm, at 4-3 in the fifth.

Here's Tignor's assessment, which is more or less on the dollar:

Up 4-3, 30-0 in the fifth, Rafa gave back two points with backhand unforced errors. With a break point at 4-4, he nervously pushed another backhand into the net. And at 6-6 in the deciding tiebreaker, after saving three match points and watching the crowd rise one more time, he drilled a put-away forehand into the tape. I thought he changed his mind at the last second when he tried to go behind Pouille, but I can’t say I was shocked by the error. It reminded me of the put-away forehand that Rafa missed at match point in the third-set tiebreaker against Del Potro in Rio.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I don't think Rafa was being politically correct or pandering to his opponent in the presser. As rafa said, Rafa played well but Luca played better. Period.

 

[Kieran]

You been watching tennis long enough to know better.

And by the way, it's not a good thing to say he choked. It's not discrediting Poiulle, as I'm repeating now for the third time - which is necessary on these boards sometimes. Rafa's last three defeats in slams have all been in the fifth, and have all involved him getting tight when he should be getting aggressive. Pete was like that in 2002, until Rusedksi wound him up before their classic second round match, where Pete discovered his old defiance, and his range, to go on a spree.....

 

[Fiero425]

I don't think Rafa was being politically correct or pandering to his opponent in the presser. As rafa said, Rafa played well but Luca played better. Period.

What would we expect; pull a 'Williams?' "I beat myself?" uzzled :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I don't think Rafa was being politically correct or pandering to his opponent in the presser. As rafa said, Rafa played well but Luca played better. Period.

What would we expect; pull a 'Williams?' "I beat myself?" uzzled :nono :angel: :dodgy:

Rafa is not shy about bringing his physical issues (and then say I don't want to talk about them) if something is bothering him. He did it multiple times after losses to JMDP in 2009.

Rafa lost couple of points in the TB due to nervousness (one early on his serve and at 6-6) and Lucas lost one due to nervousness (the opening point). These things happen and it is part of the game. But, it is outrageous to characterize Rafa's loss as a choke work. If someone is choking, they would not be saving three match points. When was the last time you saw a choker save three match points? Get real folks.

 

[Kieran]

I don't think Rafa was being politically correct or pandering to his opponent in the presser. As rafa said, Rafa played well but Luca played better. Period.

What would we expect; pull a 'Williams?' "I beat myself?" uzzled :nono :angel: :dodgy:

Rafa is not shy about bringing his physical issues (and then say I don't want to talk about them) if something is bothering him. He did it multiple times after losses to JMDP in 2009.

Rafa lost couple of points in the TB due to nervousness (one early on his serve and at 6-6) and Lucas lost one due to nervousness (the opening point). These things happen and it is part of the game. But, it is outrageous to characterize Rafa's loss as a choke work. If someone is choking, they would not be saving three match points. When was the last time you saw a choker save three match points? Get real folks.

Brother, you're all over the place. Firstly, a choke doesn't happen in every point. He choked at 4-3, 30-0, obviously, but then he came back and held his next two service games. He fought back from 3-6 in the breaker, then with the chance to get to match point? He clunked when he shoulda been clinical.

He didn't go meltdown or anything, he could still function, but it's part of his make up now, that he tightens at big moments.

And we have a million threads about all the players making excuses, while not wanting to bring it up. First time Roger was beaten by a 17 year old Rafa, he couldn't help but bring it up that he was tired - blah - and under the weather... :ras: